By DAVID A. LIEB Artificial intelligence. Abortion. Guns. Marijuana. Minimum wages. Name a hot topic, and chances are good there’s a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another. Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters. Some face legal challenges. Here’s a look at some of the most notable state laws taking effect: California, home to Hollywood and some of the largest technology companies, is seeking to rein in the artificial intelligence industry and put some parameters around social media stars. New laws seek to prevent the use of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers without permission and allow the estates of dead performers to sue over unauthorized AI use. Parents who profit from social media posts featuring their children will be required to set aside some earnings for their young influencers. A new law also allows children to sue their parents for failing to do so. New social media restrictions in several states face court challenges. Related Articles National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone National Politics | Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ A Florida law bans children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. But enforcement is being delayed because of a lawsuit filed by two associations for online companies, with a hearing scheduled for late February. A new Tennessee law also requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an industry group for online businesses, is challenging the law. Another new state law requires porn websites to verify that visitors are at least 18 years old. But the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, has filed a challenge. Several new California measures aimed at combating political deepfakes are also being challenged, including one requiring large social media platforms to remove deceptive content related to elections and another allowing any individual to sue for damages over the use of AI to create fabricated images or videos in political ads . In a first nationally, California will start enforcing a law prohibiting school districts from adopting policies that require staff to notify parents if their children change their gender identification . The law was a priority for Democratic lawmakers who wanted to halt such policies passed by several districts. Many states have passed laws limiting or protecting abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to the procedure in 2022. One of the latest is the Democratic-led state of Delaware. A law there will require the state employee health plan and Medicaid plans for lower-income residents to cover abortions with no deductible , copayments or other cost-sharing requirements. A new Minnesota law prohibits guns with “binary triggers” that allow for more rapid fire, causing a weapon to fire one round when the trigger is pulled and another when it is released. In Delaware, a law adds colleges and universities to a list of school zones where guns are prohibited, with exceptions for those working in their official capacity such as law officers and commissioned security guards. Kentucky is becoming the latest state to let people use marijuana for medical purposes . To apply for a state medical cannabis card, people must get written certification from a medical provider of a qualifying condition, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly four-fifths of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana. Minimum wage workers in more than 20 states are due to receive raises in January. The highest minimum wages will be in Washington, California and Connecticut, all of which will top $16 an hour after modest increases. The largest increases are scheduled in Delaware, where the minimum wage will rise by $1.75 to $15 an hour, and in Nebraska, where a ballot measure approved by voters in 2022 will add $1.50 to the current minimum of $12 an hour. Twenty other states still follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. In Oregon, using drugs on public transit will be considered a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. While the measure worked its way through the legislature, multiple transportation officials said drug use on buses and trains, and at transit stops and stations, was making passengers and drivers feel less safe. In Missouri, law enforcement officers have spent the past 16 months issuing warnings to motorists that handheld cellphone use is illegal. Starting with the new year, penalties will kick in: a $150 fine for the first violation, progressing to $500 for third and subsequent offenses and up to 15 years imprisonment if a driver using a cellphone cause an injury or death. But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law. Montana is the only state that hasn’t banned texting while driving , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Tenants in Arizona will no longer have to pay tax on their monthly rent , thanks to the repeal of a law that had allowed cities and towns to impose such taxes. While a victory for renters, the new law is a financial loss for governments. An analysis by Arizona’s nonpartisan Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimated that $230 million would be lost in municipal tax revenue during the first full fiscal year of implementation. Meanwhile Alabama will offer tax credits to businesses that help employees with child care costs. Kansas is eliminating its 2% sales tax on groceries. It also is cutting individual income taxes by dropping the top tax rate, increasing a credit for child care expenses and exempting all Social Security income from taxes, among other things. Taxpayers are expected to save about $320 million a year going forward. An Oklahoma law expands voting privileges to people who have been convicted of felonies but had their sentences discharged or commuted, including commutations for crimes that have been reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors. Former state Sen. George Young, an Oklahoma City Democrat, carried the bill in the Senate. “I think it’s very important that people who have gone through trials and tribulations in their life, that we have a system that brings them back and allows them to participate as contributing citizens,” Young said. Associated Press writers Trân Nguyễn in Sacramento, California; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky; Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon; Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri; Gabriel Sandoval in Phoenix; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed.OpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship'online slots free 。

Wall Street stocks were little changed on Thursday while Asian equities rose in thin Boxing Day trade, extending their "Santa Claus Rally" with several bourses still shut for the holiday. Japan's Nikkei index closed up 1.1 percent, boosted by comments from the Bank of Japan governor and share price gains for top-selling automaker Toyota. China's plans for massive bond issuances in 2025 also bolstered investor sentiment. "Even though many in the region are still shaking off a bit of a holiday hangover, with several markets closed for Boxing Day, Asian stocks opened higher, riding a favorable wave from China's financial bond juggernaut," said Stephen Innes from SPI Asset Management. In New York, major indices veered in and out of positive territory in a sleepy post-Christmas session. The broad-based S&P 500 finished down less than 0.1 percent. Large technology companies that have led the market in much of 2024 mostly took a breather. These included Netflix, Tesla and Amazon, all of which declined. "What's interesting today is that we're seeing small stocks bounce back a little bit," said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers, noting that the Russell 2000 index put on 0.9 percent. Holiday consumer data showed a 3.8-percent increase in US retail spending from November 1 to December 24, according to a Mastercard SpendingPulse review of a key period for retailers. London Stockton, an analyst at Ned Davis Research, noted that the "Santa Claus rally could still be alive, with strong seasonality into the end of the year." Stock markets have traditionally fared well in the last five trading days of the year and the first two in the new year, a trend known as the "Santa Claus rally." Among a number of possible reasons advanced by experts include the festive holiday mood and purchasing ahead of the end of the tax year. Innes said remarks from Bank of Japan governor Kazuo Ueda in which he refrained from signaling a potential interest rate hike next month also "influenced bullish regional sentiments." Japanese market heavyweight Toyota ended nearly six percent higher after reports in the Nikkei business daily said it aimed to double its return on equity -- a key measure of a company's financial performance. New York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 43,325.80 (close) New York - S&P 500: DOWN less than 0.1 percent at 6,037.59 (close) New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 0.1 percent at 20,020.36 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.1 percent at 39,568.06 points (close) Hang Seng: UP 1.1 percent at 20,098.29 points (Tuesday close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,398.08 points (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0424 from $1.0414 on Tuesday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2526 from $1.2538 Dollar/yen: UP at 158.00 yen from 157.06 yen Euro/pound: UP at 83.19 pence from 83.05 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.7 percent at $69.62 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.4 percent at $73.26 per barrel bur-jmb/ahaDrones, planes or UFOs? Americans abuzz over mysterious New Jersey sightingsA 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says

Shoppers 'surprised to find' this £39.50 'stylish' and 'unusual' party skirt at Marks & SpencerDonald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trollingBy MICHELLE L. PRICE and ROB GILLIES NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Related Articles National Politics | Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan National Politics | Biden says he was ‘stupid’ not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that’s he’s preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect’s threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park.” Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn’t a trolling-free zone for Trump’s adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden’s spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump’s taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

Congress Working Committee on Friday paid glowing tributes to former prime minister Manmohan Singh , hailing him as "a true statesman, whose life and work have profoundly shaped the destiny of India." ET Year-end Special Reads Two sectors that rose on India's business horizon in 2024 2025 outlook: Is it time for cautious optimism or rekindling animal spirits? 2024: Govt moves ahead with simultaneous polls plan; India holds largest democratic exercise Singh's body will be brought to Congress headquarters at 24, Akbar Road at 8 am on Saturday, AICC announced. This honour was controversially denied to former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao when he died in Delhi during the UPA era in 2004 and whose funeral was conducted in Hyderabad. Singh was a "towering figure in India's political and economic landscape, whose contributions transformed the country and earned him respect worldwide", CWC resolution said. "As the finance minister in the early 1990s, Singh was the architect of India's economic liberalisation . With unmatched foresight, he initiated a series of reforms that not only saved the nation from a balance-of-payments crisis but also opened the doors to global markets. Through his policies of deregulation, privatisation and the encouragement of foreign investment, he laid the foundation for India's rapid economic growth . Under his stewardship, India emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing economies, a testament to his brilliance and vision," said the resolution passed by the top-most Congress body. It further said as the prime minister, Singh led the country with a sense of calm determination and exceptional wisdom. "His tenure was marked by sustained economic growth, global recognition, and social progress. He steered the nation through the challenges of the global financial crisis in 2008 with strategic measures that shielded India from its worst effects. His leadership saw remarkable initiatives like MGNREGA, Right to Education, the historic Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal , National Food Security Act, Land Acquisition Act... He also championed the Right to Information (RTI) Act to enhance transparency, the Forest Rights Act to empower tribal communities, and contributed to achieving the highest GDP growth rate during his tenure. Singh's dedication to inclusive growth , international diplomacy, and economic modernisation strengthened India's position in the global arena," it said. The resolution also listed Singh's achievements as an academician, economist and in various offices such the UN and RBI, and recollected his personal qualities. "Despite holding the highest offices in the land, he always remained grounded, treating everyone with respect and kindness. His demeanour was calm, composed, and always guided by a deep sense of integrity. He was not only admired for his intellect and accomplishments but also for his unassuming nature," it said. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program The CWC pledged to honour Singh's memory and carry forward his enduring legacy. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

Fans have noticed that Sergio Reguilon has made the decision to delete all of his Instagram posts that included his ex-girlfriend Marta Diaz. Tottenham left-back Reguilon, 28, and social media star Diaz, 24, ended their long-term relationship last September just as Diaz was filming for the successful Spanish programme 'El Desafio'. During the show, Diaz was seen breaking down in tears and admitting that she was thinking about 'something else'. The removal of Diaz from his social media profile comes as he shared a Christmas snap with his new partner Clara Ranz Rodríguez. The pair were seen posing in front of a Christmas tree with their arms around their pet dog. Rodriguez recently made her love for Reguilon clear in a post of her own on his 28th birthday. Sergio Reguilon shared this photo of himself and his girlfriend Clara Ranz Rodríguez The couple's long-term relationship ended in September, and the emotions were clearly still raw for Diaz 'Happy birthday my life @sergioregui I take... Spencer Morgan

Buy Godrej Consumer, target price Rs 1,415: JM Financial

I was buying motorcycle parts well before eBay was a thing. Back in the day, we had to either visit our local motorcycle shop, find someone with a suitable parts bike, or peruse mail order catalogs to find the parts we needed. Today, eBay carries parts, accessories, and supplies for all major motorcycle brands as well as some obscure brands. Since anyone can sell motorcycle parts on eBay, it's possible to find parts in brand-new condition shipped directly from the manufacturer or the third-party seller's private stock. Other options include "Used" or "Remanufactured" condition. If you're looking to save some money, it could be worth buying pre-owned items on eBay , especially if they're advertised as like-new or refurbished. eBay has an extensive library of listings, encompassing nearly anything you'd need for a motorcycle. You'll find maintenance items such as filters, spark plugs, and supplies to properly clean and lubricate your motorcycle chain . You can even buy a used engine on eBay , although there are a few things you should know before buying motorcycle parts from the popular auction site. Whether you prefer shopping on eBay's website or on a mobile app, you can choose to do so through the main site, or eBay Motors. However, using the eBay Motors app on your smartphone is the quickest, most convenient way to search for the motorcycle parts you need unless you have a laptop in your garage. Whichever route you take, you'll be prompted to create or sign in to an eBay account when you arrive at the site or launch the app. The next step you should take is adding a vehicle to your eBay garage. If you have multiple motorcycles or other vehicles, adding all of them to your eBay garage makes it easy to choose among them. The best part is that eBay will remember all the details of your garage, so it's quicker to find what you need when you come back to look for another part. However, it's important to provide accurate details if you want to avoid the frustration and wasted time of returning the wrong parts. When adding motorcycles or other vehicles to your eBay garage, you'll need to know the exact year, make, model, and sub-model of everything you're adding. While a lot of motorcycle parts are interchangeable across different models, and I hate standing at a parts counter and having some keyboard jockey ask if my truck has air conditioning when I'm buying brake pads as much as anyone, putting all of the vehicle information into eBay one time will save you time later on, I promise. Once your motorcycle is added to your garage, selecting it leads to a prompt to search for parts that fit it. For example, I have a 2023 Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure ABS in my eBay garage, and searching for brake pads returned 60 results. I can filter those results to show U.S. or worldwide suppliers, Condition (fortunately all the brake pads are listed as New), Authorized Sellers, and/or those sellers offering free returns. I can also sort the results in several ways, although sorting by ascending or descending price makes the most sense. On the product listing page, you'll notice some items with a blue tab with a star to the side identifying them as "Top Rated Plus." Top rated plus items come from top-rated sellers offering a money-back return policy that's good for at least 30 days and trackable shipping (handed over to a shipper) within one business day. Once you've selected an item to view, take note of the sellers' rating, shown as a percentage of positive feedback they've received, while the number in parentheses is the volume of feedback overall. This is also a good time to check the sellers' return policy, as it can vary widely. Some may not take returns at all, others have short return windows, and the best allow at least 30 days. Return shipping costs swing from the buyer being 100% responsible to the seller covering all costs. In addition to the sellers' return policy, eBay protects buyers with the eBay Money Back Guarantee . When a buyer requests a return, the seller has three days to respond. After that, and within 30 days of receipt of the product or estimated delivery date for items that don't arrive, eBay will work to get your refund.The Commissioner for Economic Development Trade Tourism Industry and Minerals at the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat, Albert Muchanga, has stated that President Akufo-Addo’s decision to grant executive approval for visa-free travel to Ghana by all Africans is a move in the right direction and marks a step forward to the vision of creating a single African Market under AfCFTA. President Akufo-Addo fulfilled a promise delivered last January to international participants, mainly business executives, at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2024. His promise was to allow visa-free travel to Ghana for citizens of all other African countries before his term of office expired on January 6, 2025. This will be a major boost for the African Union’s ongoing efforts to allow the free movement of people, goods, and services as the continent works towards implementing the world’s largest single market, involving at least 55 nation-states. “It is most welcome. It is a move in the right direction. We have the Protocol of the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Free Movement of People, Right of Residence, and Right of Establishment. The Protocol also provides for mutual recognition of professional qualifications,” Albert Muchanga told Asaase News in an exclusive interview. “The move removes a major nontariff barrier to intra-African trade and takes a step forward in realizing the vision of creating a single African market under the African Continental Free Trade Area, which is headquartered in Accra, Ghana,” Mr Muchanga added. Asaase News exclusively reported on Tuesday, 24 December 2024, that President Nana Akufo-Addo last Wednesday (18 December) gave executive approval for the implementation of the visa-free travel policy for all holders of passports issued by other African countries traveling to Ghana. It will be recalled that President Akufo-Addo, in his keynote address at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD 2024) on Thursday, 25 January 2024, under the theme “Developing Prosperity in Africa: Produce, Add, Value and Trade,” announced that his administration was committed to the visa-free travel policy for all Africans and that it would be implemented within the year. “Many of you had to acquire a visa to come to this event. We made a special arrangement for this conference, reducing the visa acquisition fee by 50%, and we were thus able to receive your visa on arrival,” the president said in his APD 2024 address. “The government of Ghana is committed to ensuring visa-free for all Africans, for all Africans travelling into our country, and the process has begun to get the policy implemented this year,” Akufo-Addo promised. The annual 3-day Africa Prosperity Dialogues, which attracts about 2,000 business executives, political leaders, and institutional stakeholders from across the continent, is organised in collaboration with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the AFDB, BADEA, Afreximbank, ECA, UNDP Africa and others to mobilise business and political leaders on the continent to work together towards the speedy implementation of Africa’s economic integration. The setting was, therefore, appropriate for the President of Ghana to pledge a visa-free policy. In fulfillment of this pledge, the President granted executive approval on Wednesday, 18 December 2024. Senior officers at both the Office of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have confirmed that the executive approval was subsequently communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and the Ministry of the Interior on Thursday, 19 December 2024. Following the executive approval, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and the Ministry of the Interior have initiated processes for executing the policy. What is outstanding is for the Ghana Immigration Service to announce a definite date for the visa-free policy to take effect. The start date is anticipated to be Wednesday, 1 January 2025. With this approval and implementation of a visa-free travel policy for all African passport holders to Ghana, the West African nation will become the fifth country on the continent to institute such a policy. Currently, Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin are the only African countries that provide visa-free entry for all African citizens. The Nigerian industrialist and the richest African, Aliko Dangote, has spoken about the frustration of travelling across the continent. “As an investor, as someone who wants to make Africa great, I have to apply for 35 different visas,” Dangote said at a business forum in Rwanda earlier this year. “I really don’t have the time to go and drop off my passport in embassies to get a visa,” he added. Ghana is the host nation for the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat. Ghana’s first independent leader, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was at the forefront of the campaign to unite Africa into a single borderless nation. Ethiopia, where the African Union headquarters is, has been criticised for its restrictive immigration policy for Africans travelling into the country. Writing in the Financial Times on 18 December, Aanu Adeoye stated, “Behind closed doors, I have heard many more stories from African businesspeople unable to attend events in neighbouring countries as a result of red tape. The head of a development lender, for example, had difficulty getting hold of a visa to a southern African country despite receiving an invitation from that country’s president. “To make matters more bizarre, European and US citizens can often travel across the continent more freely than African nationals. There is a booming trade in wealthy Africans seeking second citizenship partly to solve this problem. Citizenship and residency firm Henley & Partners have opened up shop on the continent to take advantage of the situation.” Adeoye argues, “Simplifying travel is important if the continent is serious about building deeper internal trade and cultural ties.” The Nigerian journalist and Weet African correspondent for the FT points out that after nearly seven decades of independence across much of the continent, modern-day leaders have little excuse for sticking with the status quo. “Globalisation and the free movement of people may be unfashionable elsewhere but it is essential for Africa’s growth. Regional blocs in east, west, and southern Africa already have the structures in place to make visa-free travel a reality. The continent must now expand and implement those plans if it is to open up to itself,” he argues. Reporting by Wilberforce Asare in Accra Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra). Affiliates : Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale). Listen online: asaaseradio.com , Sound Garden and TuneIn. Follow us: X : @asaaseradio995 , @Asaase985ksi , @Asaase997tamale , @asaase1003 , asaasepa1073 Instagram : asaaseradio99.5 , asaase985ksi , asaase100.3 , asaase99.7tamale , asaasepa107.3 LinkedIn : company/asaaseradio995 . TikTok : @asaaseradio99.5 Facebook : asaase99.5 , asaase985ksi , Asaase100.3 , asaase99.7 , AsaasePa107.3 . YouTube : AsaaseRadioXtra . Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652. #AsaaseRadio #AsaasePa #TheVoiceofOurLand

Colts QB Anthony Richardson ruled out for Sunday's game against the Giants

BAKU – In the wee hours Sunday at the United Nations climate talks, countries from around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. It's a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still deeply unsatisfied but some hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. Recommended Videos World Resources Institute president and CEO Ani Dasgupta called it “an important down payment toward a safer, more equitable future,” but added that the poorest and most vulnerable nations are “rightfully disappointed that wealthier countries didn’t put more money on the table when billions of people’s lives are at stake.” The summit was supposed to end on Friday evening but negotiations spiraled on through early Sunday. With countries on opposite ends of a massive chasm, tensions ran high as delegations tried to close the gap in expectations. Here's how they got there: What was the finance deal agreed at climate talks? Rich countries have agreed to pool together at least $300 billion a year by 2035. It’s not near the full amount of $1.3 trillion that developing countries were asking for, and that experts said was needed. But delegations more optimistic about the agreement said this deal is headed in the right direction, with hopes that more money flows in the future. The text included a call for all parties to work together using “all public and private sources” to get closer to the $1.3 trillion per year goal by 2035. That means also pushing for international mega-banks, funded by taxpayer dollars, to help foot the bill. And it means, hopefully, that companies and private investors will follow suit on channeling cash toward climate action. The agreement is also a critical step toward helping countries on the receiving end create more ambitious targets to limit or cut emissions of heat-trapping gases that are due early next year. It’s part of the plan to keep cutting pollution with new targets every five years, which the world agreed to at the U.N. talks in Paris in 2015. The Paris agreement set the system of regular ratcheting up climate fighting ambition as away to keep warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. The world is already at 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit) and carbon emissions keep rising. What will the money be spent on? The deal decided in Baku replaces a previous agreement from 15 years ago that charged rich nations $100 billion a year to help the developing world with climate finance. The new number has similar aims: it will go toward the developing world's long laundry list of to-dos to prepare for a warming world and keep it from getting hotter. That includes paying for the transition to clean energy and away from fossil fuels. Countries need funds to build up the infrastructure needed to deploy technologies like wind and solar power on a large scale. Communities hard-hit by extreme weather also want money to adapt and prepare for events like floods, typhoons and fires. Funds could go toward improving farming practices to make them more resilient to weather extremes, to building houses differently with storms in mind, to helping people move from the hardest-hit areas and to help leaders improve emergency plans and aid in the wake of disasters. The Philippines, for example, has been hammered by six major storms in less than a month , bringing to millions of people howling wind, massive storm surges and catastrophic damage to residences, infrastructure and farmland. “Family farmers need to be financed," said Esther Penunia of the Asian Farmers Association. She described how many have already had to deal with millions of dollars of storm damage, some of which includes trees that won't again bear fruit for months or years, or animals that die, wiping out a main source of income. “If you think of a rice farmer who depends on his or her one hectare farm, rice land, ducks, chickens, vegetables, and it was inundated, there was nothing to harvest,” she said. Why was it so hard to get a deal? Election results around the world that herald a change in climate leadership, a few key players with motive to stall the talks and a disorganized host country all led to a final crunch that left few happy with a flawed compromise. The ending of COP29 is "reflective of the harder geopolitical terrain the world finds itself in,” said Li Shuo of the Asia Society. He cited Trump's recent victory in the US — with his promises to pull the country out of the Paris Agreement — as one reason why the relationship between China and the EU will be more consequential for global climate politics moving forward. Developing nations also faced some difficulties agreeing in the final hours, with one Latin American delegation member saying that their group didn't feel properly consulted when small island states had last-minute meetings to try to break through to a deal. Negotiators from across the developing world took different tacks on the deal until they finally agreed to compromise. Meanwhile, activists ramped up the pressure: many urged negotiators to stay strong and asserted that no deal would be better than a bad deal. But ultimately the desire for a deal won out. Some also pointed to the host country as a reason for the struggle. Mohamed Adow, director of climate and energy think tank Power Shift Africa, said Friday that “this COP presidency is one of the worst in recent memory,” calling it “one of the most poorly led and chaotic COP meetings ever.” The presidency said in a statement, “Every hour of the day, we have pulled people together. Every inch of the way, we have pushed for the highest common denominator. We have faced geopolitical headwinds and made every effort to be an honest broker for all sides.” Shuo retains hope that the opportunities offered by a green economy “make inaction self-defeating” for countries around the world, regardless of their stance on the decision. But it remains to be seen whether the UN talks can deliver more ambition next year. In the meantime, “this COP process needs to recover from Baku,” Shuo said. ___ Associated Press reporters Seth Borenstein and Sibi Arasu contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .

I felt bad when Congress did not call CWC meeting during Baba's demise: Sharmistha MukherjeeChief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday paid tribute to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on the 17th anniversary of her assassination, remembering her as a courageous champion of democracy and the marginalised. In a statement issued from the CM House, Shah lauded Bhutto as the Islamic world's first female prime minister, praising her unwavering stance against terrorism and dictatorship. He described her as a symbol of the federation and a tireless advocate for farmers, labourers, and the middle class, stating that her political legacy focused on improving the lives of Pakistan's most vulnerable citizens. The CM highlighted Bhutto's two terms in office, emphasising the positive impact on the lives of the underprivileged. He drew parallels between her bravery and that of her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, stressing her commitment to democracy even in the face of death. Shah condemned her assassination as a tragic attempt to undermine Pakistan's progress and extinguish the hopes of its impoverished population. However, he affirmed that her mission continues through PPP Chairman, who, he said, carries on her fight for social justice. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see ourhead coach Arne Slot has demanded more from his team after they battled to a in the Champions League and said he was "far from happy" with the performance. Liverpool looked some way from their best at the Estadi Montilivi, but secured the win thanks to a penalty in the second half after was deemed to have fouled inside the area. The victory means Liverpool continue their perfect record in Europe, having won all six of their Champions League games this term, but Slot insisted performances must improve if his team have ambitions of going all the way in the competition. Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, the Liverpool boss said: "If you ask me about all the six games I am really pleased with all the results and the performances in the five games. "I am far from pleased about the performance tonight. Especially two things. If you play against a team that has such a good idea about football, knows how to bring the ball out like teams we have played recently in and , you need to be so intense. "But if you are waiting to press and are so easily outplayed, this team can cause you problems. This is what they showed throughout Champions League except [against] PSV. "I feel sorry for them because they deserve more than three points. We have an incredible goalkeeper. When we lost the ball we were not aggressive enough. Hardly any control at all of the game. Maybe the second half was a bit better." One major positive for Liverpool was the return of Alisson to the starting lineup, with the goalkeeper having been sidelined since Oct. 5 with a hamstring injury. The Brazilian made a string of saves to preserve Liverpool's fifth clean sheet in Europe this season, and Slot was quick to dub him "the best goalkeeper in the world" after the match. "He definitely didn't look like he'd been away," Slot said. "I said as a bit of a joke the players wanted to test his fitness today [giving up chances]. "He showed today what I said so many times that he's our first goalkeeper. That's nothing to do with Caoimhin [Kelleher], who did well, but [Alisson] showed today he's one of the best, in my opinion, the best goalkeeper in the world. Let's hope he can keep these performances going and stay fit." Slot also defended striker , who spurned a number of chances against and has just three goals in 19 appearances for Liverpool this term. Asked whether the Uruguayan is low on confidence, Slot said: "What I can agree on is that he missed a few chances; then it is a question if he's low on confidence. "I think every striker has a moment when everything goes in and then a period where try so hard and don't score. But the good thing is we have many players who can score. He was a threat but unfortunately he couldn't score." Regardless of the results the rest of the day, Liverpool is guaranteed to finish the sixth of eight league phase rounds in first place on 18 points. The final two rounds will be played at the start of 2025. ESPN's Sam Marsden contributed to this story.