First batch of Canadian-made low-carbon jet fuel emerges from B.C. refinery

New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) Markets regulator Sebi on Friday proposed diversifying and widening the ownership of the clearing corporations, which are at present wholly-owned subsidiaries of stock exchanges. Sebi rules prohibit clearing corporations (CCs) from listing publicly but allow stock exchanges (their parent entities) to list, indirectly exposing CCs to market pressures. "While looking to broad base and diversify the ownership of CCs, it is important to ensure that such a transition is fair to all stakeholders (including to the current shareholders of the parent exchange) and causes minimal disruption to the capital markets ecosystem," Sebi said in its consultation paper. Considering this, one approach could be a pro-rata distribution of 49 per cent of shareholding of a CC to the existing shareholders of the parent exchange and the balance 51 per cent of shareholding would remain with the parent exchange to start with. The parent exchange could then be given 5 years to bring down this holding to 15 per cent or lower, by selling down their stake to other exchanges. This approach would mean that CCs would remain majority-owned by exchanges in line with the SECC norms. "Alternatively, the entire shareholding of a CC could be allotted to the existing shareholders of exchanges, who would then be free to trade their shares in the CC. This would allow for a clean break of the CC from its parent exchange, in a manner that is fair to the existing shareholders of the parent exchange," Sebi has proposed. Further, it has been suggested that CCs will continue to be prohibited from listing. Jyoti Prakash Gadia - Managing Director at Resurgent India, a Sebi-registered merchant bank, said the discussion paper correctly highlights the fact that with the widening and steep growth of the capital markets, the role of clearing corporations should be to function independently without any conflict of interest or bias in favour of the parent stock exchange. Two divergent propositions have been proposed to spread and widen the shareholding of the CCs. Additionally, the regulator has suggested CCs should operate as profit-making public utilities, reinvesting in technology, infrastructure, and risk management. Besides, fee structures should remain reasonable without increasing costs for investors. The regulator has suggested encouraging multi-asset CCs while maintaining multiple CCs to reduce reliance on a single entity and enhance systemic resilience. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has sought public comments on these proposals by December 13. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)Struggling with today’s Wordle? Discover hints, strategies, and the answer for Wordle puzzle #1281 on December 21, 2024. Your ultimate NYT Wordle guide. Wordle hints, clues and answer today #1281 December 21, 2024: Every day, a new puzzle is added! If you were one of the initial users, you should be aware that Wordle has had a number of changes and challenges in recent years. However, the player just needs to guess five or six letters in the really basic Wordle game. You may be able to predict the sentences right away by using the coloured tiles. Yellow indicates that the letter is in the wrong place but correct, green indicates that the letter is in the appropriate place, and grey indicates that the letter is not in the word. Applying one of the aforementioned ideas and attempting to predict the future course of the problem is adequate. Note that there could be as many as six options for the word of the day. However, there are some situations where a lengthy decision-making process is beneficial. By following these guidelines and suggestions, you can select the word of the day rather than the standard response. Wordle Hints for December 21, 2024 Wordle #1281’s word of the day was chosen because it has the ability to halt your run. However, even when we talk clearly, we may occasionally mislead others. Additionally, it makes use of the letter repetition feature. Don’t worry, though; you can adhere to these rules: – The word has two vowels. – It starts with the letter ‘B’. – There are no repeated letters. – The third letter is ‘A’. – Here’s a clue: The sharp, flat part of a tool or weapon, or the flat, narrow part of a leaf. Are you still having trouble identifying the issue? The final piece of advice can make a significant difference. Don’t pull out just yet if you’re close and just need one or two letters. The solution is given below. Today’s Wordle Answer (December 21, 2024) If you wish to try it one final time, you can now scroll away. But as you wait for your guess to be confirmed, here’s the word you’re looking for: Today’s Wordle answer is “BLADE.” Did you figure it out by yourself? You probably understood this one easily. Stay tuned and return tomorrow for further details on how to finish the Wordle challenge. Click for more latest Gaming news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Pragya is an accomplished journalist known for in-depth reporting and a keen eye for detail. Delivers insightful and well-researched content that informs and engages readers.

After SoundHound AI’s SOUN breakthrough in 2024, Benzinga caught up with CEO Keyvan Mohajer to discuss the company’s success, artificial intelligence and plans for the future. Benzinga: SoundHound is closing the year in the headlines after being a relatively overlooked company at the beginning of the year. What was the key moment when the market started giving you credit for all the hard work? Mohajer: What I constantly tell my team is that we have to do a thousand things right. A subset of those will eventually bring the attention that we deserve, but when that moment comes, everything we've done right up until then matters. The key moment I'd highlight is the shift among our customers and the industry as a whole. For most businesses now, AI adoption is no longer an exploration within their innovation budgets — it's a mandate. In that context, SoundHound is in a prime position. Our ability to combine proprietary voice AI technology with sophisticated large language models has allowed us to deliver immense value. In addition, our three-pillar business strategy gives us a unique advantage, enabling us to create a flywheel effect and shape the voice commerce ecosystem of the future. Benzinga: You have a "three pillars of revenue" business model. After a year of revenue growth, can you summarize how these pillars synchronize and where the next growth could come from? Mohajer: Our pillar one revenue comes from building AI voice assistants for products, like vehicles, TVs, and smart devices, and our pillar two revenue comes from creating voice AI service agents that businesses can deploy with their customers and employees. While these two pillars can succeed independently, we do see a big opportunity to bring them together to create a voice AI ecosystem in a way that generates new revenue streams for device manufacturers, and new leads for customer-centered businesses. This will become our third pillar. To be more specific, users already speak to their car's AI Assistant, which we power, and they already order food by speaking to the AI agent of a restaurant that we also power. With pillar three, you don't need to go to the drive-through and wait in line. You can speak to your car and place your order in advance. Your car's AI agent will speak to the restaurant's AI agent to get your task done. At CES , SoundHound will demonstrate this concept, called the "voice commerce ecosystem," which will ultimately allow people to seamlessly conduct transactions — from ordering food to making appointments or booking tickets — via AI agents directly from cars or TVs just by speaking naturally. We see AI agents as a huge opportunity, with networks of them communicating with each other to deliver information, process transactions, and improve the lives of both consumers and human employees. Benzinga: In 2024, you fortified the company’s portfolio with the acquisitions of Amelia and Allset . What challenges have you encountered in those efforts? Mohajer: We're extremely fortunate to find businesses that had incredible synergies with what we were already doing. Each has helped us expand our reach into new and exciting markets. Integrating new teams and company cultures, realizing cost and revenue synergies, and bringing the best out of each other is a challenge we don't take lightly. But for the most part, we are very pleased with our acquisitions. We are now in an impressive range of vertical industries, including highly regulated spaces like health care and financial services, where our technology is deployed with seven of the top 10 global institutions. Benzinga: Your market cap skyrocketed, but so did your market cap to net cash ratio. Meanwhile, your critics often discuss cash burn and stock-based compensation. What are your expectations for the firm’s finances in 2025? Mohajer: We have a strong cash position and constantly calibrate a healthy balance of investing in growth and pursuing profitability. In the third quarter, we reported a revenue increase of 89% year-over-year, and we expect this year's revenue will be in the range of $82-85 million. Next year is looking like $155-$175 million in revenue, and we've also predicted that we'll be adjusted EBITDA positive by the end of next year. Benzinga: Considering your success with Stellantis STLA , the automotive industry seems like a natural home for SoundHound’s technology. With autonomous vehicles on the horizon and companies like Waymo expanding domestically, is the arrival of your technology into these segments inevitable? Mohajer: We're proud of the progress we've made with automotive. In addition to rolling out the most sophisticated in-vehicle voice assistant on the market across a broad range of Stellantis brands, we also work with leading global automakers like Hyundai and Kia , and we're making gains in the growing EV space, with four exciting brands signed up to use our conversational AI. In terms of our technology, we see endless opportunities within automotive — including deploying our technology as part of the move to autonomous vehicles. Benzinga: At a $7.5 billion in market cap, SoundHound is in an excellent position to continue rising in 2025. What could we expect in terms of organic growth vs. acquisitions? Mohajer: We have been experiencing organic growth exceeding 50% for the last several years, driven by increasing commercial traction of our solutions. With the immense opportunities created by generative AI and the accelerating pace of our end markets, we expanded our approach this year to include M&A. This shift has contributed to our momentum, reflected in our last quarter's growth rate of 89%. We believe programmatic M&A is important, particularly in rapidly transforming industries. That said, we will continue to invest organically across all pillars of our business because the breakthrough opportunities are tremendous. When acquisition opportunities arise that (1) align with and amplify our strategy, (2) help us move from point A to point B faster or more efficiently, (3) can be effectively operationalized, and (4) come at an attractive price, we won't hesitate to take action. Benzinga: Is there anything else you want to tell our readers? Mohajer: We're lucky to have had some great champions, investors, partners and customers out there who have really believed in SoundHound AI and our vision. Today, our technology powers hundreds of global enterprise brands, thousands of restaurant and retail locations, and millions of vehicles and devices — and we're just getting started. SOUN Price Watch: Shares of SoundHound AI were trading 13.2% higher at $21.34 ahead of the close Friday. The stock is up 882% year-to-date. Read Next: Here’s What The Latest Congressional AI Report Could Mean For Big Tech Photo: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Clevo's next-gen X580 laptop teased: 18-inch display, Arrow Lake-HX CPU, RTX 50 Laptop GPUThe 13-year civil war in Syria has roared back into prominence with a surprise rebel offensive on Aleppo, one of Syria's largest cities and an ancient business hub. The push is among the rebels' strongest in years in a war whose destabilizing effects have rippled far beyond the country's borders . It was the first opposition attack on Aleppo since 2016, when a brutal air campaign by Russian warplanes helped Syrian President Bashar Assad retake the northwestern city. Intervention by Russia , Iran and Iranian-allied Hezbollah and other groups has allowed Assad to remain in power, within the 70% of Syria under his control. The surge in fighting has raised the prospect of another violent front reopening in the Middle East, at a time when U.S.-backed Israel is fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both Iranian-allied groups. Robert Ford, the last-serving U.S. ambassador to Syria, pointed to months of Israeli strikes on Syrian and Hezbollah targets in the area, and to Israel’s ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon this week, as factors providing Syria’s rebels with the opportunity to advance. Here's a look at some of the key aspects of the new fighting: Assad has been at war with opposition forces seeking his overthrow for 13 years, a conflict that's killed an estimated half-million people. Some 6.8 million Syrians have fled the country, a refugee flow that helped change the political map in Europe by fueling anti-immigrant far-right movements. The roughly 30% of the country not under Assad is controlled by a range of opposition forces and foreign troops. The U.S. has about 900 troops in northeast Syria, far from Aleppo, to guard against a resurgence by the Islamic State. Both the U.S. and Israel conduct occasional strikes in Syria against government forces and Iran-allied militias. Turkey has forces in Syria as well, and has influence with the broad alliance of opposition forces storming Aleppo. Coming after years with few sizeable changes in territory between Syria's warring parties, the fighting “has the potential to be really quite, quite consequential and potentially game-changing,” if Syrian government forces prove unable to hold their ground, said Charles Lister, a longtime Syria analyst with the U.S.-based Middle East Institute. Risks include if Islamic State fighters see it as an opening, Lister said. Ford said the fighting in Aleppo would become more broadly destabilizing if it drew Russia and Turkey — each with its own interests to protect in Syria — into direct heavy fighting against each other. The U.S. and U.N. have long designated the opposition force leading the attack at Aleppo — Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known by its initials HTS — as a terrorist organization. Abu Mohammed al-Golani emerged as the leader of al-Qaida's Syria branch in 2011, in the first months of Syria's war. It was an unwelcome intervention to many in Syria's opposition, who hoped to keep the fight against Assad's brutal rule untainted by violent extremism. Golani and his group early on claimed responsibility for deadly bombings, pledged to attack Western forces, confiscated property from religious minorities and sent religious police to enforce modest dress by women. Golani and HTS have sought to remake themselves in recent years, focusing on promoting civilian government in their territory as well as military action, researcher Aaron Zelin noted. His group broke ties with al-Qaida in 2016. Golani cracked down on some extremist groups in his territory, and increasingly portrays himself as a protector of other religions. That includes last year allowing the first Christian Mass in the city of Idlib in years. By 2018, the Trump administration acknowledged it was no longer directly targeting Golani, Zelin said. But HTS has allowed some wanted armed groups to continue to operate on its territory, and shot at U.S. special forces at least as recently as 2022, he said. At the crossroads of trade routes and empires for thousands of years, Aleppo is one of the centers of commerce and culture in the Middle East. Aleppo was home to 2.3 million people before the war. Rebels seized the east side of the city in 2012, and it became the proudest symbol of the advance of armed opposition factions. In 2016, government forces backed by Russian airstrikes laid siege to the city. Russian shells, missiles and crude barrel bombs — fuel canisters or other containers loaded with explosives and metal — methodically leveled neighborhoods. Starving and under siege, rebels surrendered Aleppo that year. The Russian military's entry was the turning point in the war, allowing Assad to stay on in the territory he held. This year, Israeli airstrikes in Aleppo have hit Hezbollah weapons depots and Syrian forces, among other targets, according to an independent monitoring group. Israel rarely acknowledges strikes at Aleppo and other government-held areas of Syria.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s new social media ban for young people may appeal to worried parents, but it doesn’t address the real problems with social media platforms. Labor, with the support of the Coalition, passed the on November 27 banning social media platforms for under 16-year-olds. It will take effect in the next 12 months. Albanese claimed he wanted kids “off their devices and onto the footy fields, swimming pools and tennis courts”. He repeated that the ban meant “parents can have a different discussion with their young ones” — reinforcing the illusion that the new law will keep young people safe. Although social media bans have been imposed in countries such as and , Australia has set the highest minimum age of 16-years-old, a world first. France’s ban prevents under 15-year-olds from accessing social media, while Norway has an age limit of 13. Despite this, more than half of 9-year-olds, 58% of 10-year olds and 72% of 11-year-olds are on social media according to the . French education minister Anne Genetet is pushing for the European Union (EU) to “follow the example of Australia” and implement EU-wide bans. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, X and TikTok all fall under the ban. YouTube is supposedly exempt, although it released a statement to creators saying it was unclear how the ban would impact the video streaming site. Albanese is tapping into popular concerns about social media. A found that 77% backed the ban, an increase from August when 61% were in favour. The proposal received major support from parent groups and the Australian Primary Principals Association but was opposed by mental health organisations including (SPA). The Australian Greens voted against the proposal, as did eight independents. Liberal MP Bridget Archer voted against the bill in the lower house and two Coalition Senators voted against the bill in the Senate. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for communications, the bill “might make oldies feel like they’ve done something, but in reality it only delivers a false sense of security”. “Young people will be pushed to darker spaces on the web and regional, marginalised and vulnerable kids will be further isolated.” The usual consultation and scrutiny was skipped as Labor pushed to pass the bill before the last sitting day of parliament. This quick turnaround meant that concerns about how privacy and personal information will be handled have been left unanswered. SPA executive director Christopher Stone said the government is “running blindfolded into a brick wall by rushing this legislation”. “[Labor] has bypassed the rigorous consultation and scrutiny needed for such a far-reaching decision. Young Australians deserve evidence-based policies, not decisions made in haste.” Albanese ruled out implementing a “Digital ID” for social media. He told a November 28 press conference that social media platforms would now have a “social responsibility” to ensure the safety of children online. However little has been done to pressure big tech companies to remove dangerous content from these platforms. Instead of tackling the predatory algorithms, data harvesting and graphic content circulated by social media giants, the bill simply restricts young people’s access to information and communication. The drive to boost engagement has led to more graphic and controversial content being promoted by algorithms. These algorithms also aim to keep people scrolling, spending more time on the platform and providing valuable data that can be sold to marketing companies and others. While big corporations pretend they are “unable” to prevent dangerous content from appearing on young people’s feeds, there is a lot they could do. Hanson-Young said Labor should have addressed “the dangerous and predatory business models of the tech giants”. “Parents are rightly concerned and we all agree something needs to be done to make tech platforms safer, but this was not the way to do it.” Labor claims the ban is aimed at reducing anxiety and depression in young people. Negative body image, jealousy and cyberbullying were all raised as factors contributing to declining mental health. However, “this legislation fails to consider the positive aspects of social media in supporting young people’s mental health and sense of connection”, Stone said. The statistics show that much of young people’s declining mental health is caused by such as the cost-of-living crisis, housing insecurity and fears about the climate emergency, much of which can be sheeted home to government policies. According to Mental Health Australia, more than 50% of people say that the cost-of-living is having a big impact on their mental health and young people are feeling the effects too. Banning social media means destroying the online communities and connections that young people have been able to develop. A found that more than 60% of teenagers use social media to access news. Leonardo Pugilisi, a 17-year-old journalist with the youth-run the ban would prevent young people from accessing information but would not stop them accessing harmful content. While it is still unclear how the ban will be enforced, it is likely that tech-savvy young people will find ways around the ban. [Luka Koerber is a high school student.]

Can you shoot down a drone? Common misconceptions, regulations and rightsGov. Janet Mills on Friday signed an executive order establishing a task force to study the impact of the proliferation of artificial intelligence on Maine. Nearly two dozen members of the Maine Artificial Intelligence Task Force will look at how to prepare Maine’s economy and workforce for the “opportunities and risks” likely to result from advances in AI and how to protect residents from potentially harmful uses of the technology. That could include recommendations to safeguard consumer data privacy, reduce bias in data and require disclosure around AI use. The group also will consider the most promising possibilities for state agencies, municipalities and other jurisdictions to use artificial intelligence technologies to reduce gaps in service and improve government functions. “Emerging AI technologies offer the potential to improve lives, drive economic growth and help solve complex challenges,” Mills said in an emailed statement. “But like all new technologies, AI, if not embraced in a prudent and responsible manner, can cause potentially harmful changes to the lives and livelihoods of Maine people.” The group is expected to begin meeting in January and present recommendations by Oct. 31. Mills said her executive order is in response to a surge in technological advances that could “revolutionize how people live and work.” Nearly one-fifth of the U.S. workforce is classified as “highly exposed” to AI, making employees particularly vulnerable to job transformations driven by advances in artificial intelligence, the governor said. AI also can create jobs and businesses, improve productivity and efficiency and reduce barriers to entry in some technical fields. The task force will bring together business, education, labor, government and community leaders to study the proliferation of AI. It’s charged with making policy recommendations that will position Maine to capitalize on the benefits of AI while minimizing risks for people and businesses. State legislators in the U.S. this year considered more than 150 bills relating to government use of AI and at least 30 states have issued guidance on state agency use of AI, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. “With the rapid adoption of generative AI tools, all levels of government have sprung into action, working to understand current uses, set a common understanding around allowable uses, put guardrails around future uses and encourage the innovative development and use of AI tools to transform government services,” NCSL said. State agencies are using tools such as robotic process automation, natural language processing, machine learning and content generation, it said. For example, state agencies have increasingly used chatbots since the COVID-19 pandemic, NCSL said. During the pandemic, at least 35 states used chatbots to support pandemic inquiries relating to health, unemployment benefits, taxes, food stamps, and citizen services. About 25 other states have or are creating, commissions or task forces to advise policymakers on AI, according to Mills’ office. Members of the 21-member Maine task force will include leaders from state and municipal government, the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System. Others will include Maine workers, businesses and representatives of health care, civil rights advocates and a consumer protection organization. Mills said she’ll announce her picks for the task force in the coming weeks. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous

Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Recursion”) (NASDAQ: RXRX), a leading clinical stage TechBio company decoding biology to industrialize drug discovery, today announced that on December 19, 2024, the Compensation Committee of Recursion's Board of Directors approved the grant of inducement restricted stock unit (RSU) awards covering 7,952,836 shares of its class A common stock in the aggregate to 230 new employees under Recursion's 2024 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (the “2024 Plan”). Each award was granted as an inducement material to the employee's commencement of employment with a subsidiary of Recursion in connection with Recursion's acquisition of Exscientia plc and pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). Each inducement RSU award will vest as to 1/16th of the shares subject to the award quarterly on each of February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15, beginning with February 15, 2025 until the inducement RSU award is fully vested, subject to the inducement RSU award recipient’s continued employment through the Company Vesting Dates. Each inducement RSU award is subject to the terms and conditions of the 2024 Plan and the grant agreements covering the awards. About Recursion Pharmaceuticals Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: RXRX) is a leading clinical stage TechBio company decoding biology to industrialize drug discovery. Enabling its mission is the Recursion OS, a platform built across diverse technologies that continuously generate one of the world’s largest proprietary biological and chemical datasets. Recursion leverages sophisticated machine-learning algorithms to distill from its dataset a collection of trillions of searchable relationships across biology and chemistry unconstrained by human bias. By commanding massive experimental scale — up to millions of wet lab experiments weekly — and massive computational scale — owning and operating one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, Recursion is uniting technology, biology and chemistry to advance the future of medicine. Recursion is headquartered in Salt Lake City, where it is a founding member of BioHive, the Utah life sciences industry collective. Recursion also has offices in Toronto, Montréal, New York, London, Oxford area, and the San Francisco Bay area. Learn more at www.Recursion.com , or connect on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. Media Contact Media@Recursion.com Investor Contact Investor@Recursion.com Ryan Kelly Recursion Pharmaceuticals media@recursion.com

50 questions looking back on the region's year in sport in 2024. or signup to continue reading Note, the answers are included after the 50 questions. Two hours, six minutes and 22 seconds. 4x100m medley relay alongside Kaylee McKeown, Emma KcKeon and Mollie O'Callaghan. Ollie Bleddyn. 203 runs. Nine. Atlanta Hawks. Melbourne United. Marianna Tolo and Sami Whitcomb. Gisborne's Braidon Blake and Brad Bernacki and Sandhurst's Lachlan Tardrew. Spring Gully's Nick Skeen with three. Two points. 15 points. Calder United. Gisborne's Pat McKenna with three. James Barri - 107 n.o. v Wangaratta. Dylan Klemm (66), Kaiden Antonowicz (65), James Harvey (57), Corey Grindlay (54), Liam Bartels (50). 93 goals. Nine games. Charlotte Sexton. Kangaroo Flat. 10 wins. Jack Reaper (captain) and Ashley Connick (coach). Number eight. Lucia Painter (West Coast, No.7), Alexis Gregor (Geelong, No.10), Lavinia Cox (Hawthorn, No.15). 37 disposals - 16 kicks and 21 handballs. 20 goals. Gabe Richards. Elmore (53-53) and Leitchville-Gunbower (42-42). Eight goals. Waverley. Melbourne, round one at the MCG. Pyramid Hill's Zach Alford. Gisborne's Torie Skrijel. 54.23 (347). James Barrat and Jemmika Douglas. South Bendigo's Brock Harvey and Sandhurst's Lachlan Wright. 150 years. Mitiamo's Carly Scholes. Travis Kelly, Cameron Keenan, Kevin Anderson and Alex Marshall. Sea King ridden by Declan Bates. Fifth. Tatura (men) and Spring Gully United (women). 28 votes. Chelsea Sartori (Kangaroo Flat, 20), Maddy Stewart (Gisborne, 18), Shae Clifford (Sandhurst, 15). Bendigo. Golden Square by 31 points. Four. Ollie Wines with 11. Max Delight. 36 years. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!CROWN ROYAL JOINS FORCES WITH NATE SMITH AND SCOTTY HASTING TO SUPPORT VETERANS AS THE AWARD-WINNING WHISKY DONATES $50,000 TO CREATIVETS ON COUNTRY MUSIC'S BIGGEST NIGHT

Following his emergence as the newly elected President of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nige- ria (ATPN), Prince Fadina, who is also the Chairman of Awori Tourism, has unveiled his vision for the association, noting that he is committed to elevating the body to greater heights, ensuring its place is secured in the annals of Nigerian tourism. In a document titled; My Vision; Building a Sustainable Future for Nigerian Tourism, Fadina outlined his main focus; ‘‘To position the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) as the leading voice and champion of tourism development in Nigeria by showcasing its value to members, partners, and stakeholders while driving sustainable economic growth through strategic marketing initiatives.’’ The key objectives as disclosed by him, include; Brand Awareness and Visibility: Strengthen ATPN’s presence as the go-to association for tourism prac- titioners; Establish ATPN as a thought leader in tourism advocacy and policy-making. ‘‘Membership Growth and Retention: Attract new members by demonstrating tangible value propositions; Foster loy- alty through exclusive member benefits and professional development opportunities. ‘‘Stake- h o l d e r Engagement and Partnerhips : B u i l d alliances with gov- ernment b o d i e s , p r i v a t e organi – s a t i o n s , and inter- national t o u r i s m agencies; Position ATPN as a vital player in shaping tourism policies and initiatives. ‘‘Economic Growth and Sustainability: Highlight the direct and indirect contri- butions of tourism to Nigeria’s GDP; Pro- mote sustainable tourism practices that balance economic growth with environmental preservation. ‘‘Technology and Innovation in Tour- ism: Leverage digital platforms for mar- keting, member engagement, and train- ing.Integrate modern tools to showcase Ni- gerian tourism to global audiences.Social Security tackles overpayment ‘injustices,’ but problems remainRyan Day questioned for actions during Michigan brawl as Ohio State coach defends incident

Pro Picks: Eagles will beat Steelers in a close one and Bills will upset the Lions

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Dominic Zvada kicked a 21-yard field goal with 45 seconds left and Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday, likely ending the Buckeyes ’ hopes of returning to the Big Ten title game. Kalel Mullings broke away for a 27-yard run, setting up the Wolverines (7-5, 5-4) at Ohio State's 17-yard line with two minutes remaining in the game. The drive stalled at the 3, and Zvada came on for the chip shot. Ohio State (10-2, 7-2, No. 2 CFP) got the ball back but couldn't move it, with Will Howard throwing incomplete on fourth down to seal the Wolverines' fourth straight win over their bitter rival. “You come to Michigan to play this game,” Zvada said. “So, it's the biggest one of the year. It's the one that everyone looks forward to, and to be able to come in here and take the win, it's amazing.” This Ohio State loss in the “The Game” might have been the toughest of the past four because Michigan was unranked and wrapping up a disappointing season. The Wolverines were also playing without a couple of top players: tight end Colston Loveland and cornerback Will Johnson. The Buckeyes were favored by 21 points, the widest point spread for this rivalry since 1978, according to ESPN Stats and Info. Records — and point spreads, for that matter — rarely mean much when these two teams meet. “Our defense played outstanding," Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said. "We held a high-powered offense to 10 points, 77 rushing yards.” The Buckeyes were off all afternoon. Howard was 19 for 33 for 175 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions and Jayden Fielding missed two field-goal attempts. The run game was hardly there. “It's hard, man,” an emotional Howard said. “I really don’t have much right now. I do know we're a two-loss team. We're going to get into the playoffs and make a run. But, I mean, this one hurts.” Mullings was Michigan's primary weapon. He rushed for 116 yards and the Wolverines only touchdown of the game in the first half as neither team could get much going offensively on the frigid afternoon. “They made plays, we made plays, so as the game wore on you could definitely, slowly feel them starting to lose confidence, lose that energy and lose that faith,” Mullings said. Howard was clunky all day. In the first half he threw an interception from deep in his own territory that led to Michigan's touchdown. He went out for a play in the second quarter to be checked for a head injury. After the game, he said he was fine. “We're very disappointed, and never thought this would happen right here,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “We expected to win this game and go play in the Big Ten championship game.” After the game, Michigan players attempted to plant their flag at midfield and were confronted by Ohio State players. A skirmish ensued as both teams pushed and shoved before being separated. Michigan: Did just enough and caught Ohio State on an off day. Ohio State: It's inexplicable how badly the Buckeyes played in their biggest game of the season. They would need No. 4 Penn State and No. 10 Indiana to lose later Saturday in order to make it into the Big Ten title game next week. The Buckeyes will fall. There has been talk all season about how many of the Ohio State team leaders, including receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson and defensive end Jack Sawyer, chose to return for another year instead of entering the NFL draft because they wanted to beat Michigan at least once. Those players were inconsolable after the game. One of them, linebacker Cody Simon, was asked how he felt. “I just can't speak that right now,” Simon said. “I feel like we let the whole Buckeye nation down.” Michigan will wait for a minor bowl game. Ohio State, assuming either Penn State or Indiana wins on Saturday, will see how the final College Football Playoff rankings shakeout on Dec. 8. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25In December 1916, as war raged in Europe, an entrepreneurial pearl diver took a chance on some bleeding-edge technology and installed an outdoor cinema in one of the country’s most isolated towns – Broome, Western Australia. Ted Hunter didn’t know much about cinemas. Not many people did at the turn of the 20th century. But that didn’t stop him beginning what has become a long history of outdoor cinema exhibition in Australia. Sun Pictures in Broome opened with Jack Hulcup’s 1913 silent film Kissing Cup , in which a “squire’s jockey” escapes kidnappers and gallops across the Isle of Wight in time to win the race. Huzzah. More than a century later, Sun Pictures still stands – the world’s oldest operating open-air cinema. While the Guinness World Record is a nice-to-have, Sun Pictures’ survival has been ensured not by the latest Hollywood blockbuster, but by what the cinema offers locals and visitors each night: a moviegoing experience that is at once unique and familiar. Segregation at the movies Before opening Sun Pictures, Hunter made his money as a master pearler. Pearl shells, which were turned into mother-of-pearl buttons, transformed the economic life of Broome in the late 1800s. Despite being so isolated, the pearling industry brought great riches to the town, while also entrenching workers along racial lines. Racial segregation was firmly present in Broome’s “picture garden” for the first half of the 20th century. White Australians and their kids were seated in the middle, with Chinese and Japanese patrons behind them. Malays, Filipinos and First Nations people entered separately and were seated at the sides, or remained standing. Aboriginal rights activist Charles Perkins would later directly challenge the segregation of Australian cinemas in his 1965 “Freedom Ride” throughout rural New South Wales. Outdoors, from the comfort of your car My colleague Tess Van Hemert and I have spent the past three years researching the cultures and practices of cinemagoing and how cinema sites shape this experience . Outdoor cinemas – whether they be the picture gardens of Broome or the Yatala Drive-In – function as special sites of culture, connection and community. During COVID lockdowns, social distancing measures particularly invigorated drive-in cinema attendance. But even after lockdowns ended, David Kilderry, the long-time operator of Melbourne’s Lunar Drive-in , remains clear on the appeal: You could open up the car or even sit outside it and if cool, hop back inside and snuggle up in private. [...] You can talk about the film as it runs. Kids can ask questions and parents can explain. Patrons can use phones during the film without interrupting others, and babies and infants won’t annoy other customers [...] The drive-in has always been more than just a movie experience. It’s where the two icons of the 20th century come together: the motion picture and the automobile. While the Lunar was shuttered in 2023, Kilderry said this decision was less about the 400,000 annual patrons and more about the land tax implications of keeping a site of that size viable. But it’s not all doom and gloom for drive-ins. Kilderry notes many operators now own their land, rather than trying to constantly negotiate leases. There are currently about 12 drive-ins running regularly across Australia, with a few more opening for the occasional screening. New drive-in developments are also planned for Perth, pending local consultations . Connecting with others and the environement Beyond drive-ins, Sun Pictures is in good company with a range of locations around the world that actively celebrate outdoor cinema. During the European summer, open-air cinemas are popular in countries such as Germany and Italy. In Bologna, three large piazzas – Piazza Maggiore, Arena Puccini and Piazzetta Pasolini – are set up as cinemas for the annual Cinema Ritrovato festival. Closer to home, the University of Western Australia’s Somerville Auditorium, framed by a “tree cathedral” of mature Norfolk pines , has long been a place of unique outdoor cinema experiences. Perth Festival film programmer Tom Vincent understands the distinct pleasures of outdoor cinemagoing: The m ost memorable cinemagoing anywhere will always engage the audience’s sense of place, usually through architecture and experience design. [...] It includes a natural sensory mix that includes river breezes, ambient sounds and wildlife, alongside a sense of grandeur and good programming. Good outdoor cinema says ‘look, we are here, engage all your senses’. But while seasonal outdoor cinemas such as the Moonlight Cinemas continue to operate around Australia – alongside local council park screenings – openings of new permanent outdoor cinemas are rare. Phoebe Condon, manager of the new permanent Dendy Powerhouse Outdoor Cinema in Brisbane, explained how the site positions itself as a high-value leisure experience: It’s more than just a night at the movies – it’s a destination [...] What truly sets us apart from other outdoor cinemas is our focus on creating an elevated, year-round experience. This framing of outdoor cinema as an “elevated experience” is vital. While the cost of cinemagoing has come up as a key consideration in our research (especially in the current economic context) the industry is quick to remind consumers it remains affordable compared with other out-of-home arts and leisure experiences such as live sports, music, comedy and theatre. Despite legitimate cost-of-living concerns, census data continues to show cinemagoing as the nation’s most popular cultural activity. Why Neflix can’t replace cinemas Our research on Australian cinemagoing supports broader arguments for a more holistic understanding of cinema’s value in society. Cinemagoing shouldn’t be compared to your Netflix subscription, but to other leisure activities people get up and leave the house for. As the International Union of Cinemas notes, “films reflect national culture or subcultures and the wider world to the audience; they frame moral and political discussions; and they entertain and educate”. We also know cinemagoing has never stood still. Ever since Hunter took a chance on outdoor cinema in 1916, these spaces have evolved constantly to respond to new challenges and shifting appetites. But one aspect remains the same: whether sat under the stars, or parked in a lot, Australians continue to see the value in leaving their homes to connect and share in new stories on the big screen.

NEW DELHI -- India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to a “sudden loss of consciousness at home,” the hospital said in a statement. “Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency” at 8:06 p.m., the hospital said, but “despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM.” Singh was being treated for “age-related medical conditions,” the statement said. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and leader of the Congress Party in the Parliament's Upper House, earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was reelected in 2009, but his second term as prime minister was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Party’s crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. Prime Minister Modi, who succeeded Singh in 2014, called him one of India’s “most distinguished leaders” who rose from humble origins and left “a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years.” “As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” Modi said in a post on social platform X. He called Singh’s interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker “insightful” and said “his wisdom and humility were always visible.” Rahul Gandhi, from the same party as Singh and the opposition leader in the lower house of the Indian Parliament, said Singh’s “deep understanding of economics inspired the nation” and that he “led India with immense wisdom and integrity.” “I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride,” Gandhi wrote on X. Born on Sept. 26, 1932, in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India, Singh’s brilliant academic career took him to Cambridge University in Britain, where he earned a degree in economics in 1957. He then got his doctorate in economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. Singh taught at Panjab University and the prestigious Delhi School of Economics before joining the Indian government in 1971 as economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry. In 1982, he became chief economic adviser to the Finance Ministry. He also served as deputy chair of the Planning Commission and governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As finance minister, Singh in 1991 instituted reforms that opened up the economy and moved India away from a socialist-patterned economy and toward a capitalist model in the face of a huge balance of payments deficit, skirting a potential economic crisis. His accolades include the 1987 Padma Vibhushan Award, India’s second-highest civilian honor; the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress in 1995; and the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year in 1993 and 1994. Singh was a member of India’s Upper House of Parliament and was leader of the opposition from 1998 to 2004 before he was named prime minister. He was the first Sikh to hold the country’s top post and made a public apology in Parliament for the 1984 Sikh Massacre in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards. Under Singh, India adopted a Right to Information Act in 2005 to promote accountability and transparency from government officials and bureaucrats. He was also instrumental in implementing a welfare scheme that guaranteed at least 100 paid workdays for Indian rural citizens. The coalition government he headed for a decade brought together politicians and parties with differing ideologies that were rivals in the country’s various states. In a move hailed as one of his biggest achievements apart from economic reforms, Singh ended India’s nuclear isolation by signing a deal with the U.S. that gave India access to American nuclear technology. But the deal hit his government adversely, with Communist allies withdrawing support and criticism of the agreement growing within India in 2008 when it was finalized. Singh adopted a pragmatic foreign policy approach, pursuing a peace process with nuclear rival and neighbor Pakistan. But his efforts suffered a major setback after Pakistani militants carried out a massive gun and bomb attack in Mumbai in November 2008. He also tried to end the border dispute with China, brokering a deal to reopen the Nathu La pass into Tibet, which had been closed for more than 40 years. His 1965 book, “India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth,” dealt with India’s inward-oriented trade policy. Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters. ____ Associated Press Writer Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.Dearborn County names two Lilly Scholars