7 on 7 tournaments near me When Gemma Bentley walked down the aisle to marry the man of her dreams with her two daughters as bridesmaids, it was a bittersweet moment. While Gemma beamed at finding happiness with future husband Ben, there was one person missing from the celebrations. Her first-born daughter Honey Cook, 15, took her own life during lockdown in February 2021 after a vicious campaign of online bullying on Instagram - by girls she had never met. She is one of countless teens throughout the UK who have quite literally been bullied to death on social media. Now parents are backing growing calls for social media to be banned for under 16s after Australia moved to protect its kids from harmful content. The UK government this month warned tech giants to get their act together or they face a blanket ban among British kids . Read more bullying Gemma, 38, whose daughter Honey already suffered mental health problems when bullies told her to kill herself, said: “We absolutely need more control over social media when it comes to our children. “Kids say thing to each other online they might not say in person and online grooming is a massive issue. It makes sense to ban kids from platforms altogether.” Gemma says Honey, a talented artist who enjoyed cosplay, was sent more than 100 vile messages after being befriended by a group of girls on Instagram, where she often posted her pictures. “These girls were relentless,” says Gemma, of Barnsley, South Yorks . Most read in The Sun “They told Honey to kill herself, that everyone hated her, that she was ugly and never wanted by her family. They went into really graphic detail about how to take her own life. “Honey would still be here if it hadn’t been for these kids, in my opinion. She had very poor mental health already and was struggling with an eating disorder so was very fragile, but had been coping a lot better before these messages. “I don’t understand how these messages were able to get through the Instagram app because of their damaging content and that’s something else that needs to be looked at.” Gemma wed new husband Ben,32, a family friend, in October this year, with daughters Indie, 17, and 10-year-old Teddy as bridesmaids. She said: “It was such a bittersweet moment because I was marrying the man I love but Honey wasn’t there to see it. “I attached her favourite picture to my bouquet so she was there in some sense and we spoke about her a lot at times during the day. “Her sisters still struggle without her. Teddy was six when she lost her big sister and Honey doted on her. “Indie was 13 and has grieved very differently, which shows how it impacts everyone differently and how hard it is to navigate your child's grief while dealing with your own too." Gemma, who has set up a charity in her daughter’s name which provides self-help journals to help other struggling children, added: “I don’t think kids will take any of the online bullying seriously until one of them is prosecuted.” South Yorkshire Police investigated Honey’s death, which a coroner ruled suicide, but it’s understood they were unable to make any criminal charges against those involved. Police probe A spokeswoman said: "Both girls were dealt with via restorative justice, in which they wrote a letter each to the coroner explaining their involvement in creating malicious communications and expressing their remorse." Last year, additions to the Online Safety Bill mean trolls can be jailed up to five years for encouraging victims to harm themselves, but they were not in force when Honey died. This month Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said a ban on social-media for the under 16's is “on the table” if tech giants don’t take action to protect kids. He said: “I don’t want to ban things outright unless I absolutely need to. I will always put the safety of people first.” The minister made the warning as he prepares to tell Ofcom to be more assertive with firms - including a crackdown on age-restricted content for under 13s. He is in talks with counterparts in Australia where new laws are expected to be ushered in to block under-16s from accessing platforms like Facebook, TikTok , Snapchat , X and Instagram . This week an inquest heard how Welsh schoolgirl Megan Evans, 14, was found dead in her bedroom after a cyber-bullying campaign . Megan, of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, took her own life in February 2017 after being told to “kill yourself” by vile trolls. After her death, mum Nicola Harteveld found a Facebook group entitled ‘I hate Megan Evans’. Mum-of-eight Nicola has worked to raise awareness of mental health and the dangers of social media following her daughter’s death. Yet a coroner last week ruled bullying had not played a part in Megan's death - saying phrases like 'go kill yourself' can be "interpreted in different ways" by pupils. Nicola said: "It's heartbreaking and beyond disgusting to see a conclusion that tries to blur the line between bullying and banter. "Phrases like those can never be dismissed as a joke." Bully demands She launched the Megan’s Starr Foundation, which provides free counselling and support to young people. Nicola continued: "As a society we've become far too comfortable with dismissing harmful words as 'banter' or 'harmless fun'. "Phrases like 'Go kill yourself' are deeply damaging and never acceptable, yet they are being trivialised. "This normalisation teaches young people that cruelty is acceptable and victims should just toughen up. "Social media amplifies this harm, making it inescapable, yet accountability remains inconsistent both online and off line. "We need to stop normalising cruelty and start protecting our young children." Tech is an everyday part of children’s lives now. Here’s some ways you can protect their online safety. Talking to your kids about the dangers is an important part of safeguarding them. For the under 11s try simple NSPCC resources like Talk PANTS and Techosaurus . Older kids might find it embarrassing to talk about difficult topics but it’s worth checking in with them regularly to see if there’s anything they want to chat about. It’s worth buying a book on the topic and reading it together, before talking about it. Or ask if they’ve discussed the issue in class. You could pretend a friend of yours needs advice to find out how much they know about online safety. The NSPCC has created an online safety toolkit which you can access here . It can be helpful to remind kids they shouldn't share their location or personal information on their posts, on public forums and chats, on videos or with people they don't know. Exploring the safety and privacy settings on apps will help you decide which are right for your child to use. Apps have different ways to set up an account but most have options to set an account to private, ban new friend requests and hide the user's location. Each app has slightly different ways to set up an account, but most have the option. Each has a different age rating. For more information log on to the NSPCC or for more advice the Internet Watch Foundation A third family also told The Sun how they want to see tougher regulations - or a total ban. The family of 16-year-old Kibi Wade were left devastated after she took her own life in July this year after classroom bullies continued to stalk her when she left school. Vile messages shown to The Sun reveal how Kibi was sent messages by a group of girls who warned her she would be continually bullied unless she met their demands - which included sitting at the front of the school bus, a bar on talking to certain kids and not going to the toilets if they were using them. She was also blackmailed into buying vapes or her tormentors threatened to spread false rumours about her. Kibi’s mum Michelle Barrett, 47, of Caistor, Lincs, said: “Kibi was very distressed by it and we thought it would all come to an end when she left school in the summer, but the messages just kept coming until she couldn’t take anymore. “If she left a group chat they would just add her to another and start abusing her again. I think she felt there was no escape from them.” Michelle and partner Michelle Gardner, 50, have now launched a campaign to raise awareness about cyberbullying - but are also backing calls for the blanket ban. Michelle said: "If it was up to us we wouldn’t let kids on social media until they were at least 18. Kids don’t seem to have any awareness of the impact their words can have on others.” The NSPCC says any under-16 ban would “penalise children for the failure of tech companies” CEO Sir Peter Wanless said: “Social media is now an integral part of young people’s lives. It provides them with opportunities to communicate with friends and family, to learn and be creative. “We understand concerns about children having access to social media that is fundamentally unsafe for them. However, children deserve to have age appropriate experiences online rather than being cut off from it all together.” Campaigner Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly took her own life after being exposed to suicide and self-harm online, said a ban would push "bad actors en masse" onto gaming platforms. Fourteen-year-old Molly, of Harrow, north-west London, died in November 2017 after viewing "dark, graphic, harmful" content. Her death sparked campaigning to clean up the internet, leading to the Online Safety Act that will force firms to take down damaging posts from their platforms. According to the experts at Family Lives, there are some specific signs to look out for. These can be split into three different sections - emotional, physical and changes at school. Emotional - the child is isolating themselves and not talking to family, they are becoming more withdrawn, there are changes in eating habits, and behaviour, such as becoming more angry, they avoid social media, they don't see their friends outside school, they show new anxiety and nervousness. Physical - the child may have unexplained bruises, cuts or marks on their body, issues with sleep, complain of headaches or tummy aches and wet the bed. Changes at school - the child suddenly starts doing badly in lesson, becomes anxious about school, claims to feel unwell more than usual, loses items or money that can't be explained, have damaged possessions and refuse to take part in after school clubs. You can call The National Bullying Helpline for a free consultation on 0300 323 0169. Ensure your offspring has the number for Childline on 0800 1111. Ian told the i paper that a ban would wrongly deny youngsters the benefits of the digital world - and called for the Government to strengthen existing laws . Tech giant Meta said it has recently introduced an initiative called Teen Accounts which can limit what kids are exposed to. All young people who sign up to Instagram in Britain, America and Canada will be put under the restrictions with a global rollout planned for later this year. READ MORE SUN STORIES It means teens will need to accept new followers and people who don’t follow them can’t see their content or interact with them. Parents can also put on controls which mean they can see who their child is messaging and a sleep mode will mute nighttime notifications. A spokesperson said Instagram also has a ‘hidden words’ feature, which allows users to filter emojis, words, phrases or comments they don’t want to see.AP Business SummaryBrief at 6:36 p.m. ESTThe stock market has been on an incredible run since the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC 1.09% ) hit the bottom of the prior bear market in Oct. 2022. Since then, the index has increased about 70% as of this writing. Many stocks have seen even greater returns in that 26-month period. Most people think those returns are just the start of a strong bull market . In fact, 56.4% of consumers expect stock prices to increase over the next year, according to the most recent U.S. Consumer Confidence report from The Conference Board. While that might not sound like an overwhelming share of the population, it's a record high number since the survey started gathering this data 37 years ago. Stock values are influenced by two major factors -- financial results and investor sentiment -- and many companies driving the bull market have produced incredible financial results over the last two years. But smart investors can't ignore that more people are optimistic about the future returns of the stock market than ever, which has driven prices higher. Warren Buffett has some apt advice for the situation. Applying the same advice to three different markets In Oct. 2008, the S&P 500 had already fallen 40% from its 2007 peak, and many investors thought things could only get worse. In an op-ed for The New York Times , Buffett wrote, "Fear is now widespread, gripping even seasoned investors." Indeed, U.S. consumers had never been more pessimistic about the future of the stock market, according to The Conference Board's survey. Buffett was compelled to remind readers of the simple rule he laid out in Berkshire Hathaway 's ( BRK.A 1.37% ) ( BRK.B 0.86% ) 1986 letter to shareholders. "We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful." When Buffett wrote those words in 1987 (to recap Berkshire's 1986 financial results), he noted, "Little fear is visible in Wall Street." At the time, investors had bid up stock prices, and as a result, he couldn't find any suitable equity investments for Berkshire's portfolio. Instead, he piled about $700 million of Berkshire's cash into Treasury bonds . He wasn't particularly thrilled about it, either. "At best, the bonds are mediocre investments," he said. "They simply seemed the least objectionable alternative at the time." In 2008, he applied the same exact idea to the market with opposite results. He moved his personal portfolio from 100% government bonds to 100% U.S. equities. It proved an extremely fortuitous move for the Oracle of Omaha. The S&P 500 hit its bottom a few months after Buffett published his op-ed and went on to produce incredible returns over the next 15 years . In 2024, Buffett again appears to be following his rule from almost 40 years ago. As prices have climbed over the past two years, Buffett has consistently sold off some of Berkshire's biggest equity holdings. His selling accelerated in 2024 as investors became increasingly bullish, pushing Berkshire Hathaway's cash and Treasury bill position to a record $325 billion as of the end of the third quarter. When discussing the growing cash pile at the 2024 shareholder meeting in May, Buffett echoed his 1986 comments. "I don't think anybody sitting at this table has any idea how to use it effectively, and therefore we don't use it." The alternatives to Treasury bills just aren't very attractive to Buffett right now. Is it time to get out of the stock market? Once again, investors find themselves in a market environment where "little fear is visible in Wall Street." Equity valuations have climbed to levels last seen during the dot-com bubble. Investors are more confident than ever that stock prices will be higher a year from now and are putting their money where their mouths are with record inflows into equity exchange-traded funds ( ETFs ) this year. However, that doesn't mean investors should sell all of their stocks and stash their money in government bonds. But it does require some careful consideration of their investments. Another Buffett quote applies here: "The less the prudence with which others conduct their affairs, the greater the prudence with which we should conduct our own." Buffett wrote that in his 1988 shareholder letter. At the time, he was describing the market for arbitrage opportunities as excess capital had flooded the market, decreasing potential returns while increasing risk. Buffett repeated himself in his 2017 shareholder letter, which he wrote at a time when investors were more confident than ever before in the future of the stock market. While the market did decline somewhat that year, it didn't quite fall into bear market territory. To be fearful doesn't mean to run away from the stock market entirely. It means investors need to be more judicious than the rest of the crowd if they want to ensure solid returns. Finding suitable investments for your portfolio will be more difficult as investor confidence has a tendency to bid stock prices up, making them less attractive. But Buffett's recent portfolio moves suggest there are still plenty of investments that could produce great returns for shareholders if they know where to look. Pay attention to what Buffett's buying While Buffett has been a big seller of stocks in 2024, he has made several relatively small purchases. Those purchases have one thing in common: They're all near the smallest-sized companies Berkshire can invest in to move the needle for its massive portfolio. But an individual could buy plenty for a relatively small portfolio. Buffett's moves highlight the possibility that there may be more opportunities for individual investors in small- and mid-cap stocks than in large-cap stocks, including those represented by the S&P 500. If you don't want to take the time to search for great individual stocks, you could buy an index fund or two. The Vanguard Extended Market ETF ( VXF 1.35% ) offers a way to invest in the entire U.S. stock market excluding the S&P 500. Investors may also want to consider index funds focusing on value stocks as another option. Nobody knows whether stocks will continue to move higher in 2025, but Buffett's advice has proven very valuable for several decades at this point. It's worth taking his words into consideration when planning your next moves as an investor.

CINCINNATI — Sean Payton was in the midst of discussing on Saturday night when he made and immediately reiterated a point, almost in passing. “No. 5 is a good player,” Payton said, referring to Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. “A real good player.” Higgins didn’t catch his first pass until a third-down conversion in the second quarter, but from then on and the rest of Denver’s secondary all the way through his 31-yard toe-tap and walk-off overtime touchdown on back-to-back plays. Higgins authored the first three-touchdown game of his career and, in the process, helped keep Cincinnati’s season alive. Whenever the Bengals’ season ends — the Broncos and clinch the final AFC playoff spot — Higgins is in for a massive payday. He’ll either sign a lucrative extension to continue his career with Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase as one of the most formidable trios in football or he’ll get a chance to be a No. 1 target elsewhere. Payton, of course, is well aware of Higgins’ impending free agency. He also knows the Broncos need to upgrade their offensive skill talent around rookie quarterback Bo Nix going into the future. In fact, if Payton and the Broncos take one thing from Saturday’s loss, it’s likely to be just that. Whether Denver makes a big run at a top-of-the-market free agent like Higgins or works more in the middle tiers of free agency and the draft, the Bengals’ offensive weaponry most certainly made an impression. Burrow and Chase are a separate conversation entirely. Not many teams have a quarterback like Burrow or a receiver like Chase, let alone that pairing. Good luck replicating that. What stands out about the Bengals, though, is the way all of the other parts work together. Chase commands outsized attention, but everybody else can hurt defenses, too. Higgins, sure, but also slot man Andrei Iosivas. And tight end Mike Gesicki. And running back Chase Brown. On Saturday night, Higgins went for 11 catches on 12 targets for 131 yards and the trio of touchdowns. Gesicki had 10 catches on 12 targets for 86 yards. Iosivas added three catches on four targets for 59. Each of his catches went for at least 16 yards and he also had a 50-yard touchdown wiped off the board by an illegal shift. Brown had 24 touches (20 carries and four catches) for 91 total yards, including a critical 11-yard reception on a fourth-and-2 in the fourth quarter. Denver’s going to have salary cap room to spend this offseason despite having to account for the final $32 million of Russell Wilson’s money on its 2025 books. From 2026 onward, the books are clean. If the Broncos want to try to spend big Higgins or another receiver — other potential free agents include Chris Godwin coming off an ankle injury, Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs and DeAndre Hopkins — they can. They will also be looking to the draft to add young talent. Payton multiple times has referenced Detroit’s 2023 draft haul, which netted them a pair of “Joker” players in running back Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 12 overall) and tight end Sam LaPorta (No. 34 overall) in the same class. Those are positions Payton exploited matchups with year after year after year in New Orleans with a variety of body types and skill sets. The Broncos don’t have a true difference-maker at either spot. Of course, Denver’s going to have other needs that require attention and the skill group isn’t fully barren. Courtland Sutton is on the verge of his first 1,000-yard receiving season since 2019 and has created a tough call for the Broncos on whether to extend him, let him play on a $20.2 million cap number in 2025 or move on. They’ve got a handful of young skill players that look like pieces to the puzzle, too, in second-year receiver Marvin Mims Jr., rookie receiver Devaughn Vele and running back Audric Estime. Still, the Broncos have their starting offensive line all under contract for 2025. The core of their defense is set, too, with D.J. Jones the biggest impending free agent. Payton and general manager George Paton inside out and they’ve done that. Whether Denver tries to lure Higgins himself or finds other routes, the next step in the roster build is to outfit Nix with not only more surrounding talent but more balance. A glimpse of Burrow’s brilliance also doubled as a testament to Pat Surtain II’s dominance. Chase finished with nine catches on 15 targets for 102 yards. According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, here’s how that production broke out. Against Surtain, Chase ran 43 routes and had three catches (six targets) for 27 yards. Against everybody else, Chase ran 13 routes and had six catches (nine targets) for 75. That means Burrow only targeted Chase’s 14% of the time when Surtain was in coverage. Burrow, though, looked Chase’s way on 69% of the routes he ran against anybody else. That’s identifying matchups and coverage at an elite level. It also speaks to the respect even the very best in football have for Surtain. A terrific chess match all around, despite the bitter ending for Surtain and the Broncos. Two things, actually. Two throws Nix will want back in overtime that could have flipped the outcome. He missed Troy Franklin up the left side on third-and-6 on Denver’s first drive and then got caught between Adam Trautman and Franklin on third-and-8 on the second drive. Either would have been a substantial gain and both came in situations when the Broncos only needed a field goal. The first one was a continuation of a confounding trend. The rookie pair just hasn’t been able to get on the same page down the field despite playing two years together in college. The second one stung just even more. The Bengals had used both of their overtime timeouts. Nix climbed in the pocket with 2:33 left but his throw was wide of Trautman and short of Franklin. Had Trautman caught it, he might have been tackled short of a first down anyway. Franklin easily had first-down depth. A completion takes the clock to the two-minute warning. Then three kneeldowns and ball game. Tie at 24 and on to the playoffs. Alas. Zach Allen authored one of the most dominating outings of the NFL season from a defensive lineman. He finished with 3.5 sacks and eight pressures (per Next Gen Stats), but even that undersells it some. Allen had a hand in getting Burrow to the ground a whopping seven times on the day. Second quarter: Full sack. Third quarter: Full sack and half sack each wiped off the board by defensive penalties, then a half sack. Fourth quarter: Half sack. Overtime: Half sack and a full sack on back-to-back plays to force a punt on the Bengals’ opening drive. Allen’s now up to 8.5 sacks this season, blowing past his previous career high of 5.5. He and Jonathon Cooper (9.5) each have a chance against Kansas City to join Nik Bonitto (11.5) with double-digit sacks. Denver’s balance has been impressive on the rush front. Dondrea Tillman logged his fifth sack Saturday, giving the Broncos six players with at least five. That’s the most players with five-plus sacks in a season in team history and tied for second-most in NFL history, trailing only the 1986 Chicago Bears.Jimmy Carter: A brief bio

Staring at the castle gateFor the third time this season, the Orlando Magic lost their leading scorer to injury. It didn't keep them from coming back from more than 20 points down for the second time in eight days. COLE ANTHONY GAME WINNER MAGIC CLOSE ON A 22-4 RUN pic.twitter.com/FTJlmVCLJc With Jalen Suggs on the bench after a second-quarter wrist injury, backup guard Cole Anthony hit the game-winning layup to complete a 17-point fourth-quarter comeback. The Magic got 10 points from Anthony, 19 points and 11 rebounds from Goga Bitadze and 21 points from rookie Tristan da Silva to win a game they trailed by 21 points halfway through the third quarter. Orlando was down by 17 in the 4th... Then closed the game on a 22-4 And @The_ColeAnthony came up CLUTCH with the game-winner! pic.twitter.com/8Co4ea31yt Orlando made a similarly-improbable comeback on Dec. 21, when Anthony spearheaded a 37-8 fourth quarter run and the Magic overcame a 22-point deficit to stun the Miami Heat. They did it without Suggs in that game as well, along with Gary Harris, an ejected Wendell Carter, Jr. and stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, both out with long-term oblique injuries. They've been pulling out these wins thanks to players from the back of the bench — some from way back. 21-year-old Caleb Houstan, who averages 1.2 points, came through with 12 points Sunday, shooting 3-for-4 from three-point range. One of those threes tied the game with 50 seconds to go. CALEB HOUSTAN TIE GAME https://t.co/RwYEmevXxo pic.twitter.com/ajGFbxTTmR Orlando also got a bounce back game from da Silva. He was held scoreless in the Magic's loss to the Knicks Friday, but scored 13 points in the final quarter, shooting 5-for-6. On Anthony's game-winner, the play was supposed to go to da Silva, but the Nets swarmed the rookie, and Anthony took advantage by attacking the basket. The Magic could have folded in any of these games, especially missing their four leading scorers (including Moe Wagner, out for the season with an ACL tear). That they're still fourth in the Eastern Conference is a testament to their toughness, and a sign that they could be truly dangerous when Banchero returns.

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— BIRTH NAME: James Earl Carter, Jr. — BORN: Oct. 1, 1924, at the Wise Clinic in Plains, Georgia, the first U.S. president born in a hospital. He would become the first president to live for an entire century . — EDUCATION: Plains High School, Plains, Georgia, 1939-1941; Georgia Southwestern College, Americus, Georgia, 1941-1942; Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 1942-1943; U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, 1943-1946 (class of 1947); Union College, Schenectady, New York, 1952-1953. — PRESIDENCY: Sworn-in as 39th president of the United States at the age of 52 years, 3 months and 20 days on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. — POST-PRESIDENCY: Launched The Carter Center in 1982. Began volunteering at Habitat for Humanity in 1984. Awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Taught for 37 years at Emory University, where he was granted tenure in 2019, at age 94. — OTHER ELECTED OFFICES: Georgia state senator, 1963-1967; Georgia governor, 1971-1975. — OTHER OCCUPATIONS: Served in U.S. Navy, achieved rank of lieutenant, 1946-53; Farmer, warehouseman, Plains, Georgia, 1953-77. — FAMILY: Wife, Rosalynn Smith Carter , married July 7, 1946 until her death Nov. 19, 2023. They had three sons, John William (Jack), James Earl III (Chip), Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff); a daughter, Amy Lynn; and 11 living grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Source: Jimmy Carter Library & MuseumBOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Nyla Harris had 14 points and Jayda Curry scored 10 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter to help No. 24 Louisville get past Colorado 79-71 on Saturday. The Cardinals led 56-55 after three quarters before pulling away in the fourth by scoring 16 unanswered points, capped by a fast-break layup by Curry, before Colorado made its first field goal of the frame with 2:48 left. Colorado scored the next six points to get within single digits at 72-63, but freshman Tajianna Roberts banked in a jumper in the lane at the other end. Izela Arenas sealed it on two free throws with 24.9 seconds left for a nine-point lead. Roberts finished with 13 and Arenas had 11 for Louisville (5-2). Frida Formann scored 25 points for Colorado (6-2). Jade Masogayo added 12 points, Nyamer Diew scored 10 and Kindyll Wetta matched her career-high with 10 assists. Formann went on a personal 8-0 run to give Colorado a 43-37 lead with 7:38 left in the third. She reached 20 points during the run, while no other player had scored in double figures. Louisville plays No. 8 Oklahoma on Wednesday in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Colorado continues a five-game homestand against Tennesse Tech on Tuesday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketballPotter scores 19 as Miami (OH) knocks off Sacred Heart 94-76

No club wins an Draft on the night, but when you own a third of the top 24 it was always going to be tough for the Tigers to lose it. Richmond capitalised on its historic hand by swinging for upside and landing North Melbourne's future first-rounder - which has finished as a top two pick for the past four consecutive seasons. West Coast and Port Adelaide capitalised on sliders, Brisbane and Gold Coast matched bids on top 10 talents and we saw 71 selections for the first time since 2018, proving the lauded depth of 2024's draft pool. This is how ESPN has graded every club's haul from both nights of the 2024 AFL Draft. Adelaide Sid Draper (4), Tyler Welsh (59) No midfielder better fits Adelaide's on-ball brigade than boyhood Crow Sid Draper. His speed, agility, clean hands and damage on the outside of the contest will complement the likes of Jordan Dawson and Jake Soligo perfectly. Draper was so keen on the Crows he called Matthew Nicks days out from the draft, imploring the coach to read out his name with pick 4. Adelaide only planned to use two selections and listed father-son Tyler Welsh at pick 59. The key forward offers strength in abundance and has kicked goals at every level this year. A Levi Ashcroft (5), Sam Marshall (25), Ty Gallop (42) What a result for the Lions gaining access to Levi Ashcroft at pick 5. A bid at pick 1 would have made finding points for both he and Sam Marshall near impossible, but they were afforded room to trade into 2025's draft with an eye on Academy midfielder Daniel Annable. Ashcroft's drive and intensity about his football is stunning -- he refused to touch the premiership cup on Grand Final day. Sam Marshall is an elite runner who could also play early senior football for the Lions as a wingman or halfback. Brisbane would have liked a later bid on Academy forward Ty Gallop, but were keen to add him to the list given his athletic traits at 194cm. A Jagga Smith (3), Harry O'Farrell (40), Ben Camporeale (43), Lucas Camporeale (54) Jagga Smith was the man for the Blues all along. It was a coup for the finalists to trade up to pick 3, and seeing the midfielder they rated no. 1 in the draft at their selection must have felt like Christmas morning for Nick Austin and his team. Smith also landed at no. 1 on ESPN's draft board - he's a ball magnet that will thrive alongside Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh. The Blues held their nerve on the pick in Ben Camporeale's bidding range, and were rewarded with athletic key defender Harry O'Farrell whose father is the much-beloved Carlton lawyer Patrick Cripps can thank for his first Brownlow Medal. The Camporeale twins are one of the great stories stemming from the second night. Ben is a tough and physical inside midfielder built for the clinches. Lucas has class and courage, able to run up and down a wing all day. Both will take time to develop in the VFL but have traits to be unlocked in a professional environment. A+ Joel Cochran (47), Charlie West (50), Will Hayes (56) The Pies entered the draft late and immediately bid on Sydney's academy graduate Joel Cochran which was not matched. The key defender took out the combine 2km time trial - he's an elite runner and can play on a variety of forwards. South Australia's Charlie West will take time to develop but presents upside as a bustling key forward that loves to take pack marks. Finally, the Pies grabbed specialist wingman Will Hayes who can run all day and makes smart decisions. He's one that could impact in 2025, but Collingwood would have loved to gain access to more ready-made talent. C Isaac Kako (13), Kayle Gerreyn (37), Angus Clarke (39), Rhys Unwin (61), Zak Johnson (70) Isaac Kako is the crown jewel for Matt Rosa's team in 2024, the best small forward for a goal-hungry side that has lacked depth in the area for a long time. Kako has the talent and temperament to play AFL football right away with a full pre-season. At pick 37, Kayle Gerreyn was top of ESPN's available prospects, and Port was sweating on his availability at pick 38. The gifted ruck-forward can pinpoint passes off both feet, is nimble in congestion and plays with a physical edge. He's likely to play his best football as a marking forward that can cameo in the ruck. Two selections later, Essendon added SA halfback Angus Clarke, who grew up in the same town as Mason Redman and plays a similarly damaging game from defence. He loves to fly for his intercept marks and kickstart transition. They added Rhys Unwin whose speed in the forward half is of value, and classy halfback Zak Johnson who can also run on-ball. The Dons will add NGA small Jayden Nguyen to their category-B rookie list on Friday after he got through without a bid. A- Murphy Reid (17), Charlie Nicholls (34), Jaren Carr (63) The Dockers were surprised that Murphy Reid was still on the board at 17. The Dragons midfielder took out Vic Metro's carnival MVP after an impressive block of football where he proved to be a damaging accumulator. Charlie Nicholls is a project tall out of South Australia that could end up at either end of the ground, but has done most of his work as a hard-leading forward. Finally, Fremantle committed to father-son Jaren Carr who made his WAFL debut this year and can play in a variety of roles at 191cm. B- Jay Polkinghorne (44), Jacob Molier (52), Lennox Hofmann (66), Keighton Matofai-Forbes (69) The Cats entered the draft late on night two and took two South Australian prospects with their first two picks. Jay Polkinghorne presents as an X-factor forward at 191cm, able to clunk marks and kick accurately for goal. Jacob Molier was the first pure ruckman taken in the draft; his excellent state combine was capped off with an elite 20m sprint time at 201cm. Geelong were shocked to see St Kilda pass on their Lennox Hofmann bid, who had interest much higher up the order. The defender plays lockdown roles but also loves to get forward and use his supreme pace to break the game open. Finally, Keighton Matofai-Forbes got his chance late in the piece. The powerful forward relishes one-on-ones and has an incredible fluidity to his game at 188cm. C+ Leo Lombard (9), Cooper Bell (49) Leo Lombard is another academy coup for the Suns, and would have been taken higher if he was in the open draft. The midfielder comes into the AFL as one of its most explosive athletes ever based on combine results, and it translates to the field where his power, physicality and speed shine. GWS opted not to match a bid on academy key defender Cooper Bell who adds depth to Gold Coast's defensive stocks. B Ollie Hannaford (18), Harrison Oliver (19), Cody Angove (24), Jack Ough (36), Logan Smith (71) GWS swung the biggest surprise on night one again, grabbing West Australian speedster Cody Angove at pick 24. A bolter from nowhere, the Claremont product has smarts and creativity forward of the ball, and has a valuable speed-endurance blend that Adrian Caruso's team craves. Before that, they took massive riser Ollie Hannaford, completing the swing from no national combine invite to top 20 pick. The forward's speed and competitiveness are highlights of his exciting game. They also grabbed tough and balanced running defender Harrison Oliver, who had suitors in the late first round. The Giants finished off their haul with 194cm smooth-moving midfielder Jack Ough, and athletic academy ruckman Logan Smith, who didn't attract a bid. The Giants will add NGA prospect Josaia Delana to their rookie list. C+ Noah Mraz (35), Cody Anderson (64) It was a quiet draft for the Hawks after a busy trade period of bringing in two key defenders, and they grabbed another one to boot. Noah Mraz was a forgotten man after a navicular fracture wiped out his season, but his capabilities as a key defender to intercept and lock down shouldn't be underestimated. Hawthorn also snared NGA prospect Cody Anderson, dubbed 'The Beast From The East' for his attack on the man and the ball out of the Eastern Ranges. He's an exciting player with a great defensive game through the midfield and up forward. C+ Harvey Langford (6), Xavier Lindsay (11), Aiden Johnson (68) The Demons traded up with the Dons and were stoked to land two of the best midfielders in the pool. Harvey Langford was a joint Larke Medallist this year after an outstanding campaign as a 190cm on-baller than finds a lot of ball and gains territory with his massive left boot. Xavier Lindsay adds polish and craft on the outside, a beautiful user and hard runner with leadership aspirations. The Dees rounded out their selections with mature-age VFL premiership Bee Aidan Johnson who adds depth to their key forward stocks at 193cm. Indigenous small forward Ricky Mentha will land at the Dees via the category-B rookie list. A- Finn O'Sullivan (2), Matt Whitlock (27), Luke Urquhart (57), River Stevens (67) North took big swings on the first night. They grabbed their no. 1 prospect in the draft in Finn O'Sullivan, whose elite body of work across his junior career warranted the pick. He's another midfielder but has versatility with his aerial ability and capacity to hit the scoreboard. They then pulled a stunner, trading their future first-rounder for pick 27 to grab project key defender Matt Whitlock, who they rated inside the top 10. North's first round pick has landed inside the top 2 for the past five seasons. On night two they grabbed WA hard-nosed midfielder Luke Urquhart whose athletic profile, intensity and clearance work saw him dominate the championships. They then finished up with small forward River Stevens, the son of former captain Anthony. North needs to catapult up the ladder to justify the decision to trade their 2025 first round selection. D Joe Berry (15), Jack Whitlock (33), Christian Moraes (38) Port Adelaide pulled the first live trade of the draft, moving up a spot to grab half forward Joe Berry. The Bushrangers goalkicker models his game on Robbie Gray and boasts similarities in his silky ball use and penchant for standing up in big games. They were considering Jack Whitlock at 15, and were stunned to see him slide all the way to pick 33 where they snatched him up. He will take time to develop his 200cm frame but presents as a long-term Charlie Dixon replacement leading out of full forward. Finally, Christian Moraes was another slider they were keen to grab. The Ranges midfielder has played across all three areas of the ground and does not stop running. It means he finds plenty of ball and can kick goals. Benny Barrett will slot onto their rookie list as an NGA small forward. The Power needed to capitalise on this draft after trading Dan Houston, and they grabbed three high quality prospects with two likely to play AFL football next year. A Sam Lalor (1), Josh Smillie (7), Taj Hotton (12), Jonty Faull (14), Luke Trainor (21), Harry Armstrong (23), Thomas Sims (28), Jasper Alger (58) It was difficult for Richmond to not capitalise on their incredible draft hand, but they were also able to maximise their 2025 hand with North's future first-rounder. It gives them a genuine chance at securing the top two picks in 12 months' time. Many of their selections were drafted with upside in mind. Sam Lalor has the highest upside of all prospects and was taken at pick 1. The powerful midfielder will start his career as a dangerous forward. Josh Smillie then fell at pick 7 - the 195cm battering ram through the middle will eventually form a physical one-two punch with Lalor. Taj Hotton was a slight surprise, but was again a punt on tantalising upside after dominating the first month of the season. We won't see him in action until the back half of 2025 as the mercurial forward-half accumulator recovers from a torn ACL. Three key forwards were taken in a sign of the long-term view. Jonty Faull is a consistent and hard-working key forward that could impact early, Harry Armstrong is the best set shot in the pool and brings a strong athletic profile, and Tom Sims is a wildcard selection with the first pick of night two. At 199cm with a long reach he has physical traits that give him a shot at becoming a great AFL forward. Luke Trainor's slide was halted by the Tigers and he will learn plenty from Nick Vlastuin. The Dragons interceptor is an elite reader of the play and also possesses tidy foot skills. Finally, the Tigers traded back into the draft to snatch up Jasper Alger, with the small forward sliding into the 50s. He adds ground level pressure in the forward 50. We will wait and see if Richmond nailed this draft, but Blair Hartley's team has put the club in a position to achieve long-term success once more. A+ Tobie Travaglia (8), Alix Tauru (10), James Barrat (32), Hugh Boxshall (45), Alex Dodson (53), Patrick Said (60) The Saints were busy on both nights, and shaped the draft by taking the blonde defenders in the top 10. Tobie Travaglia is the ultimate competitor off halfback. He's a great interceptor and goes on long runs down the ground with an elite work rate. He harbours ambitions of moving into the midfield as a Will Day type player. Alix Tauru rose into top 10 contention with incredible aerial exploits. He's an elite mark and brings a physical edge to his game. His confidence and strong hands could make him one of the game's best interceptors. St Kilda took a third defender in James Barrat, who could be the Josh Battle replacement as a tough lockdown defender. His physicality and positional flexibility will be highly valued by Ross Lyon. Hugh Boxshall is an elite runner and a strong inside midfielder out of Claremont, Alex Dodson tumbled down the order despite being ranked by ESPN as the draft's best ruckman, and Patrick Said adds ground level pressure to the forward 50. They surprisingly ended the night without their NGA prospects, not matching Geelong's bid on Lennox Hofmann and seeing Adrian Cole fall through the draft. They're yet to make a decision on Cole and father-son prospect Elwood Peckett. The Saints needed midfield depth but opted for best available at their top selections. There may be some short-term pain for long-term gain. B Jesse Dattoli (22), Ned Bowman (26), Riley Bice (41), Riak Andrew (55) The Swans loomed as favourites to land key position talent in the first round, but instead opted for more scoreboard impact from medium forwards. Jesse Dattoli could be anything at the next level, able to take contested marks, run through the midfield, and kick bags of goals. Ned Bowman is a human highlight reel and has special aerial ability inside forward 50. He had suitors in the 30s, so Sydney had to pounce if they wanted him. Riley Bice adds ready-made polish off halfback. He won a flag with Werribee in the VFL and as a 24-year-old is ready to go. With their final pick, the Swans scored Riak Andrew after Melbourne chose not to match the bid. His lockdown capabilities improved greatly this year and it's that rate of development that sold Sydney. Interestingly, they chose not to match Collingwood's bid on academy defender Joel Cochran, instead opting to bid on Andrew. C- Bo Allen (16), Jobe Shanahan (30), Tom Gross (46), Luca Greggo (48), Hamish Davis (65) West Coast rivals Richmond for the biggest winners of the 2024 AFL Draft. It was tough to envisage after trading back from pick 3 to 12 in the Liam Baker deal, but WA's best prospect Bo Allan slid through to the selection after they traded back with Port Adelaide and the Eagles scooped him up. Allan is a ready-made, physical midfielder who leads from the front. He will start his career at halfback but it won't be long before he joins Harley Reid in the engine room. Another minor miracle occurred with highly-rated key forward Jobe Shanahan falling all the way to pick 30 despite receiving a draft invitation on night one. Shanahan's ceiling is immense as a 194cm goalkicking power forward, but some clubs also see his future down back where he reads the play and his athleticism is on show. They snared tough inside midfielder Tom Gross at 46, with his point of difference being an underrated aerial ability. Luca Greggo offers serious speed on the edge of contests, while massive slider Hamish Davis was scooped up at 65 out of Claremont. The 190cm forward kicked four goals in a WAFL final this year, won 40 disposals in a midfield masterclass at Colts level and also took out best on ground honours in the Colts Grand Final. He could play football early for the Eagles, but needs to re-work his kicking action to become more reliable distributing the ball. West Coast can list Malakai Champion as a category-B rookie after he slid through the national draft. A+ Cooper Hynes (20), Lachie Jaques (29), Josh Dolan (31), Sam Davidson (51), Luke Kennedy (62) The Dogs were sweating on Murphy Reid's availability but were happy to grab Cooper Hynes who adds the power, speed, and aggression this list lacks in the forward half. Hynes has played a lot through the midfield but should start his career as an impact medium forward. Lachie Jaques was added out of the Falcons as a dashing halfback with the ability to play on talls and smalls, while Josh Dolan's smarts and leadership in the forward half will be valuable. Sam Davidson presents as the ready-made forward at 190cm after winning the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medal with Richmond. After starting his pre-season with VFL side Coburg, Luke Kennedy will also be heading to the Kennel. The consistent Sandy midfielder brings poise and class. B+

After Trump's win, Black women are rethinking their role as America's reliable political organizers

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will get the Maharashtra chief minister’s post and the swearing-in ceremony will be held on December 5, Mahayuti coalition leaders announced on Saturday, triggering yet more disapproval from the Shiv Sena over the “unilateral” nature of the announcement. “During the meeting in Delhi, it was decided that Mahayuti will form the government with the CM from the BJP and the remaining two parties will have DCMs (deputy chief ministers),” Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar said, adding, “This is not the first time there has been a delay... If you remember, in 1999, one month was taken for government formation.” Hours earlier, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule independently announced that the oath-taking ceremony would take place at 5pm at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. The announcement, made over X, triggered unease within the Shiv Sena. “Leaders of all three parties — Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar — should have announced this together. The BJP may have consulted the CM before announcing venue and date,” Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat said. He then staked claim to a crucial portfolio: “The Mahayuti must give the home department to Shiv Sena if the chief ministership goes to BJP.” In the earlier government, the home department was with deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis when Shinde was chief minister. Bawankule responded by saying such matters shouldn’t be discussed publicly, highlighting growing friction within the alliance. The sparring over portfolios comes as caretaker chief minister Shinde remains in his village Dare in Satara, where he retreated on Friday citing health issues. While Shinde had earlier announced that Prime Minister Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah’s decision would be acceptable to him and his party, the BJP’s offer of deputy chief minister’s post has reportedly met resistance, with Shinde’s camp insisting on controlling the home department, leaders aware of the matter told HT on Friday. His doctor told media on Saturday that Shinde had fever, throat infection and cold, requiring intravenous medication. The CM’s son and Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde said no discussions were held on Saturday as the CM was away and would return on Sunday. Deputy CM Pawar said Shinde had taken two days off as there wasn’t much work in the caretaker government. Earlier on Saturday prior to the oath-taking ceremony date being announced by the state BJP chief, Shiv Sena’s Shirsat said: “According to me, whenever Eknath Shinde thinks that he needs some time to think he goes to his native village. By tomorrow evening, he will take a big decision. It can be anything, a political decision.... Everything will be cleared by Monday evening.” he told ANI. The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party has already stated that Fadnavis was acceptable to it as chief minister. While the simple majority figure in the 288-member House is 145, the BJP alone bagged 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and the NCP with 41 seats. But the government formation was delayed as the alliance failed to evolve a consensus on who would be the chief minister, and how the ministries and departments will be carved up between the three allies BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde met party president JP Nadda. According to party functionaries, who asked not to be named, the leadership is assessing the chief ministerial pick, particularly amid concerns about replacing a Maratha chief minister with a Brahmin leader (Fadnavis). The party leadership is also getting views of BJP leaders from the state on cabinet formation. The BJP has planned a grand swearing-in ceremony with Modi, Shah, top leaders and chief ministers of the ruling NDA coalition in attendance. Several locations including the Wankhede stadium, Brabourne Stadium, Mahalaxmi Race course and Shivaji Park were considered but were either unavailable due to ongoing events or found unsuitable. Finally, Azad Maidan was chosen. The administration has begun preparations for the new government. The winter session of the state legislature is likely to be held in Nagpur from December 16 to 24, with the legislature secretariat, Nagpur collectorate, city police and local public works department starting preparations. Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut claimed Shinde was “deeply upset” about losing the chief minister’s post. “He is mentally and physically disturbed. He was made chief minister in 2022 only because he split the Shiv Sena,” Raut said. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said government formation was delayed because the ruling Mahayuti parties never thought they will come to power again. Thackeray, speaking hours before the announcement of the swearing-in date, asked why there were no celebrations after the “monstrous” victory of the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition. “When the Maha Vikas Aghadi was formed (after the 2019 elections), President’s rule was imposed. This time no one has staked claim to form the government, yet there is no President’s rule,” said Thackeray, a former chief minister.Published 5:31 pm Saturday, November 30, 2024 By Data Skrive The Oklahoma City Thunder against the Houston Rockets is one of 10 strong options on Sunday’s NBA card. You will find info on how to watch Sunday’s NBA action right here. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get access to games, live and on-demand, and more for the entire season and offseason. Watch ESPN originals, The Last Dance and more NBA content on ESPN+. Use our link to sign up for ESPN+ or the Disney bundle. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .

Clean energy investors have endured yet another torrid year as traders continue shunning the alternative energy sector. The solar sector, in particular, highlights the negative sentiment pervading renewable energy investing: According to a by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the U.S. is on track to add close to 40 gigawatts of solar energy capacity in 2024--more than double last year’s tally and more than triple what was added in 2022. The solar sector is clearly booming, yet solar stocks have badly underperformed, with the sector’s popular benchmark, (NYSEARCA:TAN), having returned -35.3% YTD vs. 24.3% by the . The upcoming Trump presidency is considered bearish for renewable energy investing. For years, Trump has never hidden his disdain for clean energy, repeatedly lambasting Biden’s historic (IRA), describing it as the “biggest tax hike in history”. Trump has pledged to rescind any “unspent” funds under the IRA after he ascends to the Oval Office. However, there are some pockets within the renewable energy universe that are looking quite promising. Here are 3 renewable energy stocks that outperformed in the current year and could do it again in 2025. (NASDAQ:WAVE) is a wave energy company that develops wave energy conversion (WEC) technology that converts ocean and sea waves into clean electricity. WAVE shares have been surging after the company from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its wave energy project at the Port of Los Angeles in California. The company will install eight wave energy floaters on the piles of an existing concrete wharf structure on the east side of the port's Municipal Pier One. According to Eco Wave, securing the final permit marks the completion of two key milestones in its agreement with (NYSE:SHEL) which is expected to boost the company's revenues in Q4 2024. Related: European Gas Prices Soar as Putin Says a New Ukraine Transit Deal Is Unlikely Europe is the global leader in blue energy, with of global investments in ocean energy over the last decade flowing into the continent. That’s great news for Eco Wave Power because the company is well-established in the region. Indeed, the company’s first operational wave energy plant was developed in Gibraltar with EU funding. Eco Wave Power is currently developing a 20 MW wave energy project in Porto, Portugal as part of the country’s plan to generate 85% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Eco Wave Power established a subsidiary in Portugal in 2020 and kicked off the licensing process. In March 2024, the company to start construction and committed to completing the project within two years. One of the newer companies in the space, (NYSE:GEV) was incorporated in 2023 after being spun off from (NYSE:GE). This Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company deals in energy equipment manufacturing and services. GE Vernova operates under Power, Wind, and Electrification segments. The company is well-positioned to profit from sustained growth trends as a supplier of power generation assets. Two weeks ago, GE Vernova for FY 2024 revenues and free cash flow, and also raised guidance for 2025 revenues, free cash flow and adjusted EBITDA margin. The company now sees FY 2024 revenues trending towards the higher end of guidance of $34B-$35B; adjusted EBITDA margin of 5.5%-6.0%, narrowed from its previous outlook for 5%-7%; and free cash flow trending towards higher end of $1.3B-$1.7B guidance. For FY 2025, GE Vernova has forecasts revenue in the range of $36B-$$37B, up from prior guidance of mid-single digit growth implying revenues of $35B-$37B; adjusted EBITDA margin of high-single digits and free cash flow of $2B-$2.5B, up from $1.2B-$1.8B previously. " ," GE Vernova CFO Ken Parks said. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is one of the largest manufacturers of electric vehicles on the planet. TSLA stock is trading close to an all-time high with the strong bullish vibe being driven by the view that the Elon Musk-led company will benefit from a Trump Administration that will be friendly to the process of securing autonomous vehicle approvals as it looks to grow the robotaxi fleet rapidly over the next two years. However, Wall Street is more cautious about the shares, assigning TSLA a Hold rating and an average price target of only $259.66, considerably lower than the current price of $421.44. Some bears have pointed out that a similar monster rally in 2021 was followed by a drop of more than 70% over the next 18 months.

SHAREHOLDER ACTION REMINDER: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims On Behalf Of Investors Of Iris EnergyHuddle Global 2024, the annual startup conclave organised by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), concluded on Saturday at the picturesque Kovalam beach, paving the way for strengthened collaborations and significant investments in the State’s startup ecosystem. The event facilitated over 200 cross-sector interactions, providing valuable networking opportunities; 15 product launches and promising collaborations, particularly between corporates such as Vedanta, L&T, Bosch, with future corporate engagements in the works. Ten Memorandums of Agreement (MoUs) were also signed for global and national partnership during the course of the conclave. Panneerselvam Madanagopal, chief executive officer, MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) Startup Hub, was the chief guest at the valedictory session. State Electronics and IT secretary Rathan U. Kelkar and KSUM chief executive officer Anoop Ambika were also present. KSUM announced the winners of the ‘Branding Challenge 2.0’, a competition aimed at creating branding strategies for impactful food technologies developed by prestigious institutions across the country. Selected food technologies from nine R&D institutions were showcased before designers to come up with their branding insights. The winners were presented a cash prize of ₹10,000 each, along with the ‘Huddle Global Designers Award 2024’. The winners were Agna John, Muhammed Shafeeq, Adarsh Mohan K.S., Adhila Shaireen, Roshan M.R., Fathimath Nesila P.P., Fahad Salim, Anoop Kumar V. and Sreehari K.N. KSUM also declared the nine startups chosen under its ‘WE Start Pre-Incubation Programme’ that supports 100 women-led startups. Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal participated in a round-table on various policy interventions and support systems to accelerate the startup ecosystem. He also interacted with major investors, high net-worth individuals and other stakeholders before visiting the startup expo. Shashi Tharoor, MP, who delivered a keynote address on the concluding day, termed Kerala’s startup ecosystem a “glittering jewel” in the crown of India’s fast-growing startup landscape, as it demonstrated its prowess in innovation, inventiveness, sustainability and inclusiveness. While hailing the achievements of the State’s startup ecosystem, Dr. Tharoor called for urgent steps to streamline regulatory compliances and procedures “by dismantling the oppressive red-tape” in order to enable aspirational entrepreneurs to launch enterprises, attract capital and grow faster. Renowned author William Dalrymple, who was also among the key speakers, traced India’s rise as an IT powerhouse. He pointed out that it was not the first time that Indian knowledge is contributing to the development of mankind. “India was part of the world which, very early on, answered the big questions of mankind on its existence, the relation of the earth to heaven, and the size of the earth. But the influence of the Indian soft power remains hidden, he lamented, as he elaborated: “It is worth asking why everyone in the West had heard about Archimedes and Pythagoras, but no one knows the name of Brahmagupta, whose works led to the concept of zero and the earth’s position in the solar system.” Published - November 30, 2024 08:14 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp RedditCowboys win wild one vs. Commanders to halt five-game slide