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Bitcoin ticks closer to $100,000 in extended surge following US electionsLUQUE, Paraguay (AP) — Sake is perhaps more Japanese than the world-famous sushi. It's brewed in centuries-old mountaintop warehouses, savored in the country’s pub-like izakayas, poured during weddings and served slightly chilled for special toasts. The smooth rice wine that plays a crucial role in Japan's culinary traditions was enshrined on Wednesday by UNESCO on its list of the “intangible cultural heritage of humanity." At a meeting in Luque, Paraguay, members of UNESCO’s committee for safeguarding humanity's cultural heritage voted to recognize 45 cultural practices and products around the world, including Brazilian white cheese, Caribbean cassava bread and Palestinian olive oil soap. Unlike UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which includes sites considered important to humanity like the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Intangible Cultural Heritage designation names products and practices of different cultures that are deserving of recognition. A Japanese delegation welcomed the announcement in Luque. “Sake is considered a divine gift and is essential for social and cultural events in Japan,” Kano Takehiro, the Japanese ambassador to UNESCO, told The Associated Press. The basic ingredients of sake are few: rice, water, yeast and koji, a rice mold, which breaks down the starches into fermentable sugars like malting does in beer production. The whole two-monthlong process of steaming, stirring, fermenting and pressing can be grueling. The rice — which wields tremendous marketing power as part of Japan's broader cultural identity — is key to the alcoholic brew. For a product to be categorized Japanese sake, the rice must be Japanese. The UNESCO recognition, the delegation said, captured more than the craft knowledge of making high-quality sake. It also honored a tradition dating back some 1,000 years — sake makes a cameo in Japan’s famous 11th century novel, “The Tale of Genji,” as the drink of choice in the refined Heian court. Now, officials hope to restore sake's image as Japan's premier alcoholic drink even as the younger drinkers in the country switch to imported wine or domestic beer and whiskey. “It means a lot to Japan and to the Japanese,” Takehiro said of the UNESCO designation. "This will help to renew interest in traditional sake elaboration.” Also, Japanese breweries have expressed hope that the listing could give a little lift to the country's export economy as the popularity of sake booms around the world and in the United States amid heightened interest in Japanese cuisine. Sake exports, mostly to the U.S. and China, now rake in over $265 million a year, according to the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, a trade group. Japan's delegation appeared ready to celebrate on Wednesday — in classic Japanese style. After the announcement, Takehiro raised a cypress box full of sake to toast the alcoholic brew and cultural rite.PH to host plastic pollution summit

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — “My Driver and I” was supposed to be made in 2016, but was scuttled amid Saudi Arabia's decades-long cinema ban. Eight years later, the landscape for film in the kingdom looks much different — and the star of “My Driver and I” now has an award. Roula Dakheelallah was named the winner of the Chopard Emerging Saudi Talent award at the Red Sea International Film Festival on Thursday. The award — and the glitzy festival itself — is a sign of Saudi Arabia's commitment to shaping a new film industry. “My heart is attached to cinema and art; I have always dreamed of a moment like this,” Dakheelallah, who still works a 9-5 job, told The Associated Press before the awards ceremony. “I used to work in voluntary films and help my friends in the field, but this is my first big role in a film.” The reopening of cinemas in 2018 marked a cultural turning point for Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy that had instituted the ban 35 years before, under the influence of ultraconservative religious authorities. It has since invested heavily in a native film industry by building theaters and launching programs to support local filmmakers through grants and training. The Red Sea International Film Festival was launched just a year later, part of an attempt to expand Saudi influence into films, gaming, sports and other cultural fields. Activists have decried the investments as whitewashing the kingdom’s human rights record as it tightly controls speech and remains one of the world’s top executioners. With FIFA awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia this week, Lina al-Hathloul, a Saudi activist with the London-based rights group ALQST, said Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman “has really managed to create this bubble where people only see entertainment and they don’t see the reality on the ground.” These efforts are part of Vision 2030, an ambitious reform plan unveiled in 2016 to ease the economy's dependence on oil. As part of it, Saudi Arabia plans to construct 350 cinemas with over 2,500 movie screens — by this past April, across 22 cities, it already had 66 cinemas showing movies from the local film industry, as well as Hollywood and Bollywood. (The Red Sea International Film Festival attracts a host of talent from the latter industries, with Viola Davis and Priyanka Chopra Jonas also picking up awards Thursday.) The country's General Entertainment Authority last month opened Al Hisn Studios on the outskirts of Riyadh. As one of the largest such production hubs in the Middle East, it not only includes several film studios but also a production village with workshops for carpentry, blacksmithing and fashion tailoring. “These facilities, when they exist, will stimulate filmmakers,” said Saudi actor Mohammed Elshehri. “Today, no writer or director has an excuse to imagine and say, ‘I cannot implement my imagination.’” The facilities are one part of the equation — the content itself is another. One of the major players in transforming Saudi filmmaking has been Telfaz11, a media company founded in 2011 that began as a YouTube channel and quickly became a trailblazer. Producing high-quality digital content such as short films, comedy sketches and series, Telfaz11 offered fresh perspectives on Saudi and regional issues. In 2020, Telfaz11 signed a partnership with Netflix to produce original content for the streaming giant. The result has been movies that demonstrate an evolution on the storytelling level, tackling topics that were once off-limits and sensitive to the public like secret nightlife in “Mandoob” (“Night Courier”) and changing social norms in “Naga.” “I think we tell our stories in a very simple way, and that’s what reaches the world,” Elshehri says of the changing shift. “When you tell your story in a natural way without any affectation, it will reach every person.” But the films were not without their critics, drawing mixed reaction. Social media discoursed ranged from pleasure that Saudi film were tackling such topics to anger over how the films reflected conservative society. As Hana Al-Omair, a Saudi writer and director, points out, there are still many stories left untold. “We certainly have a long time ahead of us before we can tell the Saudi narrative as it should be,” she said, acknowledging that there are still barriers and rampant censorship. “The Goat Life,” a Malayalam-language movie about an Indian man forced to work without pay in Saudi Arabia, is not available on Netflix's platform in the country. Movies that explore political topics or LGBTQ+ stories are essentially out of the question. Even “My Driver and I,” featured at the Red Sea festival alongside 11 other Saudi feature-length films, was initially too controversial. It centers on a Sudanese man in Jeddah, living away from his own daughter, who feels responsible for the girl he drives as her parents are absent. It was initially blocked from being made because of the relationship between the girl and the driver, filmmaker Ahd Kamel has said, even though it's not a romantic relationship. Now in 2024, the film is a success story — a symbol of the Saudi film industry's evolution as well as the growing role of women like Kamel behind the camera and Dakheelallah in front of it. “I see the change in Saudi cinema, a very beautiful change and it is moving at a wonderful speed. In my opinion, we do not need to rush,” Dakheelallah said. “We need to guide the truth of the artistic movement that is happening in Saudi Arabia.”WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned home Saturday after his meeting with Donald Trump without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump called the talks “productive” but signaled no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. After the leaders’ hastily arranged dinner Friday night at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trudeau spoke of “an excellent conversation” but offered no details. Trump said in a Truth Social post later Saturday that they discussed “many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address.” For issues in need of such cooperation, Trump cited fentanyl and the “Drug Crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of Illegal Immigration," fair trade deals "that do not jeopardize American Workers” and the U.S. trade deficit with its ally to the north. Trump asserted that the prime minister had made “a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation” of American families from fentanyl from China reaching the United States through its neighbors. The U.S., he said, “will no longer sit idly by as our Citizens become victims to the scourge of this Drug Epidemic.” The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders when he takes office in January. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024 — and Canadian officials say they are ready to make new investments in border security. Trudeau called Trump after the Republican's social media posts about the tariffs last Monday and they agreed to meet, according to a official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to publicly discuss detail of the private talks. The official said other countries are calling Canadian officials to hear how about how the meeting was arranged and to ask for advice. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, after speaking with Trump on the telephone, said Thursday she was confident a tariff war with Washington would be averted. At the dinner that was said to last three hours, Trump said he and Trudeau also discussed energy, trade and the Arctic. A second official cited defense, Ukraine, NATO, China, the Mideast, pipelines and the Group of Seven meeting in Canada next year as other issues that arose. Trump, during his first term as president, once called Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest,” but it was the prime minister who was the first G7 leader to visit Trump since the Nov. 5 election. "Tariffs are a crucial issue for Canada and a bold move was in order. Perhaps it was a risk, but a risk worth taking,” Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Trudeau had said before leaving from Friday that Trump was elected because he promised to bring down the cost of groceries but now was talking about adding 25% to the cost of all kinds of products, including potatoes from Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it,” Trudeau said. “Our responsibility is to point out that he would not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but he would actually be raising prices for Americans citizens as well and hurting American industry and business,” he added. The threatened tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his first term. Trudeau noted they were able to successfully renegotiate the deal, which he calls a “win win” for both countries. When Trump imposed higher tariffs as president, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US $2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S. ___ Gillies reported from Toronto.

Major council targets caravan and boat owners in crackdown after 'receiving numerous complaints'VIDEO: Stanley Brand Recalls 2.6 Million Mugs Due to Potential Burn HazardWhat is the image that you conjure up when you hear the term “able-bodied”? It means a person who has, and is in full control of, all bodily organs. But not everyone is so lucky. An estimated 1.3 billion people out of the world population of eight billion experience significant disability. This represents 16 percent of the world’s population, or in simple terms, one in six of us. Life is indeed difficult for those born with some sort of disability or those who get disabled later in life through accidents, disease and other circumstances. At the same time, many disabled people have unique talents and skills (inborn or acquired) which sometimes exceed those of able-bodied persons. Sometimes, Nature itself lends a hand to those who lack one or more cognitive functions. For example, it is rather well-known that most blind people have exceptional hearing that helps them navigate the world around them with minimal help. Hence the politically correct term “differently-abled” for those who suffer from some sort of disability. Overall, though, life is difficult for those experiencing some sort of disability. Many persons with disabilities die up to 20 years earlier than those without disabilities. Persons with disabilities have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity or poor oral health. According to the United Nations (UN), health inequities arise from unfair conditions faced by persons with disabilities, including stigma, discrimination, poverty, exclusion from education and employment, and barriers faced in the health system itself. Just to give an example, even some hospitals do not have access ramps for wheelchairs. Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Sri Lanka’s first ever visually impaired MP The leadership of persons with disabilities is epitomised by the global disability rights movement’s slogan “Nothing About Us Without Us”. It connotes the basic requirements of participation, representation and inclusion and calls for persons with disabilities to actively shape the conditions of their lives. Promoting inclusive development One of the priorities of the global disability agenda is to advance the agency and leadership of persons with disabilities. In the past decades, persons with disabilities and organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) have already championed for the changes in their communities, and have been leading many of the community-led initiatives not only to advance their own rights, and wellbeing but also promoting inclusive development for instance enabling universal access to basic services by all; they have done so by taking both targeted and mainstreaming approaches to disability inclusion through, among others, consultation, data collection and analysis, and support with advocacy and accountability efforts. The observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 (IDPD 2024) on December 3 takes place against the backdrop of pivotal global developments, from the Summit of the Future to the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development. These key global Summits will complement one another in providing a continuous roadmap toward disability-inclusive and sustainable peace and development. By emphasising this complementarity, the theme chosen for the observance in 2024 aims to underscore the importance of leveraging the leadership of persons with disabilities to ensure disability-inclusive and sustainable peace and development for all. In this regard, a recent development in Sri Lanka bodes well. For the first time ever in Sri Lanka, a visually impaired person has become a Member of Parliament. This is a significant breakthrough, as he will be a beacon of hope for many other differently-abled persons to reach greater horizons in life. It is hoped that this will open the door to many more disabled persons to tread the same path. A disability should not be a liability to the person concerned or to the society. In other words, they can be productive and useful to society. One shortcoming we have witnessed in Sri Lanka is that many so-called “equal opportunity” employers are rather reluctant to recruit differently-abled persons. But there are many jobs that they can do with some training. For example, a visually impaired person can easily work as a telephone operator. A hearing impaired person can engage in clerical duties without any difficulty. Yet, only a few companies give them a chance. And it is extremely rare for a differently-abled person to become a company director or CEO here, though in other countries there are plenty of examples. Another bone of contention is the paucity or even outright lack of support services for the disabled community. Guide dogs for the legally blind are unheard of here, whereas it is very common abroad. Guide dogs are literally the eyes of visually impaired persons and allow them to live independently without having a permanent human guide. The Government or a charity (foreign funding is readily available) should begin a “training school” for guide dogs (the main breeds are Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Standard Poodles, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Boxers, Airedales, Collies and Doberman) in Sri Lanka, so that they can be allocated to visually impaired persons. Granted, maintaining a GR or BC is rather expensive, but again, a charity can step in. More books should be published in Braille and all equipment used by the blind should be allowed in duty and tax free. Another challenge The hearing impaired have another challenge – there are only around 10 professionally qualified sign language translators in the whole country. Only two channels employ sign language translators for news broadcasts, though Parliament proceedings are also shown with sign language interpretation. The country needs more real-time sign language interpreters. In the alternative, all TV programs should be subtitled in Sinhala and Tamil, as appropriate. All hearing aids and implants imports should be free of duties and taxes. Although all new buildings are supposed to be disabled-friendly, this is not always the case as we have observed in many instances. Many of them still do not have ramps for wheelchair access nor toilets designed for wheelchair users. While city planners have designed pebble effect sidewalks and crossings with audible signals for the visually impaired, such facilities have not been extended to most buildings. Even elevators are supposed to have tactile numbers for their benefit, but such lifts are few and far between. Also, there should be more outlets for making and selling prosthetics that benefit amputees, both congenital and accident cases. Again, all equipment for these persons should be free of import duties and taxes. Society has still not taken cognisance of silent disabilities, whereby a person may appear to be completely normal but is actually harbouring a disability within. Dementia is one such disability, of which even scientists know little about. The condition can, however, be really debilitating, not only for the patient but also for his or her family members. Some people may also be suffering inside from depression or other mental issues, which may take a heavy toll including suicide. It is best to seek counselling in such instances. Some physical diseases may also manifest as disabilities. Long Covid, a condition where some Covid-19 symptoms such as fatigue and joint pains last for a couple of years, can make a patient effectively bed-ridden. Then there are diseases that can gradually lead to permanent disability – a good example being Glaucoma, which can lead to blindness if not detected and treated early. Osteoporosis can be dangerous in the case of a fall. In fact, many disabilities can be prevented if preventive action and mindfulness are practised. It is no secret that many accidents happen in workplaces. Occupational Safety must be a priority for all workplaces, but especially so in the case of factories, construction sites and machinery operations. From helmets to boots to goggles, all safety precautions and protective wear regulations must be followed to avoid accidents. Motor accidents can also result in severe disabilities, mostly the loss of limbs. It is best to practice discipline while on the road, regardless of whether you are a motorist or a pedestrian. This can prevent most accidents. A disability may no longer be a lifetime sentence of suffering if technology has its way. If you remember TV serials such as Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman (well, I am a child of the 80s), they feature lead characters who have bionic or artificial implants that are way more powerful than natural organs such as eyes and hands. The hit movie Robocop featured a “dead” policeman who is brought back to life through such bionic implants. But this may be commonplace say, a decade or two from now. The biggest breakthroughs are reported from vision advancements targeted at the legally blind. Right now, “bionic” eyes work well only for those who have had sight previously, but solutions are on the way for those blind from birth or infancy. Some scientists have turned to Nature in the hunt for bionic vision. A team of engineers from the Center for Nanoparticle Research, Seoul National University, the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, all in Korea, has developed a new type of artificial eye based on natural cat eyes. Latest research Meanwhile, results of the first clinical trial of Australia’s second-generation bionic eye have demonstrated ‘substantial improvement’ in four participants’ functional vision, daily activities and quality of life over a period of more than two and a half years. The bionic eye comprises an electrode array, designed by the Bionics Institute and the Center for Eye Research Australia, that is surgically implanted behind the eye. The electrode receives signals from a video camera mounted on glasses, which stimulate the patient’s retina. The camera converts images into electrical pulses delivered by the electrode array that activate retinal cells and create flashes of light called phosphenes to help patients detect edges, shapes and movement. Likewise, there are high hopes for those who have lost their limbs in accidents or even partially paralysed persons. Scientists have now realized that restoring full mobility for such persons means restoring the ability to sense touch and temperature, not just hold an object. However, many challenges remain because Somatosensation — the collection of senses that interpret touch, temperature, pain and body position — is dauntingly complex. Yet, rapid advances in prosthetics are likely to give a new lease of life for amputees and those who do not possess one or more limbs from birth. In fact, advanced exoskeletons could enable even totally paralysed persons to walk. The final, and perhaps the most controversial frontier in the battle against is gene editing in the womb itself. In other words, scientists are even now theoretically capable of identifying certain congenital diseases and defects in fetuses and rectifying some of them through gene editing techniques. But this is an ethical and moral minefield that many scientists do not want to venture into. It is indeed a moral dilemma, but what if gene editing can give a better life to a baby who would otherwise be deformed? Answering this question in the affirmative could give us a world without disabilities. Still, it is not an easy question to answer. Perhaps the future will bring better answers and better solutions to end all disabilities.

( MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) KUWAIT, Dec 29 (KUNA) -- Bolstering economic, trade, financial and technological collaboration between Kuwait and the United States was discussed on Sunday by Minister of Finance, and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and investment Nora Al-Fassam, and US Ambassador to Kuwait Karen Sasahara. The two sides also focused on the mechanisms of developing investments and strategic partnerships in different sectors, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement. Al-Fassam extolled the US partnership's positive role in backing Kuwait's Economy and carrying out development projects, in addition to helping achieve Kuwait Vision 2035, in a manner that contributes to enhancing Kuwait's position as an attractive economic hub in the region, it noted. (end) aab MENAFN29122024000071011013ID1109039819 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

By Fernando Kallas BILBAO, Spain (Reuters) – Kylian Mbappe has struggled to reach the performance levels that were expected when he signed for Real Madrid, but he has been working hard to return to his old-self, coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged on Wednesday. After missing a penalty in Real’s Champions League loss at Liverpool last week, Mbappe failed to convert another spot-kick on Wednesday as the LaLiga champions slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao. It was another lacklustre performance by Mbappe and Real Madrid, which led to their fourth loss in the last seven games in all competitions, raising more questions about their form with the France captain firmly under the spotlight. “He is at a lot more than just 1% (of his potential), but he’s not at his best,” Ancelotti told a press conference. “However, we have to give him time to adapt (to Real Madrid). He has scored 10 goals and is working hard to improve and to do better. “I haven’t spoken to him yet. It was a complicated, even, hard-fought, competitive game. We missed a penalty... I don’t evaluate a player’s game because of a missed penalty... sometimes you score and sometimes you miss. Obviously he’s sad, disappointed, but we have to keep going.” Real missed the chance to close the gap on leaders Barcelona who top the standings on 37 points, four ahead of Ancelotti’s side in second place and five above Atletico Madrid in third, with both the chasing clubs having a game in hand. “The match was evenly matched. Athletic are a very dangerous team, we competed and fought. I think the match was worth a draw,” Ancelotti said. “But it is what it is... We’re still in contention and have to keep fighting. We could have got a better result, but we’re here and we have to think about Saturday’s game at Girona.” (Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Toby Davis) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A new political equation is developing in Sagar district. Two former ministers from Sagar Bhupendra Singh and Gopal Bhargava, who were once against each other, were seen together at a function. To display his strength, Singh organised a Bhajan Sandhya on the birthday of his son Abhiraj. A large number of Singh’s supporters were present at the function. A few politicians were invited to the event where a new equation against Govind Singh Rajput was seen. Rajput was not invited to the function. Legislator Braj Bihari Pateria was also present on the occasion. The BJP leaders in Sagar seem to have been divided into two groups. Bhupendra has recently said those who had come from other political outfits and were causing trouble to the party leaders would not be accepted. The plot of the formation of a new faction was scripted at the function. But a year ago, the leaders from Sagar district came to Bhopal with complaints against Bhupendra. Now, with the changing political scenario, the rivals are coming together. Political rivalry between Bhupendra and Bhargava is old. Although Bhargava was a senior minister in the cabinet, Bhupendra was influential in Sagar. After the change of power, both of them could not become ministers. But Rajput who switched over to the BJP from the Congress became a minister. Now, both are coming together against Rajput.

Kay Patterson, who rose from janitor at segregated South Carolina capitol to state senator, dies

Valero Energy Corp. stock outperforms competitors despite losses on the dayLAS VEGAS (AP) — Trae Young might be the NBA's biggest enigma. Young's fans can point to numbers and say he's an elite player. His detractors can point to numbers and say he's overrated. Both arguments have validity. To some, his cocky ways are endearing. To others, they're infuriating. This can't be argued: He's helping Atlanta author one of the season's surprise stories. The Hawks are in the NBA Cup semifinals, set to play Milwaukee on Saturday before the other semifinal between Oklahoma City and Houston. The title game is Tuesday night. “When we talk about Trae, the word I like to use is evolution,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “And every player evolves. They just evolve in different ways. He's been an important part of our young guys' growth and being able to elevate them.” The Hawks haven't had a ton of big moments in Young's seven seasons. But he has shown a propensity for rising to the occasion: ousting New York in the 2021 playoffs, ousting the Knicks from the quarterfinals of this tournament to get to Las Vegas — and now comes another chance on national TV on Saturday, facing the Bucks with a chance to play for a trophy. “I feel like this team has been embracing the challenge each and every night from the beginning of the season,” Young said. “We haven’t looked too far ahead in any moment. We’re just taking it day by day. Even though early on in the season we may have had some struggles and some bumps in the road and some guys out, we stuck with the process and focus on each day." Here's part of the pro-Young argument: He's averaging 21 points and 12 assists something that only Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas have done over a full season, and he's on pace to lead the league in assist average for the first time. Here's part of the anti-Young argument: Among the 220 players with at least 50 3-point attempts this season he ranks 189th at 30.8%, and of the 248 players with at least 100 field goal attempts this season he ranks 231st at 38.4%. Choose your side. They're both valid. But it's clear that Young — who made no secret that he was upset over not being picked for the team that won gold for USA Basketball at the Paris Olympics this past summer — is growing and maturing. “He’s doing a better job on both ends of the floor,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “Defensively he’s figured out a way of keeping himself out of actions. I know that sounds easy. That’s hard to do, and he’s brilliant at it, he really is. ... He must be really studying the game on both ends of the floor, and you can see that in his play. And he’s earned the trust of his players. This team likes playing with him, that’s obvious. I couldn’t say that in the past, but now they love playing with him.” Hawks forward Jalen Johnson doesn't deny that point. “He’s so good, man,” Johnson said. "It’s crazy, like just seeing it in person and on TV prior to me playing with the Hawks and getting drafted by the Hawks, it was crazy just watching it. A guy that’s undersized, being able to score at will, being able to make any pass at will. And then next thing you know you’re his teammate and you’re on the receiving end of those passes. “Watching those clutch late game buckets, it’s a joy to watch. It’s a gift that he has that’s very special and not many people have had it at that elite of a level. It’s been great being his teammate. It’s been a blessing.” Saturday is an opportunity. The semifinals are the only games on the NBA calendar for that day; the title game Tuesday — which doesn't count in the standings — is the only game on the NBA slate that night as well. Young will have tons of eyeballs on him Saturday and would have tons more on him Tuesday if the Hawks find a way to win another big game against the Bucks. They're 3-1 against Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland and Boston already this season, 1-0 against Milwaukee. The potential is clear for the Hawks. The potential for Young has always been clear as well. Only now, it's starting to be realized. “The narrative about me not being able to do certain things or being too mad or frustrated about certain things is — I mean, just aren’t true,” Young said. "I think you’re just now being able to see like with the young team we have, just some of the different things we’ve been doing this year, I think just now you’re starting to kind of see it because the results are showing and we’re winning now. We’re here in this final four of the Cup, and it’s a big deal.” AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBAUnretired two-time Pro Bowl LB Shaquil Barrett signs to resume career with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1 2 3 4 Hyderabad: President Droupadi Murmu has said that citizens of the country maintained the flame of national unity for centuries despite attempts to fragment and undermine Indian society. Inaugurating the RSS-backed three-day Lokmanthan event here on Friday, Murmu said artificial divisions have been created to disrupt the inherent unity and stressed that it was important to instil a sense of ‘nation first' among the citizens. The President said that colonial rulers not only ‘exploited India economically' but also aimed to ‘dismantle its social fabric'. She pointed out that those who overlooked India's profound intellectual heritage fostered a sense of cultural inadequacy among the populace. "These impositions eroded our sense of togetherness. Centuries of oppression ingrained a mindset of servitude among the citizens," she said. She emphasised that the essence of Bharatiya (Indian-ness) sustained the spirit of national unity. "Regardless of whether we are ‘vanvasis' (forest dwellers), residents of rural areas or urban citizens, our primary identity is that of being Indians. This profound sense of national unity enabled us to remain cohesive in the face of various challenges," she said. President Murmu underscored India's historical global impact, asserting that the nation's religious traditions, artistic expressions, musical heritage, medical practices, technological advancements, languages and literary contributions have garnered widespread respect. "Indian philosophical systems are pioneers in presenting the world with the concept of ideal life values. We must uphold and reinforce the esteemed legacy of our forebearers," she said. Telangana governor Jishnu Dev Varma said that citizens should thrive and make the commitment to retain the unity in diversity in the country. "Each state has worked on this. All of us combined should take the country forward," he said. Union coal minister G Kishan Reddy, Telangana women and child welfare minister Seethakka and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat attended the event. The three-day event of nationalist thinkers will see the presence of Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Gajendra Shekhawat.Arkansas DE Landon Jackson carted off field and taken to hospital with neck injuryTulisa Contostavlos, fresh out of the I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! jungle, has reportedly had a significant fallout with her close friend following her departure from the show. The 36 year old former N-Dubz star, who was the third to be voted off, has completely purged her Instagram of any mention of her stint on the ITV series and pulled out of a booked slot on the post-show special, Unpacked. Moreover, Tulisa notably did not meet up with Melvin Odoom when he left the camp last Tuesday. Opening up about her actions, Tulisa owned up that she felt swamped by social media attention and needed to disconnect. "I can get overwhelmed quite easily and started to feel overwhelmed. I realised I needed to take time for myself, and to chill, it's all a little bit much at the moment," she revealed. READ MORE: Sir Elton John makes rare health admission as he's led off stage by husband David Furnish The singer then elaborated on why she scrapped her social media posts, pointing out that her page managed by friends during her time in the jungle didn't reflect her personal approach. "I'm just going to archive all my stuff to do with the jungle and then, when the time is right and I've had time to process, I'm going to make my own reels of my best bits that I really like," she stated, reports the Mirror . "Because remember, I haven't been doing my Instagrams. The way it's being posted and all the random stuff is not how I would do my Insta - I would have one or two really good reels relating to the jungle and bringing my time together there." However, it has now been reported that Tulisa had a heated argument with her friend, Michelle McKenna, who had flown to Australia to greet her after her eviction from the jungle. According to a source, Tulisa felt that her friend had "taken liberties" by making the trip. The source told Mail Online: "They were only in Australia because of Tulisa. It felt like they were revelling in the situation and taking liberties on her kindness. Michelle and Daniel were there, on a trip funded by ITV and only because of Tulisa. They were there because of her and she trusted them with her social media. "When she got out of the jungle and saw what had been put on there, she was upset and it prompted a huge row. You can't help but think that seeing her friends living it up like that while she was roughing it in the jungle must have really annoyed her," the source added. “Tulisa and the two friends who came to Australia with her disappeared after she came out. No one saw her in the hotel and she wasn’t talking to anyone,” an insider told The Sun . “Her mates were talking among themselves and were worried as no one could pin her down. They were chatting back and forth in their group chats and no one could raise her. It was total radio silence.” A second source also came forwards, adding: “Not having Tulisa at the hotel with the other stars has been odd, and people don’t know whether or not she’ll be back to film the reunion. Naturally everyone just wants her to be all right and ITV and her campmates are being supportive.” Tulisa's last public appearance was on ITV's Lorraine on Tuesday, where she discussed her time in the jungle. During the show, the star hinted that not all of her famous friends were being as genuine as she had been. During her appearance on Lorraine's show, Tulisa reflected on the bonds she forged in the jungle, expressing mixed sentiments: "I feel like I have with some of them. I think they will be friends for life. But a lot of people for the cameras were being very pally pally but the real test will be when everyone is out. Will they make the effort to send texts in the group chat? Will they do the four hour drives to see each other? We'll see..." she pondered. When prompted by Lorraine about who she's backing to take the crown this year, Tulisa didn't hesitate to name Oti Mabuse as her favourite, having developed a close connection during their time in the wilderness. "Oti is just a pure soul. She's amazing and people like her are hard to come by." Tulisa also disclosed that she felt most attuned to fellow jungle campmates Alan Halsall, Maura Higgins, and Melvin Odoom, hoping they, along with Oti, would make it to the final quartet. The Mirror reports it has approached Tulisa's representatives for comment.

Stock market today: Wall Street ends mixed after a bumpy weekGreen and Jamiel score long TDs and Lehigh rallies to defeat Richmond 20-16 in FCS playoff openerTether, the stablecoin company, has made a venture capital fund investment into a Bermudian-based technology fund. Arcanum Capital ISA announced that Tether has made the investment into Arcanum Emerging Technologies Fund II (Offshore) ISA, an incorporated segregated account of DigitalArray ISAC Ltd, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of decentralised technologies. Arcanum Capital ISA is registered to conduct investment business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority pursuant to the Investment Business Act 2003. Arcanum Emerging Technologies Fund II (Offshore) ISA is registered with the BMA as a professional closed fund under the Investment Funds Act 2006. Arcanum Capital said the investment underscores the significance of its mission to accelerate the development of transformative Web3 technologies, including the Bitcoin ecosystem, the intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence, blockchain infrastructure, innovations in payments, and privacy-focused technologies. It said: “Tether’s notable investment not only bolsters the fund’s capacity to support these critical initiatives but also marks a significant development in the evolution of venture capital within the blockchain space.” Paolo Ardoino, chief executive of Tether and chief strategy officer of Holepunch, a platform for creating apps that don’t use any servers, said: “In a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainty, the need for resilient technology to safeguard our freedoms has never been more crucial. “We are proud to partner with Arcanum Capital to stand at the forefront of empowering people with the tools and knowledge to protect their sovereignty.” James McDowall, managing partner of Arcanum Capital, said: “We are honoured to have Tether as a founding investor in our second fund. “Their contribution not only signals a strong vote of confidence in us as asset managers, but also validates our unique mission and approach. “Our passion lies in the transformative technologies we invest in, and we are proud to have Tether alongside us in supporting this mission.” In line with Tether’s investment thesis, a portion of the fund will focus on companies utilising Tether’s stablecoin for innovations in payments, as well as further bolstering the efforts of projects that use Holepunch technology. Arcanum Capital has also secured Luganodes, which it said is the world’s fastest-growing blockchain infrastructure provider, as a limited partner in the fund, as well as selecting them as their preferred staking partner.

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Jeanette Núñez, Florida's lieutenant governor, will likely replace Governor Ron DeSantis if he joins President-elect Donald Trump 's administration as the next Department of Defense (DOD) secretary. While the president-elect has already nominated former Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the DOD, allegations of sexual assault and drinking on the job have raised serious doubts over his ability to gain Senate confirmation. On Tuesday night, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was considering DeSantis as a potential replacement for Hegseth. DeSantis, who served for many years as an officer and lawyer in the Navy and Navy Reserve, would likely face a far easier path to Senate confirmation. However, accepting a position in Trump's Cabinet would require him to resign as Florida governor. Florida's line of succession dictates that the Sunshine State's lieutenant governor is next in line to fill the chief executive role. Núñez, lieutenant governor since January 2019, would serve as governor at least until the end of DeSantis' current term in January 2027. Núñez would also appoint her successor for the lieutenant governor post if she becomes governor. Should Núñez be unable to replace DeSantis if he leaves office, the next person in line to become Florida's governor would be the state's attorney general, Ashley Moody. If DeSantis is nominated as Trump's defense secretary and accepts the nomination, he would still go through the same vetting process that Hegseth will likely face if he remains the nominee, including a possible FBI background check and a public Senate confirmation hearing. While DeSantis joining the Trump administration could bolster his standing among Trump supporters nationally, it would also take him away from a state where he already enjoys significant popularity and it is unclear whether the move would help or harm a potential 2028 presidential run. Neither DeSantis nor Trump have publicly commented on The Wall Street Journal's report about the DOD secretary nomination, although Trump did complain that the paper was becoming "more and more obnoxious and unreadable" in a Truth Social post on Wednesday. Newsweek reached out for comment to the office of DeSantis via email on Wednesday. Several other outlets have since independently reported that DeSantis is under consideration, including the Associated Press, which said on Wednesday that three anonymous sources said DeSantis was "an option if Hegseth's nomination does not move forward." Hegseth told reporters after meeting with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday that Trump still supports him "fully," insisting that he was "not going anywhere" and would not back out of the nomination. Hegseth also denied reports that he had been summoned to Mar-a-Lago for a sudden face-to-face meeting with Trump.