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Domestic brand Portronics has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of the Thunder 2.0 true wireless stereo (TWS) speaker. The company claims that the latest portable wireless speaker is designed for both home and outdoor usage. The Thunder 2.0 features RGB lighting and promises a powerful output for an improved user experience. Here are all the details: Portronics Thunder 2.0 wireless speaker: Price and availability The Portronics Thunder 2.0 TWS speaker with RGB lights is now available at an exclusive launch price of Rs 5,699. The product comes with a 12-month warranty and can be purchased on the company’s official website, Portronics.com, as well as on e-commerce sites Amazon and Flipkart as well as other leading online and offline stores. Portronics Thunder 2.0 wireless speaker: Key specs Feature Specification Sound Output 60 watts Speaker Components Twin tweeters, dual bass drivers, passive radiators Audio Features Deep bass, crystal-clear trebles Design IPX6 water-resistant ABS body with fabric finish Portability Compact, cylindrical design Lighting RGB lights with side-mounted bass radiators Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3, USB drive support, TWS (True Wireless Stereo) Battery Life 6 hours Charging USB-C fast charging Water Resistance IPX6 (water-resistant) Compatibility Bluetooth streaming, USB drive, TV/projector connectivity Ideal Use Home, outdoor, car, beach, hiking, campfireBrock Purdy and Nick Bosa are not available for the San Francisco 49ers when they enter Green Bay with designs on finding their finishing kick on Sunday afternoon. Purdy is out with a right shoulder injury and won't leave the sideline at Lambeau Field, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday, when he also declared Bosa out and confirmed journeyman Brandon Allen would make his 10th career start at quarterback. "Outside of here people haven't seen a lot of Brandon. But it's his second year (with the 49ers)," Shanahan said. "Obviously guys want Brock up, but guys are excited to see Brandon play." Shanahan said the 49ers are "a little surprised" Purdy experienced tightness and discomfort in his shoulder after an MRI exam on Monday that showed no long-term cause for concern. "The way it responded this week, it's really up in the air for next week," Shanahan said of Purdy's long-term prognosis. Allen's last NFL start on the road was with the Bengals at the Ravens in 2020. Allen completed 6 of 21 passes for 48 yards with two interceptions. He finished with a passer rating of 0.0 in a 38--3 loss. "It's definitely an opportunity for me to go out and play well and put our guys in a good position to win the game," Allen said Friday. "And obviously we want Brock back and healthy and all that, but for time being, it is an opportunity for me." Purdy took the practice field Thursday with the intent to participate. His shoulder tightened significantly, and the 49ers ushered him off the field to meet with trainers. Purdy beat the Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs at San Francisco in January, but Allen is familiar to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. LaFleur was an assistant coach with the Rams during Allen's two-year run in Los Angeles. Allen broke into the NFL in 2016 with the Jaguars and is 2-7 in nine career starts. He went 1-2 with the Broncos in 2019 and 1-5 in six starts over two years with the Bengals in 2020 and ‘21. A victory against the visiting 49ers on Sunday would bolster the Packers' playoff chances, send a conference rival below .500 and avenge a bitter playoff defeat. Those seemingly rank in no particular order for the Packers (8-3), although they don't shy from living at least partially in the past ahead of a Week 12 showdown. San Francisco eliminated Green Bay 24-21 in the NFC divisional playoffs last season, scoring 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. "That's what you've got to sit with all offseason, is going back, watching the game, trying to see what you could have done better," Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. "What you could have done differently in that game. ... Just knowing that's the team that knocked us out, we're definitely hungry for this game." Ditto for San Francisco. The 49ers fell to 5-5 after last week's 20-17 home loss to Seattle, done in by Geno Smith's 13-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds to play. Still only a game behind NFC West-leading Arizona, the reigning conference champion 49ers are just 1-3 in division play and can ill afford to lose more ground. A visit to AFC East leader Buffalo awaits after the trip to Green Bay. While they're dealing with plenty of not-so-good news on the injury front, the 49ers do anticipate the return of other contributors. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who missed the past two games following the death of his 1-year-old daughter, practiced Wednesday. Tight end George Kittle also is eager to play after a nagging hamstring injury sidelined him against the Seahawks. "Very excited," Kittle said. "Can't pass up playing the Packers, so no, I will be out there for sure." Allen was a three-year starter at Arkansas but has been a journeyman backup since entering the NFL in 2016 as the 201st overall pick of the Jaguars. Shanahan and LaFleur have been fierce competitors since twice working together, first as low-level assistants with the Texans in 2008, then on the so-called "dream team" staff in Washington that also included Sean McVay, Mike McDaniel and Raheem Morris; and two seasons with the Falcons (2015, 2016) where LaFleur was quarterbacks coach and Shanahan called the plays. Shanahan scored the most recent win over LaFleur in January. Green Bay has won seven of the past eight regular-season meetings between the franchises. But the familiarity and shared-brain approach to offense that has the coaches completed each other's play calls has led to some tight games. The past three at Lambeau Field were all decided by three points. Green Bay, which hosts a home game on Thanksgiving next Thursday, is starting a run of three games in 12 days. They'll play back-to-back Thursday games. Their Week 14 game is at Detroit. That might make it good news for LaFleur that surprising contributors have emerged of late. Packers wideout Christian Watson had a career-best 150 receiving yards on only four catches during last week's 20-19 road win against the Chicago Bears. His diving 60-yard reception in the fourth quarter put the Packers in position for Love's go-ahead, 1-yard scoring run with 2:59 to play. Watson entered the game with eight catches for 83 yards over his previous three contests, but LaFleur assured Watson remains a "big part" of the attack. "He's a guy who's got every measurable known to man in terms of the size, the speed, and it's not like those were easy plays he was making," LaFleur said. "He was making tough, contested catches." San Francisco will aim to generate more pressure against Love than the Bears, who sacked him just once. The 49ers collected four sacks against the Seahawks, with Bosa and Leonard Floyd contributing 1.5 apiece. Recent regular-season history between the Packers and 49ers at Lambeau Field has favored Green Bay. The Packers have won seven of their past eight home games against the 49ers and are 22-11 versus San Francisco at home all-time. Green Bay leads the series 34-28-1. --Field Level MediaMIAMI , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gary Brecka , wife Sage Workinger and respective entities, IJS and TPH, today filed significant lawsuits related to their partnership with Cardone Ventures, LLC. The first complaint is a $100M defamation lawsuit filed by Brecka and Workinger against Elena Cardone , wife of Grant Cardone who co-founded 10X Health with Brecka and Workinger. It details the process by which Mrs. Cardone launched an allegedly intentional smear campaign designed to damage Brecka's reputation, including making false incendiary social media posts and nefarious public statements. The second complaint names Cardone Ventures LLC, a consulting firm claiming to help founders scale their businesses, and its CEO Brandon Dawson as defendants. The complaint details predatory efforts by Dawson and Cardone Ventures to take over 10X Health and edge out Brecka and Workinger through nefarious means and breaches of contractual agreements. Individuals who have worked with Cardone Ventures or CEO Brandon Dawson and may have information or similar complaints may call 305-603-0805 to leave confidential information for legal team review. Editor's Note #1: Copies of both complaints are included with this press release or available upon request. Exhibit information is also available upon request. Editor's Note #2: Brecka and Workinger are available for phone and on-camera interviews. Contact: Josh Merkin rbb communications (954) 789-5530 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/renowned-human-biologist-and-longevity-expert-gary-brecka-files-100m-defamation-claim-against-elena-cardone-and-lawsuit-against-cardone-ventures-in-response-to-questionable-business-practices-302339380.html SOURCE IJS and TPH

Johnson Controls prices senior notes offering

No. 12 Boise State (9-1, 6-0 Mountain West, No. 12 CFP) at Wyoming (2-8, 2-4,) Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (CBSSN) BetMGM College Football Odds: Boise State by 22 1/2. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

SAN FRANCISCO , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AusperBio Therapeutics, Inc . and Ausper Biopharma Co., Ltd . (collectively AusperBio ), a privately held clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to advancing targeted oligonucleotide therapies to achieve a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B ( CHB ), today announced the successful completion of a USD 73 million Series B financing. The round was led by HanKang Capital , with participation from Sherpa Capital , CDH Investments , and a strategic investor, as well as continued participation from existing investors Qiming Venture Partners , InnoPinnacle Fund , and YuanBio Venture Capital . This financing followed the company's Series A round completed in July this year, demonstrating continued investor confidence in its proprietary platform and strategic direction. The proceeds will fund the continued Phase 2 development of AHB-137 , AusperBio's lead investigational therapy, supporting both clinical studies in China and global trials, as well as the development of commercial-scale manufacturing processes. The funding will also facilitate the expansion of the company's therapeutic pipeline and operational capabilities to drive sustained growth. Dr. Guofeng Cheng , co-founder and CEO of AusperBio, stated, " We are honored by our investors' confidence and support. This milestone financing recognizes our scientific and clinical accomplishments to date and enables us to accelerate our clinical programs and move closer to delivering a functional cure for CHB patients in need." Dr. Chris Yang , co-founder and CSO, added, "AHB-137 continues to attract attention from the scientific and clinical communities, particularly after the late-breaking oral presentation at the recent AASLD conference. The promising clinical data further validates our Med-OligoTM platform, strengthening our development of groundbreaking targeted oligonucleotide therapies for CHB and other serious chronic diseases." AusperBio is committed to delivering patient-centered innovations, aiming to alleviate the global health burden of CHB and transform treatment paradigms for this serious chronic disease. About AHB-137 AHB-137, a novel unconjugated antisense oligonucleotide ( ASO ) developed within AusperBio's proprietary Med-OligoTM ASO technology platform, was designed to treat chronic hepatitis B for a functional cure. Its compelling preclinical and Phase 1 clinical data were highlighted at the 2023 EASL conference and the 2024 EASL conference, respectively. Interim Phase 2a data was presented in a late-breaking oral session at the 2024 AASLD. This novel dual-mechanism ASO has completed its global Phase 1b trial and is now undergoing multiple Phase 2 trials in China . With its global development strategy, AHB-137 is advancing rapidly toward the goal of an HBV cure. About AusperBio. AusperBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with operations in the USA and China , dedicated to advancing oligonucleotide and targeted delivery technologies for transformative therapies, with an initial focus on curing chronic hepatitis B infection. The company has developed a proprietary Med-OligoTM ASO platform which has been shown to substantially enhance the current ASO therapeutics, through novel insights into ASO design. Combining with efficient targeted delivery conjugation technologies, the modular Med-OligoTM Platform empowers ASO therapeutics to treat a broad range of diseases, including viral infections, metabolic conditions, genetic disorders, and immune diseases. For further information, please contact: Media Contact Email: info@ausperbio.com Investor Relations Contact: Tel: 650-888-1756 (US) Email: growth@ausperbio.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ausperbio-secures-73-million-in-series-b-financing-to-advance-functional-cure-for-chronic-hepatitis-b-302339451.html SOURCE AusperBio Therapeutics Inc.Hurricanes visit the Panthers in Eastern Conference actionVikings withstand Bears' furious rally, win on field goal in OT

PARIS, Dec 1 — Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral will reopen on December 7, five and a half years after a devastating fire destroyed its roof and spire and caused major damage throughout. Here is what you need to know: What is Notre-Dame? A medieval Gothic masterpiece, Notre-Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris) is one of the French capital’s most beloved and visited monuments. Its rib vaulting, flying buttresses, stunning stained-glass windows and carved stone gargoyles have long been celebrated in books and movies. The first stone was laid in 1163, and construction continued for much of the next century, with major restoration and additions made in the 17th and 18th century. Victor Hugo used the cathedral as a setting for his 1831 novel, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame . Quasimodo, the main character, has been portrayed by Hollywood actors including Charles Laughton and also in an animated Disney adaptation. Why and how did it burn? On the evening of April 15, 2019, the cathedral’s roof burst into flames. Soon, the fire had engulfed the spire and almost toppled the main bell towers. Around the world, TV viewers watched with horror as the medieval building burned. The roof collapsed but the bell towers and facade held. It remains unclear what exactly caused the fire. French authorities have said an electrical fault or a burning cigarette may have been responsible. What will happen at the opening ceremony? President Emmanuel Macron will give a speech in front of the cathedral on Saturday, December 7, around 6.00pm (1.00am Malaysian time) after which Paris’ Archbishop Laurent Ulrich will use his crosier to knock on the cathedral’s heavy doors. From within the cathedral, a psalm will be sung three times in response to the knocking, after which the doors will open. The archbishop will bless the cathedral’s ancient organ before it starts playing. This will be followed by a service. The guest-list for the reopening ceremony has not yet been published, but one source familiar with the planning said US President Joe Biden’s wife Jill would come, while President-elect Donald Trump had not yet confirmed his attendance. First mass on Sunday, December 8 The archbishop will celebrate a Mass, starting at 10.30am (5.30pm Malaysian time), the first of eight days of Masses devoted to the reopening and focused on thanking, among others, donors who paid for the renovations and firefighters who helped save it. Some of the Masses, including on the evening of December 8, at 6.30pm, will be open to the public. When can you visit? If you’re lucky, you can visit on the evening of December 8 from 5.30pm to 8.00pm but there is likely to be fierce competition — and long queues — to visit the cathedral. The cathedral says that from early December, visitors will be able to book a free ticket online, on its website, social media or a dedicated app, to get into the building on the same day or one or two days after booking. There will also be a queue on the spot for those who want to enter without a booking. Groups will only get access next year — from February 1 for religious groups or from June 9 for tourists with guides. The cathedral expects to welcome 14 to 15 million visitors every year. There is a huge debate in France over whether visitors should pay to get in. The Church is against it, and for now visiting remains free. How was the cathedral rebuilt? Money poured in from all over the world, including from French luxury sector billionaires Francois Henri Pinault and the Arnault family. So much money has been donated — more than 840 million euros (RM3.95 billion), according to Macron’s office — that there will even be funds left over for further investment in the building. The damage has needed five years’ worth of restoration work. What has changed? Officials say the cathedral will be more beautiful than ever, not only because its spire, roof and anything else destroyed by the fire was rebuilt by thousands of expert craftspeople, but also because the stone and paintings, which had blackened over the years, have been thoroughly cleaned. The furniture was also renovated and cleaned, or replaced. Not everything was damaged in the fire. For instance, emergency workers formed a human chain to whisk gem-studded chalices and other priceless artefacts out of harm’s way. — Reuters

Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a PML-N leader who has also been appointed as the spokesperson of a government committee holding talks with the PTI, has said the government panel will only consider written demands of the PTI without paying heed to Imran Khan's or anybody else's statements. "Both the committees [belong to the PML- and the PTI] have decided to ignore external influences and statements in the process of the talks during its first meeting. Our negotiation committee will only consider written demands of the PTI," said Siddiqui. The PML-N leader was speaking to a private TV channel on Thursday. The senator said initiation of talks with the PTI and the formation of the government negotiation committee were approved by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif. He said the interior ministry was conveyed on the very first day to facilitate meetings between members of the PTI negotiating committee and PTI founder Imran Khan, who is detained at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail. This facilitation will also continue in future, he added. "The atmosphere was very positive, and it was a great opening," Senator Siddiqui said when asked about the details of the first meeting. He said the mere act of the PTI and the PML-N sitting together is a major breakthrough. "Since the PTI has also been in the government, it knows very well the constitutional and legal requirements for getting someone out of jail by an executive order," he said. To a question about the Thursday conviction of 60 PTI workers by military courts and its potential impact on the dialogue process, he said both sides had agreed that the dialogue process will continue irrespective of the sentences or any other developments. "I don't think that the recent verdict of the military court will hamper the talks," he added. He also did not agree with the argument that keeping Imran Khan behind bars was a stumbling block in the talks. He said many prominent political leaders had served jail for a long time and yet the democratic process had never stalled. He rejected the impression that there was any political unrest in the country. "All the state organs are functioning according to constitutional harmony and economic indicators highlight this fact. There is absolutely no political instability in the country," he added. Senator Siddiqui thanked Imran Khan for his "recognizing" the government's efforts of saving the country from default and said that the efforts of PM Shehbaz Sharif and his team are so obvious that even Imran Khan is compelled to acknowledge. When asked about American diplomat Richard Allen Grenell's tweets and statements, Senator Siddiqui said Pakistan's policies are not framed on the basis of such posts. "He is a non-entity. The State of Pakistan decides issues according to the constitution and law of the land," he said. Meanwhile, PM Sharif appointed Senator Irfan Siddiqui as the spokesperson for the government's committee holding talks with the PTI. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see ourTreaty protesters at Parliament. PHOTO: RNZ Do not overlook the fact there is a third position on the Treaty Principles Bill Rob Hamlin writes. Few things have been as depressing as the recent media coverage of the Treaty Principles Bill. The desire to create an adversarial spectacle to support attention-grabbing headlines means media outlets apparently seek to identify just two sides to a debate on a very narrow issue. This aggressive bipolarisation process has been particularly unfortunate with regard to the coverage of the current debate on the Treaty Principles Bill, because there are three, not just two, specific and significant positions within the governing elite of this country with regard to it. In order to understand what the eventual outcomes of this process might be for the nation, it is essential to understand all three of these positions and their relationship to one another, along with the motivations of those who hold them. I will therefore attempt to summarise these positions, all three of which are predicated by this statement: "The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill (1975) established the concept of ‘Treaty Principles’ for the Treaty of Waitangi, but did not define them. Instead, the expectation was that defined Treaty Principles would emerge subsequently via a common law process through rulings of the Waitangi Tribunal and the Courts." Position 1: The status quo Important Treaty Principles such as "partnership" and "Māori sovereignty" have now been firmly established via legal ruling/precedent. These common-law principles are increasingly applied via constitutional-level legislation that includes clauses requiring that Treaty Principles be adhered to. No change is necessary, or even possible, because these Treaty Principles, even though they are not formally defined, have superseded the sovereignty of Parliament. This is the position apparently held by Māori activists, large sections of the KC/legal community, Labour, Te Pati Māori and the Greens. Position 2: A full reset After 50 years there are still no consistently defined Treaty Principles. However, requirements to conform to these undefined common-law Treaty Principles are increasingly being incorporated within constitutional-level legislation. This creates the potential for unplanned, unpredictable, highly undesirable and possibly irreversible constitutional developments. The common-law process in this area therefore needs to be fully reset immediately by defining the Treaty Principles in publicly ratified legislation. This is the position apparently held by Act New Zealand (8% of parliamentary representatives), and by the general public who might eventually ratify it by a ratio of about two-to-one if recent polls are to be believed. This is the bipolar debate as it presented by the media, but of course the lists of adherents to the two sides of it reveal a glaring omission — National and New Zealand First have not said they are "for" either of these two positions. Between them these two apparently uncommitted components of the governing elite represent 80% of the ruling parliamentary group, the prime minister and the majority of the Cabinet. However, by word this group has said they are against the reset approach of Position 2, as both parties have categorically stated they will not support this Bill in its second reading. By deed they have indicated that they are also against the status quo of Position 1. The deed in question is their proposal to systematically remove all references to principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in existing legislation, dating back to 1986, that do not directly refer to specific Treaty settlement agreements. The words and deeds of National and New Zealand First thus suggest the specific nature of their critical and discrete third position in the debate. Position 3: Containment After 50 years there are still no clearly defined Treaty Principles. However, requirements to conform to these undefined common-law Treaty Principles are increasingly being incorporated within constitutional-level legislation. This creates the potential for unplanned, unpredictable, highly undesirable and possibly irreversible constitutional developments. This ongoing common-law process relating to the Treaty therefore needs to be fully contained at a sub-constitutional level by eliminating all references to general Treaty Principles in current and future legislation. With this third "containment" position revealed, everything the government is doing at the moment immediately makes sense. Under normal political circumstances, Position 3 would be considered to be extreme and would attract a considerable amount of political and media flack — but not when Act has Position 2 on the table. As long as Messrs Luxon and Peters stay well away from Position 2 (and they clearly are), what was a politically extreme proposal on their part thus becomes moderate — a classic positioning ploy. They are also able to stay outside of the structure of the bipolar debate that has been created by the media. The government can therefore look forward to at least six months’ peace and quiet within which to action Position 3 and fully eviscerate current Treaty-related legislation, while the doomed Treaty Principles Bill absorbs the flak and media attention in select committee. The sense of triumph/relief among the opponents of the Bill will likely supply the government with several more months to continue their containment work after they have eventually voted down the Treaty Principles Bill. It is likely even Mr Seymour would be satisfied with that outcome. After all, the legislation that is required to action Position 3 will have required his support. The media, by contrast, will likely be appalled once they eventually cotton on — especially as it is their mistargeted saturation reportage that will have largely provided the government with the opportunity. — Dr Robert Hamlin is a senior lecturer in the Department of Marketing, University of Otago. He is commenting here in a personal capacity.

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Reviewing hundreds of thousands of water use permits is a key focus of the National Water Plan presented by the federal government on Thursday. President Claudia Sheinbaum said that one of the “essences” of the plan is to recognize water as a human right rather than a “good” to be sold. She noted that the plan aims to “sort out” the water concessions issued to private and public interests over the years and identify those not being used. “There are people who have a water concession but don’t use it; they even sell it in some cases. ... What we want is for water that isn’t being used to be returned to the nation, ... even municipalities have water concessions,” Sheinbaum told her morning press conference. “... Water belongs to the nation. ... Fortunately we’ve had a lot of dialogue ... with industry and with irrigation districts, and they’re willing ... to return water concessions they are not using,” she said. Sheinbaum said the plan will allow the government to “reduce overexploitation and make water available ... for human consumption.” Water shortages affect various parts of Mexico including Mexico City, where at least 60 companies reportedly have permits allowing them to extract more than 1 million liters of water per day from the Valley of Mexico’s water supply. There was speculation this year that “Day Zero” – the oft-used term for the day on which Mexico City runs out of water – was nigh . Mexico currently has low water reserves , even after a rainy summer, amplifying concerns about current and future water scarcity and making the implementation of a plan to remedy the situation essential. Before examining the details of the National Water Plan, it is pertinent to look at how water is used in Mexico. National Water Commission (Conagua) General Director Efraín Morales López told Sheinbaum’s Thursday morning press conference that 76% of water in Mexico goes to the agricultural sector and 9% is used by industry (including for electricity generation). The remaining 15% of water is allocated to “public urban use,” Morales said. The Conagua chief said that the objectives of the water plan are to: Morales said that the plan is based on four central tenets: Morales said that Conagua is reviewing all water use permits and identifying “those that aren’t being used” with the aim of reincorporating the volumes of water allocated via concessions to “national availability.” He said that around 2,600 concessions were issued between 1917 and 1992, but more than 360,000 were granted in the subsequent decade. The issuance of so many permits led to overexploitation of water resources and other adverse impacts “that unfortunately we’re still experiencing,” Morales said. Morales said that Conagua, in conjunction with various federal departments and state and municipal authorities, would “implement an inspection program in the whole country to put order to the use of water.” The aim is to detect illegal, improper and wasteful use of water. “Our main collaborator will be the people of Mexico, so we make a call to report any irregularity with regard to the use of water,” Morales said. Morales said that the government will present reforms to the National Water Law to prevent “any kind of speculation” on water including via the sale of water use permits. He said that the “neoliberal model” that was in place for more than three decades before former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office in 2018 created an “alternative market” for water and that people “took advantage” and turned water into a “business.” Offering an example, Morales said that some water permits issued for use in the agricultural sector were sold to real estate developers and factories. The Conagua chief also outlined a plan to use technology to ensure the “more efficient” use of water in irrigation. In conjunction with the Agriculture Ministry, “we’re going to apply technology to more than 200,000 hectares” of agricultural land, Morales said. “... This will benefit ... more than 225,000 farming families and also all the people of Mexico because we’re going to produce more food with less water,” he said. “... Part of the water we save will be allocated to human consumption and to replenish our aquifiers,” Morales said. Agriculture Minister Julio Berdegué Sacristán told Sheinbaum’s press conference that through the use of technology in irrigation , farmers will be able to “control very precisely how much water reaches each of their plants.” He said that the Agriculture Ministry estimates that production on land where irrigation technology is used will consequently increase by 51%. “So this doesn’t just contribute to [guaranteeing] the human right to water but also makes a formidable contribution to the nation’s food sovereignty,” Berdegué said. As part of the National Water Plan, “we’re going to carry out infrastructure projects in the whole country,” Morales said. The Conagua chief enumerated more than a dozen projects, including various dam and aqueduct initiatives. Morales also mentioned a planned desalination plant in Baja California , projects to mitigate the effects of flooding in Tabasco and initiatives for central Mexico that Sheinbaum outlined earlier this year . Morales said that on the “instructions of the president,” cleaning up contaminated rivers is also part of the National Water Plan. “We’re going to give priority to the three most contaminated rivers in the country,” he said, noting that they are the Lerma-Santiago River in Jalisco, the Atoyac River in Puebla and Tlaxcala and the Tula River in Hidalgo. “For the planning and execution of this program we’re working very closely and in a very coordinated way with the Environment Ministry, with [Environment Minister] Alicia Bárcena and also with local governments,” Morales said. The Conagua chief said that the National Agreement for the Human Right to Water and Sustainability is an initiative in which irrigators — “the main industrial consumers” of water – educational institutes, communities and all three levels of government will participate. The ultimate aim of the agreement is for water to be used in the most efficient way possible to ensure adequate supply. Companies that sign on to the agreement will invest in “making their production processes more efficient in order to save water,” Morales said. Some companies will also invest in water projects that benefit the communities in which they are located, he said. “We have commitments for private investment of more than 16.4 billion pesos,” Morales said. “And as part of this agreement, there will be an awareness campaign about saving water, about the use and care of water,” he said. “This agreement will be signed on Nov. 25.” At the conclusion of his presentation on the National Water Plan, Morales said that the government will invest approximately 20 billion pesos (close to US $1 billion) on water projects next year. He described the “outlook” on the water situation in Mexico and the world as “complex, noting the prevalence of water stress and “complications that climate change brings.” However, via the “equitable distribution” of water and “adequate management of our resources,” it will be possible to have a future in which water is not a “matter for dispute,” Morales said. “... Let’s all remember that water is wellbeing,” he added. By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ( [email protected] )LONDON -- At 4-0 down after just 36 minutes, there was a danger that Julen Lopetegui was going to be the only person connected to West Ham left in the stands. The Hammers boss, serving a one-match touchline ban after picking up three yellow cards this season, watched on from a high vantage point as fans streamed out of London Stadium all around him before half-time, shaking their heads in disbelief at the havoc wreaked below. And yet, four minutes later, out of nowhere, West Ham had scored twice. Hope was revived. Just when the Hammers were getting themselves in a position from which to mount a second-half comeback, goalkeeper punched to concede a penalty that converted to send the Gunners in 5-2 up at the break. It was, quite simply, absolute madness -- a glorious advert for the brilliantly chaotic, implausibly unpredictable product, which ranks as one of the United Kingdom's most successful global exports in any field. In the end, the seven first-half goals tied a league record with three other games, the last of which came between Reading and in December 2012. Judging by the relative lack of empty seats -- most of those beleaguered West Ham fans returned anyway -- it was amusing that just when it seemed like more of the same would follow after the break, the second was goalless and uncompetitive. It felt like the proverbial early night in bed after the happy-hour hedonism. So, with about 15 minutes left, they started to leave again. It is, as ever, the hope that kills you as a sports fan and West Ham's had long been extinguished. Meaningful conclusions from games like this are ill-advised, but it should nevertheless be noted that after Arsenal needed a set-piece to break the deadlock, some of their football was a combination of divine and deadly. Gabriel Magalhães' 10th-minute header was the final act of a set-piece routine that will earn Arsenal fresh praise even given their well-documented strength in those situations. Running from far post to near, the Gunners were a blur of movement, in which perhaps the most cunning act was 's gentle nudge on to ensure Saka's delivery found Gabriel unmarked. If dark arts helped break the deadlock, Arsenal then well and truly stepped into the light. had a 17th-minute effort correctly ruled out for offside but West Ham were then overrun, Martin Ødegaard and Saka combining superbly to lay on a simple finish for . Saka then jinked into the box, and Paqueta could do nothing other than bring him down. Ødegaard converted. Trossard then released who finished low past Fabianski to cue the first mini-exodus. West Ham were the heavyweight knowing they were losing on points and therefore reduced to hopeful haymakers; inexplicably, they started landing. was given too much space in the Arsenal defensive third, though his pass was superbly executed through for to slot home. Wan-Bissaka had scored twice in 182 Premier League appearances, but now has two in six days. Because why not? Perhaps even more improbably, conceded a dubious free kick awarded for a challenge on Paqueta, and Emerson Palmieri curled a stunning 25-yard free kick in off the crossbar. It was the left-back's second goal in 20 months. Just as the visitors' sudden loss of composure sparked memories of Arsenal's 4-4 draw at Newcastle in February 2011 -- the only time a Premier League team has failed to win a game in which they led by four first-half goals -- Fabianski mistakenly floored Gabriel trying to meet a corner and Saka slotted home the penalty to conclude the scoring. Mercifully for them, the three-goal cushion proved sufficient. Arteta took pleasure in the restoration of the flow in Arsenal's game, triggered most significantly by Ødegaard's return to the starting lineup; it is no coincidence the Norway playmaker's reintegration has come in a week when the Gunners scored 13 goals including five in the Champions League for the first time since 2008. There was one note of caution after that game, which proved prophetic here too. "Before and after half-time you need to get through those 10-15 minutes in a different way," Arteta said after Tuesday's 5-1 win in Lisbon. "We gave so many balls away, and that doesn't allow you results." There was a similar sloppy spell here and there might come a time when that becomes the talking point. But not today, not after a 45-minute spell that ranks among the most tumultuous in recent memory.

The highly anticipated Malta International Business Awards 2024 culminated in a prestigious gala dinner on 29 November at the Radisson BLU, Golden Sands, where Malta's top business leaders gathered to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Malta-based businesses thriving on the international stage. Organised by TradeMalta, the third edition of the MIBA awards attracted an impressive array of entries from Maltese exporters, highlighting the vibrant and diverse nature of Malta-based businesses that trade internationally. The event featured thirteen outstanding finalists competing across four key categories: Best SME Exporter, Best Large Exporter, Best High Potential Exporter, and Best Emerging Markets Exporter. The finalists represented a diverse range of industries, showcasing the robust capabilities of Malta's exporters in sectors such as manufacturing, research and development, training, software and AI technology, maritime, 3D printing, and web design. The evening culminated in the announcement of the winners across the four categories, along with the overall winner, as follows: Distinguished speakers, including the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ian Borg, David Matrenza, Chairman of TradeMalta, and Geoffrey Fichte, CEO of HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c., commended the resilience and innovation of Maltese enterprises in the global marketplace. Dr. Colm Reilly, an international business strategy advisor, delivered an inspiring keynote speech on the unique challenges of island economies emphasizing the importance of competitiveness and resilience for smaller economies. Anton Buttigieg, CEO TradeMalta added, "These awards reflect the remarkable spirit and determination of Malta based businesses. Each finalist and winner demonstrate the resilience and creativity required to succeed in today's competitive global markets. These awards provide an opportunity to celebrate Malta's entrepreneurial excellence in international business." HSBC CEO Geoffrey Fichte commented, "At HSBC, we are committed to supporting businesses that put Malta on the global map. Tonight's winners and finalists demonstrate the power of vision, adaptability, and hard work in achieving international success. We are proud to support TradeMalta with this initiative to celebrate the remarkable capabilities of Maltese businesses " The Malta International Business Awards are organised by TradeMalta and endorsed by the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade and The Malta Chamber. The awards are supported by TradeMalta's strategic partner HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c. as well as Grant Thornton and Emirates as supporting partners together with Times of Malta as the exclusive Media Partner The awards night was an evening of celebration, recognition and networking which provided an opportunity for businesses to showcase their achievements, highlighting the robust capabilities of Malta's exporters, share best practices with their peers, and inspire other entrepreneurs to embark on similar journeys in pursuing international success.Wild host the Predators after Spurgeon's 2-goal performance

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Winnipeg Jets (18-6, in the Central Division) vs. Dallas Stars (14-8, in the Central Division) Dallas; Sunday, 4:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Stars host the Winnipeg Jets after Mason Marchment scored two goals in the Stars' 5-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Dallas has a 14-8 record overall and a 5-2-0 record in Central Division play. The Stars have a +17 scoring differential, with 76 total goals scored and 59 conceded. Winnipeg has an 18-6 record overall and a 7-1-0 record in Central Division play. The Jets have gone 10-1-0 in games they score at least one power-play goal. Sunday's game is the second time these teams square off this season. The Jets won the last matchup 4-1. Cole Perfetti scored two goals in the victory. TOP PERFORMERS: Marchment has nine goals and 14 assists for the Stars. Roope Hintz has five goals and one assist over the last 10 games. Kyle Connor has 13 goals and 16 assists for the Jets. Mark Scheifele has scored five goals with three assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Stars: 6-4-0, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.6 assists, 3.3 penalties and 8.6 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game. Jets: 5-5-0, averaging three goals, 4.7 assists, 4.2 penalties and 11.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game. INJURIES: Stars: None listed. Jets: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Social shopping finally broke through in the US in 2024, driven by TikTok Shop. Companies spent years trying to import social-commerce habits from Asia, with varied success. The US market is still dominated by Amazon, but social apps and influencers are key players. Social platforms have spent years trying to get Americans to buy stuff from videos, posts, and livestreams. That bet seems to finally be paying off. The 2024 holiday sales from social media — driven by TikTok Shop and influencer affiliates, among other factors — show how far social shopping has come in the past five years. TikTok Shop, which had its official wide launch in the US in September 2023, reported $100 million in single-day US sales on Black Friday this year, triple what it drove in 2023. Americans viewed over 30,000 TikTok shopping livestreams that day, with one creator picking up $2 million in sales from a single session. The company's holiday gold rush didn't come easily. TikTok and its owner ByteDance have spent years investing in its e-commerce business, even as competitors like Instagram have pulled back on shopping features. TikTok began testing out social-commerce features in the US as early as 2020 when it let creators add shopping buttons to some videos . It began rolling out its more advanced product, Shop , in the US to a group of merchants and agencies in November 2022 after testing in other markets like the UK. It's since built out its own order fulfillment program, enlisted hundreds of outside partners to train merchants and creators on how to sell in-app, and recently began connecting creators with manufacturers to build their own products. TikTok likely wants to replicate some of the success of its sister app in China, Douyin, which drives hundreds of billions in sales annually, often via influencer livestreams. While TikTok's numbers are comparatively small, the company has made a ton of progress this year, social-commerce executives told Business Insider. Max Benator, the CEO of the social-shopping agency Orca, said he expects to hit just under $100 million in total gross merchandise value, or GMV, in 2024 across the company's clients, a roughly 10X increase from 2023. "We've now been on TikTok Shop since the very beginning, and we've seen successes gradually and consistently increase month over month," Benator told BI. "The numbers are serious." Outlandish, a TikTok Shop agency that recently opened a livestreaming hub in Santa Monica , said its Shop sellers earned $48 million in US sales in November, up from $20 million in October. The company is betting that live shopping will continue to gain traction in the US, as it has in more mature social-commerce markets like China. "It's QVC on steroids," Outlandish's founder and CEO William August told BI. Affiliate marketing from influencers and others drove a fifth of Cyber Monday sales revenue TikTok Shop's holiday performance was impressive for an e-commerce newcomer, but its business remains a small piece of overall holiday sales. Total online Black Friday sales in the US hit $10.8 billion this year, up about 10% from 2023, according to Adobe Analytics . Online sales in the US between November 1 and December 2 reached $131.5 billion, and hit $13.3 billion on Cyber Monday alone. Retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target continue to dominate much of online spending, but social-media influencers and other affiliate marketers are playing an increasingly important role in driving purchases on those platforms. About 20% of US e-commerce revenue on Cyber Monday arrived via affiliate or other promotional links, a 7% year-over-year increase from 2023, per Adobe Analytics. Outside TikTok and affiliate marketing, other influencer-focused platforms are also reporting meaningful sales volume this year. Live shopping platform Whatnot said in November that it had surpassed $2 billion in year-to-date livestream sales, for example. TikTok and its partners are proving that US consumers are willing to adjust shopping habits When TikTok and competitors like Instagram and YouTube first began testing e-commerce features in the US, not all consumers were psyched. Social media is for entertainment, not shopping , some said. Amazon and other big retailers have long dominated e-commerce, and changing consumer habits is a challenge. Instagram backpedaled on its shopping product last year, removing its Shop tab in February 2023 and eventually partnering with Amazon for its in-app shopping strategy. But TikTok kept charging forward with social shopping. It enlisted an army of agency partners and livestream coaches to accelerate the adoption of Shop and flooded its feed with videos of creators hawking goods in exchange for a commission. TikTok's owner ByteDance was likely behind the company's determination to make social shopping work as it sought to bring Douyin's success to TikTok . Now that live shopping and social commerce are beginning to take hold in the US, TikTok and ByteDance's push into the category is paying off (though it all could fall apart if TikTok ends up being banned in January due to a divest-or-ban law ). "This is the year that we've seen the real beginning of live shopping in America," said Julian Reis, the CEO of SuperOrdinary , a social-commerce agency that's worked with TikTok and Douyin. "With TikTok, we've had the first real foray into building an ecosystem that ties in entertainment and live shopping together, and a full-service ecosystem that brings in the creators, the affiliates, the products, the brands altogether."