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Caleb Porter fined by Major League Soccer for criticizing replacement referee NEW YORK (AP) — New England Revolution coach Caleb Porter has been fined by Major League Soccer for criticizing the replacement officials who worked his team's games while the unionized referees and assistants were locked out. MLS did not announce the amount of the fine on Friday. New England has the worst record in the 29-team league with four losses and one draw. The 49-year-old Porter, hired in December, spoke after Saturday's 1-1 tie against Chicago. He was angered by referee Kyle Johnston, who gave the Revolution's Carles Gil a yellow card for diving in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.

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Nov 01, 2019 / 01:00PM GMT Operator Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Safaricom PLC's Half Year of 2020 Earnings Release Conference Call. You're welcome to familiarize yourself with the disclaimer, which is available on the investor presentation on the Safaricom website. (Operator Instructions) Please note that this conference is being recorded. I'd now like to hand the conference over to the CEO, Mr. Michael Joseph. Please go ahead, sir. Sateesh Kamath - Safaricom PLC - CFO Hi, this is Sateesh Kamath, the CFO. Michael is joining us for the Q&A session. We are getting started. I'll give you a quick introduction. The focus of half year 1 was regaining customer trust and market share. Good progress was made, but there is more to do. We have accelerated our 4G coverage rollout and are on track for delivering our commitment of covering every town in Kenya by the end of the year. Despite the economic challenges, we have delivered strong results for the period, and we look and feel that the outlook is positive. The launch of our simplified plans and customer Half Year 2020 Safaricom Plc Earnings Call Transcript Already have an account? Log in Get the full story Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | | 30-Year Financial on one screen | | All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | | Customizable Stock Dashboard | | Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | | 8,000+ Institutional investors' 13F holdings | | Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | | All data downloadable | | Quick customer support | | And much more... | 30-Day 100% money back guarantee You are not charged until the trial ends. Subscription fee may be tax deductible. Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot

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United States & World TX Rangers hope for rare repeat as World Series champs By Toluwani Osibamowo Published March 29, 2024 at 4:33 PM EDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email The Texas Rangers are still riding the high from last year's first-ever World Series win. Fans are hopeful Texas can repeat as champs as a new baseball season gets underway. Copyright 2024 NPR

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A Texas appeals court has overturned a Fort Worth woman's voter fraud conviction and five-year prison term for casting an illegal provisional ballot. Crystal Mason did not know that being on probation for a previous felony conviction left her ineligible to vote in 2016, the Second District Court of Appeals in Fort Worth ruled on Thursday. Appearing near tears at times, Mason said during a Friday news conference that it has been a long seven years since the voting charge. "I've been out for six years on an appeal bond, one foot in one foot out, not knowing if I was going back to prison," Mason said. "When I got the news ... I was just overwhelmed in joy, it's been a long journey," Mason said. "I cried and hollered when I got the news." Prosecutors maintained that Mason read and signed an affidavit accompanying the provisional ballot affirming that she had "fully completed" her sentence if convicted of a felony. Justice Wade Birdwell wrote that having read these words on the affidavit didn't prove Mason knowingly cast the provisional ballot illegally. "Even if she had read them, they are not sufficient ... to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she actually knew that being on supervised release after having served her entire federal sentence of incarceration made her ineligible to vote by casting a provisional ballot," the decision said. Thomas Buser-Clancy, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, called the ruling "a victory for democracy." "Mrs. Mason never should have been prosecuted for what was at worst an innocent misunderstanding," said Buser-Clancy. He noted that the ballot wasn't counted because she was not a registered voter, and said the case should have ended there. Mason, a former tax preparer, had been convicted in 2012 on charges related to inflating refunds for clients and served nearly three years of a five-year sentence in prison. Then she was placed on a three-year term of supervised release and had to pay $4.2 million in restitution, according to court documents. Because of the initial conviction, Mason was returned to federal prison for 10 months to complete the original sentence and given two more years of supervised probation. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals previously ordered the court to review whether there was sufficient evidence to convict Mason, ruling that Texas election law requires that individuals know they are ineligible to vote to be convicted of illegal voting. Buser-Clancy said the state could ask the Court of Criminal Appeals to review the case, but hopes prosecutors will accept the ruling. Prosecutors did not immediately return a phone call for comment Friday. Kim Cole, an attorney for Mason, called the prosecution malicious and politically motivated. "The state's prosecution specifically stated that they wanted to 'send a message' to voters. They deliberately put Crystal through over six years of pure hell," Cole said in the statement. Mason's long sentence made both state Republican and Democratic lawmakers uneasy. In 2021, after passing a new voting law measure over Democrats' objections, the GOP-controlled state House approved a resolution stating that "a person should not be criminally incarcerated for making an innocent mistake." Critics of the state's voting laws contend that Texas has targeted Black and Latino voters who have tended to vote for Democrats so that Republicans can stay in power. The Sentencing Project, which advocates for reducing punishment and expanding voting rights of felons nationwide, says Texas leads the nation by disenfranchising 450,000 citizens, or 2.5% of the state's voting age population, about two-thirds of them Black or Latino. Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Rep. Ron Reynolds said Mason's case shows the systemic challenges marginalized voters face as they try to cast ballots. "While her vindication is a step in the right direction, it highlights the urgent need for comprehensive electoral reform to ensure equitable access to the ballot box for all citizens," Reynolds' statement said. Texas is among dozens of states that prevent felons from voting even after they leave prison, while in 22 other states, felons can vote as soon as they're out of prison, and two states -- Vermont and Maine — allow felons to vote while still incarcerated, according to the ACLU. Attorney Alison Grinter Allen said she doesn't know how many Texas citizens are ineligible because they are on parole or still owing fines, but she said the state's laws confuse people. "A great number of people on probation in Texas are on pre-conviction probation, and those folks are all eligible to vote, "Allen said. "So a lot of people are swept into believing they can't vote because they're on a kind of probation that is not disqualifying."

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I grew up in the wonderful city of Bratislava in Slovakia on the banks of Danube. I was very close to music since the day I was born. My parents were full-time violinists. When I was five they asked whether I'd like to study violin. I enjoyed it. The only problem was, I was never asked that question again. From age 14 I was with a conservatory of music, where the only career option is music. I started to question, do I really want to be a classical musician for the rest of my days? I rebelled. I'm 19, I go to Ireland, the farthest in Europe I could travel without a visa. I didn't have a single word of English. I had €650. Everyone told me I'm mad. I had a backpack, sleeping bag, tent and tools to survive in the wilderness, because I see a few pictures from Co Clare. No research whatsoever. When I arrived to O'Connell Street, I realise I'm not going to live for long on €650. I was 19, proving parents and everyone else wrong, so ringing my parents for money or return flight was not an option. Three days into my adventure, I said I'm going to busk on Grafton St for a short time. Music was not going to be my future. But I found tunes I enjoyed and people enjoyed. The biggest struggle was the first winter. I played in Temple Bar until sometimes 4am, frozen, and people after Christmas are not as generous. I know this with concerts now, being a promoter as well as performer. But March came and the weather improved. In early April, I built my first band with musicians from Slovakia. We had a CD out by July, mainly Strauss and Viennese music, Hungarian dances. In 2006 we had a second band. From 2007 I took full leadership, invited musicians from abroad, started the Slovak Festival Orchestra. First violin, second violin, viola and double bass. Sometimes piano, percussion. They were busy times. We did a national tour. Sometimes we had more people on stage than in the audience. We played Mozart, Queen of the Night aria with a soprano, then Nessun dorma, Strauss because it was my favourite, Gypsy Airs by Sarasate. In 2008 we had 48 players from Slovakia in Marley Park, for City Council summer concerts. I only made the decision to stay three years ago. My wife Nicola and I decided, "Why break something that works?". We enjoy living in the country in Kildare. We want to bring our kids up in this country. My dad passed away in August 2021. I played Four Seasons to him over Zoom a month beforehand. He was in love with this composition. I performed it for the first time two months after his death, in an arrangement with just a few players. We did visuals to add to the soundtrack that was written 300 years ago. We toured the quartet across arts centres in 2022. It was successful. I said, "Let's bring this farther, let's go for the full shebang." I'm working with the RTÉ orchestra on our new arrangement of Vivaldi's Four Seasons for a 21st century audience. It is the most recorded and performed composition of all time, perhaps. Our arrangement is based even more closely to Vivaldi's original manuscript, which is 300 years old in 2025. We don't know exactly how they used to play it 300 years ago. There are no recordings. Antonio Vivaldi's original composition is for just a string orchestra with Basso Continuo. Generally it's 15 or 20 players, with harpsichord. We added the brass section, woodwind, four percussionists, even a modern drum set for some parts. The combination of the harpsichord with the drum kit creates a certain timbre. Vivaldi used harpsichord a bit like percussion. We added other instruments that were not in Vivaldi's times, like wind machine or thunder sheets, that people know from movies. This arrangement is like a movie soundtrack; Vivaldi wrote it 300 years ago like a movie soundtrack too. My youngest brother Viktor lives in Bratislava. He is conducting. My brother Anton in Switzerland is joining us for the second half, doing violin duets with me of popular classics: Those Were the Days, Que Sera Sera, Bohemian Rhapsody, Bella Ciao. It's more personal and it will get people to clap along. Anton plays several styles: classical, gypsy, jazz. The only time people criticise him is when it comes to tiddle-tiddly! They say he's playing it too fast, because he wants to show off. I tried to play Irish music. I just cannot. I have to have sheet music, remember music as a mathematical structure, what finger, what melody, what position and it has to be exact. Maybe I should spend more time in the pubs and after a few pints I will be exactly in time for Irish music! – In conversation with Deirdre Falvey Violinist Vladimir Jablokov and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra present Four Seasons Explained, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin, May 24-25.

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The pro-Palestinian side continues to demonstrate what lovely people they are, as Israel seeks to destroy their idol, Hamas. During President Joe Biden's reelection fundraiser in New York with former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton on Thursday, a mob of pro-Hamas protesters were outside, engaged in their usual yelling and screaming about genocide and calls for a ceasefire. But what separates this from other incidents is that these people were actively harassing those trying to get into or out of the event. Some of the protesters even managed to interrupt the event itself, as well. The worst part is the vile language they use against Biden supporters, a lot of whom are elderly. In one clip, a guy can be heard yelling at a woman, calling her a "f***ing murderous k*ke," (although some hear it as "c**t") and demanding she "f***ing die." Last night in New York pro-Pals harassed attendees to a Biden fundraiser. One man stalked a young woman screaming: — Heidi Bachram 🎗️ (@HeidiBachram) March 29, 2024 "F*cking murderous k*ke." "F*cking die." "Keep it moving b*tch." These are antisemitic, misogynist thugs and they've had free rein for too long. pic.twitter.com/wnicZltAd1 Other fun things they yelled included "genocide supporter," directed at an older couple, and one guy even tried to rip a poster out of an attendant's hands. Another man was shoved away from the event by the mob. And the worst part was that the cops did nothing about it, as Heidi Bachram's X thread about the protesters shows. You might be thinking the victims of abuse by the mob are seeing the consequences of supporting Biden. The Biden administration has been all but intentionally hamstringing Israel's ability to destroy Hamas by sanctioning individuals, building a pier to deliver aid to Gaza, and abstaining from a UN vote on a ceasefire resolution. Vice President Kamala Harris even warned of "consequences" as Israel pushes into Rafah. It's all a cynical ploy to retain the Muslim votes the Democrats are losing in Michigan and Minnesota. But the fundraiser attendees don't deserve to be abused any more than we deserve to be screamed at as "racists" or whatever for being Trump supporters. For Our VIPs: Israel Can't End the War. Only Hamas Can, but It Won't After all, as much as we hate Biden, none of us would openly call for his death and say we would prefer Hamas be in charge of the country. Someone who did just that is Hamza El Boudali, a Stanford teaching assistant and computer science grad student, which I covered earlier this week. El Boudali flat-out said he would be "happy if Biden was dead," although he clarified a military should do it, not a civilian, as if that is somehow better. He called the horrors of October 7 justified and invoked racism in calling for Biden's death because he "should be treated in the same way that a terrorist with darker skin would be (and we all know terrorists with dark skin are typically bombed and drone striked by American planes)." Lovely. The Biden Administration will probably learn nothing from this. It will continue to chase the Muslim vote it's losing by hobbling Israel rather than going whole hog on its support of Hamas, hoping to cultivate moderates and retain the rest of the Democratic Party that is pro-Israel. I know that sounds contradictory, but according to Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), whom I cover from time to time in my day job, the rabidly pro-Hamas part of the Democratic Party we see is just a really loud (and really annoying) minority. Most Democrat voters and their representatives in Congress are pro-Israel, says Moskowitz. I'm willing to believe him because the Jewish State really is (or at least was) one of the few places of bipartisanship in Congress.

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Retail inventories increased to $808.8 billion in February. That figure is 0.5% higher than January and 5.6% higher than it was a year earlier, the Census Bureau said in a Friday (March 29) press release sharing advance economic indicators. The bureau also revised its previously released figure for the percentage change from December 2023 to January, raising it from a 0.4% increase to a 0.5% increase. The retail inventories figure is adjusted for seasonal variations and trading day differences, but not for price changes, according to the release. This report comes at a time when retailers are reportedly embracing "just-in-time" inventory management once more after years of excess stock. Having sold off the goods that collected in stores and warehouses since 2022, merchants have shifted their focus to restocking instead of holding onto product in case of supply chain issues, the so-called "just-in-case" strategy. In addition, brands are gaining real-time insights on inventory in stores to ensure their products are properly stocked and presented in those retail locations. They are doing so with signal-based merchandising solutions that use image recognition and machine learning algorithms to collect and analyze real-time, in-store data points from high-traffic shoppers via mobile app, David Gottlieb, chief revenue officer at Trax, told PYMNTS in an interview posted March 1. "Whether it's in Walmart or Target, we have more than one shopper in every one of those outlets every single day so we're essentially [getting] a sense of what products are available for sale to the shopper on a day-by-day basis," Gottlieb said. In another development around inventory, Gather AI said Wednesday (March 27) that it raised $17 million to scale its computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered warehouse inventory monitoring offerings. The company aims to solve supply chain issues with richer data and AI. The Census Bureau also released wholesale inventories for February on Friday. This figure rose to $901.1 billion, up 0.5% from January but down 1.6% from February 2023, according to the press release. The monthly increase in wholesale inventories marked a shift from the change seen from December 2023 to January, which saw a 0.2% decrease. That figure remains unrevised.

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Irish star freshman Hannah Hidalgo misses time to get nose piercing out ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Notre Dame star freshman had to miss the first few minutes of the second quarter as the team's training staff tried to remove a nose piercing. NCAA women's basketball Rule 1-25.7 says that no jewelry is permitted to be worn during games. The Irish were down by two to Oregon State in the Sweet 16 game after one quarter when Hidalgo left. She returned with 5:51 left in the quarter and the Irish were down 25-22. Hidalgo, who was a first-team All-American, had an off-game, missing 11 of her first 13 shots and had a long talk and embrace from coach Niele Ivey when she was subbed out late in the third quarter. ___

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The Opening Day bout between the Brewers and Mets in Queens was delayed by a day due to bad weather on Thursday, but it went off without a hitch Friday. There was a bit of a dust-up late in the game, too. With the Brewers leading 3-1 (which would end up the final score) in the eighth inning and new Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins on first base, Willy Adames sent a grounder to shortstop. Hoskins went in hard to break up a potential double play and McNeil was there for the turn. McNeil was less than pleased with Hoskins' slide and it escalated a bit. During the fallout, Hoskins broke out the ol' "cry" motion in the direction of McNeil: After the game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza also took exception with Hoskins' late slide, but conceded it was a legal slide. As Mendoza also referred, there is history between Hoskins and the Mets. First off, he spent the first six years of his career with the Phillies and we know how the Phillies and Mets generally feel about one another. Secondly, back in 2019, Hoskins hit a home run and decided to punish the Mets further with a . It was a home run to left field in Citi Field. The Mets' left fielder during that homer? Jeff McNeil. McNeil also said there's history regarding Hoskins' slides into second. "Late slide," said McNeil (via MLB.com). "We've had a little bit of a past, so I figured there was a chance that he'd be coming in like that. I just didn't like this slide. I wasn't trying to turn the double play at all, I was just trying to catch the ball. There was no need to break it up; didn't like it. "He's had some pretty questionable slides at second base, that's for sure. I definitely remember looking at some in the past that were definitely not OK, so I knew there was a possibility that might happen and it did." As for Hoskins' side, he doesn't seem to be much of a fan of McNeil's. "I've played in this ballpark a bunch and he just seems to be complaining when things aren't going well," Hoskins said (via SNY). "I think that's kinda one of those moments. Maybe lost in the heat of the game a little bit, but, again, I think it's just playing the game hard and playing the game the right way." The Mets challenged the play in hopes of getting a slide violation, which would've resulted in an automatic out at first base. The replay review found no violation, so the on-field call -- an out at second with nothing more -- stood. The slide rule in question, per MLB.com, is as follows: When sliding into a base in an attempt to break up a double play, a runner has to make a "bona fide slide." Such is defined as the runner making contact with the ground before reaching the base, being able to reach the base with a hand or foot, being able to remain on the base at the completion of the slide (except at home plate) and not changing his path for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder. The slide rule prohibits runners from using a "roll block" or attempting to initiate contact with the fielder by elevating and kicking his leg above the fielder's knee, throwing his arm or his upper body or grabbing the fielder. When a violation of the slide rule occurs, the offending runner and the batter-runner will be called out. Accidental contact can occur in the course of a permissible slide, and a runner will not be called for interference if contact is caused by a fielder being in the runner's legal pathway to the base. Hoskins certainly held onto the bag with his hand and didn't really seem to change his path, so anyone believing the slide was illegal or even problematic would be looking for something nefarious in Hoskins grabbing or looking to roll McNeil. The Brewers would end up winning the game, 3-1, behind a dominant Freddy Peralta start and, among other things on offense, a Christian Yelich home run. The Mets managed just one hit, a solo Starling Marte home run.

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Noblesville doughnut fave Mochi Joy (654 S. 9th St., 463-266-0021) is headed to Indy on Saturday, March 30, for a pop-up at Dream Palace Books & Coffee (111 E. 16th St., 317-737-1215). From 9:30 a.m. until they sell out, scoop up doughnuts, such as the salted caramel with little Easter eggs plopped on top, as well as cream-filled malasadas or Hawaiian snack mix. Ramps, those garlicky alliums with the perplexing name, are sought after for their impermanence: The foraged vegetables have a notably short season, and recent years of Tik Tok trendiness have left them in even scarcer supply. So catch them while you can at the Kan-Kan (1258 Windsor St., 317-800-7099), which will hold its star-chef-studded, second annual Ramp Fest on Sunday, April 21, from noon to 4 p.m. A portion of ticket sales will go to the Greg Hardesty Scholarship Fund, ACLU Indiana, and food justice org Flanner House. Indy dining powerhouses George Stergiopoulos (Greek Islands), Elif Ozdemir (Giorgio's Pizza), and Gino Pizzi (Ambrosia) have come together to open "Old World with modern amenities" Italian restaurant Rosemary and Olive at 870 Massachusetts Ave., the IBJ was the first to report. The 300-square-foot space is the former home of another Italian spot, Mimi Blue, a local mini-chain that shuttered its last location in January. If all goes well, expect an opening in May. At last, the KSR is back. Last May, the Keystone Sports Review temporarily closed after 33 years in the same place, announcing that it would be reborn inside the two-story structure that housed long-shuttered, Prince-approved music venue Birdy's Bar and Grill. It quietly reopened in recent days at 2131 East 71st St., with a menu that includes pizzas, salads, and its iconic wings (we recommend the Cajun dry rub variety). Food is served from open to 11 p.m., or midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Six months after opening in Fishers, Shwa Hall and Max Gavin appear to have closed Memento Zero Proof Lounge (8701 E. 116th St.) "indefinitely." Touted as the region's only no-ABV cocktail bar, via announcement on Instagram, the business said it was "actively collaborating with legal advisors and exploring avenues that may pave the way for us to reopen our doors." A press release issued by Southeast fast casual chain Vicious Biscuit (say that five times fast) says the company is about "to redefine the breakfast scene in Indianapolis." Big news, if true! The six-location biscuit sandwich company has outposts in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Ohio and is set to more than double with a 10-location Indy franchise deal with an out-of-state mortgage banker and a local construction company owner. The IBJ notes that the first-time restaurant owners are looking initially at Fishers, as well as other locales in Hamilton County, before expanding to the south. The breakfast specialists at the city's newest Cafe Patachou (317-222-3538) location are set to stay up late. As part of the Stutz Building's monthly First Friday event, the 1060 North Capitol Ave. Patachou will serve a limited breakfast for dinner menu. Offerings include a fried lobster and waffle or a gloriously simple martini and fries and will be served from 5 to 9 p.m. every First Friday starting April 5. As has been widely reported, the Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission voted Tuesday to to revoke a liquor license extension for the 11:11 Bar & Grille (9439 E. Washington St.). The club's parking lot was the site of a shooting that involved two off-duty IMPD officers; five were wounded and one killed in the March 24 gun battle. According to the IndyStar, the ATC attempted to reach the venue's owners prior to the vote but did not receive a response.

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This book explores the legacy of Pete Rose and sports gambling AILSA CHANG, HOST: LA Dodgers superstar pitcher Shohei Ohtani is adamant that he did not bet on baseball. And the mystery behind his ties to sports gambling is a sore spot before opening day tomorrow. But long before the inquiry into Ohtani's ties to betting, there was Pete Rose. The Cincinnati Red was a consistent hitter with a brash personality. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) PETE ROSE: I had a style, the way I played. And most if not all fans would love my style. You know what my style was - playing hard, sliding head first, diving for this, diving for that. CHANG: In 1989, Rose was banished from baseball for life after an investigation found that he bet on the sport as a player and a manager. A new book titled "Charlie Hustle: The Rise And Fall Of Pete Rose" chronicles one of the most polarizing figures in sports. Its author, Keith O'Brien, interviewed Rose for the book in hopes of getting one of baseball's former greats to reckon with his dark past. O'Brien shared some of the tape with us when we spoke to him and drew a line from Pete Rose to today. KEITH O'BRIEN: Pete Rose was, in the second half of the 20th century, one of our most iconic athletes. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) ROSE: No one played like me. O'BRIEN: He was baseball's all-time hit leader. He still is now, 40 years later. No one is anywhere close to breaking that hit record. It will probably stand forever. And in the time in which Pete Rose played, between 1963 and 1989, he was not just a successful athlete, he was a beloved athlete. Fans loved Pete Rose not because of the hits or the World Series victories or the MVPs or anything like that. His whole persona was about hustling, and he became Charlie Hustle. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) ROSE: No one that I ever played against was Charlie Hustle except me. You understand what I'm saying? O'BRIEN: Pete Rose stood out. He would sprint down to first base on a walk. He would barrel into second base, trying to break up a double play as if he was a linebacker, not a base runner. Today, I don't even know where we would put him or how we would think about him if he was playing, because nobody knew what to do with him even back then. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) ROSE: As long as I'm baseball's all-time hit king, people will talk about me. And no one's ever going to beat that record. O'BRIEN: At the start of every baseball season, Pete Rose had the same goals. He wanted to bat 300, he wanted to have 200 hits and he wanted to score 100 runs. Those were his goals. And the miraculous thing is, by and large, he attained those goals and soon found himself, by the late 1970s, in striking distance of one of Major League Baseball's most hallowed records, you know, baseball's all-time hit record, 4,191 hits. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) MARTY BRENNAMAN: Kicks and he fires. Rose swings. JOE NUXHALL: There it is. There it is. Get out. Get out. All right. BRENNAMAN: And there it is, hit number 4,192. A line drive single into left-center field, a clean base hit. And it is pandemonium here at Riverfront Stadium. O'BRIEN: In February 1989, problems for Pete Rose start to come to a head. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) ROSE: Thirty, 40 years ago, gambling used to be a no-no. O'BRIEN: Sports Illustrated has received a tip that Pete Rose is betting on baseball and he's betting on the Cincinnati Reds, things that are in violation of Major League Baseball rules. The rumor of Sports Illustrated's investigation begins to drift across town to the offices of Major League Baseball and decide that they need to call Pete Rose to New York for a meeting to discuss the rumors of his gambling on baseball. And in this meeting, my reporting shows that if Pete was honest, the entire narrative that comes next, the next 35 years, the time we're still living in now, is different. But Pete can't be honest. And when they ask him if it's true, he lies. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) A BARTLETT GIAMATTI: By choosing not to come to a hearing before me, and by choosing not to proffer any testimony or evidence contrary to the evidence and information contained in the report of the special counsel to the commissioner, Mr. Rose has accepted baseball's ultimate sanction, which is lifetime ineligibility. O'BRIEN: They hire a former Justice Department prosecutor and in a matter of weeks unravel years and years of lies about Pete's gambling. They have his phone records. They have his bank records. They have depositions with men who placed his bets on baseball and bookies who accepted those bets. They have everything on Pete Rose, and still Pete can't be honest about what happened. Pete was indignant from the start about his banishment from baseball. He expressed no humility. He expressed very little sorrow. Between 1989 and 2004, he repeatedly said that baseball had got it wrong, that he hadn't bet on baseball and he hadn't bet on the Reds. In 2004, this narrative begins to change. Pete has received a ton of criticism in the past 35 years for not being honest in 1989, but I think it is complicated when you look at it through the prism of history. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) ROSE: Baseball is in bed with gamblers today. Everybody wants a piece of the pie with the gambling, and most all of them are getting paid by the gambling sites. And I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's about time they understood that. O'BRIEN: Our culture has changed. You know, in 1989, gambling was something that happened strictly in the underworld. It was verboten in every state but the state of Nevada. If you wanted to place a bet on sports, you had to do it with a bookie. And that meant you had to know people who were bookies. That was simply not a life that most people lived. These days, in 38 states and Washington, D.C., sports gambling is legal. In many of those places, we can place bets on our phone. We can do it at the stadium. And we are doing it, gambling, at a record pace. And while all of this is happening, illegal gambling is also still happening. And for years the men who pursued Pete Rose in 1989 have been saying it's dangerous. We're going to find ourselves, they said, in another scandalous gambling situation. And there's a lot we still don't know about the allegations surrounding star Dodger player Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. There is a ton that we don't know, but what's clear even now is that with the shady outlines of this story as it exists, this is already the biggest gambling scandal that baseball has faced since 1989. It is already the biggest gambling problem that baseball has faced since Pete Rose. And that's not to equate Shohei Ohtani to Pete Rose. They are different stories. But the fact that we ended up here is not surprising at all. CHANG: Keith O'Brien, author of "Charlie Hustle: The Rise And Fall Of Pete Rose." (SOUNDBITE OF JONATHAN KREISBERG'S "CANTO DE OSSANHA") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio record.

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The source, talking to IRNA, referred to trend of positive developments in the relations between Tehran and Baku, saying some good agreements have been reached by the two sides in this regard. The source added that Iran and Azerbaijan plan to hold diplomatic meetings after the reopening of the Azeri embassy in Tehran. According to the source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as part of the existing agreements, Iran will send a new ambassador to Baku as the tenure of outgoing ambassador Mr. Mousavi has already ended. The Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran closed after an armed man attacked it on January 27, 2023, killing an embassy staffer. The man was immediately arrested by Iran's police. But the Azeri government criticized Iran over the attack and recalled its ambassador to Tehran. The attacker identified as Yasin Hosseinzadeh was however put on trial by Iran and was sentenced to death in February 2024.

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Known for its rich agricultural heritage, Tamil Nadu's farming legacy is thousands of years old. From ancient times, the region's agricultural prowess has been lauded, with its sophisticated practices tailored to diverse landscapes. Tholkappiyam, the oldest available literary work in Tamil, gives detailed information about the agricultural practices adopted by the Tamils around 2,000 years ago. The people of that era categorised the land into five distinct Thinais (landscapes)—Kurinji (mountainous zone), Mullai (pastoral zone) Marutham (riverine zone), Neithal (coastal zone) and Palai (arid or desert zone)—each fostering unique crops suited to its environment. Though Palai Thinai is not in the landscape of Tamil Nadu, description of this in available in Tholkappiyam Each Thinai tract was supported by a specific type of economic activity suitable for the soil type, climate and quantum of rainfall expected. The people living in each of these landscapes had a specific deity as well as a particular flower or tree associated with them. Besides, each Thinai tract was also named after a plant that was exclusive to it. Interestingly Lord Muruga is the presiding deity of Kurinji Thinai. So, even theology has some key reference to agriculture in Tamil Nadu. During the Sangam era, farmers were placed at the top of the social classification. The classic Tamil text of the period, Thirukkural, describes agriculture as the chief profession above all and says the whole world comes after it. Tamil saint Thiruvalluvar devoted 10 couplets to explain the glories of agriculture in the text. The illustrious Kallanai, also known as the Grand Anicut, is another epitome of Tamil Nadu's engineering marvels and agricultural ingenuity. Constructed in the 2nd century AD by King Karikal Chozhan, this ancient dam diverts water from the Cauvery River to the fertile delta region, exemplifying the state's historical mastery over water management. The dam, which is 329 metres long, 18.3 meters wide and 5.49 metres tall, was built with a sole purpose of diverting the Cauvery water to the fertile delta region for irrigation. One of the poems in Alli Arasaani Maalai, which sings the glory of the governance of Goddess Meenakshi who ruled Madurai, sheds light on how both elephants and bulls were used in ancient Tamil Nadu, especially in the southern part of Madurai, to thresh the paddy. Though the Thinai system is not in vogue now, in the modern days, the state government has classified Tamil Nadu into seven agro-climatic zones—northeastern zone, northwestern zone, western zone, Cauvery delta zone, southern zone, high rainfall zone, hill and high altitude zone. Just like in the Thinai system, these zones too have their own specific crops. Both rainfall and natural calamities that occur differ in each of them. The type of soil also varies and some of the predominant soils in the state are Entisols, Inceptisols, Alfisols, Ultisols, and Vertisols. Being an agrarian state, agro-tourism is an upcoming industry in Tamil Nadu. This includes farm visits, nature retreats, village walks, plantation trails and visits to hilly terrains. One can get a glimpse of rural life laced with tradition in agro-tourism and farmers can showcase their successful ventures in agriculture. In line with global trends, Tamil Nadu is embracing organic farming as a sustainable alternative to conventional practices. With the release of its inaugural organic farming policy, the state government aims to promote eco-friendly agricultural methods, ushering in a new era of natural farming. Visionaries like Nammazhvar advocated for the elimination of chemical fertilizers in favour of bio-fertilizers, nurturing the soil and safeguarding the environment for future generations. Tamil Nadu's commitment to agricultural excellence is evident in its burgeoning organic farming sector. Now, Tamil Nadu occupies the 14th position in the nation with 31,629 hectares of organic agricultural land. This includes 14,086 ha of organic certified area and 17,542 ha under conversion. Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri occupy first and second positions in terms of total area. Tamil Nadu also shares 11th position in organic production which includes farm and wild produce. AGRICULTURE IN ThIRUKKURAL The 10 couplets of Chapter 104 of Thirukkural speak about the glories of agriculture and farmers. Three of them are as follows: 1031 Howe'er they roam, the world must follow still the plougher's team; Though toilsome, culture of the ground as noblest toil esteem. Meaning: Agriculture, though laborious, is the most excellent (form of labour); for people, though they go about (in search of various employments), have at last to resort to the farmer 1032 The ploughers are the linch-pin of the world; they bear Them up who other works perform, too weak its toils to share. Meaning: Agriculturists are (as it were) the linch-pin of the world for they support all other workers who cannot till the soil 1033 Who ploughing eat their food, they truly live: The rest to others bend subservient, eating what they give. Meaning: They alone live who live by agriculture; all others lead a cringing, dependent life *From the translation of GU Pope

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United States & World Virginia lawmakers more to raise age of marriage to 18 VPM | By Jahd Khalil Published March 29, 2024 at 4:33 PM EDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Virginia lawmakers are moving to raise the age of marriage there to 18, something most states still have not done, which activists say has led to abuses. Copyright 2024 VPM

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Apr 29, 2020 / 04:00AM GMT Presentation (Pre-recoreded) Apr 29, 2020 / 04:00AM GMT ===================== Corporate Participants ===================== * Michael Joseph Safaricom PLC - Non-Executive Director * Nicholas Nganga Safaricom PLC - Chairman of the Board * Peter Waititu Ndegwa Safaricom PLC - CEO & Executive Director * Sateesh Kamath Safaricom PLC - CFO * Stephen Chege Safaricom PLC - Chief Corporate Affairs Officer ===================== Stephen Chege - Safaricom PLC - Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the announcement of Safaricom's 2019/2020 Full Year Financial Results. On behalf of the Board, directors, management and staff of Safaricom PLC, we thank you very much for making time to join us virtually this morning. It is unfortunate that we are not able to meet and engage together in person, but these are unprecedented times because of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic that is currently affecting all of us. We do hope that you are keeping Full Year 2020 Safaricom Plc Earnings Presentation (Pre-recoreded) Transcript Already have an account? Log in Get the full story Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | | 30-Year Financial on one screen | | All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | | Customizable Stock Dashboard | | Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | | 8,000+ Institutional investors' 13F holdings | | Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | | All data downloadable | | Quick customer support | | And much more... | 30-Day 100% money back guarantee You are not charged until the trial ends. Subscription fee may be tax deductible. Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot

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SAYREVILLE, N.J. — A father is facing charges after his young son's body was found in a burning car following a domestic dispute Thursday evening in Sayreville, New Jersey. Sayreville Police Department said on Thursday just before 11 p.m., someone called 911 to report a fire near Sayreville High School. There was at the same time a call about a related domestic dispute. Officers went out to a house and found a woman who told them about a domestic dispute with Manuel Rivera, 43, who left their house with their 9-year-old son. Rivera was found at the scene by the high school, police said. Rivera was found near a car that was covered in gasoline and lit on fire, The Associated Press released. Rivera had some burns as well as a self-inflicted injury. Rivera has been charged with second-degree arson. According to WNBC, additional charges are pending due to an autopsy report that is expected to be conducted by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner's Office. "On this Good Friday, Sayreville is waking up to learn of a horrific incident that occurred overnight that shakes our community to its core: the loss of a nine-year-old child, allegedly at the hands of a parent. Any time such senseless violence involves one of our children, it gravely affects all of Sayreville," Sayreville Mayor Kennedy O'Brien said in a statement obtained by WCBS. "It is with great shock and sorrow that I report to you that a Wilson School student was tragically killed last night in a car fire behind Sayreville War Memorial High School," The Sayreville superintendent said in a statement obtained by the news outlet. The superintendent confirmed that the student went to Wilson School and Rivera worked for Sayreville Public Schools. The boy's name has not been released, according to The Associated Press. It is unclear if he died as a result of the fire or before it was started. © 2024 Cox Media Group

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Ask anyone to do a passable Joe Duffy impression and they won't succeed without it. Listen to your mother having a phone conversation for any length of time and you won't be able to avoid it. Try to say the word "desperate" in reaction to bad news while clutching at your craw and you'll be doing it yourself. It's called the Gaelic Gasp or "Irish mammy phone inhale", and Irish people have been doing it since the Vikings first landed on our shores. It was TikTok (what else?) that taught me that our very particular habit of breathing in sharply while speaking has a fancy name: ingressive pulmonic speech. It's typically – though not exclusively – deployed for the words "yeah" and "yep" and their relations, including the "ayes" and "hais" of the north of the country. I've heard many a "sham" gasped inward in the hills of Donegal as a form of assent. I also favour an inbreath on my favourite word "now", uttered when undertaking or completing almost any task. The "pulmonic ingressive" or "ingressive phonation" is not unique to Ireland, though. It's also widely heard in the Scandinavian countries, so its history on this island being tied to the arrival of the Vikings makes sense. It's heard in Scotland, too, while on the east coast of Canada, with its large Irish and North Atlantic migrant population, it's referred to as the "Gaelic gasp". We all do it. Even if you don't think you do it, you do. It's mostly associated with women though and is a defining trait of any send-up of a typical "Irish mammy". In the late 1970s and early 1980s a man called Francis Joseph Peters conducted a study into the use of the "sympathetic ingressive affirmative in English and Scandinavian languages" and came to Dublin to carry out some of his research. In the capital he found that women were 10 times more likely to use ingressives than their male counterparts, and that male participants seemed to not use them at all when in conversation with other men. Women on the other hand were "yep"-ing and huffing away to each other. Other studies in Scandinavia and Newfoundland have yielded similar results. So, the Irish mammy impressions are bang on the money then. On their 2001 eponymous album Tenacious D, the comedy rock duo (actor Jack Black and Kyle Gass) features a track called Inward Singing in which Jack Black claims to have invented a way of vocalising that "makes non-stop rocking possible". He goes on to demonstrate singing on the inhale as well as the exhale. It's suggested that it could be down to the biology of the vocal tract with the smaller pharynx and larynx of the female better able to utter a "go 'way" in response to the news that Kevin has run off with the young fellah from Circle K Sure, we've been doing that forever. If a senior infants teacher is getting the class to count to 10, she's not going to stop the count just because she's run out of breath. She's going to start as normal with "One, two, three, four, five ..." and then continue the count as she inhales: " ... six, seven, eight, nine, ten". Why? Because Irish people love talking, and we're not going to let some pesky breathing get in the way. Ingressive pulmonic speech is evident all over the world. France, parts of Africa, Japan, Indigenous America, Aboriginal Australia – talking or agreeing on the inbreath has been reported in all these places and more. At least one expert has suggested that because it's also evident in the calls of monkeys and apes it may have a biological and evolutionary basis, rather than being shared exclusively through migration and contact. It's even been compared to the purring of our feline friends, finally bringing an answer to that age old question: "Who's 'she'? The cat's mother?" Joe Duffy uses the pulmonic ingressive – most likely unconsciously – to create intimacy between himself, his Liveline guests and the listener. Research on the linguistic phenomenon notes that it is most often used in this way, in intimate conversations and storytelling and furtive gossip delivery. Again and again, it comes back to women though, whether it be Inuit throat games involving two women in a kind of pulmonic ingressive contest, or the Tohono O'odham females of Arizona and the Sonoran Desert, some of whom only speak ingressively. It's suggested that it could be down to the biology of the vocal tract with the smaller pharynx and larynx of the female better able to utter a "go 'way" in response to the news that Kevin has run off with the young fellah from Circle K. Or is it that women are simply more economical with their time, and are committed to "non-stop rocking" a la Jack Black and Tenacious D? I'm going to answer that with a simple "yep", repeated five times on the inhale.

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This week, services were held for 31-year-old Jonathan Diller. Diller was the New York City Police officer gunned down by a criminal named Guy Rivera during a routine traffic stop. Rivera has 21 arrests to his name. Diller left behind a wife and one-year-old son. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul decided to attend Diller's wake. That decision might have been made out of her desire to pay her respects, which most people find dubious, or out of a desire for a photo op, which many consider to be the more realistic scenario. Whatever her reasons were, she did not stay long and was quickly shown the door. According to a report in the New York Post, Hochul arrived at the Massapequa Funeral Home Thursday afternoon, which was the second day of the viewing. Hochul was there for all of ten minutes before being informed that her presence was not wanted. In fact, someone was overheard saying "Get her outta here." When she left, she was seen having what appeared to be an animated confrontation with a man in a black suit. Hochul's departure was also met with applause from several cops standing outside. Hochul is one among many New York politicians who have been rightfully feeling the heat for lax laws and progressive policies that have given criminals the run of New York City. Frankly, even if her heart had been in the right place, she should have had the grace to recognize that she would have been persona non grata at the wake. After all, Hochul and people of her ilk have no grasp of responsibility and are unable or unwilling to connect the dots between their policies and societal decay and chaos. They either ignore the consequences of their actions, or they believe that if they just hang in there long enough, the wonders of progressivism will magically right the ship of state. The post notes that even NYC Mayor Eric Adams has "renewed his calls for Albany to address criminal recidivism following the shooting involving two suspects with lengthy criminal records." Earlier in the week, Sergeants Benevolent Association president Vincent J. Vallelong sent a letter to the members of the New York City Council with a warning that they not attend. He said that they were morally responsible for Diller's death, adding that their presence would be "a stain on the legacy of a true hero who made the ultimate sacrifice." Joe Biden was in New York yesterday as well. Biden, of course, was getting ready for his star-studded fundraiser gathering of narcissistic power fetishists. After all, it takes quite of bit of cash to try to highlight what few silver linings may exist in this zeppelin wreck of an administration. But Biden did not have time to even drop by Diller's wake. American Wire reported that Karine Jean-Pierre was queried about the issue by the press gaggle abroad Air Force One. Jean Pierre said that the administration's hearts went out to the family and that Biden grieves for them and honors their sacrifice. She could have stopped there, and she probably should have stopped there. But she didn't. Look, the President has stood with law enforcement his entire career and continues to stand with them as they put their lives on the line for their communities. Under his leadership, we will continue to support police officers and ensure that they have resources they need to continue — to continue to do the work — the all-important that — work that they have to do on behi- — on behalf of the community. It was probably for the best, as a visit by Biden would have likely been received with less enthusiasm than Hochul's. Be that as it may, unlike Biden, President Trump made time to attend Diller's wake. Related: Oakland's Lastest Absurd Outrage Hochul's presence and Biden's absence illustrate the smug, tone-deaf, and entitled attitude of most of today's Democrats in power. They are enamored of their own reflections in the mirror and their positions. They have no understanding or compassion for the people who must live with their mistakes. They likely even view those people with contempt.

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Jannik Sinner is starting to dominate. He overwhelmed Medvedev 6-1, 6-2 in the Miami Open semifinals MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jannik Sinner is starting to dominate. Sinner overwhelmed third-seeded Daniil Medvedev 6-1, 6-2 on Friday in the semifinals of the Miami Open. The second-seeded Sinner, rock-solid with his firecracker forehand, became the first man to reach back-to-back Miami Open finals since John Isner (2018-2019). In last year's Miami final, Medvedev prevailed over Sinner at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins. This time, Medvedev's three games tied his career low for wins in a match. Sinner began his revenge against Medvedev by beating him in the Australian Open final in January, rallying from two sets down, and setting the stage for a wonderful 2024 campaign. Sinner will play the winner of the second semifinal between No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev and 11th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov. This match was a lot easier in the 80-degree South Florida heat as the Italian jumped to a 5-0 lead at the outset in posting two straight breaks of the Russian's serve. It was over in 69 minutes. "This year I have another chance," Sinner said in the on-court interview. "I don't think he played his best tennis and I tried to stay focused and in my rhythm." In breaking Medvedev four times in the match, Sinner moved his 2024 record to 21-1; his only loss coming in the Indian Wells final to Carlos Alcaraz. In the match's second game, Sinner hit a cross-court forehand winner on a third break point for a 2-0 lead. Medvedev motioned a thumbs down at his player's box. The Italian went up 4-0 after cashing on his fourth break point of the game, flicking away a short ball by Medvedev, who was flustered by two net cords during the game. Sinner broke Medvedev in the first game of the second set and was on his way. Late in the second set, down 5-1, Medvedev heard jeers and whistles when he appeared to frustratingly hit a ball back to a ball girl with extra zest. On the night card, Zverev goes in with a 7-1 lead over Dimitrov in the head-to-head series, with Dimitrov's lone victory in 2014. Dimitrov beat No. 1 seed Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. The 20-year-old Spaniard said of Dimitrov afterward, "He played amazing tennis, almost perfect. I couldn't find solutions." The women's final is set for Saturday when American Danielle Collins faces No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina. ___ AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

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YouTube has launched Members-only Shorts, an option that lets creators share content only with subscribers. This option enables creators to offer additional perks to their subscribers, the video sharing platform said in a video posted Wednesday (March 27). To use this option, creators go to "Visibility" when uploading Shorts — videos that are 60 seconds or less — and select "Members only," according to the video. They can also convert an existing video to members-only. Creators can also schedule a Members-only Short to transition to a public setting. That option allows creators to give their members early access to content before it is made available to the public, per the video. "This option lets you take advantage of your already-planned content and can be especially beneficial for your members if your Short features a special announcement, product drop or limited-time deal," YouTube said in the video. The platform also suggested that creators use Members-only Shorts for Q&As, behind-the-scenes looks and clips of upcoming content. Members will see these Shorts in their Shorts feed, in their Subscriptions feed and on the creator's channel, on the Shorts tab and the Membership tab, according to the video. "Fans tell us members-only content is their favorite part of memberships," the video said. On Thursday (March 28), YouTube marked the one-year anniversary of the introduction of its revenue-sharing program on Shorts with a blog post in which it said that more than 25% of the channels in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) are now earning through the Shorts revenue stream. It also said that Shorts have proven to be an entry point for creators who later also earn through other YPP monetization features like longform advertising, fan funding, YouTube Premium, BrandConnect and Shopping. "While this is an important moment, we're still at the beginning of our journey of broadening opportunity through Shorts," the post said. "Longform will continue to deliver great results for the community, and now with Shorts, we're starting to see how bringing together creators, viewers and advertisers has grown the short form video ecosystem — bringing fresh opportunity to the community both creatively and financially." PYMNTS Intelligence has found that social media platforms continue to integrate commerce into the experience. For example, YouTube offers features that simplify the marketing and sale of products within videos to provide creators with additional opportunities to monetize their content, according to "Tracking the Digital Payments Takeover: Monetizing Social Media," a PYMNTS Intelligence and AWS collaboration.

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The cries of newborns have transitioned from moments of uncertainty to symbols of hope. In a significant stride towards improved healthcare, Tamil Nadu has witnessed a remarkable decline in its infant mortality rate over the past 10-12 years, reflecting concerted efforts and advancements in maternal and child healthcare. Dr S Srinivasan, former State Child Health Nodal Officer, National Health Mission Tamil Nadu says, "Bringing down the infant mortality rate to a single digit, approximately 8.2 per 1,000 live births, is an achievement along with combined support and funding from the National Health Mission and Tamil Nadu government." Former Union Health Secretary Sujata Rao shares that the drop in infant mortality rate (IMR) is not surprising as the state is and has been a frontrunner in providing reproductive child health (RCH) services. She adds, "High priority has been given to IMR and maternal mortality rate (MMR) reduction since 1985. Political support has been consistent, irrespective of the party they belong to. Tamil Nadu and Kerala are two states that distinctly stand apart on this issue." Focusing on newborn babies is an important factor in reducing the IMR, says Dr C Ravichandran, retired professor of paediatrics and current expert adviser, Child Health, National Health Mission, Tamil Nadu. "75% of infant deaths occur in newborn babies. If you want to bring down IMR, you have to focus on neonatal deaths. We have set up almost 86 special newborn care units (SNCUs) across the state in all districts as well as medical colleges. The medical colleges have neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). If the number of babies born is much higher in some districts, we may have two-three SNCUs there," he says, adding that that the services are accessible and available round-the-clock. The state also has been at the forefront of immunisation, focusing on vaccine-preventable diseases, especially in pre-term babies which are likely to get infected with pneumococcal diseases. "Tamil Nadu was one of the earliest states to introduce pneumococcal vaccine for pre-term babies. That has helped in the survival of the pre-terms," says Ravichandran. Dr Srinivasan says, "The government has given a lot of healthcare in the form of medical equipment. Facilities in the neonatal units can be compared with any corporate hospital. We have more than 300 ventilators and 300 CPAP machines. The feedback mechanisms at SNCU, where there is a meeting every 15 days have also helped in the improvement. Investing and improving neonatal transport has helped reduce mortality rates in villages in the state." After the care in the NICU, babies should be moved to their households or primary health centres, but further monitoring is also required. Dr Srinivasan says, "According to the IMR data, 70% died in the first 30 days and another 20% in the post-neonatal stage, two or three months after the delivery. There is very minimal death after three months. But monitoring them is important." Once the babies have gained a sufficient weight or the mother has gained confidence, they are sent back to the community. A lot needs to be done in the community, comments Dr Ravichandran. He says, "Now, we have this home-based newborn care where anganwadi workers are also tracking all these babies, especially those who have been discharged from SNCU and the low birth weight babies. Focus has been on these two because these two are the ones that are the highest risk factor for morbidity and mortality in newborns." A national app (The Poshan Tracker) has been created with a module on newborn care. The babies are tracked and anganwadi workers are incentivised for it. Praising staff nurses, Dr Ravichandran says, "This is the only department where we have dedicated staff nurses, as they will not be posted anywhere other than newborn care." Dr Srinivasan adds that Facility Based Newborn Care Training has been efficient in training nurses and NGOs like Ekam Foundation have helped the state in the cause. He also mentions that there is a complete link system between Directorate of Public Health, Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services and Directorate of Medical Education in the state which has strengthened the support. Before 2009, the state did not have a separate newborn unit. Dr Ravichandran says, "All babies were in the general paediatric ward, except for Institute of Child Health (ICH), Chennai, which had its unit but it was not recognised as a department. The recognition of ICH as a neonatology department came about in 2009. Now, in almost all the medical colleges, we have a department of neonatology. The DM (Doctorate of Medicine) courses have helped in actually giving more skilled doctors." Neonatology units are a huge administrative reform step, which has helped in reducing neonatal mortality, he adds. Summarising the factors that led to the drop in the IMR, Dr Gagandeep Kang, retired professor, CMC Vellore, says, "Antenatal care allows for early identification of risk, referral, and appropriate management. A focus on the quality of care during labour means that complications can be identified and managed. Overall, an awareness of the need and stronger health systems result in decreased deaths and illnesses in mothers and their babies." Speaking about areas where the states can improve child welfare, Dr Ravichandran says, "I think the community is not exactly ready in India to receive pre-term, low birth weight babies. If you are looking at babies above 1.8 kg, the survival rates are very good. Between 1.2 kg to 1.8 kg, the survival rates can be improved upon because the community takes care of babies. So there needs to be a supportive environment. These babies will thrive quite well in the NICU because there is a supportive environment there. But identification of danger signs would be a constant source of support. We should focus on community-based kangaroo mother care (KMC) programmes. Importance should be given to mother's health, conditions like anemia should be highlighted and given proper care."

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United States & World Who is Maryland Governor Wes Moore? By Jacob Fenston Published March 29, 2024 at 4:33 PM EDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 3:53 Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is the only sitting Black governor and the third ever elected in the U.S. Moore is described as a "rising star" in the Democratic party without spending much time in office. Copyright 2024 NPR

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Apr 29, 2020 / 01:00PM GMT Nicholas Nganga - Safaricom PLC - Chairman of the Board Let me first, on behalf of the Board of Safaricom, warmly welcome Peter Ndegwa to the company and assure him of our full support as he steers the organization through this season and the next phase of growth. Michael Joseph - Safaricom PLC - Executive Director Peter joins us at a very difficult time, and I'd like to reiterate that the Board, myself and everyone is offering him all the necessary support as we wait through this period. I have no doubt that although he's not a replica of myself, unfortunately, or Bob, he will do a great job and lead this company to greater heights. So Peter, we rely on you. Peter Waititu Ndegwa - Safaricom PLC - CEO & Executive Director It's a great honor to be able to lead such a great organization. And I'm grateful to the Chairman and to the Board for their confidence and support in me and the rest of the business. Of course, this is my first official event, and I regret that we are not able to meet in person, as I would have Full Year 2020 Safaricom Plc Earnings Call Transcript Already have an account? Log in Get the full story Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | | 30-Year Financial on one screen | | All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | | Customizable Stock Dashboard | | Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | | 8,000+ Institutional investors' 13F holdings | | Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | | All data downloadable | | Quick customer support | | And much more... | 30-Day 100% money back guarantee You are not charged until the trial ends. Subscription fee may be tax deductible. Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot

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ROME — In order to preserve his health, the Vatican said Pope Francis did not attend a Good Friday event. Pope Francis skipped a Good Friday procession at the Colosseum, according to Reuters. It was the first Pope Francis, 87, skipped the traditional event in his 11-year papacy, The Associated Press reported. St. John Paul II skipped the same event before his death in 2005, according to the AP. "To conserve his health in view of the vigil tomorrow and Mass on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis will follow the Via Crucis at the Colosseum this evening from the Casa Santa Marta," a statement from the Vatican press office said, according to the AP. He recently also skipped delivering the traditional homily on Palm Sunday to kick off the Catholic faith's Holy Week last Sunday. However, Francis presided over the service, speaking before and after the scheduled homily in a clear voice, The New York Times reported. Francis was hospitalized in late February for the flu. For more than a year, he had been using a wheelchair and a walker because of strained ligaments in his knee. The pontiff had surgery for intestinal blockage in June 2023. That came two years after Francis had 13 inches of his colon removed because of a narrowing of his large intestine. He was hospitalized for five days at Rome's Gemelli Hospital in late March 2023 with a lung infection. Francis had part of one lung removed when he was younger. He was elected the 266th pope in history on March 13, 2013, after the surprising resignation of Pope Benedict XVI two weeks earlier. © 2024 Cox Media Group

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Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant has said Israel is stepping up its attacks on Hizbullah, following air strikes deep into Syrian and Lebanese territory on Friday. Mr Gallant said Israel was "becoming offensive rather than defensive, and we will get to any place where Hizbullah is. Beirut, Baalbek, Tyre, Sidon and the border's whole length – and places even further, like Damascus". His comments came after Israel struck a Hizbullah weapons depot and a Syrian army security compound close to the airport in the northern Syrian city of Allepo, killing at least 44 people, including 36 Syrian soldiers and seven Hizbullah militants, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Syrian opposition monitoring group. In a separate incident, a Syrian army colonel who had close ties to Hizbullah was killed on Friday morning by a car bomb in the suburbs of Damascus. Russia condemned the Israeli strikes on Syria as a flagrant violation of that country's sovereignty and said they were "fraught with extremely dangerous consequences". Israel has increased air strikes in Syria against both the Lebanese Hizbullah militia and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps since the Iranian-backed Palestinian faction Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7th. Tehran and its proxies have entrenched themselves across Syria, including around Aleppo and the capital Damascus. Israel and Hizbullah have also been trading fire across Lebanon's southern border, as Hizbollah has tried to show its support for Hamas with volleys of rockets into Israel. More than 60,000 residents on Israel's northern border with Lebanon have fled their homes, and have called for decisive action from the government to push Hizbullah from the border. The increase in cross-border attacks has raised the possibility that the Gaza war will plunge the entire region into a dangerous conflagration. On Friday, the deputy commander of the Hizbullah rocket and missile unit was killed by an Israeli drone attack on a vehicle close to Lebanon's southern city of Tyre. Clashes have continued in and around the main al-Shifa hospital in Gaza city where Israel claims hundreds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters relocated following the withdrawal of Israeli troops over the last few months. Similar close-combat fighting has continued in Khan Younis, the main city in southern Gaza. According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, more than 32,300 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. Israel says 1,200 people were killed and 253 hostages seized in the surprise Hamas attack on October 7th. Some 134 hostages remain in Hamas captivity. It is not known how many hostages have died. Despite the deadlock in efforts for a new ceasefire and a hostage-release deal, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has given permission for Israeli negotiators to attend truce talks in Cairo and Doha. Mr Netanyahu told relatives of soldiers who have been taken hostage that the only way to free them is through "the continuation of the powerful military pressure". According to a senior US state department official, famine is both a risk and "quite possibly" present in at least some areas in northern Gaza. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the scarcity of lorries was a key obstacle for more humanitarian aid. Israel has called allegations it is blocking aid to Gaza "wholly unfounded". Responding to Thursday's demand by the International Court of Justice to enable more aid in order to avert a famine, a foreign ministry spokesperson said: "Israel is continuing to promote new initiatives, and to expand existing ones to allow a continuous flow of aid into Gaza by land, air and sea." Israel has taken the first steps to prepare for a military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than one million refugees fled to seek shelter from the conflict. The Israeli army has begun to isolate the city and is purchasing 40,000 tents from China to be used if civilians are ordered out of Rafah ahead of a military attack. Israel says there are four Hamas battalions in the area.

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We've been covering the recent changes in Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) recently with a fair share of amusement. Though I don't delude myself into thinking that he has become a moderate, his positions on a few key issues have put him at odds with the majority of his party. Even though several of his Democrat colleagues, including Joe Biden, have caved to the antisemitic wing of the party, Fetterman has been a steadfast supporter of Israel since the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack. He's also been outspoken about the border crisis. He's even called for border security and criticized his party for resisting talking about it. "I hope Democrats can understand that it isn't xenophobic to be concerned about the border," Fetterman said last year. "It's a reasonable conversation, and Democrats should engage." Fetterman even called for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) to resign or be expelled following his indictment last year. "Senator Menendez, he needs to go," Fetterman told the hosts of "The View" in December. "And if you are going to expel Santos, how can you allow somebody like Menendez to remain in the Senate?" Now, Fetterman's office is experiencing some conspicuous turnover, as all three of his top communications staffers have jumped ship. "Nick Gavio, who was deputy communications director, will leave the office at the end of March to take a new role with the Working Families Party," reports the Philadelphia Inquirer. "Fetterman's former communications director, Joe Calvello, left earlier this month to work for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. And Emma Mustion, a press and digital aide also left Fetterman's office to work on the reelection of Sen. Bob Casey." Gavio and Calvello, two veterans of Bernie Sanders' 2020 campaign, and Fetterman's Senate campaign, offered nothing but nice comments about their new jobs. But Clout doesn't believe in coincidences, and it seems relevant that both are going to more progressive spaces, given that Fetterman has recently made a big deal of denouncing that ever-nebulous political label. Fetterman has alienated some of his supporters on the left with his defense of Israel's war against Hamas and his criticism of cease-fire activists. His office did not comment on the departures but chief of staff Adam Jentleson said the office has already hired replacements. Gavio said he is grateful for his time with Fetterman and is "extremely proud and excited" to become Mid-Atlantic communications director for the Working Families Party, overseeing the party's expansion into statewide and regional contests. Staff turnover isn't necessarily uncommon, but less than a year into a term is rather conspicuous. Is this the start of a mass exodus by leftist staffers who have decided they can't work for Fetterman anymore? Perhaps; in December, Fetterman declared he was "not a progressive." In fairness, he is. He only has a 10% lifetime conservative score, according to Heritage Action for America's conservative scorecard, which is only slightly better than the average Senate Democrat, which is 4%. He also voted with Joe Biden 97% of the time in 2023. But, like with Sens. Manchin and Sinema, it only takes a few select examples of independence to get under the skin of the radical left.

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Left-hander Jordan Montgomery and Diamondbacks finalize $25 million, 1-year contract PHOENIX (AP) — Left-hander Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona Diamondbacks finalized their $25 million, one-year deal on Friday. Montgomery pitched for Texas against Arizona in the World Series last year, and his addition bulks up the defending National League champions' rotation. He should slide into the No. 3 or No. 4 spot once he's ready for game action, joining Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodríguez, who signed an $80 million, four-year contract with the Diamondbacks earlier in the offseason. The contract includes a vesting option for 2025. If Montgomery makes at least 10 starts this season, the option would become guaranteed at $20 million and the left-hander also would gain the right to opt out. The option price would escalate to $22.5 million if he makes 18 starts and to $25 million if he makes 23 starts — a figure he has reached in three straight seasons. The sides agreed to the deal on Tuesday, pending a physical. Because Montgomery was not in the organization on opening day, the Diamondbacks cannot make a qualifying offer to him as a free agent and would not be eligible to get an additional pick in the 2025 amateur draft if he leaves Arizona at the end of the season and signs with another team. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

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Nearly ten years after efforts to eliminate the tax began, the battle between the Legislature, CRIM, mayors, the Oversight Board, and the private sector remains. Nearly ten years after efforts to eliminate the tax began, the battle between the Legislature, CRIM, mayors, the Oversight Board, and the private sector remains. The future of House Bill 1798 seeking to eliminate the inventory tax after six years is uncertain since, according to Senate President José Luis Dalmau Santiago, the measure "did not have the votes" in that chamber because it did not provide alternatives to offset municipal government revenues. However, the Senator said the Senate is open to dialogue to reach a consensus between the parties. "As it was, the bill did not have the votes in the Senate. First, because we are in an election year, no senator will vote against cutting money to the mayors. That was one of the controversies: senators were unwilling to vote for it. This is what I told both stakeholders and the Oversight Board," said Dalmau Santiago in an interview with El Nuevo Día. The bill, as amended, seeks to establish a cap on the inventory tax for six years and was passed in the House. During the transition period, the Legislature and the Municipal Revenues Collection Center (CRIM, Spanish acronym) must identify alternatives to replace the nearly $300 million that municipalities annually receive through the controversial tax. Last November, the bill was approved b in the House with 26 votes in favor, 16 against, and 9, absent. The bill has been under evaluation in the Senate Committees on Treasury, Federal Affairs, Municipal Affairs, and the Oversight Board over the last four months. Meanwhile, Senate Treasury Committee Chair Juan Zaragoza said his committee has not decided on whether to hold a public or executive hearing to receive proposed amendments from the parties, mainly because of the uncertainty regarding what will happen after six years. "The point of controversy is what happens in year six, and until there is a fiscally responsible answer to that, the bill is a complicated scenario because it faces opposition," Zaragoza said. "The only way for the bill to pass and for the governor to approve it is to make amendments," added the Senator, who mentioned that they are waiting for the proposed amendments from CRIM. Meanwhile, Dalmau Santiago said that the Mayors Association and the Mayors Federation sent their proposals, one of which recommends gradually reducing the tax after six years. That is a proposal that could be considered, the lawmaker added. However, Dalmau pointed out that the Board has not endorsed this recommendation yet, which is why they expect to meet with the fiscal entity. "We have always been open to dialogue, and to the extent that this dialogue produces results, we will inform you," said Dalmau. Meanwhile, in written statements sent to El Nuevo Día, the Oversight Board reiterated its position in favor of freezing and later eliminating the inventory tax because of its impact on increasing the island's supply and avoiding shortages during disasters. "Puerto Rico's inventory tax in its current version is an obstacle to economic growth," the Board stated. "The inventory tax is an important source of funding for municipalities. Therefore, the (Board) supports a cap on the inventory tax to ensure a collection equal to the highest of the previous three years. The (Board) considers the freezing of the (tax) an important step in improving Puerto Rico's business climate," the document stated. House Treasury Committee Chair Jesús Santa said that attempts to eliminate the tax paid by importers, retailers, and wholesalers go back almost 10 years, with the lack of consensus among mayors as one of the obstacles. "Our problem is that for some reason, mayors do not agree. There is no consensus among the mayors. So you come up with a proposal, some are for it, some are against it, and the House says, 'No problem, mayors, you decide how to offset it,'" Santa explained. The representative said he expected the Senate to pass the bill, with amendments, though. "We have to move. Ten years discussing an issue and doing nothing is not sustainable and irresponsible on all sides," he added. In response to Santa's comments, the president of the Puerto Rico Mayors Association, Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz, urged the Legislative and Executive branches to find an alternative to offset the impact of the measure. The alternative "should come from us (mayors), because it has to come from the Legislature, which identifies the government budget, the Legislature and the Executive Branch must agree," the Villalba mayor said. Hernández Ortiz insisted that the mayors have reached a consensus: to freeze the inventory tax for the years set in the bill and that the Legislature and Governor Pedro Pierluisi determine how to offset that revenue. Meanwhile, CRIM Executive Director, Reinaldo Paniagua Látimer, said that the Senate could hold executive hearings to listen to the proposals, which would lead to amendments to the bill. "Last week I met with the Senate Treasury Committee chair, Juan Zaragoza, and explained the CRIM board position regarding the six-year freeze," Paniagua Látimer told El Nuevo Día. Recently, the CRIM approved a resolution reaffirming its support for the implementation of a six-year cap on the inventory tax but did not support its elimination. "What the CRIM board seeks with this (resolution) is to state that it stands by its position, that it supports the six-year freeze approved in the House, (that) it supports the creation of a committee tasked with working with the transition and evaluating alternatives to replace this revenue. What the resolution does not endorse and what it states is that there is no proposal to prevent municipalities from going bankrupt," the CRIM director said about alternatives to replace municipal revenues.

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Tamil Nadu is home to us for nearly three decades. Ever since the establishment of Hyundai's first fully integrated manufacturing facilities outside of South Korea at Sriperumbudur in 1996, which commenced production in 1998, we share a long and invaluable association with the state. We believe that the plant, equipped with modern infrastructure, state-of-the-art technology and in-house resources that produce some of the finest cars in India and the world, has been pivotal in bringing Tamil Nadu to the forefront of manufacturing. Producing high-quality vehicles that meet global standards and exceed customer expectations, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) has contributed to the development of a robust automotive ecosystem in the region, catalysing job creation and economic growth. At present, the plant provides direct employment to over 14,000 people and has been enriching lives, at work and beyond. We take immense pride in our journey, epitomising the spirit of 'Made in India, Made for the World.' The company's commitment goes beyond cars. It is a commitment to India's growth story and the unmatched engineering prowess the country offers to the world. The robust manufacturing supply-chain ecosystem in place across the country is a reflection of Hyundai's dedication to the 'Make in India' initiative, and its contribution to India's vision of self-sufficiency. Integral to HMIL's journey has been the conducive business landscape fostered by progressive policies, supportive business ecosystem, holistic infrastructure development led by the state government and the administration, leading the company to further strengthen its commitment to Tamil Nadu by investing Rs 26,000 crore towards development of clean and green mobility in the next 10 years. Our plan is to develop the plant at Irungattukottai as a hub of green mobility manufacturing, and emerge as a mother plant for emerging markets in the future. In the recently concluded Tamil Nadu - Global Investors Meet, the company entered into an MoU with IIT Madras to develop a 'Hydrogen Valley Innovation Hub', making an investment of Rs 180 crore. This facility will act as an incubation cell to develop a framework for localisation of hydrogen ecosystem. Beyond just investment, it will act as a catalyst for cultivating a robust hydrogen technology ecosystem that mirrors HMIL's commitment to sustainability and a green future. Our operations are driven by a strong sense of responsibility towards the environment and the community. It views this proactive role as an opportunity to contribute to long-term sustainable development goals. Its robust Energy Management System involves conserving energy and natural resources throughout its manufacturing operations, incorporating low-carbon practices and reducing emissions across the value chain. The company currently fulfils 64% of its energy requirements using renewable sources, and aims to reach the 100% mark ahead of most automakers in the country. With a strong commitment towards environment, society and governance (ESG), Hyundai Motor India is dedicated to build a sustainable future as a responsibility for the next generation and a fundamental right for everyone, leading positive action for a better tomorrow. Gopala Krishnan CS (The author is the Chief Manufacturing Officer of Hyundai Motor India Limited. He has been a part of the core team instrumental in setting Hyundai's manufacturing facility at Sriperumbudur)

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Board Chair and Former Chief Executive Officer Elissar Farah Antonios Awarded the Certificate in Risk Governance® We are honored to count Elissar among our credential holders now and look forward to her continued impactful service across both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors." GLOBAL, ORGAZNIZATION, March 27, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The DCRO Institute, the world's leading source of risk governance training and credentials for board members and C-suite executives, announced today the award of the prestigious Certificate in Risk Governance® to Elissar Farah Antonios. — David R. Koenig, QRD®, President and CEO of The DCRO Institute Acknowledged by Forbes as one of the 'Middle East's Most Powerful Business Leaders', Elissar has extensive experience serving throughout the Middle East and North Africa as a board member and chief executive officer. In her most recent corporate executive role, Elissar managed the Middle East and North Africa region for Citi, she also served as the chief executive officer of Citibank UAE. She is a member of the board of directors for Dubai International Chamber and chairperson of INJAZ UAE, part of Junior Achievement's worldwide network, and serves as an Advisory Board Member of Cosmopoints Loyalty Tech Ltd. Elissar has served on numerous boards of major trade and business associations, including the UAE Banks Federation, the US UAE Business Council, and the American Chamber (AMCHAM) Abu Dhabi and Lebanon. In her volunteer roles, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Children's Cancer Centre of Lebanon (CCC L), a founding member of the Middle East Inclusion & Diversity Council, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Olayan School of Business at the American University of Beirut. She earned her MBA in Finance from Imperial College London and her bachelor's degree in mathematics from the American University in Beirut. She has pursued executive education programs at Harvard Business School, UC Berkeley, Stanford, and Columbia Business School. "Elissar brings an enormous and valuable portfolio of experiences to her board service," said David R. Koenig, QRD®, President and Chief Executive Officer of the DCRO Institute. "We are honored to count her among our credential holders now and look forward to her continued impactful service across both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors." The Certificate in Risk Governance® is awarded to those who have completed The Board Members' Course on Risk® - an intensive 17-course education program and evaluation. The curriculum is designed for current and aspiring board members who seek to advance the governance of risk-taking at their organizations and those who interact with boards. Taught by some of the world's leading figures in risk governance, the program features lessons by nearly 50 board members, C-level executives, and well-known authors from five continents. No course on risk for board members as robust as this - depth, practicality, and global expertise - exists anywhere else. "The Certificate in Risk Governance program provides valuable insight for both existing board members and for those embarking on their board journey and truly enriching the understanding of risk management in a governance context," said Ms. Farah Antonios. "I would highly endorse and recommend this program to anyone looking to enhance their expertise in risk governance." The fundamental Duty of Care for directors around risk is to ensure that our organizations take risks well in pursuit of our goals and ambitions. This course furthers the fulfillment of that duty. Candidates may enroll in the Certificate in Risk Governance® program by visiting https://courses.dcroi.org. Read testimonials about the program at www.dcroi.org/testimonials. About the DCRO Institute – The DCRO Institute is the world's leading source of risk governance training and credentialing. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit peer collaboration among board members and C-Suite executives from around the world. The DCRO Institute is the home of the Qualified Risk Director® designation, the Certificate in Risk Governance®, and the Certificate in Cyber Risk Governance®. We work globally to bring risk expertise to the boardroom and C-suite by teaching the positive governance of risk-taking.℠ Graduates from our programs are leaders in boardrooms and C-suites on six continents. Our goal, which is emblazoned on our logo, is to help organizations Innovate, Sustain, and Create Value. Visit www.dcroi.org to learn more. For more information, please contact David R. Koenig at +1.612.286.1776 or by e-mail at david.koenig@dcroi.org. About the Board Members' Course on Risk®

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The grocery technology company announced Wednesday (March 27) the launch of the API program, enabling third-party players to launch apps that integrate with the platform. With IDP, developers gain access to Instacart's product selection and real-time store data, enabling them to offer features like same-day delivery and personalized meal planning. "[W]e're taking over a decade of technology we've built to power the Instacart marketplace and top retailer storefronts, and offering it to a broader range of businesses, turning discovery-centric apps into full-service experiences that can also deliver tangible goods," Instacart Chief Product Officer and Head of Online Grocery Daniel Danker said in a statement. "This enables mainstream services as well as new products born out of emerging AI capabilities to offer truly complete experiences for their customers." Along with the launch, the aggregator announced that the first round of partnerships will include an integration with New York Times Cooking to make recipes shoppable; a WeightWatchers integration to purchase foods in keeping with the program's recommendations; and an integration with GE Appliances to make products such as ovens offer shopping capabilities from their touchscreens. As such, the launch enables Instacart to benefit from the effectiveness of contextual commerce, integrating purchasing opportunities into more parts of consumers' daily lives — both their digital routines, such as browsing culinary content, and their in-person activities, such as interacting with their kitchen appliances. Consumers are interacting with commerce in more parts of their digital routines. Take social media. The PYMNTS Intelligence study "Tracking the Digital Payments Takeover: Monetizing Social Media Edition" drew from a survey of nearly 3,000 U.S. consumers. It revealed that 43% browse social media to find goods and services. Among those who had made a purchase through a social media platform, 1 in 3 had purchased food and beverages. Additionally, consumers are open to more shoppable integrations at various points of their daily routines, as suggested by insights from PYMNTS Intelligence's "How We Will Pay Report: How Connected Devices Enable Multitasking Among Digital-First Consumers," which drew from a survey of more than 4,600 U.S. consumers, It revealed that 34% are very or extremely interested in having their car or smartphone recognize their commute and ask them if they would like to pick up coffee on their way to their destination, such that, if they said yes, their regular coffee order would be automatically ordered and paid for, scheduled for pickup at the most convenient coffee shop. Plus, 4% already do this. In a feature last year, PYMNTS' Karen Webster highlighted Instacart's opportunity to set itself up to be "the retailer-friendly Amazon challenger," and this latest launch could be a step in that direction. "At the moment, it's the closest thing we've seen to a platform that thinks like Amazon — organizing and deploying leading-edge tech at scale for retailers — without some of the conflicts that keep many retailers from participating," Webster observed. "Whether that's Instacart or someone else, there's half of all retail sales up for grabs for whoever perfects that balance." For all PYMNTS retail coverage, subscribe to the daily Retail Newsletter.

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The Next Great Gear Addition for Fly Anglers In this story over at Fly Fisherman Magazine, Joshua Bergan walks us through why fly anglers might want to add walkie-talkies to their gear arsenal. The use cases he highlights are all situations where I wish I'd had a way to communicate with someone while on the water, like finding a pod of rising fish, for example. You can read the rest of the story here. Korkers Debuts New Wade-Lite Boots

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Kite festival in Gaza offers children rare break from ongoing war "We fly kites instead of warplanes," 13-year-old Hala Fayyad said. GAZA -- Hala Fayyad is proud of her handmade kite, decorated in the colors of the Palestinian flag. The four pieces of colored plastic -- red, white, green and black -- are held simply by white plastic sticks and a few strings. "We fly kites instead of warplanes," the 13-year-old told ABC News as she held her kite, moments before setting it free to ride the wind. The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a religious non-governmental organization, hosted a kite festival at a school in Rafah this week. Hundreds of children of different ages participated in the day of games and activities, which culminated in the children flying their kites, carefully crafted in the past few days, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Of the more than 32,000 Palestinians killed in the military response from Israeli forces since October, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, 45% have been children, they have said. Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack in Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that children are the majority of the over 70,000 injured, too. UNICEF estimates that 1 million children in the Gaza Strip have been affected by the conflict. UNICEF, Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), Save the Children and other international organizations have warned of the disproportionate cost that children in Gaza are bearing in this conflict in terms of food insecurity and starvation, thirst, displacement and lack of basic healthcare. "We saw the change in the behavior of Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip as a result of displacement, living in tents and shelters," Firas Ramlawi, the director of AFSC in Gaza, told ABC News. "So we wanted to alleviate this, through games and recreational activities." The kite activity, in particular, provides more than that, the organizers told ABC News. Gazans have a long history of kite-making and flying, connected with symbolic calls for freedom among Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict with Israel, they have said. Gazans even set a Guinness World Record in 2011 for most kites flown simultaneously, flying over 12,000 kites in one day. Ramlawi said the kites they made this time bore the names of children who were killed in the war. On March 30, the AFSC says it will host a parallel kite festival in Washington, D.C., aimed at raising awareness about the price that Palestinian children are paying in this war and calling for a cease-fire in the war. This will happen as a part of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival and will have a tribute to the late Palestinian professor and poet Refaat Alareer, who wrote the viral poem "If I Must Die" around the kite symbolism. "Refaat said, 'let the kite be a symbol of hope,' which is exactly what we need at this moment: hope to keep our people safe," Jennifer Bing, the organizer of the parallel festival in D.C. and a friend of Alareer, told ABC News ahead of the event. Alareer was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza in early December, according to human rights monitor Euro-Med. "He was 44, so we are having 44 white kites, and a multitude of Palestine-themed others," Bing said, adding that they hope to send a pacifist message to the powerful decision-makers in the United States. "We fly kites in order to rest our souls from the occupation planes, even for one day," said Basil Ayman, a child who participated in the festival in Rafah. "Why do wars happen anyway? I hope the war stops." -ABC News' Samy Zyara contributed to this report. Related Topics ABC News Live 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

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Lyric in New Beyonce Song 'Bodyguard' References Mosh Pits While the album is of the country music variety, it hits on multiple cultural touchstones, including a cover of The Beatles' "Blackbird," a guest appearances by Post Malone, Willie Nelson and Miley Cyrus, as well as a cover of Dolly Parton's all-time hit "Jolene." Most unexpectedly, however, is that aforementioned shoutout to moshing. "Bodyguard," the eighth of 27 total tracks on the record, deals with the idea of emotional and physical protection of someone of romantic interest. Opening the second verse, Beyonce sings, "Be your best friend / I protect you in the mosh pit," followed by the rhyme, "And I'll defend you in the gossip / You know how people like to start shit and pop shit." Read the lyrics to the song below and listen to the mosh pit shoutout in "Bodyguard" further down the page. Beyonce, "Bodyguard" Lyrics (via Genius) So sweet I give you kisses in the backseat I whisper secrets in the backbeat You make me cry, you make me happy, happy (Happy) Leave my lipstick on the cigarette Just toss it, and you stomp it out, out, out Inhalin' whiskey when you kiss my neck We've been hurtin', but it's happy hour, oh, hour Oh, oh, ohThey couldn't have me (Ah) And they never will And sometimes I hold you closer Just to know you're real (Ah) Wheels in the gravel Davis in my bones Sometimes I take the day off (Ah) Just to turn you on On, on, ohHonеy, honey I could be your bodyguard (Hey) Oh, honеy, honey I could be your Kevlar (Huh) Oh, honey, honey I could be your lifeguard (Huh) Ooh, honey, honey You should let me ride shotgun, shotgun Oh, oh, ohBe your best friend I protect you in the mosh pit And I'll defend you in the gossip You know how people like to start shit and pop shit I don't like the way she's lookin' at you Someone better hold me back, oh-oh Chargin' ten for a double and I'm talkin' I'm 'bout to lose it, turn around and John Wayne that ass (One, two, three, four)They couldn't catch you (Ah, with me) And they never will (You see) Sometimes I hold you closer Just to know you're real (Ah) Tell me your problems (I got you) I take how you feel (Mm, huh) I show you an exit (Ah) When you're restless I take the wheel Ooh, oh, ohHoney, honey You could be my bodyguard (Huh, uh) Oh, honey, honey Will you let me ride shotgun? Shotgun Oh, oh, ohOh (Ah) Oh Oh (Ah) Oh I could be your bodyguard Please let me be your Kevlar (Huh) Baby, let me be your lifeguard Would you let me ride a shotgun? Shotgun Oh, oh, oh One, two, three, four Beyonce, "Bodyguard" (mosh pit lyric at 1:59) The 60 Rock + Metal Songs With Over One Billion Spotify Streams Gallery Credit: Joe DiVita

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Jul 22, 2020 / 01:00PM GMT Cyndia Nguli - Safaricom PLC - Senior Manager of IR Good morning, good afternoon or good evening, depending on where you're joining us from. Welcome to the Safaricom Investor Briefing with Safaricom's CEO, Peter Ndegwa; outgoing CFO, Sateesh Kamath; and Interim CFO and Head of Investor Relations, Ilanna Darcy. I'm Cyndia Nguli, Senior Manager, Investor Relations. Peter and Sateesh will give brief opening remarks and return to your questions. (Operator Instructions) And with that, Peter, I hand over to you. Thank you. Peter Waititu Ndegwa - Safaricom PLC - CEO & Executive Director Thank you, Cyndia. Good afternoon, everyone. I hope you can hear me. I meant you, Cyndia, just to confirm that you can hear me. Cyndia Nguli - Safaricom PLC - Senior Manager of IR Yes, I can hear you, Peter. I can hear you. Peter Waititu Ndegwa - Safaricom PLC - CEO & Executive Director Yes. So good afternoon, everyone, and it's great to have this call. We are looking forward to Safaricom Plc Investor Briefing and Announcement of Interim CFO Call Transcript Already have an account? Log in Get the full story Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | | 30-Year Financial on one screen | | All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | | Customizable Stock Dashboard | | Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | | 8,000+ Institutional investors' 13F holdings | | Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | | All data downloadable | | Quick customer support | | And much more... | 30-Day 100% money back guarantee You are not charged until the trial ends. Subscription fee may be tax deductible. Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot

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LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Images of a campus police officer diving behind a patrol vehicle to escape gunfire and then fatally shooting a gunman outside a building at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, are among newly released video of a deadly rampage that left three professors dead and a fourth badly wounded last December. The deadly shootout captured by campus surveillance cameras ended what authorities say was 10 minutes of terror unleashed by a 67-year-old former business professor from North Carolina whose applications to teach at UNLV had been rejected. The gunman, Anthony Polito, was armed with a legally purchased 9 mm handgun, carried nine bullet magazines, and had a target list of names, although none of the people shot was on that list, police said. The university on Thursday released 20 hours of footage from campus security and officer body cameras, along with more than an hour of recordings of 911 calls made to campus police. Sounds of the gunfire that killed three people in upper floors of the five-story business school sent people fleeing from the nearby Student Union just before noon on a sunny day. Video shows a campus police officer, running across the plaza toward the business school building, arrived within 78 seconds of the shooting. "It is difficult to listen to these recordings and watch the videos and not reflect on the tragic events that day," university Vice President of Public Safety Adam Garcia said in a statement accompanying the release of the material in response to public records requests. Two gunshots are heard early in more than an hour of 911 recordings that include one father calling to say he got a text from his daughter who was hiding in a classroom. "Is there an active shooter there?" he asks. "Yes," the male dispatcher replies, adding that police are at the scene. "So just tell your daughter to stay where she's at." New video shows campus security officers immediately entering the business school building as Las Vegas police swarm the area near the center-campus Student Union while young people stream the other way. Video footage from a parking lot shows the gunman get out of a black sedan wearing a black trench coat and retrieve something from a passenger compartment before walking calmly toward the business school building. A different video shows officers helping a badly wounded professor who walked out of the same building before collapsing on a sidewalk behind a patrol car. UNLV President Keith Whitfield told the university community this month the man, a visiting professor, was "improving daily ... doing rehab and out of the hospital." He has not been identified by name. Las Vegas police began releasing video and audio recordings in December showing officers from throughout southern Nevada spending hours going door to door in campus buildings, releasing students and faculty members in waves, before declaring the gunman had acted alone and there was no further threat. The shooting occurred just a few miles from the site of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history: An Oct. 1, 2017, massacre that had a gunman open fire from windows of the high-rise Mandalay Bay resort into a crowd of 20,000 people at an outdoor music festival below. Sixty people died, and hundreds were wounded or injured. ____ Associated Press journalists Rio Yamat and Ty O'Neil contributed to this report.

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Cumbum valley—grapes city of south India—is very popular for Muscat Hamburg (panneer thiratchai) cultivation. It is noteworthy that the valley contributes up to 85% of panneer thiratchai production in the country. Nearly 90% of the grapes grown in Tamil Nadu belong to the seeded variety of Muscat Hamburg. According to sources, Theni is considered one of the highest Muscat Hamburg producing districts in Tamil Nadu. This variety is extremely popular among farmers because of quick growth and early maturity. This ensures that the fruit is available in the market almost throughout the year, unlike several others. Fertility of soil and availability of water enhance the natural flavour of the fruit. The size of panneer thiratchai bunches is medium to large. The fruit is used to make the best of wines, jams and raisins. Cumbum grapes received the GI tag in 2023, finally opening up the opportunity for exporting it across the globe. Speaking to TNIE, Periyar Vaigai Irrigation Farmers Association president and Kaamayam Thiratchai Vivasayigal Sangam coordinator Pon Katchi Kannan said, "Grapes of different varieties are raised in blocks of Uthamapalayam, Cumbum and Chinnamanur in Theni district. But 'panneer' variety is chiefly associated with Cumbum valley where cultivation area is around 5,000 acres in 10 villages. Nearly 90% of the state's grape production is in Theni district. Over 300 farmers in the district cultivate grapes. Climate and soil condition of the region are conducive for optimal growth of the Muscat variety. A unique factor is that 'panneer' grapes are available and harvested throughout the year in this valley while it is done only during January and April in the rest of India." Farmers in Cumbum follow hi-tech management practices. The 'dogridge' rootstock is used for grape production to fight soil and water salinity issues. Higher yield is achieved by developing hardwood cuttings. Farmers themselves, without expecting assistance from government departments, procure hardwood cuttings from elite vineyards and set up their nurseries. Well-developed canes harvested in the months of September and October are chosen for this purpose. Kannan said Cumbum valley farmers produce nearly 90,000 tonnes of 'paneer' grapes and the annual turnover is around Rs 280 crore. What makes the region special is that natural products or fruits are cultivated on a regular basis throughout the year and grapes have been grown on the same soil year after year for several years. However, it may be noted that export of 'panneer' grapes has been happening only from the states of Karnataka and Kerala. "Farmers spend Rs 7 lakh per acre, which yields nearly 10 to 12 tonnes of grapes. A minimum of 200 farm workers are required for carrying the cultivation and harvest on an acre of grape farm. Like paddy and sugarcane, the government has to provide a minimum support price of Rs 50 per kg in order to carry farming continuously. Though the fruit has received the GI tag, we are still not able to export the grapes since we do not have the infrastructure and are also yet to received the GI certificate. Besides, the government has also not taken much effort in marketing the fruit. The government has to extend more support to cultivators and also set up wine factories here, all of which would facilitate export," Kannan said. Speaking to TNIE, Deputy Director of Horticulture Department C Prabha said that panneer thratchai cultivation is carried out on over 2,000 hectares in Cumbum area including Uthamapalayam. Most of the farmers follow the polygon cultivation method. "On behalf of the department, we are providing Rs 2 lakh as subsidy per acre and also giving grape vine cutting along with inputs for cultivation. Farmers here do pruning during summer and winter. The department sent a proposal to provide anti bird nets to farmers free of cost," she said. An official from the horticulture department said that in order to cater to the needs of grape growers in Theni and Dindigul districts and other regions of Tamil Nadu, the Grapes Research Station was established under the aegis of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University on 28.48 acres. The facility is located on Shanmuganathy Dam Road of Rayappanpatty village in the Cumbum valley. The area comes under the limit of Anaimalayanpatty (Mallingapuram revenue village). This is the only station in the entire state engaged in research, extension, mass production and distribution of grapes. Weather forecast is being given to farmers on a daily and weekly basis. Strategies to tackle downy mildew and powdery mildew diseases are also being shared with farmers through Whatsapp. Training programme on tackling challenges and best practices are also being conducted on a regular basis. Piece of history This variety of grapes was introduced at Melapatti, a village near Krishnagiri in Salem district, by a French priest in 1832. A French Jesuit priest known as Fr Larney at Michael Patti in Theni later introduced it to other regions in the 19th century. Since then, grapes have been cultivated in the state. In Tamil Nadu, Theni, Coimbatore, Dindigul and Krishnagiri are the important districts for grape cultivation. In 2008-09, Theni district led the state with 85.1% share in the state's total production of grapes from cultivation of Muscat variety in Theni district.

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Mets owner Steve Cohen says he'll be disappointed if team misses playoffs NEW YORK (AP) — Expectations are lower for the New York Mets entering this season. But owner Steve Cohen still has a specific achievement in mind. "I think the goal is to make the playoffs. Pretty simple. Let's not overthink this," Cohen said Friday. "If we don't make the playoffs, obviously I'd be disappointed." Wearing a Mets cap and jacket, Cohen held a news conference at Citi Field a couple of hours before the Mets played their opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, pushed back a day because of rain. New York is coming off an expensive flop in 2023, when the team began the year with World Series aspirations following a 101-win season and a playoff appearance the year before. Despite the highest payroll in baseball history (about $355 million on opening day), the Mets finished fourth in the NL East at 75-87. After the season, they paid a record luxury tax of nearly $101 million. The team traded star pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander and several other veterans for minor league prospects ahead of the deadline in early August, with the Mets saying they were pointing toward 2025 while still looking to compete in 2024. "I don't view it as a reset," Cohen said Friday. "I would call it we're transitioning and yet still being highly competitive. And I think that's a hard thing to do. You know, based on what I see on the roster, I think we've accomplished that." Under new president of baseball operations David Stearns, the Mets bulked up their bullpen this offseason and improved the defense with lower-profile moves. Then they made a splash late in spring training, signing veteran slugger J.D. Martinez to a $12 million, one-year contract. Cohen acknowledged first baseman Pete Alonso was eager for more protection in the lineup heading into his final season before becoming eligible for free agency. "We knew there were some constraints given contracts that we're paying for that obviously run off at the end of this year or maybe at the end of next year. So there were some money constraints, right?" Cohen said. "I mean, at some point everyone's got a budget. But generally I'm really pleased at what we've created. … I think we've built a club that's going to be there in September." On his fourth opening day as Mets owner, Cohen said he remains pretty popular with fans when he sees them around the ballpark. "They're still pretty supportive. I'm waiting for that to run out. We've got to win at some point," he said. "Listen, I think the goal is to make the playoffs and be there year in and year out, and I think we're going to over time accomplish that. I think what we're building here is something that's sustainable." ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

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Marianne Williamson, still in Democratic presidential bid, says campaign isn't about winning: 'There's more than the horse race' Williamson hopes her candidacy will shine a light on progressive conversations. Marianne Williamson, the author and spiritualist who has been one of President Joe Biden's few primary challengers in the 2024 presidential race, suspended and unsuspended her campaign last month -- and now that she's back in the race, she told ABC News that her focus is not on taking down Biden, but on bringing progressive ideas and discussions about them to the campaign trail. Williamson suspended her campaign on Feb. 7 following a string of significant primary losses in early states. She said she didn't have the resources to continue -- however, she wasn't yet ready to abandon her candidacy. "I suspended because I had done very poorly on the electoral level in the first three primary states. So if you just look at this in terms of the horse race, it was time to get out," Williamson said in an interview with ABC News on March 18 -- one day before a round of primaries that delivered a blow to her campaign. She was on the ballot in three states, earning an average of 3.6%. Williams said she soon realized her purpose as a presidential candidate wasn't necessarily about victory (Biden is already the presumptive Democratic nominee) or even earning delegates (she has not accrued any this primary cycle), but about triggering discussion on the campaign trail to include topics such as universal healthcare, youth hunger or free tuition to public colleges. She said that without debates or significant discourse between the candidates in the primary race, these progressive ideas have been missing from the conversation. Williamson reentered the 2024 presidential cycle on Feb. 28 -- three weeks after she left the race. She unsuspended her campaign the day after she received more than 2,000 more votes in the Michigan Democratic primary than Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips, who was still a Democratic presidential candidate at the time. She said she made the decision to restart her campaign ahead of Michigan's contest -- even traveling there to hold events ahead of the primary -- but didn't want to split votes between herself and the state's growing coalition of Democrats who disapproved of the Biden administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas war and were therefore voting for an "uncommitted" option. "I was afraid that if I got in right then that it would look like I was challenging something," Williamson said. "The morning after the Michigan primary, I got back in. Realizing the obvious limitations [to my candidacy] but also realizing that there's a larger purpose here than trying to compete in the horse race." The second iteration of Williamson's 2024 presidential platform is identical to her first -- focused less on winning and more about ideas. In the short time she was out of the race, the circumstances of the Democratic field had shifted so that she has emerged as a promising alternative for some Democrats disillusioned with Biden's stance on the Israel-Hamas war, especially in places where an "uncommitted" option isn't available on the ballot -- considered a protest vote against Biden, who hasn't achieved a cease-fire in Gaza. Williamson has materialized as the candidate who will more aggressively pursue a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war as a longstanding proponent of peace between Israel and Palestinians and considered by many Palestinian supporters to be a stronger voice than Biden on the subject. And in states like Virginia, Illinois and Arizona, where an "uncommitted" option wasn't available to voters, cease-fire organizers encouraged Democratic voters to cast ballots for Williamson to represent their anti-Biden protest vote. They didn't go as far as actually endorsing Williamson, however. Williamson expressed gratitude for the groups that label her as the "cease-fire candidate." Liano Sharon and Nadia Ahmad, progressive Democratic National Committee delegates, recently threw their support behind Williamson. They cite her "unwavering commitment to advocating for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and Palestine" as the primary reason for their endorsement. Both are pledging to be automatic delegate votes at convention -- meaning that in the unlikely scenario that Biden isn't nominated on the first ballot at convention, Sharon and Ahmad would become superdelegates and support Williamson on the second ballot. "The only way to be confident that you're sending pro-cease-fire delegates to the convention is to vote for Marianne because she's the only one on the ballot that's pro-cease-fire," Sharon, a DNC delegate for Michigan, said in an interview with ABC News. "There are many things about Marianne that I think are really admirable. And there are some things that ... I'm not so keen on. But in terms of getting cease-fire delegates to the convention, she's the only way to do it," he added. Ahmad said she's "actively getting other [ceasefire voters] to try to" endorse Williamson on a national scale. Williamson, 71, is a best-selling self-help author who was catapulted to fame when Oprah Winfrey endorsed the now-candidate's work through her book club and as sort of spiritual adviser on her show. She also ran for president in 2020. Williamson was Biden's first challenger in 2024. Now, after other dark-horse Democratic candidates Rep. Dean Phillips and progressive commentator Cenk Uygur have suspended their monthslong bids, Williamson is Biden's last remaining primary opponent. The DNC has thrown its support behind Biden and has not facilitated network debates ahead of the primary cycle. The national party, along with the Biden campaign, has engaged very little with Williamson's candidacy, except in the very beginning when White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre jokingly dismissed her candidacy. During a press briefing in March 2023, Jean-Pierre said she was "just not tracking" Williamson's campaign, which had formally launched earlier that week. When Williamson first sought the nomination in 2020, she participated in two primary debates and had the opportunity to make notable press appearances. This cycle has been a wholly different experience, she said. She said she has expressed intense frustration with her difficulty breaking through media markets, often taking to her own social media or Fox News to articulate her platform. She said she's been disenfranchised by not only the Democratic Party, but also state parties, who she claims -- without clear evidence -- have worked with DNC leadership to keep her off ballots states such as Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee. The state and national groups, for their part, unequivocally deny the allegation. Last cycle, Williamson never experienced defeat. She left the race ahead of Iowa in 2020, ultimately endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders and later Biden in the general election. This cycle, she has placed in distant second or third behind Biden, and has not come close in any state to reaching the 15% threshold she'd need to earn a share of Democratic delegates. The future of the Williamson campaign Williamson and her "skeleton" campaign staff of just a few long-standing members of her team haven't yet identified exactly where they might be able to gain delegates, she said. Instead, they've been traveling the country, putting on low-cost events in cities such as Chicago, New Orleans, Queens, New York, to get her message out. She said she plans to remain in the race until the end of the primaries, which is in June, and that she will celebrate victories wherever they come. "Look, I'm not delusional, and after going through this experience a couple of times, I'm not naive either. But the conversation matters," she said. She's not raising money either. At the end of February, her campaign has more than $1 million of debt, according to filings from the Federal Elections Commission. She ended February with just $202,201on hand, according to the FEC filings. Williams said she is unsure about who she will support for president following her campaign. She has said she would not engage in aiding any of the third-party candidates, in fear that they would boost the candidacy of former President Donald Trump. "My guiding principle is that I will not do anything that I feel increases the risk that Donald Trump will return to the White House," she said. "That's the bottom line for me." Related Topics ABC News Live 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

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Can You Guess the Nu-Metal Music Videos From the Screenshots? Can you guess the famous nu-metal music videos from the screenshots? Music videos used to be just as important as the songs, especially because of networks such as MTV. So if you were a fan of nu-metal back when it was all happening, there's a high chance you've seen a lot of the music videos quite a few times. Here's how it works — we provide an initial screenshot from the music video as your clue. The clue doesn't feature any members of the bands or any logos so that the answer isn't obvious, but we tried to pick shots that would be moderately recognizable to most fans. Don't scroll too fast! The answer is provided in the screenshot underneath. Give yourself a point for every answer you get correct, and be honest! There's no reward at the end, but self-pride is a powerful thing, and you may learn some fun facts about the videos along the way. And please don't yell at us for calling certain bands nu-metal. It's just for fun. Test your nu-metal knowledge by scrolling through the music video screenshots below. Have fun and let us know how many you got right! Can You Guess the Nu-Metal Video From the Screenshot? Gallery Credit: Lauryn Schaffner

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Jul 30, 2020 / 08:00AM GMT Joseph Ogutu - Safaricom PLC - Chief Special Projects Officer (presentation) Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and a warm welcome to our 12th Annual General Meeting coming to you live from the Michael Joseph Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. On behalf of Safaricom's Board, the entire management team, staff, I would like to express our very sincere gratitude to you for joining us today. (foreign language) I'd now like us to stand for the Kenya and East African Community Anthem. This will be led by the Ghetto Classics, a community-based program that aims to transform lives of children and young adults across socioeconomic levels using music education to provide them with opportunities to better their lives and also their communities. Let us stand. (presentation) Joseph Ogutu - Safaricom PLC - Chief Special Projects Officer (technical difficulty) to be led by [Pramod Chechenshua]. Unidentified Participant - Thank you. Can we bring our hands together for the prayer? (foreign Safaricom Plc Annual Shareholders Meeting Transcript Already have an account? Log in Get the full story Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | | 30-Year Financial on one screen | | All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | | Customizable Stock Dashboard | | Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | | 8,000+ Institutional investors' 13F holdings | | Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | | All data downloadable | | Quick customer support | | And much more... | 30-Day 100% money back guarantee You are not charged until the trial ends. Subscription fee may be tax deductible. Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot

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The U.S. economy is expected to continue growing stronger in the coming years than previously anticipated. With the boom of intelligent technologies, the semiconductor stocks to buy have seen a parallel rise in success. The industry was poised at a strong valuation of $573 billion in 2022 but is expected to receive a stronger revenue figure in 2029, reaching $1.4 trillion. During this period, an industry CAGR of 12.2%. AMD holds a strong market presence, compounded by its $288.6 billion market cap. With this economic and semiconductor industry confidence, investing in semiconductor stocks to buy will only serve to benefit. And what's better? Getting the stocks at a deal. These top three companies are all currently at a discount and will be very profitable if you invest now. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Source: Pamela Marciano / Shutterstock.com Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) is an American semiconductor developer and manufacturer. This widespread business agenda has allowed AMD to gross a $177.87 valuation, with a yearly growth of 84.11%. With greens in every financial metric, AMD reported a solid quarter in Q4 2023 on all accounts with profitable growth. The company's revenue marked $6.17 billion, or a YOY growth of 10.16%. Further, the largest gains were in both net income and diluted EPS, with figures of $667 million and $0.42 reported. In these respective categories, YOY percent increases of 3076% and 4100% were marked on the financial sheet. Substantial profits and yearly growth set up the company for success. Largely, AMD's specification in who its business targets were slated to improve business overall. With this decision, AMD has emphasized the developers of AI capabilities rather than the users in specific models, creating GPUs such as the MI300X. With this, Advanced Micro Devices is set to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom while specifying its consumer base to outcompete its competitors. Microchip (MCHP) Source: Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com Microchip (NASDAQ:MCHP) makes and sells specialized microprocessors, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP chips. MCHP's YTD decline stands at 4.37%, with a 12-month median price aim of $94.00, marking a 9.0% upsurge from its present $86.24 price — this decline makes it perfect to buy now. In 2024, Microchip outperformed analyst projections, disclosing $8.4 billion in revenue and $4.93 EPS. The firm flaunted a leveraged FCF margin of 26.29%, exceeding the sector's median of 9.24%. Additionally, Microchip diminished substantial debt and announced a $0.45 per share dividend, showcasing its operational prowess. The pivotal recent event for the enterprise is the acquisition of Microsemi, fortifying MCHP's foothold in aerospace, defense, data center and communications sectors, thereby expanding its potential market. Microcontrollers constitute MCHP's core product, representing around 56.4% of the revenue mix as of FY23. Analog goods, contributed 24.4% of FY23 revenue, and if their power in the market grows, so will revenue. Axcelis (ACLS) Source: Pavel Kapysh / Shutterstock.com Axcelis (NASDAQ:ACLS) is a United States-based corporation specializing in crafting, producing and maintaining ion implantation machinery essential in semiconductor manufacturing. Presently, its shares are trading at a discounted rate, marking a decline of 16.36% within the past year. With a P/E ratio standing at merely 16.18, approximately half of the iShares Semiconductor ETF's average P/E ratio, analysts concur that the company's stocks are undervalued. Predictions from eight analysts suggest a median 12-month price of $169.15, indicating a 56.56% increase compared to Axcelis's current valuation. The company's potential growth lies in the AI sector, complementing its advancements in the EV sector. The AI chip boom, combined with the momentum in the automotive sector, it is poised to make a significant impact. The Purion Power Series, including H200 and XE SiC systems, leads the charge in EV adoption, despite the challenges in making EVs as reliable, efficient and cost-effective as traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. On the date of publication, Michael Que did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines. The researchers contributing to this article did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. Michael Que is a financial writer with extensive experience in the technology industry, with his work featured on Seeking Alpha, Benzinga and MSN Money. He is the owner of Que Capital, a research firm that combines fundamental analysis with ESG factors to pick the best sustainable long-term investments. More From InvestorPlace - The #1 AI Investment Might Be This Company You've Never Heard Of - Musk's "Project Omega" May Be Set to Mint New Millionaires. Here's How to Get In. - It doesn't matter if you have $500 or $5 million. Do this now. The post 3 Semiconductor Stocks to Buy on the Dip: March 2024 appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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ROME — (AP) — Pope Francis skipped the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum to protect his health, the Vatican said, making a last-minute decision that added to concerns about his frail condition during a particularly busy liturgical period. Francis had been expected to preside over the Way of the Cross procession, which re-enacts Christ's Passion and crucifixion, and composed the meditations that are read aloud at each station. But just as the event was about to begin, the Vatican announced that Francis was following the event from his home at the Vatican. "To conserve his health in view of the vigil tomorrow and Mass on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis will follow the Via Crucis at the Colosseum this evening from the Casa Santa Marta," a statement from the Vatican press office said. While Francis had also skipped the event in 2023 because he was recovering from bronchitis and it was a particularly cold night, his last-minute decision to stay home this year recalled the Good Friday that St. John Paul II famously watched from the Apostolic Palace just before he died in 2005. The 87-year-old Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been battling what he and the Vatican have described as a case of the flu, bronchitis or a cold all winter long. For the last several weeks he has occasionally asked an aide to read aloud his speeches and skipped his Palm Sunday homily altogether. The decision to not attend the Good Friday procession appeared to be very last-minute: Francis' chair was in place on the platform where he was to preside over the rite. His closest aide, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, was on hand and moved the television screen around on the platform so Francis would have a better view of what was going on inside the Colosseum itself. But at 9:10 p.m., five minutes before the official start of the procession, the Vatican press office announced on Telegram that he wouldn't show up. The chair was quickly taken away. The hasty announcement recalled Francis' last-minute decision on Palm Sunday, when the Vatican issued the pope's homily in advance to journalists, and his aide got up to give him his glasses to read it, when Francis made clear he was skipping it. Francis had appeared in good form earlier in the day for a Good Friday liturgy in St. Peter's Basilica, though he remained seated throughout and it was not a particularly taxing event that required him to speak at length. On Saturday, he is to preside over a lengthy evening Easter Vigil in St. Peter's, one of the most solemn events in the liturgical calendar. He also is due to preside over Easter Sunday Mass in the piazza and deliver his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) speech rounding up global crises and threats to humanity. In addition to his respiratory problems, Francis had a chunk of his large intestine removed in 2021 and was hospitalized twice last year, including once to remove intestinal scar tissue from previous surgeries to address diverticulosis, or bulges in his intestinal wall. In his recently published memoirs, "Life: My Story Through History," Francis said he isn't suffering from any health problems that would require him to resign and that he still has " many projects to bring to fruition." ___ This version corrects that this was the second time Francis skipped the event, after staying home also in 2023.

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The very mention of Ramanathapuram might trigger thoughts of a parched landscape and water-starved parcels of land. However, it would be a surprise to many to hear that over 1.7 lakh hectares across the district are used to cultivate agriculture and horticulture crops every year. Apart from foodgrains, Ramanathapuram is very popular for chilli cultivation, and the district has its own varieties called 'Ramanathapuram mundu' and 'samba'.The samba chilli, which is very popular in the region, also has lot of demand on the global market. The mundu variety, which is very popular domestically, recently received GI tag and is likely to see a surge in exports.Despite water not being available in plenty in the district, farmers manage to raise thousands of tonnes of chilli every year. Every year, these two varieties are raised on 15,000 hectares in the district. The Ramanathapuram mundu is well known for its spiciness – it has a pungency (capsaicin content) rate of 17,500 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), making it one among the spiciest of chillies with a history of over 200 years.MSK Bakkianathan, president of TN Vaigai Irrigation Farmers Association, says, "Though Guntur is referred to as the 'chilli city' of India, decades ago Ramanathapuram was the major hub for chillies. In olden days, over a lakh hectares was reportedly used for chilli cultivation. Over the past few years, the government has been taking steps to convert fallow land into chilli fields, which has brought much cheer to cultivators."Talking to TNIE, secretary of the marketing committee of the agriculture business department Raja says, "On an average, 10,000 tonnes of chill, mostly mundu variety, are cultivated annually in Ramanathapuram. The state government has initiated a special chilli complex with a 2,000-tonne cold storage facility at Ettivayal village where processing and selling is done. A 'chilli zone' comprising Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Sivaganga and Thoothukudi districts has been initiated to increase the crop coverage. "V Ramar, a chilli farmer cum exporter from Korampallam, says, "Wherever Tamils live, irrespective of the part of the world, there is demand for the Ramanathapuram chilli. I exported 80 tonnes of samba and mundu varieties to Europe and the United States last year. With mundu getting GI Tag, its demand has gone up and I recently exported 12 tonnes of the variety. Over 500 tones of chilli were exported last year from Kamudhi block alone. Thanks to the tag, the price of mundu has increased and come on a par with samba variety at Rs 200 a kg."With the demand for organic crops rising on the global market, farmers would immensely benefit if the state government initiated a new scheme to promote organic cultivation of chillies. Vellimalar of Farmers Producer Organisation, says, "Last year, we exported nearly 500 tonnes of chilli and 100 tonnes of stemless chilli to domestic and international markets. Apart from farmers, these crops provide employment to several farm workers and those engaged in processing work. More AC storage facilities should established in the district and farmers should be informed more about such facilities. This will help reduce the post harvest losses."

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Oregon State frustrates Hidalgo and beats Notre Dame 70-65 in Sweet 16 ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Timea Gardiner scored 21 points, Raegan Beers added 18 points and 13 rebounds and Oregon State frustrated Notre Dame star Hannah Hidalgo to beat the Irish 70-65 on Friday and advance to their first regional final in eight years. Donovyn Hunter added 11 points for the third-seeded Beavers (27-7), who will face either overall top-seed South Carolina or Indiana on Sunday. Sonia Citron scored 22 points and Maddy Westbeld added 19 for second-seeded Notre Dame, which finishes the season at 28-7. Hidalgo, who came in averaging 22.9 points, was held to just 10 points on 4 of 17 shooting, matching a season low in scoring. She also missed about four minutes at the start of the second quarter after officials ordered her to remove a stud from her nose. Oregon State led by a point at halftime, but opened the second half on and 11-2 run, capped by a layup from Gardiner that forced an Irish timeout. The Irish came back, taking a 59-57 lead on a pull-up jumper from Anna DeWolfe with just over 4 minutes left in the game. But a 3-pointer from Donovan put Oregon State back in front for good. Hidalgo's off-balance shot with a minute made it 65-63, before Gardiner found Beers underneath with 26 seconds left to stretch it to four. Talia von Oelhoffen blocked a 3-point attempt from Westbeld and sank two foul shots on the other end. Notre Dame has been using a six-player rotation since losing 6-foot-4 forward Kylee Watson, who tore an ACL in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament. Oregon State capitalized on their height advantage early, throwing the ball into the paint. The 6-2 Beers and 6-3 Gardiner combined for 14 of the Beaver's 17 first-quarter points and Oregon State led by three after 10 minutes. The short-handed Irish also dealt with early foul trouble. DeWolfe picked up two in the first quarter and Westbeld had three by halftime. Citron took over for the Irish, scoring nine second-quarter points, but Oregon led 32-31 at the break. BIG PICTURE Oregon State: The Beavers have now held 14 opponents this season to at least 10 points below their season average. Notre Dame came into Friday's game averaging 79 points a game. Oregon State has advanced past the Sweet 16 just once before, reaching the 2016 Final Four. Notre Dame: The 10 points ties a season-low for Hidalgo, who hit just two of her first 13 shots. UP NEXT Oregon State will meet the winner of Friday's second game between top-seeded South Carolina and No. 4 seed Indiana. ___

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Scientists baffled over hundreds of fish 'spinning and whirling' dead onto South Florida shores It is too soon to speculate the cause of the unusual behavior, researchers say. Scientists are puzzled over what's causing hundreds of fish to wash up dead in South Florida, including an endangered species native to the region. The fish are "spinning and whirling" onto shore in the Florida Keys, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), which is labeling the incident as an "abnormal fish behavior event." But there are no signs of a communicable pathogen, the commission published in an update on Wednesday, based on fish necropsy data. In October, fishers and fishing guides began to notice erratic behavior of fish spinning in circles and upside down, Mike Parsons, professor of marine science at the Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University, told ABC News. The university is working with the FWC, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies to determine the source of the unusual behavior. Dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH and temperature are not suspected to be the cause of the fish behavior or kills, according to the FWC. Red tide toxins have not been detected in water samples either. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection conducted a lot of analyses looking for different pollutants, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals and nothing showed up, Parsons said. A different kind of harmful algal bloom or neurotoxin could be at play, Parsons said, adding that the affected fish stopped spinning when they were placed in "clean" water. Researchers are essentially approaching the tests as a "needle in a haystack," he said. "This is unusual," Parsons said. "We really haven't seen this before -- so trying to figure out what's going on is a bit of a mystery." The critically endangered smalltooth sawfish are the species among the fish deaths that marine researchers are most concerned with, Adam Brame, NOAA Fisheries' sawfish recovery coordinator, told ABC News. NOAA Fisheries has launched an emergency response effort due to the sawfish deaths and is attempting to rescue sick sawfish -- an complex effort that has never been attempted before, according to the agency. Additional sawfish tissues are still being processed for analysis, according to the FWC, which sent 52 fish, including and 12 smalltooth sawfish to University of South Alabama for analyses. While researchers have several theories on what could be causing the unusual fish behavior, it is too soon to speculate, Brame added. "As it stands currently, it's a mystery that's yet to be solved," he said. Dozens of carcasses of smalltooth sawfish have been among the piles of dead fish, according to the FWC. There have been at least 28 confirmed sawfish mortalities and 265 reports to the hotline for fish deaths, according to data from the FWC. Most of the sawfish mortalities have been in the lower Florida Keys, but wildlife agencies have begun to get reports of sawfish displaying similar symptoms outside of the Keys, including near Everglades National Park, Brame said. NOAA Fisheries has been getting regular reports of affected sawfish since January, Brame added. Health officials are warning residents to not eat any spinning fish or fish caught in areas where spinning fish were reported, Parsons said. It is unclear how many smalltooth sawfish are left in the wild, Brame said. They historically ranged from North Carolina to Texas, but they are now only found regularly in South Florida. The population of this species was decimated as sawfish were captured in fishery bycatches, Brame said. Coastal development has also impacted their habitat, as they rely on shallow steam waters for their nurseries. "It reduces the amount of habitat that's available for these mothers to come in and concert them," Brame said. The smalltooth sawfish was the first marine fish to receive protections under the Endangered Species Act in 2003. Genetic analysis of the species has shown that a limited number of breeding females could be the reason why the smalltooth sawfish population has been unable to recover quickly, Brame said. Brame stressed the importance of public participation and urged anyone who sees unusual behavior to report it to the hotline at 1-844-4SAWFISH (1-844-472-9347) or Sawfish@myfwc.com. Related Topics ABC News Live 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

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Have Cigars Impacted James Hetfield's Voice? Metallica Frontman Answers A little less than two years ago, the Metallica frontman along with Blackened American Whiskey Master Distiller & Blender Rob Dietrich and Drew Estate Cigars announced their plans for Blackend's M81 maduro cigar. The group followed that up with the release of the S84 Shade to Black cigar. How James Hetfield Feels About His Voice After Smoking Cigars Hetfield's involvement in the project has gone beyond throwing his name on a cigar brand. It is part of a lifestyle that has him even lighting up a cigar before stepping onstage to perform for nearly two hours. "There's a lot of people around me that are concerned about that and the health and what not," Hetfield said during a recent interview with The Metallica Report podcast. Despite concerns from those around him, the 60-year-old Hetfield doesn't feel like the cigar smoke is affecting his voice or his performance in any way. "I feel that I am kind of singing the best that I have in a long time and I am doing my best, and I get to enjoy that as well, so we'll see." Smoking Cigars Both On The Road And At Home Hetfield's love of cigar smoke is by no means a tour-exclusive vice. For him, it's also about fellowship when he gets back home for his weekly gathering with fellow cigar smokers. "We get together every Thursday and have a puff and just get real with each other you know, check in with each other," Hetfield told The Metallica Report "There are a few guys in the area that are not real social and we get together once a week and that's it. They are looking forward to that day of the week, which I enjoy." Providing a social outlet for the fellowship members is important to Hetfield. That's why he makes sure they still have a chance to meet-up even when Metallica is on the road. "When I'm not there they have the code to the garage and get into my house and they enjoy it while I'm away, too, which is very cool." The Most Played Song Live Off Every Metallica Album Gallery Credit: Joe DiVita

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Nov 09, 2020 / 04:45AM GMT Presentation Nov 09, 2020 / 04:45AM GMT ===================== Corporate Participants ===================== * Ilanna Darcy Safaricom PLC - Head of IR and Financial Planning & Analysis * Michael Joseph Safaricom PLC - Chairman * Peter Waititu Ndegwa Safaricom PLC - CEO & Executive Director * Stephen Chege Safaricom PLC - Chief Corporate Affairs Officer ===================== Stephen Chege - Safaricom PLC - Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the announcement of Safaricom's Half Year 2020/2021 financial results. On behalf of our Board of Directors, the management team, our staff at Safaricom PLC, we thank you very much for making time to join us virtually for this event. It is a pity that we are not able to meet in person. The COVID-19 pandemic has indeed altered our ways of engagement. However, I am glad that thanks to technology, which is a bedrock of our business, we are able to virtually connect and engage this morning. We hope that you Half Year 2021 Safaricom Plc Earnings Presentation Transcript Already have an account? Log in Get the full story Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | | 30-Year Financial on one screen | | All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | | Customizable Stock Dashboard | | Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | | 8,000+ Institutional investors' 13F holdings | | Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | | All data downloadable | | Quick customer support | | And much more... | 30-Day 100% money back guarantee You are not charged until the trial ends. Subscription fee may be tax deductible. Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot

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Ambassador Hirut zemene Kassa and Mr. Thomas De Belue, Secretary General of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture Belgium-Luxembourg, Africa, Caribbean, Pacific(CBL ACP) jointly led a business seminar held on 28th of March 2024 at the Embassy premises. The CEO of the CBL- ACP Mr. Tanguy Briey has also graced the event by addressing the audience. In her welcoming remark H.E. Ambassador Hirut Zemene urged participants to rededicate efforts in fostering the business links between Ethiopia and Belgium at the level that matches the 118 years diplomatic relations. She also encouraged participants to partake in the upcoming ''ETHIOPIA TAMIRT EXPO 2024'' to be held in Addis Ababa form 9-13 May 2024 and explore opportunities to do business in the manufacturing sector. An in depth brief was made by Mr. Terefe Dida, from the Embassy of Ethiopia Business Diplomacy Section on why Belgian businesses should eye Ethiopia as an investment destination. Dr Fasika Mekete, representative of the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia, also gave an extensive brief on opportunities to invest in the pharmaceutical sector in Ethiopia. Mr. Jonathan Seys, from Ebury, a finance institute, shared his views on the overall economic situation in Ethiopia. Highlights of "ETHIOPIA TAMIRT EXPO 2024'' were presented by Mr. Yonas Mekuria, the representative of the Ministry of Industry of Ethiopia. The event brought together over 50 participants that range from representatives of Trade and investment bureaux, business representatives from the Healthcare, Agro-investment, Pharmaceutical Construction, Energy, and Oil&Gas as well as consultancy firms. Secretary General Thomas De Belue, made a concluding remark at the event by encouraging participants to strengthen the business link between Ethiopia and Belgium and thanking partners and sponsors of the event. The embassy of Ethiopia expresses its gratitude to Mr. Thomas De Beule Secretary General of CBL-ACP and Yvan De Connick Board Member of the Chamber for partnering with the embassy in staging the event. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels.

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School leaders at Tennessee State University are hosting a national press conference to address the recent extremist Republican legislatures across the country that are attacking and defunding historically black colleges and universities. The press conference, which will take place this Monday, April 1, at 11 a.m. CST, will include national faith and civil rights leaders such as Bishop William J. Barber, II, Latosha Brown, Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III, Tamika Mallory and Roland Martin. It will be located at the Rotunda of the Tennessee State Capitol, 600 Dr. Martin L King Jr. Blvd, in Nashville, Tennessee. The event was organized after Tennessee's Senate Education Committee voted to vacate the TSUs board of directors and allow Republican Gov. Bill Lee to appoint eight new members to the 10-member body. According to ABC News, the TSU trustees were removed this week under legislation signed into law by Gov. Lee despite major pushback from Black lawmakers and community leaders. Gov. Lee also said he already selected the new replacements. "I'm pleased to appoint these highly qualified individuals who will work alongside administrators and students to further secure TSU's place as a leading institution," Lee said. Republicans have targeted the school for years through multiple state audits, which they claim revealed student housing shortages, unsustainable scholarship increases and lingering financial discrepancies. But Democrats and community leaders say the university's financial woes are in part due to the school being extremely underfunded. According to a press release from Repairers of the Breach, a 2023 Biden administration study shows that TSU is owed over $2.1 billion in state funds that have been held back since 1987. The study shows how historic land grant colleges are being attacked and underfunded by Republican legislators across the United States. "These same state legislatures are also suppressing the vote, attacking women's rights, and refusing to raise the minimum wage while undermining HBCUs, which have a long history of promoting equality for all people, the press release read. "While President Biden, Vice President Harris and progressive congressional leaders have taken action to get more resources to HBCUs, extremist-led state legislatures like this one in Tennessee are trying to dismantle HBCU leadership and disenfranchise these schools by holding back critical funding." During Monday's press conference, student leaders will engage faith leaders, civil rights advocates, as well as the audience on the best ways to mobilize action. Some of those steps include calling on Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Republicans in the legislature to stop the unfounded and overreaching attacks on TSU, mobilizing alumni and supporters to defend HBCUs, calling on all people of goodwill to challenge attacks by Republicans in state legislatures, demand equitable funding after years of underfunding and to mobilize voting power to challenge state legislatures. SEE ALSO: The post Tennessee State University Hosts Protests After Governor Strips HBCU Of Its Board Of Trustees appeared first on NewsOne. Tennessee State University Hosts Protests After Governor Strips HBCU Of Its Board Of Trustees was originally published on newsone.com

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Raheem Mostert and Dolphins agree to new contract that keeps him in Miami through 2025 Raheem Mostert agreed to a contract extension with the Dolphins that will keep the running back in Miami through the 2025 season, his agent, Brett Tessler, announced Friday. Mostert, 31, is coming off the best season of his nine-year NFL career, making his first Pro Bowl after rushing for a career-high 1,012 yards with a Dolphins franchise record 21 total touchdowns. Mostert became the Dolphins' first 1,000-yard rusher since Jay Ajayi had 1,272 in 2016. He's also the first player to rush for 1,000 yards in his 30s since Adrian Peterson ran for 1,042 with Washington in 2018 at age 33.

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Agriculture serves as the primary source of livelihood for approximately half of the working population in Tamil Nadu. However, farmers in the state encounter numerous challenges. In an interview with TNIE, V Geethalakshmi, Vice–Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, one of the leading state agricultural universities in the country, said that due to the rise in temperature and changes in water availability, climate change can affect irrigated agricultural production throughout agro-ecological zones. Excerpts: Water scarcity has become a major challenge in Tamil Nadu and it depends on neighbouring states for irrigation. How will this impact agriculture? What are the ways to conserve water for agricultural use? Has the TNAU submitted any recommendations to the government regarding this matter? With 17 major rivers, 61 reservoirs and 41,948 tanks, Tamil Nadu has a total surface water potential of 24864 million Cubic meters (MCM). Most of the surface water is tapped for irrigation purposes and about 24 lakh hectares are irrigated by this water. However, over the last five years, the percentage of safe blocks has declined from 35.6 % to 25.2% while the semi-critical blocks increased. Over-exploitation has already occurred in more than 1/3 of the blocks (35.8%) while eight blocks (2%) have turned saline. Now, the state is managing the scarcity by the adoption of micro irrigation systems, automated irrigation units and conservation of rainwater by artificial recharge units. TNAU also recommends an alternate cropping system especially in the Cauvery Delta Zone if the state does not receive adequate water due from the neighbouring states. TNAU has implemented a World Bank-supported Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project (TNIAMP) for the past 15 years which demonstrates modern irrigation technologies around river basin areas. TNAU also provides recommendations on water harvesting, water storage, groundwater recharge and water use efficiency methods to the government. What kind of climate challenges are farmers in Tamil Nadu likely to encounter in future? Do we have any strategies or solutions to address the issue? Agricultural production throughout agroecological zones can be affected by the rise in temperature and changes in water availability. The rain pattern also changed with unseasonal rainfall bringing floods during harvest season. To mitigate the effect of climate change on farming, soil moisture conservation both in situ (BBF, random tie ridging, mulches) and ex-situ (Farm Pond) methods in rainfed crops are recommended. TNAU strongly recommends the adoption of drip irrigation in upland irrigated crops, alternate wetting and drying methods of irrigation in rice, alternate crops and crop diversification wherever required, an integrated farming system for risk mitigation and multi-stress tolerant crop varieties for drought/flood and high-temperature tolerance as climate resilient technologies for managing the climate change effect. The university also provides village-level weather-based agro-met advisories through mobile to the farming community. We are in the process of developing a long-range (three months) forecast at the block level which will be updated monthly, and an Extended Range of Weather Forecast (15 days) at the village level, which will be updated every week for the planning and midterm correction. How does the Android application 'AAS' developed by the TNAU assist farmers in predicting climate change? How many farmers in the state are benefited by this app? The Agro Climate Research Centre of TNAU has developed software to send weather-based agro advisory to farmers. By considering the past, present and future weather conditions, agro advisories for five growth stages of 108 crops are developed. Using these details, the weather-based agro advisory will be generated individually for the registered farmer's own crop through the special AAS software and disseminated as SMS in the local language. This software is the first in India to automate the weather-based agro advisory. The farmers can freely register their mobile number in this portal, and choose their crop and sowing time. The forecast is developed at a 3 km resolution and for 35,640 points of Tamil Nadu, which is twice the number of Tamil Nadu revenue villages. The accuracy of the forecast is >75% and predicts extreme events precisely and alerts the farmers three days in advance with necessary advisories. Currently, more than 48,000 farmers have registered on this app, which is Android-based. The new version of the AI-enabled TNAU – AAS app will be released in a month, which will have new crops, improved advisories, and AI tools and will be available both in iOS and Android. We are expecting to reach over eight lakh farmers by next year. In the state budget, the agriculture minister said that excessive use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides has led to a decline in overall soil fertility. What percentage of soil in the state has been affected by this issue and which districts in the state are mostly affected? How is TNAU going to help the state government in addressing this issue? From a long-term experiment (2000-2015) conducted under AICRP-Weed Management in the Rice-Rice cropping system, it was found that contamination of soil and deterioration of soil fertility by the application of herbicides at the recommended rate is at a negligible level in Tamil Nadu. However, the imbalanced use of inorganic fertilizer and negligence of organic manure application will result in declining soil fertility. TNAU is supporting the government in this process with Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) training programs, demonstrations on INM technologies, and access to alternative inputs (manures & bio-fertilizers) and technologies (INM, fertigation, SSNM (LCC), deficiency-based micronutrient fertilization & ST based fertilizer recommendation) in transitioning away from chemical-intensive farming practices by the farmers. The state government, with technical expertise from TNAU, can implement regulations on the excess use of chemical inputs in agriculture based on the land holding and cultivable area. Shortly, TNAU is going to implement a new project on reviving soil health through the application of bio-inputs with the support of the government of Tamil Nadu. The new project will develop new bio-inoculant strains and technologies for restoring the soil health in the state. TNAU introduced a new non-basmati rice variety called CO58 as a potential substitute for PUSA 1121, specifically suitable for preparing biryani and pulao. What implications might this have for the future of India? At present only geographically indicated states like the Union Territory of J&K and states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand and western Uttar Pradesh can only grow basmati rice. Southern farmers and traders don't have any choice of long slender varieties for export. They focus mainly on short and medium slender rice. The release of CO 58 has provided an opportunity for the southern farmers to grow a long slender biryani rice for the export market. Farmers have reported a decline in vegetable cultivation within the state. What factors have contributed to this decrease in cultivation in Tamil Nadu? What measures should be implemented to address this issue? The area under vegetable cultivation is slightly reduced from 3.77 lakh Ha during 2021-22 to 3.65 lakh ha during 2022-23. This may be due to erratic changes in climatic conditions, drought, and diseases. Also, high input costs are forcing the farmers to follow inadequate use of inputs thereby reducing the yield. In addition to the scarcity of skilled labour resources due to migrations, monopoly cultivation of specific vegetable crops leads to either market glut/ yield loss due to severe pest and disease occurrence. These all can be reasons for the decline of vegetable cultivation in Tamil Nadu. To promote vegetable cultivation in the state, TNAU recommends precision farming technologies, farm mechanisation, irrigation automation, fertigation automation, demand-driven farming, post-harvest management, consolidation of farm produce and market through FPOs and drought mitigation technology in vegetable cultivation. Since 2007, how many entrepreneurs have been created by the TNAU through Agri-Business Development (ABD)? In what ways does ABD benefit graduates? Since 2007, TNAU has developed 1,417 incubates, 855 entrepreneurs and 111 startups. The ABD encourages graduates, youth, farmers and women to make use of the services provided by the directorate to realise their vision in life. People with an inclination to innovate, start new agribusinesses, and expand existing businesses could approach the directorate of ABD for mentoring, support and business services. The graduates can make use of the Agri-Business Directorate activities conducted every year including Ideathon challenges for bringing out the entrepreneurial talents of the students of TNAU, Skill development training programmes and Students' internships and startup programs. DABD organises guest lectures, workshops, certificate courses, exposure visits and business simulation games for students and motivates them to pursue their dream. Experiential learning courses on digital marketing and agricultural export management are offered to undergraduate students.

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ALBANY, N.Y. — (AP) — Caitlin Clark said she found out about the Big3's offer to play for the 3-on-3 men's basketball league over social media. A social media account for Ice Cube, who founded the league of former NBA players, said the organization had made an offer to the NCAA's Division I all-time leading scorer that reportedly is for $5 million. The Big3 season runs in the summer so it would conflict with the WNBA season where Clark is expected to play as the No. 1 pick of the Indiana Fever. "I found about the Big3 thing at the exact time you all did, and my main focus is just on playing basketball," Clark said Friday as she and her Iowa teammates prepared for a Sweet 16 game against Colorado on Saturday. "I think that's the biggest thing." If the Hawkeyes beat Colorado, they will face either LSU or UCLA for a trip back to the Final Four. Iowa lost in the national championship game to the Tigers last year. "My focus is on winning these two games, and that's exactly how it should be," Clark said. "I honestly don't talk about those things with really anybody. I have other people that deal with it, and they haven't said a word to me about it." ___

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Mudvayne's Chad Gray Thinks Motley Crue Should 'Just Bow Out' During a recent conversation on The Jesea Lee Show, the Mudvayne frontman praised Motley Crue early records, citing their first two — 1981's Too Fast for Love and '83's Shout at the Devil — as the albums that had the biggest impact on him when he was young. Motley Crue's Influence on Gray "That opening riff to fucking 'Live Wire' was, like, 'What?' Like I said, I had a familiarity with music — I knew music and I knew good music — but that shit was just, like — it bit me. It fucking bit me," the vocalist said. From there Gray got into heavier types of metal, especially thrash. So when Crue released Theatre of Pain in '85, Gray was not impressed, because according to him, they lost a bit of their metal imagery and started dressing more like a glam group than a metal one. Gray Thinks Motley Crue Should 'Just Bow Out' As much of an impact as Crue had on Gray growing up, he doesn't exactly love the dynamic of the band today. Lee mentioned Mars' willingness to work with Motley Crue again someday, to which Gray responded, "I mean at this point dude, I would just bow out." "It's not the same, dude," he continued. "I'm not the guy that fucking like just wants to sit and talk shit, but I have, unfortunately. It hits me in such a pure place, and to see it just kind of turn into fucking whatever because it was such a big part of my life, and so it's hard for me to watch." Gray on the Members of Motley Crue's Abilities Gray doesn't think the whole band should hang it up — he complimented Tommy Lee's ability to still play the drums well, calling him a "beast." And he further added that he understands why it's difficult for singers to deliver the same performance as they get older. "You lose some of your register and frequency, your pitch will drop. That's just fucking nature. 'Cause it has with me — my resonant pitch has definitely dropped. I can still get up there, but it's weird," he explained. "My register break is a little bit lower and different. So, it does happen, but it's just, like, come on, man." See the full interview below. Mudvayne's Chad Gray Thinks Motley Crue Should 'Just Bow Out' Without Mick Mars The Best Metal Album of Each Year Since 1970 Gallery Credit: Loudwire Staff

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Marks & Spencer's shoppers have been rushing to buy a 'rock chick' £32 jacket that 'keeps selling out'. The high street retailer is known for its fashionable outfit options from delicate spring dresses to casual and comfortable jeans. This time, a denim gilet is being snapped up online, and has been described as 'trending'. Currently available in sizes 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 22 and 24, the gilet is being described as a 'versatile' piece for layering. Fans of the gilet have described it as 'true to size' online. On the M&S website, the full product description reads: "This denim gilet is a versatile layering piece for the warmer seasons. It's designed in a regular fit, with a classic collar and neat button-through fastening. Multiple pockets on the front add a practical touch. M&S Collection: easy-to-wear wardrobe staples that combine classic and contemporary styles." In the reviews, one shopper said: "Have wanted this since last year but was constantly sold out. Finally got it and absolutely love it and can't wait to wear it. Will say it comes up large but that's ok for me and it's a great length too, not too short. Perfect!" A third shopper said: "Lovely gilet really pleased with it. Will be great for transition into spring with a maxi dress." A fourth shopper said: "Whether like me you're of a certain age and wanting to revisit your inner rock chick… or younger and looking for something to wear to a festival…wellies, shorts, t-shirt and this denim waistcoat (not sure why it's called a gilet!?) you will not be disappointed. It's proper denim so will age fabulously. I'm a size 18 and bought a size 18 and I can do it up if I want to." A fifth review read: "Nice denim gilet. Will be ideal for cooler summer days." Receive the latest shopping news and reviews straight to your email by signing up here

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Nov 09, 2020 / 01:00PM GMT Cyndia Nguli - Safaricom PLC - Senior Manager of IR Good morning, good afternoon or good evening, depending on where you're joining us from. Welcome to the Safaricom Half Year '21 Results Conference Call. Before I hand over to Peter Ndegwa, our CEO, I would like to request that you submit your questions to the panelists using the Q&A tool or platform, which is available at the bottom of your screen. I would also like to request that you read the disclaimer on Page 2 of our investor presentation available on the Safaricom website. I will now hand over to Peter. Peter Waititu Ndegwa - Safaricom PLC - CEO & Executive Director Thank you, Cyndia. Just to confirm that you can hear me well before I start. Cyndia Nguli - Safaricom PLC - Senior Manager of IR Yes. I can hear you, Peter. Peter Waititu Ndegwa - Safaricom PLC - CEO & Executive Director Okay. Good afternoon, good morning, everyone, depending on where you are calling from, and welcome to the Half Year 2021 Safaricom Plc Earnings Call Transcript Already have an account? Log in Get the full story Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | | 30-Year Financial on one screen | | All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | | Customizable Stock Dashboard | | Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | | 8,000+ Institutional investors' 13F holdings | | Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | | All data downloadable | | Quick customer support | | And much more... | 30-Day 100% money back guarantee You are not charged until the trial ends. Subscription fee may be tax deductible. Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot

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Ethiopians living in climate-affected lowlands of the country will receive new support thanks to a $340 million credit from the International Development Association* (IDA) to enhance their livelihoods and climate resilience. A total of 3 million people, many of which are pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in drought-prone areas, are set to benefit. Ethiopians nationwide are struggling with the stark realities of climate change, brought on by frequent and severe droughts, as well as devastating flash floods. The livelihoods of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists have been particularly hard hit. In the past three years, the lowlands have suffered from consecutive severe droughts, resulting in significant livestock losses, profoundly affecting the lives of millions who depend on these animals for their survival. These challenges are compounded by persistent conflicts and environmental degradation, further disadvantaging these historically marginalized communities. Building on the achievements of the first Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project (LLRPI), which made notable progress in enhancing the livelihood resilience of pastoral communities, the Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project Phase Two (LLRP II) approved today, has been designed with more focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation in order to mitigate, and tackle these challenges more systematically and comprehensively. "LLRPII is part of our efforts to foster climate-resilient livelihoods and ecosystems by maximizing the potential of the lowlands to contribute to national efforts on growth and poverty reduction. The introduction of an early warning and response system, integrated rangeland management, and the promotion of climate-resilient and sustainable livelihoods, along with policy engagement, are central to this project," said Ousmane Dione, World Bank Country Director for Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Sudan. LLRP II will promote technologies, innovations, and practices that enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation at the household, community, production system, and ecosystem levels. The project will integrate an early warning and early action system with nature-based and community-led rangeland management approaches and practices. Additionally, the establishment and rollout of web-based national rangelands monitoring systems will enhance the productivity of rangelands, contributing to the climate resilience of pastoral and agro-pastoral ecosystems amid increasing climate pressures. The project also supports the adoption of climate-smart agricultural and livestock production technologies, innovations, and practices to foster green and climate-resilient food systems among the communities. Furthermore, it will facilitate access to rural financial services for diversified and alternative livelihood options for those seeking to supplement or transition from their livestock-based livelihoods due to the impacts of climate change. "The project will play a crucial role in improving the livelihoods and climate resilience of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Ethiopian Lowlands by addressing their core constraints," said Esayas Nigatu, Senior Livestock Specialist and World Bank Task Team Leader. "Its design draws on practical insights from the ongoing first phase and recent studies conducted by the World Bank and its development partners." The financing provided by the World Bank will be complemented by an $80 million co-financing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), exemplifying a partnership geared towards impactful change. This joint effort highlights a steadfast commitment to reducing poverty within Ethiopia's most vulnerable communities. * The World Bank's International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world's poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people's lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world's 74 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.3 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has provided $458 billion to 114 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $29 billion over the last three years (FY19-FY21), with about 70 percent going to Africa. Learn more online: IDA.worldbank.org. #IDAworks Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

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Right now, MAGA Republicans across the country are claiming there's a "two-tiered justice system" in America, all because their orangey-white nationalist messiah has been drowning in criminal indictments for months. It's ironic because Black people have been talking about how there are "two Americas" for generations based on generations of demonstrably being treated more harshly in the justice system only for those same white conservatives to dismiss it as a false anti-American narrative every time. Meanwhile, a judge has found that a GOP official who has been a fierce promoter of Donald Trump's thoroughly debunked claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, Brian Pritchard, voted illegally not once, not twice, but nine times. From NBC News: Brian Pritchard, first vice chairman of the Georgia Republican Party and a conservative talk show host, was fined $5,000 for voting illegally and registering to vote while serving a sentence for a felony conviction. Pritchard was also ordered not to commit further violations, to face public reprimand for his conduct and to pay the State Election Board's investigative costs. In a 25-page ruling Wednesday, Administrative Law Judge Lisa Boggs affirmed the board's finding that Pritchard had voted illegally nine times in defiance of his extended probation in connection with a pair of felony convictions dating back nearly 30 years. Waaaait a minute, let's back up a bit. Prichard's penalty for voting illegally nine times as a felon was—*double checks notes just to make sure*—a $5,000 fine? Y'all already know where I'm going with this right? Remember Crystal Mason? In 2018, Mason, a Black woman from Texas, cast a provisional ballot in 2016 while on supervised release for a federal conviction, which, unbeknownst to her, made her ineligible to vote. She was sentenced to five years in prison. That's five years up against Prichard's $5,000. Mason's attorneys had to appeal the decision multiple times before her obviously unjust conviction was finally overturned Wednesday, nearly six years after her conviction. Speaking of six years… Pamela Moses, another Black woman, was sentenced to six years in prison in January 2022 after she was convicted of registering to vote while being ineligible to do so because of past legal issues. That conviction was thrown out a month later after a judge ruled that the Tennessee Department of Correction, where she previously served time, had withheld information that proved Moses—a BLM activist and former Memphis mayoral candidate who indicated in January that she plans to run for the U.S. Senate—hadn't duped a probation officer into signing a form that said she was eligible to vote when she knew she wasn't, as prosecutors (absurdly) argued. During the same time period when Moses and Mason were fighting for their freedom, numerous Republican white men and at least one pro-MAGA white woman were caught voting illegally for Trump, and all of them were treated with leniency by the courts. (Also, it shouldn't be lost on anyone that for all Republicans' blustering about Trump getting cheated by widespread Democratic voter fraud, in the relatively few cases where illegal voting did happen in 2020, virtually all of the perpetrators were Republicans who voted for Trump.) Most of them never saw the inside of a jail cell while Black and brown people were thrown in jail in Florida in 2022 just for registering to vote while ineligible unbeknownst to themselves after Gov. Ron DeSantis launched the Office of Election Crimes and Security to crack down on virtually non-existent voter fraud. (It should be noted that most of these Black victims of systemically racist injustice were arrested just for registering to vote, not actually voting like their white Republican counterparts.) Anyway, in case anyone is interested, here's a little more background on Pritchard and his criminal past. More from NBC: Pritchard was initially sentenced in 1996 to three years' probation in connection with felony forgery charges in Pennsylvania, according to the ruling. Pritchard's probation was revoked three times: in 1999, when he moved to Georgia, and again in 2002 and 2004. A judge in 2004 imposed a new seven-year probationary sentence, which made Pritchard illegible to vote in the state until 2011. In 2008, Pritchard filled out a voter registration form with Gilmer County's Board of Elections and signed a sworn statement asserting that he was "not serving a sentence for having been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude." Pritchard cast a series of Georgia ballots, including four that year in primary and general elections and runoffs and five more in 2010 in special elections and primaries and the general election. Pritchard testified that "he was not aware of anything that would have prevented him from registering to vote when he signed the application" and that he didn't believe three years of probation remained in his sentence, according to court documents. And for all of that, Pritchard only needs to come out of his pocket with a paltry $5,000. So, yeah, there are, indeed, two justice systems in America, just not in the way Republicans think (or are pretending to). SEE ALSO: The post MAGA Republican Who Backed Trump's False Voter Fraud Claims Gets $5K Fine For Voting Illegally 9 Times appeared first on NewsOne. MAGA Republican Who Backed Trump's False Voter Fraud Claims Gets $5K Fine For Voting Illegally 9 Times was originally published on newsone.com

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California students find ancient sloth fossil By Jerimiah Oetting Published March 29, 2024 at 1:33 PM PDT Facebook LinkedIn Email Listen • 3:27 Last spring, some elementary school students in Santa Cruz found an exposed bone in a creek bed, which turned out to be an ancient fossil – it just went on display. Copyright 2024 NPR

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Top priority for public health The Dravidian model adopted by successive governments in Tamil Nadu has transformed public healthcare by expanding healthcare infrastructure not just at the tertiary level but at the neighbourhood and community levels, as well. Introduction of schemes reserving 50% seats in post-graduate and super speciality courses for in-service government doctors have resulted in skilled healthcare professionals working in primary health centres and health sub centres in rural areas. The investment in creating a skilled force has been a boon for residents as the state has a doctor-patient ratio of 1:253, which is on par with Scandinavian countries and well above the WHO stipulated norms of 1:500. This has aided the steady rise in the availability of multi-specialty experts not only in cities like Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai, but also tier-2 cities as early as in the 1990s. Tamil Nadu ranks among the top three states in various vital health indicators and has been at the forefront of taking steps to tackle diseases by bringing healtcare to the people. Putting its words to action, the state government ensured that the Covid-19 vaccines were available to people in the state; rolled out Inniyur Kappom: Nammai Kaakum-48 Thittam to provide free medical care to road accident victims and in 2021 launched the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cancer, cardiac diseases and others, to name a few. Besides, during the 2024-25 budget presentation, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said the government will implement a new cancer management mission that will focus on disease management strategies, including creating awareness, early detection, effective treatment and rehabilitative care. This year, `20,198 crore was allocated for the Health and Family Welfare Department, which is an 8.2% increase from the last budget. Several multi-pronged approaches towards health and well-being of ante-natal mothers are being taken to avoid maternal deaths and audits are conducted at the district and state levels for continuous monitoring. The state has already achieved the targets for IMR and MMR under the Sustainable Development Goals, which are due for 2030. Maternal and child health issues are being given renewed focus with death audits at community, institution and district and state levels so as to reach the standards of developed countries. The state government also tweaked rules for disbursing financial assistance under the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme so that the state can release its share even if the centre delays it. Under the scheme, Rs 18,000 is disbursed to pregnant women in three instalments. The MMR has reduced by 40% to 52 per one lakh live births during 2023-24 from 90 during 2021-2022. This was the first time the state reported a rise in MMR as at the peak of Covid-19, around 900 maternal deaths were recorded. During 2018-20, MMR in the state was 54, against the the national average of 97. Also, keeping up with the times and understanding the importance of mental health, institutional screening for mental health disorders is being done by utilising the services of trained staff nurses in all the healthcare facilities in the state. Community-based screening for mental health disorders has been incorporated into the population-based screening programme for NCDs by women health volunteers/Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHAs) through an incentive model. Follow-up mental health counselling is also given to survivors of suicide bids at nearby PHCs. Aid for accident victims Every life matters and every minute matters to save a life, especially during the Golden Hour. The scheme 'Inniyur Kappom: Nammai Kaakum-48 Thittam' ensures the state will bear the cost of treating road accident victims in the first 48 hours after the incident, with a threshold of `2 lakh. The victims will be treated in empanelled hospitals and the victims can even be people from another state or country. "The health department's focus on trauma care services by introducing the Inniyur Kappom is a welcome move. Apart from this, counselling for doctors, staff nurses and others have been conducted transparently, which is a good thing. But, the manpower shortage is yet to be addressed," said Dr J A Jayalal, secretary general of Commonwealth Medical Association and former national president of Indian Medical Association. "With the available funds, the government is trying to run existing schemes and at the same time trying to maintain vital statistics like Maternal Mortality Rate and Infant Mortality Rate," said Dr K Senthil, president, Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association. Dr G Ravindranath, general secretary, Doctors' Association for Social Equality (DASE), said during the second wave of Covid-19, there was a shortage of medical oxygen and beds, but the present government handled it smoothly. "They also increased the pay of reproductive and child health sanitary workers in primary health centres from Rs 1,500 to Rs 18,000. The allowance for post graduate service doctors also increased. However, the jobs of contract workers need to be regularised," he said. Health is wealth Schemes like Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme, Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME), Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) registration and others helped the state bring down the maternal mortality rate The Civil Registration System has been linked with PICME. This linkage ensures 100% tracking of pregnant women irrespective of their place of residence Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme was started in 2006 with financial assistance of Rs 6,000. In 2012, this amount was increased to Rs 12,000 and later increased to Rs 18,000 Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme aims to tackle non-communicable diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cancer, cardiac diseases and others at the doorstep Under 'Inniyur Kappom: Nammai Kaakum-48 Thittam' the cost of treating road traffic accident victims will be borne by the state. The treatment will be free during the first 48 hours of the accident, with a threshold of Rs 2 lakh

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USC's JuJu Watkins is in the March Madness spotlight ahead of Sweet 16 against Baylor PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — For USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb, the JuJu Watkins phenomenon became plainly evident on a road trip this season when a quick autograph session snowballed. After a game in Colorado, the Trojans noticed a young autograph seeker waiting outside the team bus. Watkins was asked to oblige and all the sudden there was a throng of fans angling for her signature. "As soon as she's signing that autograph, like 50 other people come running down a hill for their autographs. We're like, `Whoa, get ready for this,'" Gottlieb said. "We've seen different moments along the way. I can't say enough about her demeanor and her grace kind of in handling everything. That's just who she is." Watkins and the top-seeded Trojans face fifth-seeded Baylor on Saturday in the NCAA Tournament. Third-seeded Connecticut plays No. 7 Duke in the later game as the the teams vie for a spot in the Elite Eight. An AP first-team All-American as a freshman, Watkins is averaging 26.9 points this season, second only to Iowa's Caitlin Clark, who set the game's all-time Division I scoring record this season. Watkins made a splash in her college debut with 32 points in an 83-74 victory over Ohio State. She scored a season-high 51 points in a 67-58 win over Stanford on Feb. 2. The hometown kid who went to Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles is handling the spotlight with aplomb. "Just me making the decision to stay home, the great environment that I'm in, my teammates always pushing me to be better, everybody just wants the best for me," Watkins said. "I think that has allowed me to really strive to be great and be in a place where I feel accepted." Watkins is one several freshmen in women's basketball playing beyond their years. Another is Texas' Madison Booker, who is also in Portland on the other side of the bracket, and Notre Dame's Hannah Hildalgo. "As a fan of the game watching players across the country, we get a front-row seat to JuJu every day, what she handles, what she does as a freshman," Gottlieb said. "I really don't know if there's been a better freshman season by anyone ever, given everything she's done to elevate our program, everything that comes with it." Watkins had 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Trojans (28-5) in a 73-55 victory over Kansas to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1994. Baylor (26-7) downed Virginia Tech 75-72 to advance. Jada Walker led the way with a career-high 29 points. Baylor coach Nicki Collen said Watkins presents a unique challenge for the Bears. "I think when JuJu's in transition, that's the most challenging space," Collen said. "When she has space to operate, she's such a rhythm player. Very similar to Maddie Booker in our league. When she gets to her spots, really dangerous because of her size." THE JUJU BUN Watkins is not just drawing attention for her stellar play, she's also turning heads with her distinctive hairstyle that's been dubbed the "JuJu Bun." She's even in a television commercial with Joel Embiid for AT&T that showcases her look. Despite her celebrity, Watkins is still dealing with those unwritten freshman rules. "I was sitting at home at the beginning of March Madness and see Joel Embiid in a commercial, and all of sudden there is JuJu, and I'm like, when have you seen the reigning MVP in a commercial with a kid that our teammates just made sit in the back of the car?" Gottlieb laughed. Watkins kidded in response: "I'm sick of this seniority." DIFFERENT OUTCOME? The winner of the game between USC and Baylor will earn a spot in the Elite Eight, facing the winner of UConn's game against Duke. Paige Bueckers matched her season high 32 points when UConn held off Syracuse 72-64 to earn a 30th straight trip to the Sweet 16. Last year, UConn fell to Ohio State in the Sweet 16, ending the Huskies' streak of 14 straight Final Four appearances. The team was without Bueckers for the season with a torn ACL. "I think we're a different team, different mindset and we're hoping for a different outcome," coach Geno Auriemma said. Reigan Richardson scored 28 points when Duke rallied from a 16-point first-half deficit to beat No. 2 seed Ohio State 75-63. The Blue Devils also rallied from behind in their first-round game against Richmond, winning 72-61. ___

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ALBANY, N.Y. — (AP) — Notre Dame star freshman had to miss the first few minutes of the second quarter as the team's training staff tried to remove a nose piercing. NCAA women's basketball Rule 1-25.7 says that no jewelry is permitted to be worn during games. The Irish were down by two to Oregon State in the Sweet 16 game after one quarter when Hidalgo left. She returned with 5:51 left in the quarter and the Irish were down 25-22. Hidalgo, who was a first-team All-American, had an off-game, missing 11 of her first 13 shots and had a long talk and embrace from coach Niele Ivey when she was subbed out late in the third quarter. ___

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May 13, 2021 / 04:45AM GMT Presentation May 13, 2021 / 04:45AM GMT ===================== Corporate Participants ===================== * Dilip Pal Safaricom PLC - CFO * Michael Joseph Safaricom PLC - Chairman * Peter Waititu Ndegwa Safaricom PLC - CEO & Executive Director * Stephen Chege Safaricom PLC - Chief Corporate Affairs Officer ===================== Stephen Chege - Safaricom PLC - Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the financial results announcement for Safaricom PLC for the full year 2020/'21. On behalf of our Board of Directors, the management team and the staff of Safaricom PLC, we thank you very much for making time to join us virtually for this event. I'm glad, and thanks to technology, which is our foundation of our business, that we can virtually connect and engage this morning. We hope that you are all keeping safe, masking up, washing hands and observing the required precautions and protocols to help us manage the COVID-19 pandemic. We will start off Full Year 2021 Safaricom Plc Earnings Presentation Transcript Already have an account? Log in Get the full story Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | | 30-Year Financial on one screen | | All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | | Customizable Stock Dashboard | | Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | | 8,000+ Institutional investors' 13F holdings | | Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | | All data downloadable | | Quick customer support | | And much more... | 30-Day 100% money back guarantee You are not charged until the trial ends. Subscription fee may be tax deductible. Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot

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How big pants came back: understanding the fashion trend cycle From ballet flats to big pants to bows and rosettes, fashion trends can befuddle those who care, and annoy those who don't. But knowledge is power, and there is a logic to the trend cycle. Copyright 2024 NPR

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Tamil Nadu, a state blessed with 34 rivers and a formidable history of irrigation endeavours, is currently grappling with a myriad of challenges in its agricultural sector, especially due to climate change. However, amid these trials, there is a glimmer of hope emanating from new projects aimed at addressing the pressing situation. The average annual rainfall of the state stands at 973 mm, with a total surface water potential of 865 tmcft, including 260 tmcft released from neighbouring states through inter-state agreements. Among the 17 river basins in Tamil Nadu, the Cauvery basin has been the prominent one, encompassing the four Cauvery delta districts which account for 30% of the state's rice production. Prior to colonial rule, the Cauvery Delta was hailed as one of the richest, oldest and most fertile regions of human settlement in South Asia. The history At the heart of Tamil Nadu's irrigation legacy stands the Kallanai dam, also known as the Grand Anicut, constructed across the Cauvery during the second century AD by Chola King Karikalan. It is considered the fourth oldest dam in the world. Constructed primarily to divert flood waters from the Cauvery into the Kollidam through a connecting stream, the Kallanai facilitated minimal agricultural damage by channelling excess water directly to the sea. Over the centuries, the dam underwent numerous repairs and modernisations. In 1804, Captain Coldwell repaired the Grand Anicut and provided dam stones on its crest and also raised the river embankment ensuring additional water to the Cauvery. Improvements were made to the dam in the 19th century by Arthur Cotton (1803-1899), a British general and irrigation engineer. Writing about the structure of Kallanai in 1874, Arthur Cotton said, "It was from them we learnt how to secure a foundation on loose sand of unmeasured depth. With this lesson about foundation, we built bridges, weirs, aqueducts and every kind of hydraulic work. We are thus deeply indebted to native engineers." Besides mastering the art of harvesting the river water, Tamils also got expertise in conserving and utilising rainwater through a system of tanks across the state. Although there is mention of tanks in Sangam literature, the Pallava kings must get the credit for creating more tanks between AD 500 and AD 900, according to historians. During that period, there was a rapid development of tank irrigation in the northern parts of the state. Similarly, the Pandya kings contributed to tank irrigation in the southern parts of Tamil Nadu. The early Tamils designed ingenious varieties of sluices called Kumili, Madai and Madagu. They also built a vent for surplus water to flow out of the tank during flooding, which is called Kalingu (surplus weir). Modern challenges Though the state boasts of a rich history in irrigation endeavours, modern challenges loom large over Tamil Nadu's irrigation landscape. Except the Tamirabharani, one of the major rivers originating in the state, all other major rivers in the state had been facing perennial water problems due to inter-state water disputes. As the major rivers like Cauvery depend on flow from upper riparian states like Karnataka, there has been uncertainty about the quantum of water released by TN which lands farmers in trouble. The Cauvery Delta is one of the water-stressed areas. Though the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) and subsequent Supreme Court order has fixed annual and monthly quantum of water to be released by Karnataka to Tamil Nadu, the upper riparian state fails to adhere to it. During the 2023-24 water year, Karnataka released only 75 tmcft against the 177.25 tmcft mandated by the Supreme Court. Though Karnataka cited a drought this year, delta farmers rued that sharing of the deficit was unfair. "Karnataka failed to release the rightful quantum water for Tamil Nadu, to be calculated based on the quantum of deficit in a drought year," said P S Masilamani, state general secretary of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association and farmer from Tiruvarur. "Despite the release of surplus water into the Kollidam in 2022, hundreds of farmers in that block were unable to cultivate more than a single crop that year due to lack of proper water management," said Kollidam V Viswanathan, a farmer representative from the Kollidam block in Mayiladuthurai district. Moreover, low-lying villages in the Kollidam river mouth in the block were flooded several times during the 2022-23 water year, he added. P Maniyarasan, coordinator of the Cauvery Rights Retrieval Committee (CRRC), said the Cauvery as a river, faces many problems now. "The deforestation in the Cauvery catchment area in the Western Ghats in Karnataka is a cause of concern," he said, adding that for laying roads and habitations, trees are felled in large numbers in the area. It may be noted that during the 2018 floods, coffee plantations on hundreds of acres in the Kodagu region, the catchment area of Cauvery, were destroyed. This also paved the way for flash floods in the Cauvery during heavy rains. Global warming also added to the woes of farmers. "There have been drastic changes in rainfall. In delta districts there was rain deficit while southern districts were pounded by heavy rain in a short time leading to floods," Masilamani said. To tackle the effects of global warming, it is vital to rejuvenate the catchment areas of Cauvery through afforestation efforts so that soil erosion which leads to flash floods during heavy rains would be checked, he said. Breaches in tanks and other water bodies not maintained properly also contributed to floods in the southern districts. As 63% of the water used for agriculture in the state comes from groundwater sources, there is a need for augmenting water percolation structures, including tanks, and ponds, besides ensuring water flow in rivers which recharge, experts said. Even in Cauvery delta districts, where surface water sources are available, farmers are increasingly becoming dependent on groundwater owing to uncertainty in getting Cauvery water in a timely manner. Widespread use of groundwater resources across the state has led to severe depletion which has been causing seawater ingress in several coastal areas. Though there have been calls to cultivate alternative crops instead of paddy in the delta area, due to reducing availability of water, cracking clay soil in most areas in these districts is not suitable for other crops, said Masilamani. "In other parts of the state whenever possible, farmers can take up crops needing less water," he added. Hopes The state budget this year has allocated `734 crore for the Water Resources Department to carry out works. Funds will be utilised for the construction of water recharge structures and maintenance of 55 irrigation systems, including construction of subsurface dykes, renovation of channels and new anicuts this year. A Veerappan, retired chief engineer and general secretary of Tamil Nadu PWD Senior Engineers Association, said one of the easiest ways of tackling water scarcity in the state is to desilt tanks. "Of the total 40,000 tanks in the state, around 19,000 big tanks with an ayacut area of more than 100 acres each are with the Water Resources Department. The government has to take up desilting of at least 5,000 to 6,000 of these simultaneously", Veerappan said.Tanks should be optimally desilted and deepened at least by one meter over and above their original depth so that water during heavy rain is sufficiently stored. "Besides, groundwater will also be recharged by the water in the tanks. It is also important to desilt inlet canals which bring rainwater into the tanks. Similarly, the surplus weirs and outlet channels should also be renovated," Veerappan added. (With inputs from Antony Fernando)

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Judge questions Border Patrol stand that it's not required to care for children at migrant camps SAN DIEGO (AP) — A federal judge on Friday sharply questioned the Biden administration's position that it bears no responsibility for housing and feeding migrant children while they wait in makeshift camps along the U.S-Mexico border. The Border Patrol does not dispute the conditions at the camps, where migrants wait under open skies or sometimes in tents or structures made of tree branches while short on food and water. The migrants, who crossed the border illegally, are waiting there for Border Patrol agents to arrest and process them. The question is whether they are in legal custody. That would start a 72-hour limit on how long children can be held and require emergency medical services and guarantees of physical safety, among other things. U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee said evidence presented by migrant advocacy groups appeared to support the definition of legal custody. "Are they free to leave?" she asked. "As long as they do not proceed further into the United States," answered Justice Department attorney Fizza Batool. Gee, who was appointed by former Democratic President Bill Clinton, acknowledged it was complicated — "like dancing on the head of a pin" — because some children arrive on their own at the camps and are not sent there by Border Patrol agents. Advocates are seeking to enforce a 1997 court-supervised settlement on custody conditions for migrant children, which includes the time limit and services including toilets, sinks and temperature controls. Gee did not rule after a half-hour hearing in Los Angeles. Children traveling alone must be turned over within 72 hours to the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, which generally releases them to family in the United States while an immigration judge considers asylum. Asylum-seeking families are typically released in the U.S. while their cases wind through courts. The legal challenge focuses on two areas in California: one between two border fences in San Diego and another in a remote mountainous region east of San Diego. When the number of migrants was particularly high last year, they waited for several days to be arrested and processed by overwhelmed Border Patrol agents. From May to December, agents distributed colored wristbands to prioritize whom to process first. Advocates say the Border Patrol often directs migrants to the camps, sometimes even driving them there. Agents are often seen nearby keeping a loose watch until buses and vans arrive. The Justice Department, which rejects advocates' label of "open-air detention sites," says smugglers send migrants to camps. It says agents giving them water and snacks is a humanitarian gesture and that any agent who sends, or even escorts, migrants there is "no different than any law enforcement officer directing heightened traffic to avoid disorder and disarray." The Border Patrol generally arrests migrants at the camps within 12 hours of encountering them, down from 24 hours last year, Brent Schwerdtfeger, a senior official in the agency's San Diego sector, said in a court filing. The agency has more than doubled the number of buses in the San Diego area to 15 for speedier processing. On Friday, 33 migrants, including two small children, waited between border walls in San Diego until agents came to ask they empty their pockets, remove shoelaces and submit to weapons searches before being taken in vans to a holding station. They were primarily from China and India, with others from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Agents spoke to them in English. Pedro Rios, a volunteer with American Friends of Service Committee, delivered turkey sandwiches and hot tea and coffee through spaces in the border wall. He gave pain relievers and ointment to a limping Chinese woman who had fallen from the wall. Kedian William, 38, said she left a 10-year-old daughter with family in Jamaica because she couldn't afford the journey, including airfare to Mexico, but that asthma would have made the trip difficult for her child anyway. She planned to apply for asylum and settle with family in New York, having fled her home after her sister-in-law, her sister-in-law's husband their child were killed last year. William said she attempted to reach the camp on Wednesday but fled back into Tijuana to avoid Mexican authorities in pursuit. She tried again a day later, waiting six hours on U.S. soil for agents to pick her up for processing.

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — (AP) — Jannik Sinner is starting to dominate. Sinner overwhelmed third-seeded Daniil Medvedev 6-1, 6-2 on Friday in the semifinals of the Miami Open. The second-seeded Sinner, rock-solid with his firecracker forehand, became the first man to reach back-to-back Miami Open finals since John Isner (2018-2019). In last year's Miami final, Medvedev prevailed over Sinner at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins. This time, Medvedev's three games tied his career low for wins in a match. Sinner began his revenge against Medvedev by beating him in the Australian Open final in January, rallying from two sets down, and setting the stage for a wonderful 2024 campaign. Sinner will play the winner of the second semifinal between No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev and 11th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov. This match was a lot easier in the 80-degree South Florida heat as the Italian jumped to a 5-0 lead at the outset in posting two straight breaks of the Russian's serve. It was over in 69 minutes. "This year I have another chance," Sinner said in the on-court interview. "I don't think he played his best tennis and I tried to stay focused and in my rhythm." In breaking Medvedev four times in the match, Sinner moved his 2024 record to 21-1; his only loss coming in the Indian Wells final to Carlos Alcaraz. In the match's second game, Sinner hit a cross-court forehand winner on a third break point for a 2-0 lead. Medvedev motioned a thumbs down at his player's box. The Italian went up 4-0 after cashing on his fourth break point of the game, flicking away a short ball by Medvedev, who was flustered by two net cords during the game. Sinner broke Medvedev in the first game of the second set and was on his way. Late in the second set, down 5-1, Medvedev heard jeers and whistles when he appeared to frustratingly hit a ball back to a ball girl with extra zest. On the night card, Zverev goes in with a 7-1 lead over Dimitrov in the head-to-head series, with Dimitrov's lone victory in 2014. Dimitrov beat No. 1 seed Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. The 20-year-old Spaniard said of Dimitrov afterward, "He played amazing tennis, almost perfect. I couldn't find solutions." The women's final is set for Saturday when American Danielle Collins faces No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina. ___ AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

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New Book by Alok Aggarwal Underscores the Need for Explainable, Interpretable, and Ethical Artificial Intelligence The Fourth Industrial Revolution & 100 Years of AI emphasizes the challenges in achieving transparency and predictability SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, USA, March 28, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- A pivotal study conducted in May 2022 delved into the perceptions of 926 randomly chosen patients in the US regarding AI's role in diagnosis and treatment. The findings revealed substantial discomfort among patients when faced with the prospect of receiving a correct diagnosis from a computer program lacking explanatory capabilities. Moreover, the discomfort escalated when AI played a pivotal role in diagnosing cancer, prompting skepticism even among medical professionals. The study sheds light on the existing apprehensions surrounding AI in healthcare, resonating with the reluctance observed among medical doctors who, despite initial promises from IBM Watson, distrusted the system due to a lack of transparency and explainability. Today, we briefly discuss the thirteenth chapter of Alok Aggarwal's new book, "The Fourth Industrial Revolution & 100 Years of AI (1950-2050)."The chapter titled, "Explainable, Interpretable, Causal, Fair, and Ethical AI?" underscores the need for Explainable AI (XAI), emphasizing the challenges in achieving transparency and predictability. This chapter provides the following take-aways: • Explainability: The definition of explainable AI models is somewhat nebulous, but it includes the models being able to provide justification regarding their outputs, provide knowledge especially when they provide counterintuitive results, point out their deficiencies (so that they can be improved), and help in subject matter experts having more control (so that SMEs can improve these models if required). • Interpretability: An Interpretable AI model is one that allows quantitative understanding of how one or more features impact the output of the model. • Contemporary AI systems are neither explainable nor interpretable: Due to the nature of these systems, they rely on non-linear algebra where all inputs get mixed up inextricably, thereby making it extremely hard for researchers to explain the workings of these systems. • Non-linear algebra underlying AI algorithms makes them unexplainable and non-interpretable: Good interpretation of the working of modern AI systems is also hard because they use non-linear algorithms: Although a few models (e.g., Linear Regression, General Linear Models, Decision Trees) can be interpreted well, they assume that all features are independent of each other, which usually doesn't happen in the real world. • AI systems are therefore not trustworthy: Since contemporary AI systems are not explainable or interpretable, humans do not trust them. Trust develops over time, but predictability and transparency can help. Predictability requires that these systems are robust with respect to perturbations in data, transparency requires that these AI systems should be explainable. • Tradeoff often occurs between explainability and accuracy: Another unfortunate aspect is the tradeoff between explainable AI models and their accuracy – in most modern cases, the more explainable models (e.g., linear regression) are less accurate than the less explainable ones (e.g., Deep Learning Networks). • AI systems do not provide causation: Causal models can provide "cause and effect," i.e., provide the influence by which one or more causes – which could be events, processes, states, or objects – contribute to the effect (i.e., output), and how much each cause contributes to the effect. • Fair and ethical AI often depends upon the context and human belief systems: Because fairness and ethics are qualitative and are ill-defined in human society, these characteristics will be even harder to define or achieve for AI. Also, just like the regulations regarding data, statutes related to fairness and ethics will vary from one society to another. • The above-mentioned characteristics are not always required: Even though explainable, interpretable, causal, fair, and ethical AI systems are preferable for many applications and use cases, these characteristics are not always required. In fact, approximately two thirds of the use cases provided in this book are not constrained by such limitations. Hence, progress in developing better AI systems will continue with full vigor even if we are unable to make progress in overcoming these limitations. Overall, the book, "The Fourth Industrial Revolution & 100 Years of AI (1950-2050)" provides a concise yet comprehensive exploration of AI, covering its origins, evolutionary trajectory, and its potential ubiquity during the next 27 years. Beginning with an introduction to the fundamental concepts of AI, subsequent chapters delve into its transformative journey with an in-depth analysis of achievements of AI, with a special focus on the potential for job loss and gain. The latter portions of the book examine the limitations of AI, the pivotal role of data in enabling accurate AI systems, and the concept of "good" AI systems. It concludes by contemplating the future of AI, addressing the limitations of classical computing, and exploring alternative technologies (such as Quantum. Photonics, Graphene, and Neuromorphic computing) for ongoing advancements in the field. This book is now available in bookstores and online retailers in Kindle, paperback, and hard cover formats. About the Author: Dr. Aggarwal is the founder, CEO, and Chief Data Scientist of Scry AI, which provides innovative AI-based products, solutions, and services to enterprises across the globe. Before starting Scry AI, he co-founded Evalueserve (www.evalueserve.com) which provides research and analytics services worldwide. He received his Ph. D. from Johns Hopkins University and worked at IBM's T. J. Watson Research Center during 1984 and 2000. He has written more than 120 research articles and has been granted eight patents. For more information, please visit: www.scryai.com

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The star dropped her new LP earlier today (March 29), which was reported to include a cover of Parton's iconic hit. However, fans have discovered Beyoncé has actually rewritten 'Jolene' and its lyrics to address Jay-Z cheating on her. 'Jolene' now refers to someone trying to "come between a family and a happy man", with Beyoncé singing in the chorus: "Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene / I'm warnin' you, don't come for my man / Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene / Don't take the chance because you think you can". Beyoncé's 'Jolene' cover also sees her reaffirm her love with her husband, with whom she tied the knot in 2008, after having dated since roughly 2002: "We've been deep in love for twenty years / I raised that man, I raised his kids / I know my man better than he knows himself," she sings. In the original song, Parton said she "can't compete" with 'Jolene'. But this time round, Beyoncé has a more empowering perception of herself: "Jolene, I know I'm a queen, Jolene / I'm still a Creole banjee bitch from Louisianne (Don't try me)". Now Parton has taken to her Instagram to give her verdict on the cover writing: "Wow, I just heard Jolene. Beyoncé is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it! Love, Dolly P." It comes after she previously gave Beyoncé's country pivot her blessing, saying: "I'm a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she's done a country album." Ahead of Queen Bey's version, Parton also asked fans to stream her original track. Elsewhere, Azealia Banks gave her verdict on the album after she previously criticised Queen Bey's new musical direction, which she described as "white women cosplay", while also stating that she feels the singer is "setting herself up to be ridiculed". After remarking that she would have "jumped out of my seat" if there had been a KT Tunstall feature on the record, the singer-songwriter jokingly responded: "To be fair, I'd have 100% got off the couch."

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Residents of an affluent San Francisco neighborhood are in uproar over the opening of a homeless shelter that has seen hundreds of violent incidents. Neighbors in the Mission Bay area say they have witnessed open air drug use, fights and lewd public sex acts at the HomeRise facility. More than 1,000 service calls have been recorded at the shelter since October 2022, with 666 requiring police action - despite the complex being located next to a police station. Terrified locals say the usually quiet area, where homes sell for up to $2.9 million, is fast descending into 'disruption and fear' with some of them too scared to walk past the facility. 'Two of my experiences from HomeRise impacted my neighborhood. One, open drug use,' one resident told city hall during a tense meeting on Thursday that became so heated Board Supervisor Catherine Stefani was forced to call for order. Residents of an affluent San Francisco neighborhood are in uproar over the opening of a homeless shelter which has seen hundreds of violent incidents Neighbors in the Mission Bay area say they have witnessed open air drug use, fights and lewd public sex acts at the HomeRise facility More than 1,000 service calls have been recorded at the shelter since October 2022, with 666 requiring police action including one man who smashed a window at the facility and left glass on the sidewalk 'They do it openly and they get away with it. Drug deals, this is what I see,' the resident added. 'I don't walk down the street anymore, I would like to some day [...] but at this point I'm afraid.' 'I want to tell you this breaks my heart,' neighbor Arlene Singer added. 'A small number of people, causing a huge problem for us is really heart-breaking. 'As an elderly person, I was afraid how it may impact me. I was told they would be carefully vetted and security management would be available would be in there. 'Since HomeRise is next to police headquarters, I assumed we would be fine. I was wrong.' Singer is a resident of The Madrone, a high-end apartment building located directly opposite the complex. Around 160 of all the service calls were priority A, the most serious category. Mission Bay resident Arlene Singer told the meeting the situation is 'heart-breaking' as she demanded more security There were reports of 121 fights, 20 of which involved a gun or a knife since October 2022 Evidence submitted to the SF Board of Supervisors about antisocial behavior at the facility Reported incidents included open drug use, a man who broke a window and left glass on the sidewalk and a man masturbating' outside the facility. There were reports of 121 fights, 20 of which involved a gun or a knife. HomeRise is an $86 million 141-unit permanent supportive housing (PSH) complex located across the street from the Madrone building, where homes regularly sell for into the millions. This contrast has led to some tensions, but is part of Mayor London Breed's strategy to help unhoused people break free of the city's Tenderloin district, which has born the brunt of the homelessness crisis. Defenders of the scheme said it is wrong to blame an entire group of people for the problems and warned against othering the unhoused population of the city. Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing Lauren Cohen told the Board the vast majority of PSH sites operate without complaint. She highlighted a 2018 study by the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Affairs conducted in San Francisco that showed they had 'no effect on neighborhood crime' or property prices. She also cited police data which showed that in three PSH sites across the city, the number of incidents reported to police actually fell by as much as 28 percent. HomeRise is an $86 million 141-unit permanent supportive housing (PSH) complex located across the street from the Madrone building, where homes regularly sell for into the millions But defenders of the scheme say it is wrong to demonize any one group and that tenants are just as much a part of the Mission Bay community (pictured) as anyone else San Francisco remains in the grip of a crippling homelessness and fentanyl epidemic Marcel Davis, senior interim director for resident services at HomeRise, told the board that the incidents involve just 3 percent of HomeRise residents, while the non-profit houses 30 percent of the city's homeless population across its properties. Lauren Hall, co-chair of the Supportive Housing Network, asserted that the tenants have just as much right to be in the community as anyone else. 'Our residents are the fabric of this community as any of us here today,' ' she said. 'I'm concerned some of the nature of this hearing, and I just want to say that there are thousands of supportive housing residents here in the district that we're discussing that are thriving well in many sites. 'It's dangerous to assert that any one group of people is responsible'. And one HomeRise resident, speaking through a translator, said she had appeared at the meeting as she understands there has been some poor behavior at the complex but that 'not every body is the same'. However, the assurances were not enough for residents who are demanding 24/7 security to try and deter some of the antisocial behavior. But Cohen estimated it could cost between $60 to $70 million a year to provide coverage at facilities across the city. Last year was San Francisco's most deadly year on record for accidental drug overdoses She also raised concerns that incidents could be exacerbated since security guards are not always trained in de-escalation. There were 7,754 unhoused people in the city per officials' most recent count in 2022, while last year was San Francisco's most deadly year on record for accidental drug overdoses.

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May 13, 2021 / 01:00PM GMT Stephen Chege - Safaricom PLC - Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the financial results announcement for Safaricom PLC for the full year 2020, '21. On behalf of our Board of Directors, the management team and the staff of Safaricom PLC, we thank you very much for making time to join us virtually for this event. I'm glad and thanks to technology, which is our foundation of our business that we can virtually connect and engage this morning. We hope that you are all keeping safe, masking up, washing hands and observing the required precautions and protocols to help us manage the COVID-19 pandemic. We will start off with remarks by Michael Joseph, the Chairman of the Board of Safaricom PLC, followed by Safaricom PLC's CEO, Peter Ndegwa. And thereafter, Chief Finance Officer, Dilip Pal, will take us through the financial performance and results for the period under review. Should you like to keep your social media followers updated, our hashtag for today is #SafaricomFYResults. In staying committed to our promise on diversity and inclusion, our sign Full Year 2021 Safaricom Plc Earnings Call Transcript Already have an account? Log in Get the full story Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | | 30-Year Financial on one screen | | All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | | Customizable Stock Dashboard | | Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | | 8,000+ Institutional investors' 13F holdings | | Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | | All data downloadable | | Quick customer support | | And much more... | 30-Day 100% money back guarantee You are not charged until the trial ends. Subscription fee may be tax deductible. Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot

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Justice Breyer warns of the perils of conservatives' judicial philosophy NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer about his new book, Reading the Constitution, Why I chose Pragmatism not Textualism. Copyright 2024 NPR

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In 1664, when the British set up a hospital at Fort St. George in erstwhile Madras to treat sick soldiers of the East India Company, there weren't any such facilities available anywhere else in the country. It was the first modern hospital to come up in India. Today, the hospital, which relocated out of the fort, has turned into the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and has over 2,700 beds with multiple speciality care wings, treating hundreds of patients daily. With a strong lineage in healthcare, Tamil Nadu has always been an important centre for medical care and has been attracting a large number of international and domestic health tourists. With healthcare indices to boast of, as it ranks at the top in the country in terms of number of children immunised and low mortality rates, the government has been taking initiatives over the years to integrate medical care and tourism. Healthcare now has become one of the fastest growing tourism segments in both mainstream medical services and wellness tourism. What sets Tamil Nadu apart from other states is the medical infrastructure and thousands of specialised medical practitioners working in thousands of hospitals across the state. According to government data, the state has over 12,500 hospital beds, around 10 lakh registered doctors, 48 government-run medical colleges with hospitals; and hundreds of private specialty and multi-specialty hospitals. Besides, there are around 1,500 Indian system hospitals and hundreds of ayurvedic, siddha and unani resources. Backing these are 84 pharma colleges and around 400 pharma-manufacturing companies in the state. As medical costs are competitive and meet global standards, patients prefer getting treatment here. "In Bangladesh, PET scans would cost Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000, but at SIMS it would cost them only Rs 20,000. These people would not have medical insurance, so they have to spend from their pockets. Therefore they come in search of affordability," said Shumaila Tarannum, manager of SRM Institutes for Medical Science (SIMS) Care Connect in Chennai. Tarannum added that every month around 25-35 international patients visit SIMS and the majority come from Bangladesh for gastroenterology issues. "We get patients from African countries, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bahrain." Over 15 lakh patients visit Tamil Nadu annually for medical diagnosis and treatment, according to the state tourism department. As the state has established itself as a leader in medical tourism, the state department of tourism along with hospitals have established a Medical Tourism Information Centre at the Tamil Nadu Tourism Complex and travel desks in Chennai and Madurai. A core committee of medical experts and the Directorate of Medical Education oversee the system. The department of tourism is also planning to launch a medical and wellness tourism scheme to develop medical and wellness tourism in Tamil Nadu, in line with the National Strategy and Roadmap drafted by the Ministry of Tourism. Efforts will be taken to promote Tamil Nadu under the 'Heal in India' brand while setting up enabling regulatory and institutional frameworks for medical and wellness tourism. "Apollo hospitals receive international patients from SAARC countries, West Asia, Mauritius and others. India is known for good experienced doctors. There are experts here. Patients prefer coming here for cost effective treatment, high end technologies and good medical services. Most of the patients come to Apollo for cancer treatment, joint replacement and cardiac surgeries," said Dr R K Venkatachalam, Director of Medical Services, Apollo Hospitals. "SRMC gets patients from countries including Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Oman. Annually, 500-550 patients come to SRMC for treatments. Doctors here also clearly chart out medical costs for them so that they can come prepared," said Dr Sudagar Singh, medical director at Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre. What adds to the experience for patients is the hospitality, culture and culinary experience and tourist spots the state has to offer. "In Chennai people are also warm and nice. They are welcoming. We frequently organise small trips to places like Tirupathi, Puducherry and Coimbatore," said Dr Rakesh Jalali, medical director and senior consultant, neuro oncology, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai. "We provide help, if needed, in obtaining visa and also receive them from the airport. We also have tie ups with a number of hotels, apartments and accommodations where we have discounted rates," he added.

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Mother says she wants justice after teen son is killed during police chase in Mississippi JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A mother says she wants justice for her 17-year-old son who died when a police SUV ran over him in the small Mississippi Delta town where he lived. Kadarius Smith and one of his cousins were out walking March 21 when a Leland Police Department vehicle chased them and fatally struck Smith, said his mother, Kaychia Calvert. He died later at a hospital. "He still had his whole life ahead of him," Calvert told The Associated Press. "They just took his life away from him." Police referred all questions to Josh Bogen, attorney for the city, and he said officers were responding to a call about an assault in progress. He could not confirm if Smith was a suspect. Bogen said it was an "accident" that the vehicle struck Smith. "The idea that the police officer purposely ran over the alleged victim is a complete absurdity," Bogen told the AP. Smith was Black. Bogen said police told him that at least one responding officer involved was also Black. Bogen did not offer any other details. The AP requested copies of police reports and police camera footage from Bogen, but he said they are not available during the investigation. The AP filed a formal request for the documents Friday. Calvert described her son as "a loving, caring person" who was smart, independent and outgoing. He was in 11th grade and played on the Leland High School basketball team. Leland is in the flatlands of cotton and soybean country and has a population of about 3,900. It is about 110 miles (177 kilometers) northwest of Mississippi's capital city of Jackson. Smith's family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump and they are demanding that the officer who drove the vehicle be fired, and that unedited police camera footage be released. "It is unconscionable that an officer would fatally run over a teenager who was running away from them," Crump said. Bogen said "there's not a word of truth" to Crump's statement. Calvert said her son's cousin told her that he "heard a loud boom" and then saw the SUV leaning like it was about to flip. She said he told her that the SUV landed on its wheels, ending up on Smith's body. "My son didn't do anything wrong," Calvert said. "The police officers, they just saw two boys walking home, and that's how it got started. My son — he's not a thug."

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PHOENIX — (AP) — Left-hander Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona Diamondbacks finalized their $25 million, one-year deal on Friday. Montgomery pitched for Texas against Arizona in the World Series last year, and his addition bulks up the defending National League champions' rotation. He should slide into the No. 3 or No. 4 spot once he's ready for game action, joining Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodríguez, who signed an $80 million, four-year contract with the Diamondbacks earlier in the offseason. The contract includes a vesting option for 2025. If Montgomery makes at least 10 starts this season, the option would become guaranteed at $20 million and the left-hander also would gain the right to opt out. The option price would escalate to $22.5 million if he makes 18 starts and to $25 million if he makes 23 starts — a figure he has reached in three straight seasons. The sides agreed to the deal on Tuesday, pending a physical. Because Montgomery was not in the organization on opening day, the Diamondbacks cannot make a qualifying offer to him as a free agent and would not be eligible to get an additional pick in the 2025 amateur draft if he leaves Arizona at the end of the season and signs with another team. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

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The small-cap space provides some exciting opportunities for robust returns in quick time. Further, some quality small-cap stock rallies are backed by fundamentals and positive business catalysts. This column discusses three small-cap stocks for 100% returns before the end of the year. Like always, I have steered clear of purely speculative ideas. The businesses discussed have the potential to deliver in the near term as well as the long term. Additionally, small-cap stocks, by definition, have a market capitalization ranging from $250 million to $2 billion. In this column, my focus is on ideas with a market valuation of $1.5 billion or higher. I have, therefore, avoided the smaller names with relatively higher risk. From a broad market perspective, I must mention that rate cuts seem likely in 2024. That will be positive for the markets, and small-cap stocks tend to perform well during times of easy money policies. Therefore, besides company-specific fundamentals, that is another catalyst for robust returns from these small-cap stocks. Borr Drilling (BORR) Source: iStock Borr Drilling (NYSE:BORR) stock has been depressed and has trended lower by 10% in the last 12 months because of relatively lower oil prices on the back of macroeconomic concerns. With BORR stock trading at a forward price-earnings ratio of 9, it's a good time to accumulate. The first reason to be bullish on Borr is the possibility of rate cuts in the second half of 2024. Expansionary policies are likely to support GDP growth, and oil can potentially trend higher. Further, factors of production cut by OPEC and geopolitical tensions will ensure that oil remains firm. The second reason to be bullish on Borr is a strong contract backlog. As of December 2023, Borr reported an order backlog of $1.75 billion. That provides clear revenue and cash flow visibility. It's worth noting that Borr reported adjusted EBITDA of $351 million last year. For the current year, the company guided for an adjusted EBITDA of $500 to $550 million. As oil trends higher, the order intake is likely to remain robust. Therefore, growth will likely remain healthy beyond 2025. With these positives, it's a matter of time before BORR stock surges. Archer Aviation (ACHR) Source: T. Schneider / Shutterstock.com Archer Aviation (NYSE:ACHR) is another name among small-cap stocks for 100% returns. From 52-week highs of $7.49, ACHR stock has witnessed significant correction and trades at $4.8. That seems like a golden accumulation opportunity with the company on track for commercialization of eVTOL aircraft in 2025. In 2024, Archer is targeting completion of certification and the construction of its manufacturing facility. The facility in Georgia will likely support the production of 650 aircraft annually. It's worth noting that Archer already has an order backlog of $3.5 billion. Therefore, the company is positioned for healthy growth in 2025 and beyond. I must also add that Archer is initiating commercial operations in the United States, UAE and India by 2026. The company will likely expand into newer territories in the coming quarters. That will help further boost the order backlog. Overall, the flying car industry is in a nascent stage and Archer Aviation is among the early movers. I expect massive value creation from the stock in the coming years. IAMGOLD (IAG) Source: Shutterstock Gold has been trending higher on hopes of rate cuts in the second half of 2024. I expect the precious metal to remain in an uptrend, with the breakout coming after an extended period of consolidation. It's, therefore, a good time to remain invested in gold mining stocks. IAMGOLD (NYSE:IAG) stock looks attractive at current levels of $3.09, and I expect a big rally in the coming months. The obvious reason to be bullish is a higher realized gold price that will translate into upside for revenue and cash flows. Further, IAMGOLD is also positioned for healthy production growth this year. The reason is the commencement of production from the Côté Gold asset, which has the potential to become the third-largest gold mine in Canada. To put things into perspective. IAMGOLD reported gold production of 465,000 ounces last year. Côté Gold alone is likely to deliver production of 220,000 to 290,000 ounces this year. Therefore, higher realized gold prices and healthy production growth will translate into stellar financials. On the date of publication, Faisal Humayun did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines. Faisal Humayun is a senior research analyst with 12 years of industry experience in the field of credit research, equity research and financial modeling. Faisal has authored over 1,500 stock specific articles with focus on the technology, energy and commodities sector. More From InvestorPlace - The #1 AI Investment Might Be This Company You've Never Heard Of - Musk's "Project Omega" May Be Set to Mint New Millionaires. Here's How to Get In. - It doesn't matter if you have $500 or $5 million. Do this now. The post 3 Small-Cap Stocks to Buy for 100% Returns Before 2025 appeared first on InvestorPlace.

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EXCLUSIVETwo bedroom apartment goes up for sale in posh St John's Wood for £700,000 - complete with whopping £21,000-a-year service charge - Westminster flat up for £700k has a £21,000 a year service charge with it - This would up monthly payments by 50% on top of mortgage to north of £5,590 A two bedroom apartment which has gone up for sale in posh St John's Wood in London for £700,000 comes with a whopping £21,000-a-year service charge. The 1,134 square foot penthouse apartment is on the seventh floor of purpose-built block Aspley House in the City of Westminster. A buyer who put down a 10 per cent deposit for a 25 year mortgage would fork out £3,794 a month in repayments according to Rightmove, where the property is being advertised. But the pricey £21,438.46 annual service charge - £1,786.54 a month - plus the £120 yearly ground rent, ups monthly payments by nearly 50 per cent - to north of £5,590. For the charge the new owner will have use of a 24/7 porter service, an allocated gated parking space and access to communal gardens. A two bedroom apartment in Aspley House (pictured) which has gone up for sale in posh St John's Wood in London for £700,000 comes with a whopping £21,000-a-year service charge The flat comes with a spacious reception area, which would be perfect for guests and relaxing The property has two decently sized bedrooms, the first of which (pictured) is 12'8" by 12'2" The central London flat, which only has 57 years left on the lease, is situated on the corner of Finchley Road and Marlborough Hill and within just 100 metres of St John's Wood Underground Station on the Jubilee Line. 'The flat boasts a wonderful double aspect reception which opens up to a south facing roof terrace with far reaching views,' say estate agents Laurence Leigh Residential. The advertised price of the penthouse flat was reduced just this Tuesday, March 26, indicating the sellers may be having difficulty selling it due to the lofty service charge. The property has two decently sized bedrooms, the first of which is 12'8" by 12'2". The second smaller bedroom is 11'7" by 9'9". The larger bedroom has an en suite bathroom and the smaller has an ensuite shower room. There is also a small guest cloakroom at the entrance to the apartment. The 535 square foot reception room is a good size for entertaining guests and relaxing The kitchen, while not particularly modern, appears entirely serviceable and is of a fair size. The kitchen, while not particularly modern, appears entirely serviceable and is of a fair size The London flat has a south facing roof terrace with far reaching views (pictured)

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Louis Gossett Jr., first black man to win Best Support Actor Oscar, dies Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as a gunnery sergeant in An Officer and a Gentleman, has died. He was 87. Copyright 2024 NPR

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Jun 02, 2021 / 03:00PM GMT Vincent Opiyo - Safaricom PLC - Head of Investor Relations Good day to you all. We are glad to have you for this briefing session on Ethiopia license award. As explained when we released our full-year results, and in subsequent roadshows, the RFP NDAs did not allow us to say much at that point. My name is Vincent Opiyo. I head Investor Relations and I will be moderating this session. We have in the call today our CEO, Peter Ndegwa; and our CFO, Dilip Pal. Peter will make introductory remarks as far as Ethiopia is concerned. Thereafter, we will give you a chance to field your questions, which will be answered by both Peter and Dilip. Before we kick off this session, I would like to speak through a few house rules. Throughout this session, any questions you have for our leadership team should be shared via the Q&A tab. Please type in your questions and we will read them out later and provide you with the answers. At the end of your questions, remember to include your organization name. Please ensure you have joined this session with your full names for ease of identification Safaricom Plc Investor Briefing on Ethiopian License Award To Safaricom-Led Consortium Confirmation Call Transcript Already have an account? Log in Get the full story Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | | 30-Year Financial on one screen | | All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | | Customizable Stock Dashboard | | Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | | 8,000+ Institutional investors' 13F holdings | | Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | | All data downloadable | | Quick customer support | | And much more... | 30-Day 100% money back guarantee You are not charged until the trial ends. Subscription fee may be tax deductible. Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot

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When it comes to training or relaxing, Chitresh Tatha, a professional kite surfer who has represented India at the Asian Games, heads to Pattinamaruthur in Thoothukudi, where, far from the madding crowd, is a slice of heaven when the sun meets the sea. Aqua Outback, established by Arjun Motha and his mother Rohini, is a resort where people come to pursue water sports, and simply reconnect with nature, "I use it as a training base as they have all the facilities and trained personnel. Sometimes, when I train on water and am far from the land, the wind may drop and I may need a rescue. They have someone always checking on me and a safety boat to come for the rescue," says Tatha, adding he also frequents the place as it's both beautiful and remote. "I avoid tourist places that are 'supercrowded'. This resort is a little remote and, even when I am not training, I enjoy the pristine beauty of the place." Tamil Nadu, a culturally rich and diverse state, has always been a popular tourist destination. In 2021, TN attracted 17.02% of all domestic tourist visits, with over 115 million visitors to the state. The state also claimed the top spot for attracting the highest number of international tourists post-pandemic. In 2022, the state won the second position in domestic tourism, with a staggering 218.6 million visitors. TN has always been known for its temple tourism. The group of monuments at Mamallapuram, one of Tamil Nadu's six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is the most visited heritage monument among foreign tourists. The Brihadeeswarar temple in Thanjavur, which is one of the Great Living Chola Temples, Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur and the Airavatesvara Temple in Darasuram are also popular destinations. However, now trends are changing, with travellers looking for experiences to cherish. And with all that TN has to offer, farmstays and nature treks, adventure tours and culinary experiences are being carefully curated to cater to the demand. Many of these are run by individuals with a strong connect to the land. They are proud to showcase the local culture, cuisine, heritage and natural beauty to people thirsty for these experiences. Anaina K Motha, who "traded her stilettos for Birkenstocks" and moved to Aqua Outback two years ago after she met and married Arjun, says, "The resort was established about 10 years ago by my husband and his mother on the land that had been in my husband's family for four generations. Arjun wanted to create a place where people could come and connect with nature. Later, as many Japanese anglers came in, the adventure sports sector grew into kitesurfing, scuba diving, snorkelling, wakeboarding, stand up paddling, etc." Located near the Gulf of Mannar, the resort, which has about a dozen rooms and two dorms that can accommodate about 15 people in each, attracts four kinds of travellers — the adventure and thrill seekers who want to enjoy scuba diving, kite surfing etc; people who come on family outings to enjoy a boat ride or watch the migratory birds, sometimes after a day spent visiting temples in Tiruchendur and Rameshwaram; those who come on couple getaways; and the foodies. "We offer south Indian meals, Kerala cuisine, as well as Chinese, Japanese and continental fare," says Anaina, adding they also provide alternate livelihood options for the local fishermen by training them to be lifeguards and to work in the hospitality industry. "Some have even become kite surfing, kayaking, snorkelling and scuba diving instructors." According to her, the young Indian wants a unique travel experience. "Instead of being confined to a hotel room, they want to live in a place where they can be one with nature, see wildlife, etc," she says, adding, apart from domestic tourists, they have also hosted people from Tel Aviv, Australia and Sudan. It's this desire to roll up their sleeves and connect with the earth that makes Vaksana Farmstay in Tindivanam popular with the tourists. Located in Rettanai Village, the 13-acre organic farm has 17 different varieties of fruit. "We have coconut and mango orchards, and grow our own rice and millets, which are served to our guests," says Kiruba Shankar, co-owner. The farmstay was the brainchild of his mother 72-year-old Kasthuri Ammal and grandmother 91-year-old Lakshmi Paati. "My grandmother passed away just a few weeks ago. But it was her dream to run her own business, earn money of her own and buy gifts for her great grandchildren," says Shankar, adding that his grandmother had studied only till class 3 while his mother had studied till class 7. "But they were good at two things – cooking, Lakshmi paati had very old heirloom recipes that she had learned from her grandmother that we are now compiling into a book; and hospitality." The three farmhouses, which can each accommodate about a dozen people, are popular with domestic and international tourists who want to experience life on a farm. "We tell them clearly that it is not a resort or hotel but a family farm. And the best experience they can have is to participate in farming activities – ploughing the land using oxen, harvesting fruit, feeding farm animals. They can also see how clean food is being grown as we don't use pesticides, or artificial fertilizers. We keep cows for the dung, which is used to create organic manure for crops and fruit trees. People see where the rice they eat is grown and where the vegetables are plucked from." Changing perspective: Looking for nature-connect While there was a wave of revenge tourism after the pandemic, what they are witnessing now is people hungry for very different experiences, says Shankar. "They are seeking authenticity, an experience where they can dirty their hands and do things rather than just be an observer. Our farm has three large ponds that also serve as rainwater storage tanks. They are rustic, and have lotuses and lilies growing on the sides but people love diving into these waters and going for a swim to a chlorine-laded swimming pool in a resort." The desire to connect with nature is what drives Chennai-based auditor R Sundararajan to frequent spots in and around Tamil Nadu. "I have taken my office team on treks in places like Masinagudi, and my family to Yelagiri. Being in touch with nature is a priority as it helps you relax," he says. That's why eco-tours have received a boost in TN. Nature Trails N Treks, an eco-tourism company, has a lot of takers for the tours they conduct in Mudumalai, Annamalai, Sathyamangalam, the Nilgiris and forest areas surrounding Coimbatore, like Mulli forest range. "We conduct programmes throughout the year in association with the forest department. We have corporates, schools, colleges and families interested in seeing wildlife places of ecological importance," says Anand Kumar, one of the partners. The programmes also help support the local communities, he says. "They act as guides and also sell agricultural products, honey and spices to the tourists," says Anand Kumar. "And we educate the guests on the importance of conserving flora and fauna, waterways and the importance of ecologically fragile zones." Star hotels are also catering to the new-age tourists' demand for experiential travel. "They want to come and explore the destination, immerse themselves in local culture, and not just visit the usual tourist spots," says Vikram Cotah, CEO, GRT Hotels and Resorts. "Our resort in Kodai offers treks to offbeat and unexplored places. People can get up at 5am, trek and we set up breakfast also in these spots so they can relax and come back." In Yercaud, GRT has tied up with local farms where guests can go strawberry-plucking. "We are creating a resort in Pachalur, 40km from Kodai, where guests can enjoy the hills, and coffee plantations," says Cotah. "They can pluck coffee beans, see how it is being processed, and learn local cuisine." Going hyperlocal has been the focus. "We have a page for local cuisine in all our menus. In Kakinada, we employ housewives who come in and showcase their dishes in the buffet and also interact with the guests. Guests get to enjoy our kitchen gardens in our properties in Thanjavur, Kodaikanal and even Temple Bay in Mammallapuram." While nature and local culture are a big draw, many travellers still seek to visit heritage sites and famous temples. That's why Krithika Subrahmaniam, founder and managing director of Sreshta Leisure Pvt Ltd, established Svatma in Thanjavur "Svatma is a Heritage in Residence, a unique property built to conserve the artistic sensibilities of the location and to provide travellers to the area to get insights and immersive experiences of the region," says Krithika. "I felt there was a need for a property where luxury travellers could stay on extended visits to enjoy the Brihadiswara temple, which is a Great Living Chola temple." Tourists now are coming in better informed and more curious to catch nuanced history, art architecture and spiritual wealth of the Tamil heartland, she feels. "Quality, authenticity, sustainable travel and high art are now the main ask. The pandemic has made travellers more sensitive to the historic world and its evolving relevance to life today," says Krithika. It was his love for heritage that inspired historian and author Pradeep Chakravarthy to establish Anantya In The Village, a heritage hotel, in Alwarthirunagari, a small village in Thoothukudi district famous for being the birthplace of poet-saint Nammalwar, a year ago. "My love for heritage, temple tours, and everything connected with history came from the summer vacations I spend with my maternal grandparents in Tirunelveli," says Chakravarthy. "I wanted to do more for Tirunelveli and southern TN." E verything in the eight-bedroom facility has a QR code that can be scanned so guests can get to know more about the region. "The lampshades, for instance, are made of Chedi Butta saree that's woven only in TN. We have many poems from Sangam literature written on the walls. Scan the QR code and you have got Carnatic vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan singing those poems and Bharatanatyam dancer Priyadarshini Govind dancing and explaining it." The property also conducts tours for children to archaeological sites like Adichanallur, has them interact with local children, does temple tours and have guests sample local dishes like sodhi, a vegetable stew. "We also showcase the crafts in the region — basket weaving and conduct nature walks and tours to the five different eco zones in Tirunelveli," says Chakravarthy. The Tamil Nadu tourism department aims to promote TN as a premier adventure hub-- from parasailing and hot air ballooning in Chennai and Pollachi to surfing and scuba diving along the coastline, says a source. The government also plans to develop Manimutharu Dam and Udhagamandalam Lake waterfront as eco-tourism destinations with adventure tourism activities, bio-diversity parks, and other amenities. "Water-based sound and light show with 3D projection mapping technology will be set up in Emerald lake, Yercaud. These developments are expected to further boost tourism in TN and provide visitors with unique and memorable experiences," says the source. The writer is an award-winning independent journalist and senior journalism advisor (South Asia) at the Journalism Centre on Global Trafficking Priya M Menon

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New York City's mayor gets baptized in jail by Rev. Al Sharpton on Good Friday New York City Mayor Eric Adams marked Good Friday by receiving a jailhouse baptism from the Rev. Al Sharpton, joining in on the religious rite with a group of men incarcerated at the troubled Rikers Island jail complex. The ceremony came as part of a visit to the jail complex where Adams was scheduled to meet with detainees on the Christian holiday. "Having been arrested and then elected mayor, I reminded these young men that where you are is not who you are," Adams, a Democrat, said in a statement. "For the first time in their lives, their mayor didn't look down at them — I sat side by side with them to be cleansed and recommit ourselves to getting on the right path." Images from the event, provided by the mayor's office, appear to show Adams interlocking hands with Sharpton during a prayer, the reverend washing Adams' feet and Adams being baptized. Adams and the civil rights leader have close ties through their long tenures in New York politics. Adams often calls into Sharpton's satellite radio show and the pair have appeared together at City Hall events. The mayor had also visited Rikers earlier this week to meet with detainees. In an interview this week on New York City radio show "The Breakfast Club," Adams said he met with "a group of 12 young brothers who recommitted themselves to Christ." "I've been on Rikers Island more than any mayor in the history of the city talking with inmates and correction officers to turn around what's happening on Rikers Island," Adams said in the heated radio interview, which aired Friday.

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ALBANY, N.Y. — (AP) — Timea Gardiner scored 21 points, Raegan Beers added 18 points and 13 rebounds and Oregon State frustrated Notre Dame star Hannah Hidalgo to beat the Irish 70-65 on Friday and advance to their first regional final in eight years. Donovyn Hunter added 11 points for the third-seeded Beavers (27-7), who will face either overall top-seed South Carolina or Indiana on Sunday. Sonia Citron scored 22 points and Maddy Westbeld added 19 for second-seeded Notre Dame, which finishes the season at 28-7. Hidalgo, who came in averaging 22.9 points, was held to just 10 points on 4 of 17 shooting, matching a season low in scoring. She also missed about four minutes at the start of the second quarter after officials ordered her to remove a stud from her nose. Oregon State led by a point at halftime, but opened the second half on and 11-2 run, capped by a layup from Gardiner that forced an Irish timeout. The Irish came back, taking a 59-57 lead on a pull-up jumper from Anna DeWolfe with just over 4 minutes left in the game. But a 3-pointer from Donovan put Oregon State back in front for good. Hidalgo's off-balance shot with a minute made it 65-63, before Gardiner found Beers underneath with 26 seconds left to stretch it to four. Talia von Oelhoffen blocked a 3-point attempt from Westbeld and sank two foul shots on the other end. Notre Dame has been using a six-player rotation since losing 6-foot-4 forward Kylee Watson, who tore an ACL in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament. Oregon State capitalized on their height advantage early, throwing the ball into the paint. The 6-2 Beers and 6-3 Gardiner combined for 14 of the Beaver's 17 first-quarter points and Oregon State led by three after 10 minutes. The short-handed Irish also dealt with early foul trouble. DeWolfe picked up two in the first quarter and Westbeld had three by halftime. Citron took over for the Irish, scoring nine second-quarter points, but Oregon led 32-31 at the break. BIG PICTURE Oregon State: The Beavers have now held 14 opponents this season to at least 10 points below their season average. Notre Dame came into Friday's game averaging 79 points a game. Oregon State has advanced past the Sweet 16 just once before, reaching the 2016 Final Four. Notre Dame: The 10 points ties a season-low for Hidalgo, who hit just two of her first 13 shots. UP NEXT Oregon State will meet the winner of Friday's second game between top-seeded South Carolina and No. 4 seed Indiana. ___

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Moscow's hostage game with Evan Gershkovich and the U.S. diplomats trying to free him Evan Gershkovich, the journalist who's been detained in Russia for a year, has become a pawn in a larger game of prisoner swaps. The U.S. has created a special office to deal with hostage diplomacy. Copyright 2024 NPR

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Seven American boys are removed from troubled teen school in Jamaica amid allegations kids were being starved, beaten and put in CHOKEHOLDS - as families fight to bring their children home - On February 8, the Jamaican Child Protection and Family Services Agency removed the boys and placed them in protective custody - The seven boys were removed amid reports that the children were being abused A number of American boys have been removed from a troubled teen school in Jamaica amid allegations that the students have been starved, beaten and put in chokeholds. The seven boys were students at Atlantis Leadership Academy located in Treasure Beach, located along the island's south coast. On February 8, the Jamaican Child Protection and Family Services Agency removed the boys and placed them in protective custody amid reports that the children were being abused. Their concerned families have been trying to bring their children home and are seeking answers - though it is unclear when they will get the information they are hoping for. Tarah Fleischman, the mother of Cody Fleischmann, 16, who sent her son to the academy last May hoping it would help with some of his aggressive behavior, is now feeling remorseful, family attorney, Michael McFarland told NewsNation. The mother of Cody Fleischmann, 16, who sent her son to the academy last May hoping it would help with some of his aggressive behavior, is now feeling remorseful, family attorney, Michael McFarland told NewsNation Atlantis Leadership Academy (pictured) is a boarding school for troubled teens McFarland said that that currently, there is no indication of when the young men will be returning home to their families. 'The reality of the situation is, you know, any American traveling to a foreign country, you are subject to the laws of that country,' McFarland said He added: 'While everyone wishes that the U.S. Embassy could come in and just make everything right again, (there are) Jamaican authorities, and they did the right thing in this case.' The faith-based school specializes in helping teens overcome anger, depression, substance abuse. According to its website, the school prides itself as an 'affordable, structured, boarding academy serving young men who possess strong leadership skills, though they've taken some wrong turns in their lives.' Pictured: Stock images of students at the boarding school. McFarland said that that currently, there is no indication of when the young men will be returning home to their families Pictured: Generic images of young people at the academy. The faith-based school specializes in helping teens overcome anger, depression, substance abuse The Atlantis Leadership Academy is located on Treasure Island McFarland said that that currently, there is no indication of when the young men will be returning home to their families. 'The reality of the situation is, you know, any American traveling to a foreign country, you are subject to the laws of that country,' he said Atlantis Leadership Academy founder and director, Randall Cook Cody's mother was able to visit her son in Jamaica earlier this month when she attended a hearing, but the attorney said it is still unclear when they will be able to return home. McFarland told the news outlet that Cody had 'lost a significant amount of weight since entering into Atlantis,' he said, in part. 'They're investigating allegations of physical abuse, which would include beatings, also chokeholds, restraints, things like that. And neglect, which would include, you know, withholding food and not getting proper nutrition to the boys,' McFarland said. Randall Cook, the school's founder and director, told NewsNation that he is 'eager to have honest dialogue.' He also added he would be in touch soon 'one way or the other.' Since the abuse allegations surfaced, many families claim the school appears to be closed. DailyMail.com has reached out to Randall Cook.

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Nov 10, 2021 / 04:45AM GMT Stephen Chege - Safaricom PLC - Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Safaricom's Half Year 2021-2022 Financial Results Announcement. On behalf of the Board of Directors, the management team and staff of Safaricom PLC, we thank you very much for making time to join us virtually for this event. I'm glad that, thanks to technology, which is the foundation of our business, we can virtually connect and engage this morning. We hope that you're all keeping safe, masking up, washing your hands and observing the required precautions to help manage the COVID-19 pandemic. Most importantly, we hope that you have been vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated in the coming days. We'll start off with remarks by Safaricom PLC Chairman of the Board of Directors, Michael Joseph; Safaricom PLC CEO, Peter Ndegwa; and Chief Finance Officer, Dilip Pal, will then take us through the financial performance and results for the period under review. Should you like to keep your social media followers updated on our proceedings this morning, our hashtag today is Half Year 2022 Safaricom Plc Virtual Results Announcement Transcript Already have an account? Log in Get the full story Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | | 30-Year Financial on one screen | | All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | | Customizable Stock Dashboard | | Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | | 8,000+ Institutional investors' 13F holdings | | Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | | All data downloadable | | Quick customer support | | And much more... | 30-Day 100% money back guarantee You are not charged until the trial ends. Subscription fee may be tax deductible. Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot

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It has been a fabulous growth story over past several years. Tamil Nadu flaunts production facilities of numerous foreign and domestic Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) as well as over 100 local suppliers in its capital city and neighbouring districts. Chennai is nicknamed as the 'Detroit of India'. This evolution of the city can be traced back to as early as 1953 when Simpsons pioneered India's automobile industry in Chennai by manufacturing motor cars, diesel engines, and steam passenger buses. The industry has grown steadily since then. The state, in the 1990s and early 2000s, witnessed the second wave of the automobile boom. Currently, several car manufacturers, including Hyundai, Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and BMW, have their manufacturing units in Chennai. In a latest development, Tata Motors signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government for setting up a Rs 9,000 crore worth vehicle manufacturing facility in the state. The initiative is expected to provide direct and indirect employment to around 5,000 people. The state has managed to attract two such big investments in the automobile sector within a span of a few months, indicating Tamil Nadu's continuing growth as a leader in the sector. Vietnam-headquartered VinFast Auto Limited had recently signed an MoU to set up an electric vehicle manufacturing facility worth Rs 16,000 crore in Thoothukudi district. Education as primary step The foundation stone for developing Tamil Nadu as a major industrial player was laid between 1955 and 1960. As an initial step, the state government made substantial investments in primary and secondary education. During the 1960s, there was a concerted effort by the government to enhance technical education, establishing institutes to train technicians and mechanics. The involvement of the private sector in worker training was also encouraged by the government. As a result, after over six decades, Tamil Nadu now produces the largest number of technical graduates. In the 1990s, the government actively attracted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and established government agencies to entice the automobile industry. According to industry estimates, the state churns out at least 20 lakh vehicles annually. "In the interest of future development and consolidation of the automobile and components industry, the government introduced the Tamil Nadu Automobile and Auto Component Policy in 2014. The objective was to generate five lakh jobs and position the Chennai belt among the top five auto clusters around the globe," noted a consultant. Chennai's Oragadam, better known as the city's industrial suburb, is home to many top automobile manufacturers. This includes Hyundai Motor India, the largest passenger car exporter in the country; Renault-Nissan; Daimler India Commercial Vehicles; and Royal Enfield, which also inaugurated its second plant in the same area. Sources attribute Tamil Nadu's leadership position in the automobile sector to multiple factors. The presence of three modern ports in Chennai and Thoothukudi provide easy access for exports and imports. The container terminal in Chennai is termed as one of the most efficient in India. Both the Chennai and Ennore ports have dedicated berths for automobile exports too. The availability of skilled manpower at various levels, including shop floor operators, technicians, diploma holders, and graduate engineers, is noteworthy. The state also enjoys commendable industrial peace and harmony. A section of industrialists say that the state's auto cluster manufactures a wide range of products and commands a disproportionate share of the automotive market due to the presence of three major domestic players – Ashok Leyland, TVS Group and Brakes India. Furthermore, the number of vehicles registered in the state has increased by 17-19 lakh annually since 2011. Official data from the state revealed that during 2019-20, India produced 3.1 crore vehicles, of which 2.6 crore were sold. "During 2019-20, Tamil Nadu alone registered 19.27 lakh new vehicles. Between 2022 and 2023, the number was 17.35 lakh. This data implies that nearly 9% of all vehicles sold in India were registered in Tamil Nadu, indicating a significant demand," said an office bearer of the Tamil Nadu Automobile Dealers Association. According to the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) report for 2019-2020, Tamil Nadu ranked first in terms of the number of factories (38,837) and the number of people employed in factories (26.63 lakh). The state was also ranked third in parameters such as Gross Output (Rs 9.27 lakh crore), Net Value Added (Rs 1.32 lakh crore), and Invested Capital (Rs 4.3 lakh crore). Out of the total invested capital of Rs 4.3 lakh crore, the automobile and other allied sectors received Rs 93,646 crore, constituting 24.58% of the total investment in India during 2019-2020. In the automobile and electric vehicles (EV) sector, significant investments from both global and domestic players were garnered through special conclaves conducted during February 2023, facilitating investment commitments of nearly Rs 11,000 crore and generating jobs for over 5,000 people. TATA TO SET UP Rs 9,000 CR PLANT Tata Motors has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government for setting up a Rs 9,000 crore worth vehicle manufacturing facility in the state. The initiative is expected to provide direct and indirect employment to around 5,000 people. 38,837 - Factories 26.6L People employed in factories Rs 9.2 lakh crore Gross output Rs 1.3 lakh crore Net value added Rs 4.3 lakh crore Invested capital Source: Annual Survey of Industries report on Tamil Nadu for 2019-2020

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Pope skips Good Friday event to preserve health ahead of Easter, Vatican says ROME (AP) — Pope Francis skipped the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum to protect his health, the Vatican said, making a last-minute decision that added to concerns about his frail condition during a particularly busy liturgical period. Francis had been expected to preside over the Way of the Cross procession, which re-enacts Christ's Passion and crucifixion, and composed the meditations that are read aloud at each station. But just as the event was about to begin, the Vatican announced that Francis was following the event from his home at the Vatican. "To conserve his health in view of the vigil tomorrow and Mass on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis will follow the Via Crucis at the Colosseum this evening from the Casa Santa Marta," a statement from the Vatican press office said. While Francis had also skipped the event in 2023 because he was recovering from bronchitis and it was a particularly cold night, his last-minute decision to stay home this year recalled the Good Friday that St. John Paul II famously watched from the Apostolic Palace just before he died in 2005. The 87-year-old Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been battling what he and the Vatican have described as a case of the flu, bronchitis or a cold all winter long. For the last several weeks he has occasionally asked an aide to read aloud his speeches and skipped his Palm Sunday homily altogether. The decision to not attend the Good Friday procession appeared to be very last-minute: Francis' chair was in place on the platform where he was to preside over the rite. His closest aide, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, was on hand and moved the television screen around on the platform so Francis would have a better view of what was going on inside the Colosseum itself. But at 9:10 p.m., five minutes before the official start of the procession, the Vatican press office announced on Telegram that he wouldn't show up. The chair was quickly taken away. The hasty announcement recalled Francis' last-minute decision on Palm Sunday, when the Vatican issued the pope's homily in advance to journalists, and his aide got up to give him his glasses to read it, when Francis made clear he was skipping it. Francis had appeared in good form earlier in the day for a Good Friday liturgy in St. Peter's Basilica, though he remained seated throughout and it was not a particularly taxing event that required him to speak at length. On Saturday, he is to preside over a lengthy evening Easter Vigil in St. Peter's, one of the most solemn events in the liturgical calendar. He also is due to preside over Easter Sunday Mass in the piazza and deliver his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) speech rounding up global crises and threats to humanity. In addition to his respiratory problems, Francis had a chunk of his large intestine removed in 2021 and was hospitalized twice last year, including once to remove intestinal scar tissue from previous surgeries to address diverticulosis, or bulges in his intestinal wall. In his recently published memoirs, "Life: My Story Through History," Francis said he isn't suffering from any health problems that would require him to resign and that he still has " many projects to bring to fruition." ___ This version corrects that this was the second time Francis skipped the event, after staying home also in 2023.

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Christopher Intagliata is an editor at All Things Considered, where he writes news and edits interviews with politicians, musicians, restaurant owners, scientists and many of the other voices heard on the air. Ailsa Chang is an award-winning journalist who hosts All Things Considered along with Ari Shapiro, Audie Cornish, and Mary Louise Kelly. She landed in public radio after practicing law for a few years.

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Nearly 200 people visiting Jeffrey Epstein's 'pedo island' AFTER his sex crime conviction are exposed by mobile data linking them to homes and offices across the US - including one ping on street opposite Trump Tower - The mobile devices of visitors to Epstein's island left a trail of data which links them to homes and offices in the US around the world - Some devices were also linked to addresses in Ukraine, the Cayman Islands and Australia - Little Saint James, in the US Virgin Islands, was a focal point of Epstein's horrific child-sex-trafficking operation Nearly 200 people who visited Jeffrey Epstein's 'pedo' island left a trail of mobile device data which links them to homes and offices in the US around the world, a new analysis reveals. The analysis exposes the movements of visitors to the island from 2016 to Epstein's final arrest in 2019, years after his conviction in 2008 for procuring a child for prostitution. The location data was pinged from their mobile devices to platforms which facilitate targeted advertising. This information was then compiled by Near Intelligence, a controversial location data broker. A report by Wired mapped the data from devices which visited Epstein's Caribbean island, Little St James, and traced them back to around 166 locations in the US which are believed to be the homes and business addresses of the device owners. Some devices were also linked to addresses in Ukraine, the Cayman Islands and Australia, according to the report. Nearly 200 people who visited Jeffrey Epstein 's 'pedo' island Little St James left a trail of mobile device data which links them to homes and offices in the US around the world The main property on Little St James is surrounded by several other structures including the maids' quarters and a massive, square-shaped white building on one end of the island that some say is a music room fitted with acoustic walls Epstein abused underage girls on the island with the help of his confidante Ghislaine Maxwell Little Saint James, in the US Virgin Islands, was a focal point of Epstein's horrific child-sex-trafficking operation. The troubling past of Little St James has been widely documented in photographs, victim testimony and court cases against Epstein and his associates. Epstein - with help from his confidante and fixer Ghislaine Maxwell - trafficked many young girls to the island, where they were raped and abused. The data analyzed by Wired is believed to include both visitors to the island and victims of the abuse. Some of the devices were linked to luxury properties in Michigan, Florida and Martha's Vineyard. Others are said to have been traced back to low-income areas where Epstein's victims are known to have lived and attended school. One device reportedly pinged coordinates from a sidewalk across the street from the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Near Intelligence obtained the data from advertising exchanges, which are online platforms that facilitate the buying and selling of ads on the internet. The information can include location data which allows analysts to track the movements of devices. The sprawling property Epstein had built on Little St James, with surrounding lawns and swimming pool. In the background, a jetty reaches out into the clear, blue water The company has been accused of misusing data and in December it filed for bankruptcy. Lisa Bloom, who represented 11 of Epstein's alleged victims, told Wired: 'Most of the clients who come to me, their number one concern is privacy and safety. 'It's deeply concerning to think that any sexual abuse victims' location will be tracked and then stored and then sold to someone, who can presumably do whatever they want with it.' Little St James was dubbed 'Pedophile Island' by residents of the US Virgin Islands during the blatant, wholesale abuse conducted by Epstein after he bought the isle in 1998 for $7.5 million. He bought Great St James, the larger island beside it, in 2016 for $22.5 million to protect his privacy. Epstein died in August 2019, aged 66, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Photographs previously published by DailyMail.com show young girls posing on the paradise island, or giving massages to Epstein while makes telephone calls. Epstein threw parties for the rich and famous on Little St James, with celebrities from Prince Andrew to Stephen Hawking among his guests. Pictured: Jeffrey Epstein is massaged by his assistant Sarah Kellen at his private island Ghislaine Maxwell is pictured having a meal at Epstein's mansion on Little St James Island in this undated photo Maxwell is seen in other pictures being waited on by the legion of staff who Epstein recruited to manage the island. Epstein is said to have imported 200 workers after his purchase of the island to build a stone mansion, two guest houses, a helipad and a bizarre gold-domed structure that resembles a temple. The temple structure was built between 2009 and 2013 but it remains unclear what the building was for. Maxwell is seen in other pictures being waited on by the legion of staff who Epstein recruited to manage the island. Epstein is said to have imported 200 workers after his purchase of the island to build a stone mansion, two guest houses, a helipad and a bizarre gold-domed structure that resembles a temple. The temple structure was built between 2009 and 2013 but it remains unclear what the building was for. The islands were purchased for $60 million in May 2023 by billionaire Stephen Deckoff, who plans to transform them into a luxury resort.

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Nov 10, 2021 / 01:00PM GMT Philip Muchaba - Good morning, good afternoon and good evening to everyone, depending on who you're joining us from. We are glad to have you for our Half-Year Financial Year 2022 Earnings Release Investor Call. My name is Philip Muchaba, I'm the acting Head of Investor Relations and Financial Planning at Safaricom, and I'll be moderating today's call. In today's call, we'll have a short update from our CEO, Peter Ndegwa, who will also introduce the leadership team accompanying him today. Thereafter, we will be giving you a chance to fill your questions, which Peter will answer with support from the rest of our leadership team. Before we kick off the session, I would like to speak through a few housekeeping rules. Throughout this session, any questions you have for our leadership team should be shared via the Q&A tab. Please type in your questions and we'll read them out and provide answers. At the end of your question, remember to include your organization name. Please ensure you have joined the session with your full names for ease of identification when you post your questions. If you haven't, you Half Year 2022 Safaricom Plc Earnings Call (Investor Briefing Call) Transcript Already have an account? Log in Get the full story Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | | 30-Year Financial on one screen | | All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | | Customizable Stock Dashboard | | Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | | 8,000+ Institutional investors' 13F holdings | | Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | | All data downloadable | | Quick customer support | | And much more... | 30-Day 100% money back guarantee You are not charged until the trial ends. Subscription fee may be tax deductible. Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot

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Study says since 1979 climate change has made heat waves last longer, spike hotter, hurt more people Climate change is making giant heat waves crawl slower across the globe and they are baking more people for a longer time with higher temperatures over larger areas, a new study finds. Since 1979, global heat waves are moving 20% more slowly — meaning more people stay hot longer — and they are happening 67% more often, according to a study in Friday's Science Advances. The study found the highest temperatures in the heat waves are warmer than 40 years ago and the area under a heat dome is larger. Studies have shown heat waves worsening before, but this one is more comprehensive and concentrates heavily on not just temperature and area, but how long the high heat lasts and how it travels across continents, said study co-authors and climate scientists Wei Zhang of Utah State University and Gabriel Lau of Princeton University. From 1979 to 1983, global heat waves would last eight days on average, but by 2016 to 2020 that was up to 12 days, the study said. Eurasia was especially hit harder with longer lasting heat waves, the study said. Heat waves slowed down most in Africa, while North America and Australia saw the biggest increases in overall magnitude, which measures temperature and area, according to the study. "This paper sends a clear warning that climate change makes heat waves yet more dangerous in more ways than one," said Lawrence Berkeley National Lab climate scientist Michael Wehner, who wasn't part of the research. Just like in an oven, the longer the heat lasts, the more something cooks. In this case it's people, the co-authors said. "Those heat waves are traveling slower and so slower so that basically means that … there's a heat wave sitting there and those heat waves could stay longer in the region," Zhang said. "And the adverse impacts on our human society would be huge and increasing over the years." The team conducted computer simulations showing this change was due to heat-trapping emissions that come from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas. The study found climate change's fingerprint by simulating a world without greenhouse gas emissions and concluding it could not produce the worsening heat waves observed in the last 45 years. The study also looks at the changes in weather patterns that propagate heat waves. Atmospheric waves that move weather systems along, such as the jet stream, are weakening, so they are not moving heat waves along as quickly — west to east in most but not all continents, Zhang said. Several outside scientists praised the big picture way Zhang and colleagues examined heat waves, showing the interaction with weather patterns and their global movement and especially how they are slowing down. This shows "how heat waves evolve in three dimensions and move regionally and across continents rather than looking at temperatures at individual locations," said Kathy Jacobs, a University of Arizona climate scientist who wasn't part of the study. "One of the most direct consequences of global warming is increasing heat waves," said Woodwell Climate Research Center scientist Jennifer Francis, who wasn't part of the study. "These results put a large exclamation point on that fact." ___ Read more of AP's climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment ___ Follow Seth Borenstein on X at @borenbears ______ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

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WFAE's Nick de la Canal can be heard on public radio airwaves across the Charlotte region, bringing listeners the latest in local and regional news updates. He's been a part of the WFAE newsroom since 2013, when he began as an intern. His reporting helped the station earn an Edward R. Murrow award for breaking news coverage following the Keith Scott shooting and protests in September 2016. More recently, he's been reporting on food, culture, transportation, immigration, and even the paranormal on the FAQ City podcast. He grew up in Charlotte, graduated from Myers Park High, and received his degree in journalism from Emerson College in Boston. Periodically, he tweets: @nickdelacanal

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May 12, 2022 / 04:30AM GMT Presentation (Pre-Recorded) May 12, 2022 / 04:30AM GMT ===================== Corporate Participants ===================== * Dilip Pal Safaricom PLC - Chief Finance Officer * Michael Joseph Safaricom PLC - Chairman * Peter Waititu Ndegwa Safaricom PLC - CEO & Executive Director ===================== Operator Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the financial results announcement for Safaricom PLC for the full year 2021, 2022. On behalf of our Board of Directors, the management team, and the staff of Safaricom PLC, we thank you very much for joining us virtually for this event. My name is Zuri, Safaricom's virtual assistant. I am available 24/7 to serve you on WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger and the Safaricom website to enhance your Safaricom experience and ensure you're always connected. Thanks to technology, which is the foundation of our business. I will be the moderator of today's full year results announcement. I am glad we can virtually connect and engage this morning. Full Year 2022 Safaricom Plc Earnings Presentation (Pre-Recorded) Transcript Already have an account? Log in Get the full story Access to All Earning Calls and Stock Analysis | | 30-Year Financial on one screen | | All-in-one Stock Screener with unlimited filters | | Customizable Stock Dashboard | | Real Time Insider Trading Transactions | | 8,000+ Institutional investors' 13F holdings | | Powerful Excel Add-in and Google sheets Add-on | | All data downloadable | | Quick customer support | | And much more... | 30-Day 100% money back guarantee You are not charged until the trial ends. Subscription fee may be tax deductible. Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot

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Former California train workers are accused of building their own secret apartments with public funds INSIDE two train stations costing up to $50K - Joseph Navarro, 66, and Seth Worden, 61, allegedly defrauded tax payers - The former Caltrain employee and contractor allegedly built apartments in two train stations - Authorities say Navarro's $42,000 apartment was in Burlingame station, and Worden's $8,000 hideaway was in Millbrae station A former employee of Caltrain, a mass transit system that connects Silicon Valley to San Francisco, and a former contractor allegedly raided public funds to build themselves two small apartments inside two train stations. San Mateo County prosecutors charged Joseph Vincent Navarro, a former deputy director for Caltrain, and Seth Andrew Worden, a former employee of TransAmerica Services Inc., with a felony charge of misusing public funds. Worden, 61, was arraigned Wednesday and released on his own recognizance, court records showed. Navarro, 66, was scheduled to be arraigned Friday, when Worden is set to make another court appearance, according to The Mercury News. Prosecutors said that between 2019 and 2020 Navarro allegedly conspired with Worden and approved $42,000 in building expenses to transform an office into a clandestine apartment inside Caltrain's Burlingame train station, which is designated as a historic landmark in California. Pictured: Caltrain's Burlingame train station, where Navarro allegedly built an apartment out of an office using roughly $42,000 Pictured: Millbrae station, where Worden allegedly spent $8,000 for his own private pad The criminal complaint alleged that Worden used $8,000 in taxpayer funds to build himself a similar pad inside the Millbrae train station. It's unclear what Worden's alleged living quarters looked like, but Navarro is accused of spending big for a kitchen, shower, plumbing and security cameras in his apartment. Navarro and Worden allegedly ensured that no invoice surpassed $3,000, averting further authorization from Caltrain and TransAmerica Services Inc., the firm that employed Worden, prosecutors said. By keeping their expenses under the $3,000 threshold, Navarro and Worden were able to evade scrutiny. Caltrain employees reportedly first discovered the converted space at the Millbrae station in 2020. Navarro's alleged place in Burlingame, however, evaded detection until Caltrain received an anonymous tip in 2022. Navarro was fired after being confronted with the tip, and reportedly admitted to 'occasionally using the station as his residence,' prosecutors said. Caltrain then alerted the district attorney's office about the potential for criminal charges. Caltrain's Executive Director, Michelle Bouchard, blasted her former employee and contractor in a statement. 'The misuse of public funds for private use is a violation of the law, Caltrain policy and the public's trust,' Bouchard said. She continued: 'Caltrain investigates every claim of such misconduct, and in cases where there is evidence of unlawful conduct by an employee or a contractor, we immediately act to rectify the situation and hold the individuals who are responsible accountable.'

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Texas woman sues prosecutors who charged her with murder after she self-managed an abortion McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A Texas woman who was charged with murder over self-managing an abortion and spent two nights in jail has sued prosecutors along the U.S.-Mexico border who put the criminal case in motion before it was later dropped. The lawsuit filed by Lizelle Gonzalez in federal court Thursday comes a month after the State Bar of Texas fined and disciplined the district attorney in rural Starr County over the case in 2022, when Gonzalez was charged with murder in "the death of an individual by self-induced abortion." Under the abortion restrictions in Texas and other states, women who seek abortion are exempt from criminal charges. The lawsuit argues Gonzalez suffered harm from the arrest and subsequent media coverage. She is seeking $1 million in damages. "The fallout from Defendants' illegal and unconstitutional actions has forever changed the Plaintiff's life," the lawsuit stated. Starr County District Attorney Gocha Ramirez said Friday that he had not yet been served the lawsuit and declined comment. Starr County Judge Eloy Vera, the county's top elected official, also declined comment. According to the lawsuit, Gonzalez was 19 weeks pregnant when she used misoprostol, one of two drugs used in medication abortions. Misoprostol is also used to treat stomach ulcers. After taking the pills, Gonzalez received an obstetrical examination at the hospital emergency room and was discharged with abdominal pain. She returned with bleeding the next day and an exam found no fetal heartbeat. Doctors performed a caesarian section to deliver a stillborn baby. The lawsuit argues that the hospital violated the patient's privacy rights when they reported the abortion to the district attorney's office, which then carried out its own investigation and produced a murder charge against Gonzalez. Cecilia Garza, an attorney for Gonzalez, said prosecutors pursued an indictment despite knowing that a woman receiving the abortion is exempted from a murder charge by state law. Ramirez announced the charges would be dropped just days after the woman's arrest but not before she'd spent two nights in jail and was identified by name as a murder suspect. In February, Ramirez agreed to pay a $1,250 fine and have his license held in a probated suspension for 12 months in a settlement reached with the State Bar of Texas. He told The Associated Press at the time that he "made a mistake" and agreed to the punishment because it allows his office to keep running and him to keep prosecuting cases.

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As is common knowledge, numerous terrorist organizations operate worldwide, prompting the United States to begin using the term "global terrorism" around a decade ago. Later, the term "global terrorism" evolved into the term "Islamist global terrorism," and then an organization called al-Qaida emerged. As all would recall, the U.S. was going to use al-Qaida as an excuse to invade Afghanistan afterward. Besides Afghanistan, the U.S. used al-Qaida to invade Yemen, which it kept under constant bombardment, a country in severe poverty where people are struggling to make ends meet and can hardly find any bread. Then, in the Syrian War, while the internal conflicts were going on and when we were waiting to see what the U.S., Israel and the United Kingdom would do one morning, we woke up, and an organization called Daesh emerged. It was an organization that did not resemble any Islamic movement, nor the spirit of Islam, nor even the spirit of the devil. Western states are pushing some parts of Muslim nations into a violent position, like Daesh or other radical groups, while others into a passive and anti-Islamic position, like the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ). In all these efforts, they use these two extreme terrorist organizations to defame Islam and Muslims. The aim is to injure and poison the average nation of Prophet Muhammad and make the international community think that these Muslims are nothing but terrorists. In the Syrian War, Daesh occupied certain territories. Then, the U.S. cleared them and brought another terror group, the PKK terrorist organization (YPG), to settle in the territories cleared from Daesh. In fact, making room for the PKK was the prime role of Daesh for the U.S., U.K. and Israel. There was a striking comment in a magazine interview with one of the founders of Daesh shortly after it was established. When why they did not attack Israel was asked, the answer showed that the subject was studied well by the organizers of Daesh. The founder said that Israel did not create sedition and that they did not fight where there was no sedition. One must think about it: they are not targeting murderers who indiscriminately kill babies, children, women or orphans, acting akin to vampires thirsty for humanity's blood because they do not incite "sedition." Instead, they target vulnerable Muslims. This exemplifies the remarkable success of this CIA-developed organization, arguably one of the most successful among violent groups. As the Israeli war on Palestine rages on and all the people of conscience on Earth have taken a position against all Jewish people, not just the Israelis, Daesh organized an attack in Moscow. One of the goals, most likely, was to disperse the atmosphere in Israel. However, the Russians were skeptical that Daesh acted alone in the matter, stating, "Although the terrorist organization Daesh acknowledges that they did it, we know who is behind the operation," and pointed directly at the U.S., U.K. and Israel. We will follow and see, but if there is a Daesh finger somewhere, we know that it is either a direct CIA or a Mossad operation, if not a joint operation of the U.K., U.S. and Israel. What they succeeded in the first place in Moscow was overshadowing the massacre in Israel, to divert the debate a little bit, maybe to bring Russia and Muslims against each other. But people globally should know that the intelligence of the average people is more advanced than that of the CIA or Israel's intelligence agency Mossad. Mossad, or their supporters, who cannot even cope with 10,000 Hamas warriors in Palestine, can no longer claim to be cleverer than the world. Like they have failed in everything else, they also failed in raising terrorists and marketing them. We live in a fascinating era. In conventional times, states were designing plots, and by the time people realized it, states would have completed their operations. But in the current age, information is spread at such an unprecedented pace in social media or among commentators on the internet that even before the states make their move, their plans are unveiled. The plots of the rulers do not go forward. Today, there are already rumors that the port to be built in Israel will also function as supplying aid to Palestine. Does the U.S. want to do outreach or deepen the occupation? It is no longer possible for the U.S. to convince people after carrying bombs to Israel and helping to kill people. While the images depicting the massacre in Russia have undoubtedly sent shivers down the spine, it appears that neither the U.S. nor the U.K. has succeeded in achieving its objectives in this matter.

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Our star columnist Willie Mullins talks us through his team for the first two days of the Fairyhouse Easter Festival and Sunday's Cork team. This is a strong race but she'll love the ground and the conditions of the race suit her. Jody Townend takes the ride and he has his chance. He's a good solid jumper and will love the trip and the ground. He won the last day and he's a horse I've always thought an awful lot of. His jumping has disappointed me, but I feel going the longer trip, going a couple of miles an hour slower on this heavy ground, will suit him. We might see some of the horse I thought he was. He has every chance, he might not be in love with this ground though. The trip and track will be ideal, however. Lombron disappointed us in Cheltenham. I'm hoping this trip will suit him better. I think he's better than his Coral Cup performance so hopefully going out in distance will help. Risk Belle ran well enough when eighth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham. This is a track she likes and hopefully she'll be very good in this. It's going to be tough for Paul Townend on Westport Cove, as I think top weight on this ground will be a tough assignment. She's a full-sister to our King George winner Tornado Flyer, so hopefully she can go well and kick on from Leopardstown. She'll have learnt a lot from Gowran where she won well, she's a good chance. We'll be looking at a change in tactics after he ran too keen at Leopardstown the last day. He's doing well at home and he has his chance here if he learns to settle a bit better. We've a big hand in this mares' novice hurdle and we're looking for some valuable black type for these mares. A Penny A Hundred is ridden by Pavel Slozil who has ridden many winners in Slovakia, including in the Velka Pardubicka. She has form in heavy ground, Brian Hayes was happy to take the ride on her after riding her in the week. She won her maiden hurdle very well at Tramore, but she might just find this ground a little testing. Patrick Mullins has elected to ride her who won convincingly last time out. She was quite impressive, winning well on the inner track at Fairyhouse in February. She's improving and will handle the ground. Paul rides her and the trip and ground will suit her. She has a great chance. Even though she won on soft at Christmas, I think she might be better off as she goes up in class on better ground. She took a long time to get off the mark but I think going out in trip will suit her. It's going to be a tough assignment for her. Danny Mullins rides Pink In The Park who has some nice form around here with Danny in the saddle. She was third in this race behind Ashroe Diamond last year. Michael O'Sullivan was keen to ride Spindleberry after riding her in work this week so she has a chance. She was impressive here in January and course form is always good. Loughglynn will go on the ground but might want a slightly longer trip. Although conditions will help. He disappointed at Christmas but then came right, winning well at Punchestown. He definitely has a big chance on this ground. Jody gets on very well with him. He'll find this tougher but could be there or thereabouts. Gold Dancer didn't run at Cheltenham as he wasn't run. We thought he'd run well but had a setback over there. He has a chance on his French form. I think a change in tactics is needed for Mirazur West here. I think he has a big chance and will improve a lot on his Naas run. He was very impressive in Naas but we'll find out how good he is with this rise in grade. He's the mount of Brian Hayes and has a chance of getting placed here. He won well here at Fairyhouse in January but this is a stronger race. It's a big ask for Figaroc here but he's a big, strong individual and will handle the ground. Paul rides Blood Destiny in the Grade 1 here and I think the conditions of the race will suit. He'll handle the trip and the ground, and he was convincing at Navan the last day. The change in tactics helped last time. He won't be far away. He has very few runs under his belt but we still don't really know how good he is. He was second to Nick Rockett in a beginners chase at Fairyhouse. He's stoutly bred and will really love the underfoot conditions. Patrick rides this one and he's by No Risk At All. He's been showing up well at home on the gallops. I'm not sure she will be in love with this ground but it would be nice to see her get some place money. It's a valuable race and we'll take our chance. He looks to be really well in here, it looks a good opportunity for him as long as Cheltenham hasn't taken too much out of him. I've decided to let Asterion Forlonge have another go over fences in what looks a weak race. The trip will suit him and it looks like it will be a good opportunity for him if he runs up to his old form. His run behind Teahupoo would be good enough to win this. I'm happy with how Chosen Witness came back from his little break to win on this type of ground. I think this trip will be alright for him and his mark looks fair enough, so he has his chance. Charlie Mullins rides Jackson Wood and this horse won't make Charlie look as tall as he is on most horses, given he's a big, galloping, long-striding individual. He'll love this ground and this trip. We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose. If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

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