Lexus is set to launch a supercar rival the likes of the Aston Martin Vantage and Mercedes-AMG GT, powered by a V8 engine producing up to 450kW.
Autocar reports it’ll be called the LFR and it’ll be a spiritual successor to the V10 LFA, though this time around it’ll be a road-legal version of a full-blown race car and not a standalone supercar model.
We’ve covered Toyota’s GT3 GR concept car since it was first revealed in 2022, which has most recently been seen as a prototype testing in camouflage at Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps circuit. It’s expected to be ready for top-flight European endurance racing in 2026.
The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which governs the competition Toyota’s GT3 car will take part in, outlines homologation rules that requires any GT3 car to share its basic body design with a related road-legal car.
As such, it’s almost certain we’ll receive a toned-down (yet still monstrous) version of the Japanese racer within the next two years.
The road-going car will likely wear a Lexus badge to follow after the brand’s premium sports cars, notably the LFA and RC F.
The Toyota GR GT3 sounds unmistakably like a beastly V8 that could be benefitting from twin-turbo induction, while it’s been reported Lexus could introduce a hybrid successor to the LFA in the form of the LFR next year.
It could potentially use a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 with between 515kW and 530kW of power, mated with a electric motor to drive total outputs up to 662kW.
Speculations over the new model have been bolstered by Toyota’s joint commitment to internal combustion with Mazda and Subaru, headlined by the development of lower-emissions internal combustion engines that lean on hybrid assistance and the use of synthetic fuels.
No specifications have been released of any version of this car, though GT3 regulations outline power outputs of up to 450kW and no less than 1300kg.
The new performance car has previously been referred to as a “catalog model” and not a limited-build model like the LFA, which means it could stick around longer and in larger numbers than the 500-example V10 offering.
MORE: Listen to the screaming V8 soundtrack of Toyota GR’s next-gen race car MORE: Next-gen Toyota/Lexus GT3 racer development ‘well underway’
Refunds aggregating to Rs. 53,322 crore issued in the current fiscal
Direct Tax Collection In India: Advance Tax collections for FY2024-25 stand at Rs. 1,48,823 crore with a growth of 27.34%
Direct Tax Collection In India: The provisional figures of Direct Tax collections for the financial year 2024-25 (as of June 16 showed that Net collections are at Rs. 4,62,664 crore, compared to Rs. 3,82,414 crore in the corresponding period of the preceding FY 2023-24, representing an increase of 20.99%.
Also Read: Budget 2024: Govt Considers Rs 5 Lakh Tax Exemption Limit In New Regime, Says Report
According to government data released by the finance ministry on June 18, the Net Direct Tax collection includes Corporation Tax (CIT) at Rs. 1,80,949 crore (net of refund) and Personal Income Tax (PIT) including Securities Transaction Tax (STT) at Rs. 2,81,013 crore (net of refund).
The provisional figures of Gross collection of Direct Taxes (before adjusting for refunds) for the financial year 2024-25 stand at Rs. 5,15,986 crore compared to Rs. 4,22,295 crore in the corresponding period of the preceding financial year, showing a growth of 22.19% over the collections of FY 2023-24.
The Gross collection of Rs. 5,15,986 crore includes Corporation Tax (CIT) at Rs. 2,26,280 crore and Personal Income Tax (PIT) including Securities Transaction Tax (STT) at Rs. 2,88,993 crore.
Minor head-wise collection comprises Advance Tax of Rs. 1,48,823 crore; Tax Deducted at Source of Rs. 3,24,787 crore; Self-Assessment Tax of Rs. 28,471 crore; Regular Assessment Tax of Rs. 10,920 crore; and Tax under other minor heads of Rs. 2,985 crore.
Provisional figures of total Advance Tax collections for the financial year 2024-25 (as on 17.06.2024) stand at Rs. 1,48,823 crore, against Advance Tax collections of Rs. 1,16,875 crore for the corresponding period of the immediately preceding financial year (i.e. FY 2023-24), showing a growth of 27.34%.
The Advance Tax collection of Rs. 1,48,823 crore comprises Corporation Tax (CIT) at Rs. 1,14,353 crore and Personal Income Tax (PIT) at Rs. 34,470 crore.
Refunds amounting to Rs. 53,322 crore have also been issued in the FY 2024-25 till June 16, which are 33.70% higher than refunds issued during the same period in the preceding year.
Namit Singh Sengar
Namit writes on personal finance, economy and brands. Currently contributing to News18.com as a Senior Sub Editor in the business vertical. Prior to t…Read More
The cryptocurrency market cap continued to shrink, with a drop of around 2.2 percent in the past 24 hours to hover about $2.45 trillion on Tuesday during the New York session. The ongoing cryptocurrency correction, which has triggered heavy crypto liquidation of nearly half a billion dollars, was triggered by the Bitcoin (BTC) price drop below $65k again in the past 24 hours.
Market analysts have argued that the recent notable cash outflows from US-based spot Bitcoin ETFs are a major contributor to the bearish outlook.
Is the Crypto Bull Cycle Over?
Bitcoin price has struggled to rally beyond $72k, thus signalling a possible double-top regarding the 2021 cycle top. According to veteran trader Peter Brandt, Bitcoin’s price against the US dollar could be forming a similar fractal with Gold’s price action after the 2009 market crisis.
As a result, Brandt suggested that Bitcoin price could further dip towards $60k before establishing a rising trend in the coming quarters.
The #Total3 is correcting for a few weeks, making many altcoins drop significantly. On the previous cycle it took 162 weeks to break the 2018 all-time high, this altcoin correction could likely end in the coming weeks and enter a massive recovery by Q4 of 2024. pic.twitter.com/2s1rEzsK0m
A similar macro narrative has been presented by Bitcoinsensus’a analyst, who argues that the altcoin industry will continue with a bullish outlook during the fourth quarter of this year after establishing a correction bottom in the coming weeks.
What Next?
The regulatory clarity in the United States has created a clear path for institutional investors to tap into the web3 industry. Meanwhile, the crypto market is anticipating a final settlement deal between the US SEC and Ripple in addition to listing the approved spot Ether ETFs in the United States.
These major events will act as a catalyst for Altcoin’s overall bullish outlook.
A mentor of mine used to drill the following into my head: “You are not your target market.”
He meant that it doesn’t matter if you think the headline is great, the ad design is impressive, or the copy is sublime. It only matters what the customer thinks.
As he would say, “Our job is to make marketing that our customers will find interesting, engaging, and persuasive. It doesn’t matter if you feel the same.” You are not your customer.
Except, of course, when you are.
Many B2B marketers focus on marketing products and services to other marketing professionals. And marketing to marketers is one of the more challenging assignments to take on – especially in today’s digital marketplace.
Capturing any buyer’s attention and trust is difficult these days. But marketers are savvier — and more cynical — than most. That’s because they’ve seen (and probably used) every kind of trick anyone can pull out of their hat.
So, what works when marketing to marketers these days?
Earlier this year, CMI asked more than 300 marketers about the content they value, the channels they use to learn about solutions, and the reasons why they ultimately choose a particular solution to work with.
I wasn’t surprised by the results. But how meta is that? Of course, I’m not surprised by the results. I’m part of the results.
OK – before it gets weirder – let’s look at some of the most interesting findings.
Marketers still read (and they don’t want to meet)
I know you hear a lot about using video and audio to engage buyers — I do, too. And those formats have their place. However, most marketers (55%) still prefer to consume work-related content by reading online. Far fewer say they prefer watching videos (26%), listening (11%), or reading print (8%) for work.
Email is still one of the most viable ways to reach marketers. Nearly all marketers (98%) subscribe to work-related email newsletters, and almost half (49%) subscribe to more than five.
Of the top five content types marketers use to research tools, technologies, or services, three involve the written word. Again, nearly all marketers (94%) read online articles when researching new solutions. Another 81% use product reviews, and 75% use case studies.
Video ranks second to online articles at 92%, and webinars round out the top five at 72%.
One finding did surprise me: Marketers prefer video over in-person meetings. Nearly half of marketers (45%) prefer to discuss solutions on a video call. Their second choice? A (text-based) email (27%). No contact (meaning they prefer to peruse the vendor’s digital content alone) came in third at 17%. A phone call came in fourth at 7%, and in-person meetings came dead last at 4%.
These findings confirm what you probably already know: Marketers don’t want to speak to someone in person as they move through the customer journey.
But they’re much more open to learning through digital and in-person events.
What marketers want from physical events and webinars
Events are back. But so are digital events.
Late last year, I wrote that marketers would have to up their game regarding digital and physical events. Attendee desire for in-person events remained strong despite headwinds such as inflation, health concerns, and the ongoing recovery of the hospitality industry.
CMI research backed up my position: Webinars trailed only in-person events among the tactics marketers said produced results for them.
So, we know marketers get results when they use events and webinars in their marketing strategies.
But do your marketing peers attend webinars and in-person events?
They do. Most marketers (51%) go to one or two in-person events per year (either marketing-focused or specific to their industry), and 98% attend digital webinars. However, their reasons for attending each differ.
Among marketers who visit a vendor’s booth at an event, 81% said they want information about a potential vendor’s product and services. More than half (59%) want a demonstration of the solution. Slightly less than half (49%) want to meet the people behind the product or service. And 26% want specific information to help them make a purchase decision.
Webinars are a different story. Nearly all marketers who attend webinars (92%) want in-depth learning on a particular topic they’re interested in. Most (86%) want a general learning opportunity. Only 30% want product information, and only 19% want a demo.
Put simply: Marketers go to in-person events to find answers, and they attend webinars to learn what questions they should ask.
Here’s proof. When asked about the most important things they want to get from attending webinars, most marketers (84%) said relevant and actionable content. Nearly three-quarters of marketers want content that addresses their current challenges and trends. Your peers also want on-demand access (55%) and speakers who have hands-on experience (53%). Very few named interactivity (8%), a user-friendly platform, or networking opportunities as the most important.
If you’re a marketer who markets to marketers, think hard about these findings. A couple of years ago, I wrote about how vendor-created information that lacks prescriptive, specific advice on what to do makes buyers want to avoid sales conversations. As I wrote, “The buyer’s goal is to learn how to play chess. And demand generation marketers are bombarding them with points of view on the history of chess and why it’s such an important game.”
If you’re trying to create value for your fellow marketers, have a specific point of view and create specific, actionable content.
You already know marketers will value it.
Marketers want what they request (no pitches, please)
One of the most validating things in the research? Marketers appreciate valuable content.
Almost all marketers (94%) said that the availability of extensive thought leadership content raises their perception of a brand as a valuable information resource.
But here’s the kick. The No. 1 factor that will get marketers to open an email is that they’ve requested the content. Nearly three-quarters (73%) said requesting the content is the primary factor that prompts them to open their email. The second most compelling factor is a relevant subject line (62%).
If all this sounds familiar, it should. As it turns out, marketers aren’t all that different from other business buyers. The difference is that the bar for quality, helpful content may be higher than with other business buyers.
Savvy marketers can sniff out a pitch a mile away. They understand that when they give their email address in exchange for an e-book, they’ll likely end up in a never-ending drip campaign. They’re not fooled when you show screenshots of your product and talk about the best practices for products your company happens to sell.
So — what can you do?
You can surprise them. My experience with marketing to marketers tells me that one of the best ways to attract marketers is to not sell to them. Inspire, educate, and engage. Help them as if they were your colleagues.
After all, in this case, you are the target market.
Join us on July 24 for The State of Marketing to Marketers webinar. Robert Rose and other marketing leaders will dive into CMI’s latest research, exploring what’s working and what’s not in B2B marketing today. Discover actionable insights to elevate your content marketing strategies for the second half of the year. Don’t miss out—register for free today!
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Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that even if there was “0.001 per cent negligence” on the part of anyone in the conduct of the NEET-UG 2024 examination, it should be thoroughly dealt with.
Observing that students have to labour hard while preparing for these examinations, the apex court said the litigation pertaining to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate)-2024 examination ought not be treated as adversarial.
“Even if there is 0.001 per cent negligence on the part of anyone, it should be thoroughly dealt with,” a vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and SVN Bhatti told the advocates appearing for the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA). The NTA conducts the all-India pre-medical entrance test.
‘Stand firm’
The bench was hearing two separate petitions raising grievances, including on grace marks given to students in the examination held on May 5. “We all know the labour which the children undergo, especially in preparing for these exams,” the bench said, adding, “Imagine a person who has played fraud on the system becomes a doctor, he is more deleterious to the society”.
“Representing an agency which is responsible for conducting the examination, you must stand firm. If there is a mistake, yes this is a mistake and this is the action we are going to take. At least that inspires confidence in your performance,” the bench told the NTA’s counsel.
NEET grace marks nixed, re-test option for 1,563 students: Govt
Stressing on timely action by the authority, the top court said the pleas would come up for hearing on July 8 along with other pending petitions, including those that have sought a direction to conduct the exam afresh. It said the NTA and the Centre would file their responses on these fresh petitions within two weeks.
When one of the advocates appearing for some petitioners raised the issue pertaining to a question asked in the exam, the bench said, “They (NTA and Centre) will respond to it”. “Let us understand the purpose of your submissions. In these matters, we are prepared to sit up to evening,” it said.
While hearing separate petitions raising grievances over the NEET-UG 2024, the apex court had last week sought responses from the Centre and the NTA on a plea for a CBI probe into allegations of question paper leak and other irregularities in the exam.
The Centre and the NTA had on June 13 told the top court that they had cancelled the grace marks given to 1,563 candidates who took the examination for admission to MBBS and other such courses.
They will have the option to either take a retest or forgo the compensatory marks awarded to them for the loss of time, the Centre had said.
It was a French politician, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, who coined the term “exorbitant privilege” in the 1960s. He was referring to the benefits received by America as issuer of the world’s reserve currency—namely, the ability to run high deficits comfortably. These days France is reminded that it has no such privilege. Ahead of parliamentary elections on June 30th and July 7th, its hefty deficit and growing debt are central to the campaign. On June 19th the European Commission is expected to put France into an excessive-deficit procedure (EDP), the EU’s fiscal torture chamber, meaning that the country’s politicians will have to come up with a plan to fix things.
The commission’s officials have good reason to do so. France has an American-style deficit of 5% of GDP, which its central bank and the IMF expect to come down only slowly. The country’s debt-to-GDP ratio of 111% is similar to Italy’s before the euro crisis in the early 2010s, and is set to rise. S&P Global, a ratings agency, downgraded the French government’s sovereign-debt rating from AA to AA– on May 31st—before Emmanuel Macron, France’s president, gambled on snap elections that may bring the hard-right National Rally (RN) or the left-wing New Popular Front (NPF) to power, under his continuing presidency.
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With nearly seven million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s disease — and 13 million projected to have the illness by 2050 — early diagnosis and treatment are more urgent than ever.
To help address this, Mayo Clinic has announced a new, non-invasive blood test that detects a protein in the brain that signals Alzheimer’s.
The goal, doctors say, is for this test to offer a convenient, less invasive alternative to traditional diagnostic methods.
‘REVERSING’ ALZHEIMER’S: HERE ARE EXERCISES TO MAKE THE BRAIN MORE RESILIENT
Fox News Digital spoke to Dr. Alicia Algeciras-Schimnich, professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at Mayo Clinic Rochester in Minnesota, about the new test and what it means for Alzheimer’s patients and their families.
“This is the first Alzheimer’s disease blood test offered at Mayo Clinic Laboratories,” said Algeciras-Schimnich, who led the clinical validation study to gauge how well the test performed.
A new, non-invasive blood test detects a protein in the brain that signals Alzheimer’s, Mayo Clinic (not pictured) announced.(iStock)
“While there are other commercial blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease, the uniqueness of our test is its high accuracy rate.”
How does it work?
One of the hallmark features in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease is the formation of plaque containing a protein known as beta amyloid.
“The pTau217 assay assesses the accumulation of beta amyloid in the brain by measuring the amount of phosphorylated Tau 217 (p-Tau217) in the test sample,” said Algeciras-Schimnich.
EXPERIMENTAL ALZHEIMER’S DRUG GETS FDA ADVISORY PANEL’S THUMBS-UP: ‘PROGRESS IS HAPPENING’
Accumulation of beta amyloid in the brain can also be evaluated by imaging techniques, such as PET scans or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, the doctor noted — but those methods have some limitations.
“The PET scan to evaluate beta amyloid is expensive and not a widely available technology,” said Algeciras-Schimnich.
The Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit medical practice and medical research group based in Rochester, Minnesota. Mayo Clinic has announced a new, non-invasive blood test to help determine if patients have Alzheimer’s.(iStock)
“And the CSF collection requires an invasive technique to remove spinal fluid, so it is also not widely used.”
The Alzheimer’s disease blood biomarkers serve as a non-invasive tool that can improve access for patients who need answers, she said.
How accurate is it?
In patients with symptoms of cognitive decline, the blood test has a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 96%.
“Sensitivity measures the ability of the test to correctly identify patients with the disease, while specificity measures the ability of the test to correctly identify those without the disease,” Algeciras-Schimnich explained.
“A blood-based test not only offers convenience, but could help transform Alzheimer’s disease research.”
Patients who take the test are classified as positive or negative for the presence of the accumulation of beta amyloid.
“In a small number of patients, the test will not be able to differentiate between the presence or absence of beta amyloid,” said Algeciras-Schimnich.
Patients who take the test are classified as positive or negative for the presence of the accumulation of beta amyloid. (iStock)
“These patients will need additional tests to determine if they are positive or negative for the accumulation of beta amyloid.”
The test is purposely designed to minimize the number of false positive results as compared to other tests, the doctor said.
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“The test has been validated at Mayo Clinic through a rigorous quality process backed by scientific experts and clinicians,” Algeciras-Schimnich said.
The test is currently available for clinicians to order through Mayo Clinic Laboratories.
Evidence of Alzheimer’s disease is seen on PET scans at the Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment (CART) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, March 2023.(REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo)
“Since it is a blood test, it requires a blood draw by a phlebotomist, so anyone who is averse to blood should be aware,” said Algeciras-Schimnich.
At this point, the test is only recommended for individuals 50 years of age and older who have symptoms of mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.
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“We don’t yet have enough data to support how the test performs in younger individuals,” Algeciras-Schimnich said.
Michelle Rankine, PhD, a certified dementia practitioner in Texas, is not associated with Mayo Clinic but shared her comments on the test’s potential.
Accumulation of beta amyloid in the brain can also be evaluated by imaging techniques, such as PET scans or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, the doctor noted — but those methods have some limitations. (Michael Robinson Chávez/The Washington Post)
“As the global burden of Alzheimer’s continues to rise, a blood-based test not only offers convenience, but could help transform Alzheimer’s disease research,” Rankine told Fox News Digital.
“This could make screening more efficient in averting the clinical onset of Alzheimer’s disease.”
“This innovation addresses a growing need and could accelerate development of new treatments, improve patient evaluation and care, and potentially even allow for early intervention before symptoms become worse,” Rankine added.
Sara Ali Khan’s food adventures always strike the right chord with her fans. Whether she is enjoying Maggi in the mountains, saying yes to street food, relishing churros, or eating pizza in Italy, the actress has given us many foodie tales to talk about. Currently, the star is somewhere in Europe, and like many of us, she cannot resist good coffee. Need proof? Head straight to her Instagram Stories. On Monday, Sara shared a collage of pictures and a video. In one frame, we can see the European sun, and in another, there is a sun-kissed selfie. However, our food-hungry eyes could not help but notice the video of a coffee machine. Additionally, there is a picture of Sara holding her coffee mug. “Pure joy,” she wrote, and we couldn’t agree more. Take a look: Also Read: Sara Ali Khan Enjoys Ice Cream With Friends In Italy and France – See Pic
Wait, there’s more. Sara Ali Khan also uploaded a video from inside a car, where we can see her coffee mug and the bright sun through the window. The star raised a poll asking, “Is that too much coffee?” with the options “Enjoy” and “Stop.” What would you say?
Also Read: “Abs Burn Or Tummy Churn?” Sara Ali Khan’s Latest Fitness Post Comes With A Foodie Twist If you’re a coffee lover like Sara Ali Khan, here are some quick and easy recipes you must try:
1. Cappuccino
A popular Italian coffee drink made with equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and frothy milk foam on top. It is super rich and creamy, perfect for a morning pick-me-up. Click here for the recipe.
2. Filter Coffee
A traditional coffee made by brewing ground coffee beans with hot water through a filter. It is quite smooth and can be enjoyed black or with milk and sugar. Recipe here.
3. Spiced Coffee
Coffee infused with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. It has a warm, aromatic flavour that’s especially comforting during colder months. Want the recipe? Click here.
4. Mint Coffee
This coffee has a refreshing hint of mint flavour. Mint syrup or fresh mint leaves are added to hot or iced coffee, giving it a cool, invigorating taste. Detailed recipe here.
5. Cranberry Iced Coffee
A refreshing iced coffee drink with a splash of cranberry juice. The tartness of the cranberry complements the bold coffee flavour, making it a perfect summer beverage. Find the recipe here.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon at Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn, just days before Juneteenth, large crowds of people were lounging on brightly colored picnic blankets and under tents atop the hill, making them hard to miss.
With R&B and hip-hop filling the breezy air, this was just the early vibes of the Lay Out, a series of summer park gatherings that its creator says exists “to center Black joy.” By 5 p.m., the park would be swelling with mostly Black attendees dancing and drinking together, playing games and enjoying one another’s company for a day of rest.
“It’s my favorite event of the summer: I’m a picnic girlie, and I just like all the Black people,” said Toni Leotaud, 31, who lives in Brooklyn. “I know I’m going to see mad people that I know.”
Now in its fifth year, the Lay Out has become one of the main attractions in Brooklyn each summer, especially its celebration of Juneteenth. (One of the events is always scheduled to take place around June 19, the national holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.)
Emily Anadu, the event’s chief executive and one of its founders, said the idea for the Lay Out came about in 2020, inspired by coronavirus pandemic restrictions and the protests that broke out that summer after the murder of George Floyd. One demonstration near her home in the Fort Greene neighborhood left a police van engulfed in flames. She woke up the next morning to help with cleanup around the park but was surprised by what she saw.
“I remember going out there, and it was like nothing had happened — it was like Pleasantville,” she said. “Everything was cleaned up, but someone swept the ashes into the words ‘Black Lives Matter.’”
Having lived in New York City for nearly 20 years and in Fort Greene for most of them, Ms. Anadu recalled how it was once normal to see an abundance of Black people. During the early months of the pandemic, as she spent hours walking through park, it became viscerally clear to her just how much the demographics had changed.
“It just felt uncomfortable to have this huge dichotomy between the extreme pain that people were feeling, like I am not safe in my body in this country,” Ms. Anadu said, “and then for a lot of people experiencing time off from work and beautiful days in the park.”
Days after the protest, Ms. Anadu set out to organize a park gathering where Black people could comfortably “take up space” in what had once been a mostly Black neighborhood. Over about three days of planning, she consulted with a few friends in a group chat about her idea, and through word of mouth and online promotion, the first Lay Out took place on Sunday, June 7, about a week after the protests.
She said more than 500 people had been at that first event, adding that it was a bit nerve-racking to have so many attendees, given the social-distancing guidelines. But the event was outside, Ms. Anadu reasoned, and the size of the crowd was a testament to just how much “we needed each other.”
On Sunday, the Lay Out returned with different sponsored activities, including tennis workshops, mini basketball games, Black-owned businesses and a nearby after-party. We spoke with attendees about what had brought them to the park.
Toni Leotaud, 31, and Leigh Brant, 34
Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and Hillside, N.J.
What is your favorite memorable moment at the Lay Out?
Leigh Brant: Last year, in the middle of a set, they started playing Keyshia Cole, and a circle formed around a man who was proposing. And everyone stood in a circle around them and was singing “Love.” It was beautiful.
Daniel Jones, 34
Bushwick, Brooklyn
Is this how you usually spend your Juneteenth weekend?
Since they started doing it, yeah, every Juneteenth I’m here.
What keeps bringing you back?
Do you not see this? The culture, the music, the vibes — they got food down there. It’s just the energy is always on 10.
Fatou Ndiaye, 35
Lisbon
How long are you visiting for?
For a month. I knew June is a great month in New York — there’s so many stuff. And Juneteenth is during this month, too, so I really wanted to live it.
What brought you here today?
I’m actually here selling food. We’re called Wadadli Jerk, and this is the fourth year we’re doing this. We actually started when the Lay Out started during the pandemic.
What do you love most about it?
The beautiful people. It’s just nice to see beautiful Black people enjoying themselves and just being who we are.
Iris Stevens, 32, and Sadé Council, 37
Harrison, N.J., and Flatbush, Brooklyn
What keeps bringing you back to this event?
Iris Stevens: I actually used to live in Brooklyn, and even though I’m back living in Jersey, there’s just a certain vibe with everyone coming here together in the name of fun and joy. It’s something that always draws me back.
What do you think is different about this event versus previous ones?
Sadé Council: It seems a little bit more organized in terms of space, and, like, we have a little bit of a gated area, which is lovely. But it’s just the same good vibes as always. It feels like a family reunion. And it’s just beautiful to come and celebrate my borough with my friends and seeing friends that I haven’t seen in a long time.
Rony Byas Jr., 34
Bedford-Stuyvesant
What are you most looking forward to today?
Honestly? There’s a joint that I got an eye on who I know is going to be here, so I’m going to shoot my shot.
What do you love about Juneteenth?
It’s a holiday for Black people to get together and just be cool. July Fourth isn’t really our day — we weren’t necessarily free, and I feel like this is Black people’s July Fourth.
Quiana Parks
What has been your most memorable experience spinning here?
The first year I D.J.ed here. It was right after the protest — I had just returned back to New York from Virginia, and I asked Emily if I could bring music to the Lay Out, and it was my favorite moment when I played “Ease on Down” from “The Wiz” and I’m on top of the hill, and I saw all these beautiful Black people running up the hill. I was in tears because it was so liberating. I was anxious because I had just got back to Brooklyn and I hadn’t yet settled spiritually yet. And that moment just opened me back up.
West Foster, 24; Devine Bauman, 23; and Jetta Strayhorn, 21
Central Harlem
What does community mean to you?
Jetta Strayhorn: I’m from Atlanta, so community specifically for Black people has always meant a lot to me. Community specifically is a group of people that will be there for each other no matter what and can make you feel like every part of you is accepted, and thankfully, I found my people.
What are you post looking forward to for this Lay Out?
West Foster: I’m looking forward to community, connection and diasporic reconnection.
Fareed Abdullah, 41
Harlem
Is this your first time at the Lay Out?
It is my first time at the Lay Out. One of my good friends kept on saying how much of an amazing experience it would be. And I figured while I’m here in the U.S., got to come and enjoy it. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be moving to the Emirates.
What are you most enjoying so far?
Honestly, the spirit of community. Everybody’s nice. It’s good for my goddaughter to be here to see beautiful people doing amazing things. The vibe is very friendly. The park is giving life. Ellie’s here showing out. I’m just loving the environment.
Alexyz Kemp, 42
Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
What makes the Lay Out so special for you?
It’s the blackest my neighborhood looks, but also I run into old friends and I get to see future generations and how they’re hanging out, seeing how they’re trying to make their voice heard and impact the community.
What does Juneteenth mean to you?
Juneteenth to me means freedom and respecting and acknowledging the ancestors that came before us. And it means communication. It means tap your neighbor and say, “Hey neighbor, we’re free.” Just the fact that we still uphold each other, uplift each other and we’re still out here fighting for those freedoms today.
The approval of Imfinzi was based on the DUO-E Phase III trial, which indicated that in combination with chemotherapy, the drug reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 58% in mismatch repair deficient endometrial cancer.
DRA Homes, a real estate developer in Chennai, has planned to develop 400 upscale sea-view apartments on OMR, Chennai.
The announcement comes post the company’s buying 3.43-acre of prime land in Navalur. Spread over 7 lakh square feet, DRA Homes plans to launch its latest project in the first quarter of 2025, according to a statement.
Navalur enjoys the highest density of population on OMR with the eco-system of office space, residential, retail, schools, colleges and hospitals in the same vicinity, it said.
“We are thrilled about our latest project in OMR. The sea view apartments will offer an unparalleled living experience, combined with luxury with a unique lifestyle experience,” said Ranjeeth Rathod, Managing Director of DRA Homes.
With this new project, DRA Homes is expected to generate a top-line of ₹650 crore over the next four years.
Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.
TIKTOKERICA Ally Shapiro nedavno je postala viralna na TikToku zbog svojeg videa u kojem je kritizirala Chanelovu odjeću nazvavši je “Zarom za bogate”. U videu je pokazala torbe, šešire i tenisice iz Chanelove trgovine istaknuvši da je razočarana kvalitetom materijala i izrade.
Njeni komentari izazvali su lavinu reakcija, a mnogi korisnici su se složili s njenim mišljenjem nazivajući Chanelovu kolekciju jeftinom.
“Chanel* Virginie Viard je Zara za bogate osobe”, “Bila sam sigurna da je ovo Zara prije nego što si rekla”, “Zarina kolekcija ovog ljeta je bolja”, “To je i razlog zbog kojeg su upravo otpustili svog kreativnog direktora. Potrebna im je potpuna reinvencija”, “Ovo im je najgora kolekcija”, “Sve izgleda tako jeftino”, “Chanelova kvaliteta je krenula nizbrdo”, “Nedostaje mi stari Chanel, što se dogodilo?”, “Chanel je umro s Lagerfeldom”, samo su neki od komentara.
Ova kritika stiže u vrijeme kada se brend suočava s odlaskom kreativne direktorice Virginie Viard, koja je preuzela ulogu nakon smrti Karla Lagerfelda 2019. godine. Njeno vodstvo obilježeno je izazovima, uključujući kontroverze oko Chanelove kolekcije Cruise za sezonu 2024./2025. i dramatičnog povećanja cijena.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Te su promjene izazvale snažne reakcije među klijentima, a mnogi su izrazili zabrinutost zbog smjera u kojem se Chanel kreće. Kritike su posebno usmjerene na dizajn, koji se udaljio od klasične estetike brenda miješajući tradicionalne elemente s modernim trendovima, koji nisu uvijek dobro prihvaćeni.
Značajno povećanje cijena
U posljednje dvije godine Chanel je značajno povećao cijene pravdajući se rastom troškova sirovina i očuvanjem ekskluzivnosti i visokih standarda izrade. No ova povećanja nisu dobro prihvaćena, a nijedan drugi luksuzni brend nije poduzeo tako oštre korake kao Chanel, piše Jing Daily.
Sada nam ostaje vidjeti tko će preuzeti ulogu novog kreativnog direktora i kakav će utjecaj imati na budućnost Chanela.
Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?
In the Dodgers’ first game without star shortstop Mookie Betts, who is expected to sit out roughly six to eight weeks because of a fractured hand he sustained Sunday, the team cruised to a 9-5 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
And, in a reminder of the talent on the Dodgers’ roster, they received some of their biggest contributions from the two players taking over Betts’ primary responsibilities.
Without Betts at the top of the lineup, designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was bumped up to the leadoff spot and went three for four with an RBI and a walk.
Without Betts at shortstop, Miguel Rojas slid back over to his natural position and christened the return with a three-hit, two-run, one-RBI outburst, continuing an impressively productive start to the season the Dodgers will need to last for the foreseeable future.
The Dodgers received plenty of help from others Monday, including a seven-inning, one-run, two-hit start by James Paxton (one of the pitchers who will have to step up in the absence of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who also suffered a significant, but non-season-ending injury this weekend), three hits from Jason Heyward and a career-high five walks from Freddie Freeman.
But, in the big picture, it was the play of Ohtani (who was batting leadoff for only the second time this season) and Rojas (starting at shortstop for only the fourth time in the last month and a half) that was most encouraging to a club still reeling from Betts’ injury.
“You just don’t know how things are gonna go after you lose Mookie,” Freeman said. “So we kind of responded today. The game we played today, that was huge for us. So we’ll just hold it down until Mookie can get better.”
Ohtani’s performance served as an encore to Sunday, when he emerged from an 11-for-51 slump with two home runs. The star slugger didn’t leave the yard again Monday, but he did single home a run in the second, before hitting back-to-back doubles in the fourth and sixth innings — the latter on an opposite-field bullet down the left-field line.
“We haven’t seen him drive a ball to left field like he did for that double in quite some time,” manager Dave Roberts said. “So that’s a good sign.”
Ohtani now has a .314 batting average and .989 OPS, ranking fourth and second in the National League, respectively.
For the time being, Ohtani will also serve as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter, moving up from a No. 2 spot that on Monday belonged to catcher Will Smith, the former cleanup hitter. Freddie Freeman remained in the No. 3 spot, and Teoscar Hernández batted fourth.
Is this the new look Roberts will use at the top of the lineup?
“I think versus the right-hander, I like this,” Roberts said, not entirely tipping his hand. “Against left, I will probably think through it. But this feels right, versus both right now.”
Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas singles during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies on Monday.
(David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
Roberts made the Dodgers’ shortstop plans much more clear, stating that, in Betts’ absence, Rojas will start the majority of the games at the position, with Kiké Hernández backing him up in addition to his other roles at third base and the outfield.
Rojas has the glove to be a starting shortstop, the role he served for the Dodgers for most of last year and the Miami Marlins the six seasons before that. He has been a pleasant surprise at the plate, raising his batting average to .292 and OPS to .799 with two singles and an RBI double in the seventh inning Monday.
In games Rojas has recorded at least one hit this season, the Dodgers are 20-0.
The big question with Rojas, 35, has been durability.
Last year, when he unexpectedly started 109 games after Gavin Lux’s spring training knee injury, Rojas was bothered by nagging cramps in his hip. Earlier this month, Roberts said some lingering leg soreness was affecting Rojas, as well, contributing to the reason why, before Monday, Rojas had started only 30 of 73 games this season.
Freddie Freeman rounds third base to score on a double hit by Teoscar Hernández in the first inning. Freeman was walked five times in the game.
(David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
“I’m not 30 years old anymore,” Rojas said. “It takes special preparation, doing rehab, doing postgame work, so that’s what I’m doing.”
On Monday, both Rojas and Roberts expressed confidence in the 11-year veteran handling an increased workload. This week, Rojas will start in three of the four games at Coors Field.
“He would argue he could play every day,” Roberts said. “But my job is to manage it, so I think that’s a good rhythm for him. He’s in a good rhythm right now.”
Rojas’ shortstop defense has also remained sharp, thanks largely to his extensive routine of pregame infield drills alongside Betts this season, in which Rojas has served as a sounding board during Betts’ transition to the position.
Because of all the time they’ve spent together this season, Rojas said he was sad and angry when he saw Betts writhing on the ground in pain Sunday, after being plunked by a 98-mph fastball.
“It affected me a lot,” he said. “I don’t ever want to see Mookie go down like that, because I know his desire and drive to be great.”
In his first chance to step up in Betts’ place, though, Rojas and the rest of the Dodgers’ lineup delivered, helping ensure the Dodgers’ first game without their former MVP winner wasn’t one in which his presence was dearly missed.
Amid the growing debate over artificial intelligence (AI) models, Google on Tuesday launched its AI assistant Gemini’s mobile app in India.
The Gemini app is now available in India, supporting English and nine languages — Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
The app allows users to type, talk, or even add an image to get the assistance they need.
“We’re also adding these local languages to Gemini Advanced, plus other new features, and launching Gemini in Google Messages in English,” Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai posted on X social media platform.
According to the company, Gemini Advanced users in India can now access the power of Gemini 1.5 Pro, its most advanced model, in nine languages.
“Additionally, we’re unlocking new features in Gemini Advanced such as new data analysis capabilities and file uploads, and also launching the ability to chat with Gemini in Google Messages, starting in English,” said Amar Subramanya, Vice President,
Engineering, Gemini Experiences.On iOS, Gemini access is rolling out directly from the Google app over the next few weeks.
With a 1 million token context window, Gemini Advanced now has the longest context of any widely available consumer chatbot worldwide.
“We’re also introducing Gemini in Google Messages to give you another way to collaborate with Gemini on your phone,” said the company.
Amy Froelich and her wife Marla have been Airbnb, Inc. hosts since 2015. They started in Iowa City, Iowa, and continued on to Madison, Wisconsin, where they own a four-bedroom home in a lush neighborhood within walking distance of trails and shops. On weeks their house isn’t rented out, they open it up for free home swaps through HomeExchange—an online travel hack they stumbled onto three years ago that lets them leverage their place for free accommodations elsewhere. (Also Read | Tourist footfall reaches 1 crore-mark in Goa; visitors flocking even in monsoon: Tourism Minister)
Offering your home in exchange for a stay at someone else’s place is far from a new concept, but this oft-forgotten segment of the travel industry is booming amid high inflation.
“We were just in a home exchange outside of Glasgow, Scotland. This beautiful couple, Claire and Michael, greeted us at the door with homemade bread that she’d just pulled out of the oven,” says Amy Froelich, speaking to Bloomberg from the UK, a day after her stay concluded. The hosts couldn’t vacate on the agreed dates, but they offered the couple up a loft area with a master bedroom and en suite bath. In exchange, they’ll get to stay at the Froelichs’ home at a future date of their choosing. “It’s much more than monetary value,” says Froelich. “We departed as lifelong friends.”
Now catch your favourite game on Crickit. Anytime Anywhere. Find out how
Offering your home in exchange for a stay at someone else’s place is far from a new concept, but this oft-forgotten segment of the travel industry is booming amid high inflation, the normalization of remote work and skyrocketing hotel rates. Also contributing to the trend is increased frustration with short-term rentals and the growing regulation of rental homes in major cities.
In conversations with four home exchange companies, all reported either double- or triple-digit growth in 2023, compared with the previous year, based on the number of members or home swaps made on their platforms.
Kindred, an invitation-only membership platform founded in 2022 with access to 30,000 homes in 100 cities, saw home swaps grow by 800% year-over-year in 2023. The San Francisco-based startup has raised $26 million; early investors include Andreessen Horowitz, the same firm that contributed $112 million to Airbnb’s Series B funding round in 2011. (Bloomberg LP, which owns Bloomberg Businessweek, is an investor in Andreessen Horowitz.)
The model of Kindred is similar to those of pioneers such as HomeExchange and Third Home in that users earn “credits” for hosting other members in their homes; credits can then be redeemed for stays elsewhere. Kindred’s twist is that it doesn’t charge an annual membership fee; it makes money mostly from service fees.
HomeExchange, founded in 1992, experienced a 53% jump in swaps in 2023; it has more than 170,000 members in 140 countries. In 2022, it added a premium tier to its standard $220 annual membership; for $1,000, HomeExchange Collection opens the door to 5,000 luxury homes that average $2.5 million in value. Think urban penthouses, castles and wilderness retreats.
That move challenges ThirdHome’s competitive advantage as a platform exclusively for luxury homeowners; its 17,500 vacation homes in 100 countries are worth a minimum of $500,000 and top out in excess of $50 million, including yachts. Membership costs $295, with service fees for each swap ranging from $495 to $1,395 per week. It, too, has grown: Members increased by 41% and exchanges by 16% in 2013, compared with 2022.
“We’re growing, we’re hiring people and we’ve been profitable for five years now,” says Wade Shealy, who started ThirdHome in 2010 with a portfolio that consisted of a couple of friends’ homes.
Where home swapping struggles is in reputation. Many view it as an unglamorous option for budget-strapped travelers, with risks of property damage. Insiders, however, have realized—and this has propelled the sector’s growth—that the opposite can be true when swapping members are well vetted.
A Human Connection
Rachel Lipson says her family of four has saved tens of thousands of dollars since she started swapping her Brooklyn, New York, home in 2022. She uses the Barcelona-based, invitation-only home exchange platform Behomm, which charges a €380 ($407) annual membership fee and focuses on the homes of creative people and design lovers.
“I found it a little overwhelming at first,” says Lipson. “How am I going to let some random person stay in my house? It was hard to trust that it was going to be OK.”
When she received an initial swap request from a Behomm member located in Marrakesh, Morocco, the day before her family was to visit Los Angeles, Lipson decided to hear it out. “We did FaceTime just so we could talk—and we felt really good about it, so we said yes,” she says. The family stayed in her home while she was at a hotel in LA. On spring break the following year, Lipson’s family stayed at that member’s house in Marrakesh.
So far, Lipson’s family has swapped homes with members in 16 destinations, including Paris; Montreal; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Cancun, Mexico; and Reykjavik, Iceland. When preferred dates aren’t available, Lipson looks at hotels and Airbnb. “Some of these homes, you wouldn’t find them for rent,” she says. “And it’s like staying at a friend’s place while they’re out of town. You really get to know people, and that’s an experience that I’ve never had with Airbnb or hotels. It’s really its own thing.”
An Evolving Lodging Scene
If the economy goes down, ThirdHome sees its inventory goes up, says Shealy. “About half of our members have their vacation homes on short-term rental platforms, and if they’re not renting them out as much, they get more availability to throw it into the system.”
To raise awareness, ThirdHome is now offering a free yearlong membership to people who are buying new vacation homes at, say, Rosewood or St. Regis resorts. Developers report that the perk is helping them close additional transactions. “We get about 500 new members a month right now, just from our [commercial real estate] partnerships,” Shealy adds.
Kindred, by contrast, is more concentrated in big cities; it has enjoyed the most significant growth in Los Angeles, New York and London. “I can’t say if it’s necessarily because of Airbnb getting pushed out,” says Justine Palefsky, who co-founded the company in order to facilitate a multicity lifestyle that didn’t require taking out multiple mortgages.
Even if short-term rentals remain legal in some of these markets, Palefsky says she’s seen members gravitate to Kindred because they’ve grown tired of Airbnb and its competitors. High prices and a desire to get value from their homes “without feeding the beast of the vacation rental,” she says, is forcing consumers to seek out alternatives.
Airbnb Inc. denies that its appeal has become diluted. “With over 7.7 million listings and over 1.5 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe, we believe we give travelers the option to experience local communities in many more places than any other travel site, while providing important safeguards to help protect their trip,” a spokesperson said.
Weighing the Risks
As do Kindred, ThirdHome and HomeExchange, Behomm’s founder insists that care is taken to ensure that each member is vetted, from verifying identity documents to screening home photos, among other security measures.
Still, home exchanges can be trying. Finding a home swap in your chosen location can be time consuming, and availability is far from guaranteed.
“I probably spent three hours just sending requests,” says Marla Froelich of her hunt for accommodations in Scotland.
Frequent swappers say mishaps can happen—spilling wine on a designer couch or placing an electric kettle on a stove—but tend to be quickly resolved. The bigger risk in swaps is major property damage or bodily harm while a guest is looking after a home.
A number of home swapping platforms offer host protection, covering up to $100,000 in damages on Kindred to $5 million on ThirdHome. And some homeowners and rental policies include coverage for damage by third parties, as well.
Those who navigate these finer points can find home swapping an open door to nearly free stays in some of the world’s most coveted destinations.
In September, for instance, the Froelichs will head to Bali, Indonesia. A family from Australia that spent a week at their home a year ago via HomeExchange offered a swap at their family’s vacation home in Indonesia. “We told them we couldn’t make it [to Bali] for at least another year, and they were like, ‘We don’t care when you come, just tell us. Our driver will take you wherever you want, we’ll set you up with anything.’” That’s more than even most luxury hotels offer.
Sony is about to release the PlayStation Plus Extra games for June 2024. The ten new PS Plus Extra games include the likes of Monster Hunter Rise and Football Manager 2024, as well as LEGO Hobbit and Anno 1800. The next batch of PS Plus Extra releases have a June 18 launch date and an estimated 11am BST UK release time. However, despite Sony making an additional ten PS4 and PS5 games available on PS Plus Extra, it could be argued that the service will get a massive downgrade. That’s because more than a dozen games are leaving the service on June 18, including Rockstar’s open-world masterpiece GTA 5 and Grand Theft Auto Online. (It’s also worth remembering that EA Sports FC 24 is leaving the PS Plus Essentials line-up on June 18.)
Indeed, if you haven’t finished the Grand Theft Auto 5 campaign, then you have a late night ahead if you want to get it finished.
Likewise, there’s no more Grand Theft Auto Online unless you’re willing to shell out for the full version from the PlayStation Store.
It’s a shame, because GTA 5 is definitely one of the biggest blockbusters available on PS Plus Extra, and one of the few wins Sony has over Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription.
Other big games leaving PS Plus Extra on June 18 include SpongeBob SquarePants Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated, Brothers A Tale of Two Sons, Slime Rancher and MotoGP 23.
That’s on top of Telling Lies, Monster Jam Steel Titans, Unturned, DC League of Super-Pets The Adventures of Krypto and Ace, Dodgeball Academia, The Talos Principle, The Wild at Heart, Indivisible and Baja Edge of Control.
Of course, it’s not all bad news, because there are some decent games joining the line-up, including Monster Hunter Rise.
Originally released for Nintendo Switch, the Monster Hunter release earned an impressive 88% average review score on Metacritic.
Other games joining PS Plus Extra include Far Cry 4, Football Manager 2024, Crusader Kings 3, Anno 1800, Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 6, After Us, Police Simulator, LEGO: The Hobbit and LEGO Incredibles.
Premium subscribers can also play the likes of Kayak VR, LEGO Star Wars 2, Ghosthunter and Daxter.
It’s nice to see Sony continue to make PSVR 2 games available on PS Plus Premium, which previously only featured retro games.
Kayak VR is an absolutely stunning virtual reality release, and one of the more relaxing games on the system.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) dealers in Canada are reportedly gearing up for joint legal action in response to the company’s move to an electric-only lineup for the Jaguar brand.
This strategy shift will see the brand repositioned as a more exclusive marque with higher prices and a smaller lineup.
A shift upmarket will likely mean lower volume and fewer dealers, something Carscoops reports has drawn the ire of JLR’s Canadian dealer network and kickstarted intentions to file a joint lawsuit against the company.
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Jaguar has reportedly planned to lower its sales targets from 8000 units per year to just 700, which would bring with it a transition to an online retail model.
Dealers have been attempting to resolve that issue with JLR Canada branch, though they’re reportedly prepared to take legal action if a resolution isn’t reached in the coming weeks.
JLR’s dealer numbers have increased since 2013, when the company announced a global expansion plan and its goal to sell one million units globally. That plan attracted Canadian dealers, with annual sales goals of 12,000 for Land Rover and 8000 for Jaguar set in the country.
Jaguar I-Pace
Dealerships invested in expansions that would allow both brands to be sold under the same roof, with an estimate of around US$20 million (A$30.3 million) typically spent on upgrades.
Dealers managed to sell 4620 Jaguars in 2017, but that number fell to 1118 in 2023.
Canadian dealers are reportedly uncertain the brand will be able to meet the updated goal of 700 units.
Jaguar’s first EV in its upmarket transition is expected to be revealed this year ahead of a 2025 market debut, though it’s set to cost upwards of US$125,000 (A$190,000).
In light of the proposed lower volumes, dealers in the United States have been offered the chance to drop the Jaguar portion of their franchises in return for additional allocations of Land Rovers.
Final Jaguar F-Type
Carscoops reports a similar strategy was being employed in Canada, which included the ability to retain servicing and the sale of certified used Jaguars.
That offer has not been taken positively by Canadian dealers, likely as a result of the significant investment in their dealerships over the past 10 years.
Then-JLR CEO Thierry Bollore announced in February 2021 that Jaguar would become a more exclusive, EV-only brand by 2025 and swung the axe on what was supposed to be the first electric XJ.
The entire Jaguar lineup is in the process of being phased out, with the brand looking beyond the German-dominated luxury segment and towards the likes of ultra-luxury brands like Bentley.
MORE: Jaguar is finally set to reveal the first car in its EV transformation MORE: Jaguar reveals its last-ever petrol-powered sports car, bound for a museum
Out of these 156 helicopters the Defence Ministry is looking to procure, 90 are for the Indian Army, while 66 are for the Indian Air Force.
Defence equipment manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics shares gained five per cent in early trade on June 18
Defence equipment manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics shares gained five per cent in early trade on June 18, after the state-run firm received a ‘Request For Proposal’ from the Ministry of Defence. The scrip surged nearly 6 per cent to its all-time high of Rs 5,484.20 on BSE in Tuesday’s trade.
HAL has notified that a RFP has been issued to the company by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for procurement of 156 LCH Prachand or Light Combat Helicopters (90 for the Indian Army and 66 for the Indian Air Force).
As on March 31, 2024, HAL’s order book stood in excess of Rs 94,000 crore with additional major orders expected during FY 2024-25, the company had said on April 1.
HAL, with a robust order book and accelerated delivery plan, is expected to sustain and improve the growth trajectory and support the Indian Defence services in their endeavor towards Defence preparedness of the country, the company had said.
Meanwhile, the stock is quoting higher for the ninth straight trading day, having rallied 26 per cent during the same period. It has rebounded 40 per cent from a low of Rs 3,918.50 touched on June 5 in the intraday trade.
Thus far in the calendar year 2024, the market price of HAL has nearly doubled, zooming 96 per cent. In comparison, the BSE Sensex has gained 6.7 per cent during the period.
Estimated value of 156 LCH is Rs 45,000-50,000 crore. The contract will be placed with HAL after the negotiation process. The company has already delivered the initial 15 LCH contract received in FY22. The company’s order backlog (Rs 94000 crore at 3.1x FY24 revenue) and order pipeline remains robust. Including this contract, management has been guiding for order inflows worth Rs 1.6-1.7 trillion in the next 2-3 years where the government has already provided approvals, ICICI Securities said in a note.
HAL is engaged in carrying out design, development, manufacture, repair, and overhaul of aircraft, helicopter, engines and related systems like avionics, instruments and accessories primarily serving Indian defence programme. It also manufactures structural parts of various satellite launch vehicles of the Indian Space Research Organization (Isro).
The Government of India held majority stake of 71.64 per cent in the company, while 1.89 per cent was held by the Life Insurance Corporation of India as on March 31, 2024.
The government’s initiatives for promoting domestic manufacturing and HAL’s established relationship with its customers is expected to continue to benefit HAL in the long run, though there might be some increase in the competition from the private sector.
CARE Ratings believes that HAL will continue to benefit from its strategic importance to the Indian defence forces resulting in maintaining its leadership position in the Indian Aerospace and Defence industry supported by long track record of operations and high entry barriers along with maintaining its highly comfortable financial risk profile.
On June 14, HAL bagged a ‘buy’ call from Jefferies and a target price of Rs 5,725 apiece, indicating a 12 percent upside potential due to its focus on indigenisation and exports.
“We expect HAL to continue double-digit growth for 3-5 years as the sentiment around defence indigenisation and exports remain upbeat. HAL is in a sweet spot as the business has high technology entry barriers,” the brokerage firm said in a recent note.
Jefferies also pointed out that current valuations do not fully reflect HAL’s high entry barriers and near-monopoly status.
Disclaimer:Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Aparna Deb
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious abo…Read More
The post BAYC and Pudgy Penguins See Major Price Drops While Milady Shines appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
In the past 24 hours, NFT prices have sharply declined, with major collections like Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and Pudgy Penguins dropping below 10 ETH. Pudgy Penguins fell by 13.89% to 8.80 ETH, and BAYC dropped by 11.57% to 9.23 ETH. Adding to the turmoil, Pudgy Penguins face over 130 liquidation auctions on Blend.
However, the Milady NFTs are on the rise, with a 7.80% jump within 24 hours and a floor price of 4.88 ETH.
Though most content is static, interactive content usually delivers better results.
Interactive content saw 52.6% more engagement than static content, according to an analysis of content engagement data by Mediafly. It also found that buyers, on average, spent 53% more time on interactive content (13 minutes) than static content (8.5 minutes).
And still, only 14% of marketers surveyed by HubSpot said they want to try interactive polls and games in 2024.
Maybe they (and you?) just need a little push — some inspiration to deliver those quizzes, polls, games, and more.
Creative agencies delivering interactive content for their clients offer examples, tools, and suggestions on how to do it well.
Give your audience a calculator or a game
Banish Media designed an interactive mortgage calculator that lets potential homebuyers estimate their monthly payments based on different scenarios. Quiz takers provided their email addresses to receive personalized reports and generate leads for real estate firms.
The agency’s Banish Anguralsays they used Outgrow to build the calculator for a real estate client.
Here’s an example of how it worked. (Client confidentiality prevents Banish Media from sharing the actual calculator.) Users answer several questions, including gross monthly income, amount paid in taxes, and cost of medical and insurance payments every month, and the dot moves to the appropriate place in the dollar range. In the column on the right, users can see the money available for total monthly income, expenses, and money available for savings.
Users can also submit their information if they want someone from the real estate company to contact them. Plus, they can share the results with someone else by email.
For a client in the wellness industry, Banish Media used Typeform to create a quiz. Visitors provided their preferences, health goals, and contact information in exchange for personalized recommendations.
Games also work well when they align with clients’ retail marketing strategies. Banish recently used Gamify to create a mix-and-match game where players could earn product discounts. Brands benefit from increased user engagement, time on site, lead generation, and sales.
“Incorporating these tools into a content strategy involves deeply understanding audience’s preferences and behaviors,” Banish says.
Just ask The New York Times, which bought Wordle, and LinkedIn’s recent foray into the power of games to attract and retain users on its site.
Poll your visitors and followers
David LaVine, founder of RocLogic Marketing, uses the WordPress plugin Forminator to create polls on his website to better understand the interests and needs of his potential customers.
In this poll example, he asks respondents what aspect of inbound marketing they need the most help with. He also gives them something in return — a glimpse at how their peers voted. Publicly displaying results can help poll takers see how their thoughts or actions measure up against others in the industry.
David also publishes the poll results in his content and gives his take, as he did in this article about the obstacles in selecting a niche. “It forces me to sharpen my thinking on the topic and allows me to provide my perspective,” he says.
Don’t forget about the embedded polling features on social media, too. Alexis Quintal, CEO of Rosarium PR & Marketing Collective, says the simplicity of LinkedIn’s polls lets users get immediate and actionable data.
Her client, Paul Muchowski, used it as a research tool for future content. The developer of a CBD supplement for sleep asked respondents which aspect of sleep they would like to improve. LinkedIn users could pick sleep quality (56%), sleep duration (17%), ease of falling asleep (17%), and energy upon waking (11%).
“These polls not only engage at a higher rate compared to standard text posts, but they also provide a quick and creative way to gather valuable insights from your network,” Alexis says.
Since LinkedIn polling lets the creator see how each person voted, you can look more closely at the voters’ profiles and better understand who engaged with your content.
Turn text into videos and games
LinkedIn polling and Typeform-created quizzes work for Michigan Creative. But their custom landing pages with videos work well, too, says agency CEO Brian Town.
In this example, Michigan Creative displays four videos — CHI Aviation brand video, Wieland core values, ICC interview video, and Sanctum House testimonial — of varying lengths.
Then, it asks the viewer for their favorite video, name, and email address.
Brian says once they submit their preference, Michigan Creative sends an email that starts with, “Great choice! We love that style, too …” and asks the recipient to schedule a meeting with the team.
“This interactive approach not only engaged viewers but also provided us with insights into their preferences and needs, enabling us to tailor our follow-up communications more effectively,” Brian says.
Tom Jauncey, self-proclaimed head nerd at Nautilus Marketing, says the agency finds that interactive videos perform well. Tools like Playbuzz and Wirewax (now part of Vimeo) let viewers make choices that influence the video’s outcome. For example, an educationally driven company could create multiple learning modules and let the viewers’ choices trigger which one is shown.
The augmented reality (AR) tool Zappar helps Nautilus Marketing take its retail clients to a new world. They create interactive experiences that allow virtual try-ons and give additional product information.
The agency also uses the Ceros platform to gamify content. For one client, it created fitness-related mini-games that encouraged users to achieve their daily exercise goals. Tom says that playing prompted a 60% increase in user engagement compared to non-interactive content and a 45% boost in retention over its non-game content.
Align interactive content with your marketing and distribution strategies
Lyn Collanto, marketing specialist at KBA Web, says whatever option you consider, be strategic. “The key is to choose the right tool for the job and ensure that the interactive elements align with the overall strategy and user journey,” she says.
KBA Web created a Typeform quiz for a marketing automation client called “What’s Your Digital Marketing Superpower?” Once marketers took the quiz, they received personalized recommendations for tools and strategies. It increased lead generation by 150% and boosted social media engagement by 30%.
Using Apester, KBA Web developed a series of interactive polls and quizzes that asked about users’ dream destinations, travel preferences, and bucket-list experiences. Embedding the quizzes and polls in its travel industry client’s blog posts and destination guides led to a 35% improvement in time on page and a 200% increase in social shares.
The distribution strategy for interactive content often determines its fate. Lyn explains the channels KBA Web uses:
Website and blog integration. Place a quiz within relevant content to provide users with an interactive experience that complements the topic.
Email. Promote quizzes through targeted email campaigns. Segment your email list based on relevant criteria, like interests, past behaviors, or stages in the buyer’s journey.
Content syndication. Promote the quizzes on other relevant websites and platforms. KBA reaches out to sites where the target audience requests and asks them to feature the quiz or other interactive content on their site.
Don’t forget to add social media channels into your distribution mix, says Rahul Vij, managing director of Webspero Solutions. The agency recently used Google Forms to create a quiz called “Discover Your Perfect Workout in 5 Minutes!” The social posts included a quiz link and an image of someone happily exercising.
Though he can’t share the specific results due to client confidentiality, Rahul says the quiz captured significant leads and provided valuable user data.
Engage in your content
You don’t need to say goodbye to static content in your marketing mix just yet. But you should start brainstorming how to turn visitors into active content participants.
Start simply: Use the embedded features on social media and see how your audience engages. If that goes well, invest in tools to create polls, quizzes, and games you can distribute on your websites, blogs, and social media channels.
Given that only 14% of marketers are thinking about interactive content this year, you will get out in front by actually doing it. Your analytics (and your audience) will thank you.
All tools mentioned in this article were suggested by a contributor to the article. If you’d like to suggest a tool, share the article on social media with a comment.
Bring your team to Content Marketing World this October for inspiration, ideas, and actionable advice on developing and executing a strategy that drives profit for your business. Group rates are available. Register today.
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Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the government would take strong actions against functionaries of the National Testing Agency (NTA) if they were found to be involved in irregularities in the conduct of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), 2024.
Pradhan made this statement during his visit to Sambalpur in Odisha on Sunday. He said two types of irregularities in the conduct of NEET have come to the limelight.
As per preliminary information, grace marks have been awarded to some students as they were dissatisfied as they were allotted less time than the prescribed duration, he said.
The government has disapproved the grace marks, and directed re-examination for 1,563 students as per the Supreme Court order, the education minister said.
“Additional wrongdoings have also come to the fore in two locations. I assure both students and parents that the government has taken the issue very seriously. We will take it to a logical end,” he said.
If any officials including senior functionaries of NTA are found guilty, they will not be spared and strong action will be taken against them, he said.
Also read: 74 students scored centum in NEET UG since inception, 91% of them cleared the exam in 2024
The union education minister also advocated for reforms in the NTA.
“A lot of reforms are required in NTA’s functioning though it is an autonomous institution. The government is concerned about this. I want to reassure that no culprit will be spared, strict action will be taken against them,” he added.
The NEET-UG examination, which is the gateway for admission to undergraduate-level medical courses in India, was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centres across 571 cities in India. The results were declared on June 4.
After the results were declared, parents and teachers began questioning the grace marks awarded to 1,563 students.
Ahead of America’s election in November, company bosses, financiers and diplomats are busy calling on Donald Trump’s allies, trying to divine the economic policies the former president will pursue if he is re-elected. But there is one man in Mr Trump’s orbit who holds more sway than most and who, for now, is virtually inaccessible. That is because he is inmate number 04370-510 in the Federal Correctional Institution of Miami.
Peter Navarro, a leading economic adviser in Mr Trump’s first administration, is more than halfway through a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress. He bristles with indignation at the justice system, disdains Joe Biden’s record and longs to steer America towards hardline protectionism. In written correspondence with The Economist, Mr Navarro has laid out how he thinks Mr Trump should approach trade—from turning up the heat on China to slapping tariffs on just about everyone else. It is a dark, angry vision for the global economy. As polls stand, it is one Mr Navarro may shortly be able to promote from inside the White House.
Today’s Wordle answer shouldn’t be too tough, but if you need help, read on. We’ve ranked all the letters in the alphabet by popularity if you want to use this list to decide on your best start words.
Every day, we’ll post hints and then the answer for the current day’s Wordle, just in case you need it.
And do you play the NYT Connections game? We’ve got today’s Connections answer too.
We’ve also got today’s answer for Strands, a new game from the Times that’s still in beta, and some tips for how to play that game.
Today’s Wordle hints
Warning: If you keep reading, you’ll see the Wordle answer for Tuesday, June 18, puzzle No. 1095. That could be a devastating spoiler for some players. But if you just need the answer — maybe you’re on your last guess and just don’t want to see a 900-game streak go poof — keep reading.
Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats
Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.
Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels
There are two vowels in today’s Wordle answer.
Wordle hint No. 3: Start letter
Today’s Wordle answer starts with the letter C.
Wordle hint No. 4: First meaning
Today’s Wordle answer can describe the front of a book.
Wordle hint No. 5: Second meaning
Today’s Wordle answer can also refer to the act of putting something over something else.
TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER
Here comes the spoiler: Today’s Wordle answer is COVER.
Yesterday’s Wordle answer
Yesterday’s Wordle answer, June 17, No. 1094, was PRIOR.
Past Wordle answers
June 13, No. 1090: ANGST
June 14, No. 1091: VAULT
June 15, No. 1092: PROUD
June 16, No. 1093: GRIND
Everyday Wordle tips
I’ve written a lot about Wordle — from covering its 1,000th word to my list of the best starter words to a helpful two-step strategy to news about controversial word changes. I’ve even rounded up what I learned playing the hit online word puzzle for a full year. So if you’re rethinking your need for the actual answer, you might try tips from one of those stories.
Still need a starter word? One person told me they just look around and choose a five-letter object that they’ve spotted to use as their starter word — such as COUCH or CHAIR. I tend to stick to starter words that have the most popular letters used in English words. I like TRAIN as a starter, though I have a friend who uses TRAIL. I’ve read that people use the financial term ROATE, but I like to use words I actually know.
What is Wordle?
If you read this far, you know how to play. You have six chances to guess a five-letter word, and the game gives you feedback as to whether the letters you’ve guessed are in the puzzle or not, and if they’re in the same spot where you guessed they are. The New York Times bought the game from creator Josh Wardle for seven figures in 2022. Wardle famously created the game for his partner, and let her narrow down the 12,000 five-letter words in the English language to just 2,500, creating the database of answers. It was convenient, too, that he has a name that plays off “word.”
A Times spokesperson told me it lists the very first Wordle as appearing on June 19, 2021, and the paper celebrated the game’s 1,000th word on March 15. Spoiler: That 1,000th word was ERUPT. As in, “Dad will erupt if the Wordle is so tough he loses his streak.”
There are other fun games in the Times Games stable. My latest addiction is Connections, which I think is trickier than Wordle. This is the game where you look at a grid of 16 words and try to put them into four groups of related words. Sometimes the relationships between the words are pretty out there — like the time when it was four words that all began with rock bands, such as “Rushmore” and “journeyman.” (Connections got a little sassy on April Fools’ Day with an all-emoji puzzle. Some gamers did NOT find that funny.)
Read more: Today’s NYT Connections answer and hints
Spelling Bee is a popular Times game too. And there’s a new game that’s still in beta, Strands, which I’m trying to master.
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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — affects around 3.1 million U.S. adults.
The disease can cause debilitating symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, blood in the stool and more.
Now, researchers at the U.K.’s Francis Crick Institute, working with UCL and Imperial College London, have discovered a genetic component — referred to as a “weak spot” in the DNA — that is present in 95% of those living with the disorder.
FIRST-EVER AUGMENTED REALITY ABDOMINAL SURGERY PERFORMED IN CHILE: ‘A REVOLUTION’
The study, published in the journal Nature earlier this month, identified a section of DNA that boosts the activity of a gene called ETS2.
ETS2 has been linked to inflammatory functions that increase the chances of IBD.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can cause debilitating symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, blood in the stool and more. (iStock)
Rosario Ligresti, M.D., chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, was not involved in the research but called the findings “quite important.”
CANCER PREVENTION IN THE ESOPHAGUS COULD BE JUST A PILL AWAY, DOCTOR SAYS: ‘TREMENDOUS BENEFIT’
“The researchers finally showed that all autoimmune and inflammatory disease — including IBD — appear to be caused by a single gene, ETS2,” he told Fox News Digital.
“The research identified this gene as a central regulator of a type of inflammatory cell called the macrophage, which is the main inflammatory cell in all these processes.”
“IBD usually develops in young people and can cause severe symptoms that disrupt education, relationships, family life and employment.”
“The more the gene was ‘turned on’ or amplified, the greater the risk of inflammation. Without this gene, these cells do not ‘turn on’ and there is no IBD.”
While diet and stress have long been suspected to worsen IBD, the exact “‘molecular switch’ that activates inflammatory bowel disease has been unknown until now,” Ligresti noted.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — affects around 3.1 million U.S. adults.(iStock)
“This discovery is so exciting and significant because it only gives us a better understanding of the inner workings of the disease, and it will allow researchers to adapt existing drugs to finally treat it,” added Ligresti.
The research team is now investigating drugs that could reduce the activity of the ETS2 gene, thus reducing the occurrence of IBD.
HERE’S WHY YOU’RE BLOATED — AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE COMMON DIGESTIVE CONDITION
They found that a group of existing anti-inflammatory medications called MEK inhibitors could do the trick.
“Although there have been many factors suggested as risks for IBD, there is currently no way to prevent the onset of IBD,” Ligresti said.
“The researchers finally showed that all autoimmune and inflammatory disease — including IBD — appear to be caused by a single gene, ETS2,” a researcher (not pictured) told Fox News Digital.(iStock)
“We do know, however, that inflammatory pathways in the body are likely activated at least five years before the onset of symptoms of IBD.”
Ideally, he said, patients at increased risk could be given a drug during this window of time that could “nip IBD in the bud.”
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While more research is needed to find ways to deliver these MEK inhibitors to the target cells, Ligresti noted that this finding opens a “tantalizing door” to the future of very effective therapies to “shut off” inflammatory bowel disease.
The research team is now investigating drugs that could reduce the activity of the ETS2 gene, thus reducing the occurrence of IBD.(iStock)
James Lee, group leader of the Genetic Mechanisms of Disease Laboratory at the Crick, who led the research, agreed that better treatments are “urgently needed.”
“IBD usually develops in young people and can cause severe symptoms that disrupt education, relationships, family life and employment,” Lee said in a Crick press release.
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“Using genetics as a starting point, we’ve uncovered a pathway that appears to play a major role in IBD and other inflammatory diseases,” he said.
“Excitingly, we’ve shown that this can be targeted therapeutically, and we’re now working on how to ensure this approach is safe and effective for treating people in the future.”
Inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, often occur early in life, experts say.(iStock)
Lauren Golightly, 27, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2018 after experiencing stomach cramps, bleeding and irregular bowel habits, according to the release.
“I’ve had a rocky road since diagnosis, with many hospital admissions, several different medications and even surgery to have a temporary stoma bag,” she said in the release.
“I still experience flare-ups and can still spend quite a bit of time in hospital.”
She also said, “Learning about this research is so exciting and encouraging. I am hopeful this could potentially make a difference for myself and so many other hundreds of thousands of people living with IBD.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for additional comment.
I remember the day I decided to quit caffeine. My morning tea had become more of a dependency than a delight. The perpetual feelings of highs and lows were taking a toll on my productivity and overall well-being. In a world that runs on coffee, tea and energy drinks, the decision to quit caffeine can feel dreadful. But, at the end of the day, it is rewarding. Quitting caffeine is not just about removing our favourite drinks from our lifestyle but gradually managing our withdrawal symptoms and finding new sources of energy. If you are thinking about quitting caffeine, you are not alone. This guide can help acknowledge what the pitfalls are and make your journey a little smoother. Here are five common mistakes to avoid while quitting caffeine.
Also Read: How Many Cups of Coffee Should You Drink Daily? We Find Out!
Photo Credit: iStock
Here Are 5 Mistakes To Avoid While Quitting Caffeine
1. Quitting Cold Turkey
Many people aim to quit caffeine suddenly thinking it’s the fastest way to break the habit. While it may work for some, going cold turkey can lead to several withdrawal symptoms like headaches, irritability, and extreme fatigue. Instead of leaving caffeine abruptly, gradually decrease your caffeine intake. For example, if you drink three cups of coffee a day, bring it down to two, and eventually to one. Better still, you can switch to drinking decaffeinated versions of coffee. This gradual decrease can allow your body to adjust to a new routine.
2. Not Being Mindful Of Withdrawal Symptoms
If you consume a lot of caffeine, then underestimating the intensity of withdrawal symptoms can lead to a quick relapse. As mentioned above, caffeine withdrawal can lead to mood swings, drowsiness, headaches, and difficulty concentrating. To tackle this, plan your caffeine reduction during a time when you can afford to go slow, preferably on a weekend or during a less demanding period at work. Having painkillers can also help you manage the symptoms as they arise.
3. Overlooking Hidden Caffeine Sources
Just cutting down on tea and coffee won’t help you in this journey. In fact, you need to identify hidden sources of caffeine as well. Chocolates, certain medications, or even soft drinks can contain caffeine. To prevent yourself from derailing from your journey, read on to know all the potential sources of caffeine. Skim through food labels mindfully as they might contain caffeine. Choose caffeine-free alternatives to ensure you are not consuming it indirectly.
Photo Credit: iStock
4. Not Hydrating Yourself
Hydrating yourself from time to time is important to have a healthy body. But did you know that not drinking enough water while reducing your caffeine dependency can amp up your withdrawal symptoms? Caffeine is a diuretic and quitting it can change your hydration levels. In fact, make a conscious effort to drink more water throughout the day. Set water hydration reminders for every half an hour. Always carry a reusable bottle with you. Staying well-hydrated can help reduce headaches and fatigue. Herbal teas, coconut water, and other hydration beverages can help support your body through this transition.
5. Not Changing Your Lifestyle
Nothing changes if nothing changes. Don’t use caffeine as an excuse for your poor sleep, lack of exercise or an unhealthy diet. In fact, focus on improving your overall lifestyle. Make sure you are getting enough sound sleep every night. Make sure to incorporate regular exercise into your routine as it can naturally boost your energy levels. Don’t compromise on your diet and eat as nutritious food as you can!
Also Read: What Is Decaf Coffee? Is It A Good Idea To Replace Regular Coffee With It?
Is there any other mistake to avoid while quitting caffeine? Let us know in the comments below!
Broadway’s biggest stars descended on Lincoln Center in Manhattan on Sunday for the Tony Awards, an annual celebration of all the people — casts, crews and creatives — who make live theater the spectacle that it is. Since many attendees spend most of the week in costumes, the Tonys was also a chance to get dressed up and showcase personal style.
The red carpet — technically a shade of blue — was packed with A-listers, a reflection of the star-studded productions that have recently overtaken Broadway. Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Sarah Paulson, Billy Porter and Nicole Scherzinger were among the celebrities who graced the awards show this year.
Purple might have been the color of the evening, with several attendees incorporating shades of it into their ensembles. Men and women alike embraced bows, which appeared around some people’s necks and at the shoulders or waists of others. Of all the outfits, the following 17 stood out the most — for better or worse.
Elle Fanning: Most Femme Fatale!
Instead of a shirt, the actress, a star of the play “Appropriate,” wore a silver necklace beneath her sleek Saint Laurent tuxedo jacket.
Brooke Shields: Most Sunny and Sensible!
The actress, who recently had foot surgery, wore a pair of jaunty yellow Crocs that matched her Monique Lhuillier gown.
Ariana DeBose: Most Mosaic!
Some might say the Oscar de la Renta dress worn by the actress and Tonys host — which had stained-glass motif like that of the gown Lauren Sanchez wore to the Met Gala — “did the thing.”
Jeremy Strong: Most Sumptuous!
The actor, a star of “An Enemy of the People,” went with a softer take on formal wear by paring a Western-inspired ribbon tie with a velvety Loro Piana jacket in a dark shade of brown, a color he is known to favor.
Lance McAdams, Rachel McAdams and Sandra McAdams: Most McAdams Family!
The “Mary Jane” actress arrived to the Tonys on the arms of her parents, whose outfits complimented the palette of Ms. McAdams’s silver-and-black Givenchy gown.
Cynthia Erivo: Most Glinda!
Though Ms. Erivo will be starring as the witch Elphaba in the forthcoming film adaptation of “Wicked,” her glittering gold Louis Vuitton gown conjured the sparkly style of Glinda, Elphaba’s rival turned friend.
Vivienne Jolie and Angelina Jolie: Most Nepo Black Tie!
The daughter and mother, both of whom were on the production team of “The Outsiders,” were in stylish harmony on the carpet. Ms. Jolie chose a velvet Atelier Versace gown in a teal shade that contrasted well with her daughter’s darker, men’s-wear-inspired ensemble.
Eddie Redmayne: Most Marlene Dietrich!
As a star of the “Cabaret” revival, the actor has helped bring a dose of 1930s Berlin to Broadway. At the Tonys, his Simone Rocha suit with a cape-like jacket conjured the attire of another German export: the actress Marlene Dietrich.
Ashley Park: Most Dramatic!
Amping up the show-stealing nature of the actress’s cinched Harris Reed gown was a pair of opera-length gloves that seemed fitting for the theatric occasion.
Daniel Radcliffe: Most Grimace!
Traces of the McDonald’s mascot — whose purple visage has recently inspired milkshakes and footwear — could be detected in the aubergine Todd Snyder tuxedo worn by Mr. Radcliffe, a star of “Merrily We Roll Along.”
Lena Waithe: Most Sublime!
The effortless cool with which the actress wore her subtly patterned, double-breasted Louis Vuitton suit made the outfit even more eye-catching.
Bebe Neuwirth: Most Rockstar!
The actress, a star of “Cabaret,” was far from the only person to walk the carpet wearing sunglasses. But her nonchalant pairing of oversize shades with slinky gown and red platform heels gave her a certain rock-star quality.
Nikiya Mathis: Most Flourish!
Ms. Mathis, the hair and wig designer for the play “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding,” wore an hourglass-shaped mini dress by the designer Angel Ayala that had several intricate details, including a flowing cape with floral-like embellishments that was lined on the inside with red and green printed textiles.
Will Butler: Most Mick Fleetwood!
In a dark Tanner Fletcher suit with a ruffled bow tie, Mr. Butler, the songwriter for the play “Stereophonic,” channeled Fleetwood Mac co-founder Mick Fleetwood, whose band inspired the show.
Anthony Rotunno and Madison Malone Kircher contributed reporting.
The approval of Blincyto was based on results from the Phase III E1910 clinical trial, which found that the treatment significantly improved overall survival in CD19-positive, Ph-negative B-cell ALL compared to chemotherapy alone.
Hi, I’m Christopher! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my silly Russian Blue cat, Olga.
Most kittens are wild and energetic, but they grow up fast, and some reach maturity much faster than others. Olga wasn’t incredibly affectionate as a kitten, but she liked to play and got irritated if I ignored her; even loners need attention. I didn’t consider her an “old soul” until she entered adulthood and became more independent. She still looks like a young cat but seems wiser than other cats her age.
Olga isn’t less energetic, at least not to any measurable degree, but she goes through phases where she spends more time alone in another room. I didn’t know cats sometimes preferred to be alone until I adopted Olga. My Siamese cat rarely left my side unless he was trying to escape to explore the outdoors or annoyed by an obnoxious guest.
Olga’s Stare
It may be unfair to compare him to Olga since he was a different cat in every way, but I’ve only had two cats, and I think most pet owners evaluate their pets’ behavior based on past experiences. Olga is more stoic than my Siamese and only complains when she’s hungry. Since she doesn’t constantly meow, her blank stare makes her seem more thoughtful and relaxed.
Her unblinking gaze can hypnotize you, and I think hypnotists would have better luck if they used a close-up image of Olga’s eyes to put people asleep. It is fascinating to see how fast her eyes change under different lighting and emotional states and how it alters her appearance.
I see a spider on the ceiling. Will you catch it and drop it on the floor, so I can play with it?
Windowsill Waiting
When she’s waiting impatiently on the windowsill for me to feed her in the afternoon, her pupils are tiny slivers because of the sunlight streaming into my room. It’s when she looks more like a wise old soul, and it would be the best time for an artist to sculpt a rendition.
She’s Russian, but when she’s perched on the windowsill, she favors the African wildcat of ancient Egypt. She can’t take her eyes off the birdfeeder earlier in the day, but she’s only focused on me in the late afternoon before supper.
Manipulation and Intelligence
Wisdom and intelligence are difficult to evaluate in a feline, but wildlife researchers suggest manipulation is a sign of intelligence in animals. When they studied squirrels’ foraging habits, they discovered that some pretend to hide nuts when they sense other squirrels are watching them.
Then, they dash off and hide their snack in another location. Because of their deceptive tactics, squirrels are now considered more intelligent than they once were. However, I think cats, like Olga, are more manipulative. She stares at me to motivate and irritate me, and as I’ve discussed in previous articles, she employs more drastic measures when the “hungry gaze” is ignored.
Are you ready for my close-up?
She hasn’t jumped on my back in a while but leaps into the bathtub and howls or slams the blinds against the window when I’m late (in her mind) serving dinner. When I tell her it’s time to eat, her pupils dilate, her ears flatten, and she whines.
She looks more frantic and doesn’t resemble the calm, wise cat she was a few minutes before. Olga can be manipulative to get her way, but I guess I should be happy that it’s an admirable quality associated with animal intelligence.
Realty firm Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd is targeting a sharp increase in its annual sales of housing properties and industrial space to ₹8,000-10,000 crore by 2027-28 fiscal on rising demand.
Mumbai-based company sold residential properties and industrial space worth ₹2,698 crore in the last fiscal as against ₹2,268 crore in FY 2022-23.
According to the latest presentation in an investor meet, Mahindra Lifespace has mentioned about the new targetin its two verticals, residential and industrial park.
Mahindra Lifespace has been actively buying land and also partnering with landlords for development of residential properties. It has also entered into redevelopment of housing societies in Mumbai.
Financial portfolio
During the last fiscal, Mahindra Lifespace reported a marginal decline in consolidated net profit to ₹97.89 crore on lower income.
Its net profit stood at ₹101.43 crore in the preceding year.
The company’s total income fell to ₹279.12 crore last fiscal from ₹659.56 crore in 2022-23.
Also read: IFC commits $105 million to Brookfield’s 550 MW solar project in Rajasthan
Amit Sinha, Managing Director & CEO, Mahindra Lifespace Developers, had said, “We closed FY24 with our highest ever annual sales driven by successful launches throughout the year.”
On the operational front, the company recorded its highest ever pre-sales of ₹2,328 crore (saleable area – 2.47 million sq ft, RERA carpet area 1.84 million sq ft) in residential business during the last fiscal year.
The company also achieved land leasing of 119.4 acres in the industrial business for ₹370 crore.
Mahindra Lifespace is the real estate and infrastructure development business of Mahindra Group.
It has over 5,000 acres of ongoing and forthcoming projects under development/management at its integrated developments/industrial clusters across four locations.
Also read: GWEC India appoints Suzlon Group’s Girish Tanti as new chair
Um, yeah, more on his take in a bit. All of the comments above were regarding a play during Indiana’s 91-83 win over Chicago on Sunday in which Reese whacked Clark hard in the head while attempting to block a shot.
Clark was driving to the basket late in the third quarter when Reese came up from behind and took an overhand swing with her right arm. Reese appeared to have her eyes on the ball while making the move, but her arm came down hard on Clark’s face. Clark fell to the floor, and her teammates immediately rushed to help her up.
Reese was initially called for a common foul, but after review the call was changed to a flagrant-1 violation. Asked after the game if she thought it was the appropriate call, Reese said: “It was a basketball play. I can’t control the refs. They affected the game obviously a lot tonight.”
A reporter pointed out that it did look like Reese was attempting to block the ball on the play.
“I mean, I’m always going for the ball,” said Reese, who finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
During her postgame news conference, Clark was asked what she was thinking after the foul.
“What’s going through my mind? It’s, ‘I’m gonna make these two free throws.’ That’s all I’m thinking about,” said Clark, who finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. “It’s just part of basketball. It is what it is, you know, she’s trying to make a play on the ball and get the block. It happens.”
When Chicago and Indiana played earlier this month, Sky guard Chennedy Carter knocked Clark to the floor away from the ball, a play that was called as a common foul during the game but upgraded to a flagrant-1 by the league the next day.
Sides told reporters after Sunday’s game she appreciated that it didn’t take a day for a foul on Clark to be upgraded this time.
“The right call was made in that moment. Flagrant-1, two free throws and the ball,” Sides said. “Just make the right call in those moments, and we can move forward. But when we don’t make the right call in those moments, that’s when there’s a problem, and they made the right call tonight.”
Clark and Reese have been linked as rivals ever since Reese and Louisiana State defeated Clark and Iowa in the 2023 NCAA championship game. That rivalry seems to have intensified in the WNBA. Reese has been outspoken against the notion that the WNBA’s surge in popularity can be attributed to just one player (a.k.a. Clark).
During the first Fever-Sky matchup, Reese appeared to give Clark an elbow while boxing out. Clark fell to the floor on that play but was called out by some fans for exaggerating the impact of the hit. Reese was also seen enthusiastically reacting to Carter’s foul on Clark.
After Sunday’s game, Reese implied that Clark is still receiving special treatment.
“I think we went up really strong a lot of times and we didn’t get a lot of calls,” Reese said of herself and her teammates. “And going back and looking at the film, I’ve seen a lot of calls that weren’t made. I guess some people got a special whistle.”
One person who didn’t see it that way was Leinart. On X, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner said Reese’s hard foul was “not good for the game.”
Angel Reese should be suspended. Period. Not good for the game.
Leinart was largely roasted for his take on social media, as folks lumped the Fox Sports football analyst among the many new WNBA viewers who are primarily Clark fans rather than fans of the sport.
Judging from her comments after the game, Clark would have disagreed with Leinart as well.
“I think it’s just the emotion and the passion that we play with,” Clark said in response to a question about why people seem drawn to her rivalry with Reese. “I think people love to see that. And I think that’s maybe not something that was always appreciated in women’s sports, and it should be. I think that’s what makes it fun.
“We’re competitors. That’s the way the game should be. It’s going to get a little feisty. It’s going to get physical. But at the end of the day, both teams are just trying to win.”
Most artificial intelligence (AI) models are being trained on datasets which are poorly designed which has undermined the quality of the end products, former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Monday.
In a post on social media platform X, the former minister said large language models’ (LLMs) “bullshit content” comes from most models being trained on content/datasets that are, “to politely use the phrase, not quality assured”.
“That is why you have the embarrassing sight of billion-dollar Gemini/ChatGPT on many occasions spewing nonsense,” said Chandrasekhar.
He was reacting to Ethan Mollick, Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in the US, who posted that the idea that “LLMs bullshit – produce content without regard to truth – is not new”.
“But I don’t think it is that helpful a framework, since, in the end, LLMs may be more accurate than humans in many tasks,” said the professor.
Chandrasekhar, former Minister of State for Electronics and IT, responded: “Garbage in, Garbage out is an old adage in programming especially if you are depending on scraping the internet”.
An X user posted that AI machines needed to be fed information and not intelligent to deconstruct or articulate like a human. “End of the day, the human mind still decides what the machine has to say,” she added.
News / Photos / Lifestyle Photos / International Picnic Day 2024: From lakeside escape to stargazing, 7 romantic summer picnic ideas for couples
Published on Jun 17, 2024 04:17 PM IST
Celebrate International Picnic Day 2024 with a romantic outdoor feast for two. Enjoy the sun, scenery and each other’s company in the perfect summer setting.
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Published on Jun 17, 2024 04:17 PM IST
International Picnic Day is celebrated every year on June 18 to enjoy the great outdoors and spend time with family and friends. There’s no more romantic way to commemorate this day than by having a picnic with your significant other and enjoying the warmth and beauty of summer.A summer picnic is the ideal opportunity to make lasting memories together, whether you want to get away from the city, discover new places or just enjoy each other’s company outdoors. Here are some fun and creative picnic ideas that are sure to ignite the romance.(Unsplash)
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Published on Jun 17, 2024 04:17 PM IST
Sunset beach picnic: There are few places that can match the captivating charm of a beach at dusk. Fill a basket with delicacies such as fresh fruit, handmade cheeses and a chilled bottle of champagne. With the sound of the waves lulling you to sleep, spread out a comfortable blanket on the smooth beach and enjoy a romantic meal as the sun sets. (Pexels)
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Published on Jun 17, 2024 04:17 PM IST
Lakeside escape: Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city with a peaceful lunch by the lake. Before settling on a quiet spot on the shore, hire a canoe or pedal boat and explore the tranquil waterways together. Pack a picnic basket with light fare such as crisp salads, finger sandwiches and rich chocolates. Add soft blankets, fragrant flowers and perhaps a small keepsake to make the occasion even more special. (Pexels)
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Published on Jun 17, 2024 04:17 PM IST
Enjoy a romantic picnic under the stars to really appreciate the magic of a starry sky. Choose a secluded spot where the stars are bright, away from city lights. Take a thermos of hot chocolate or mulled wine and a selection of gourmet treats such as charcuterie, olives and crusty bread to keep you warm as the evening wears on. Pack a telescope so you can look at the stars and keep an eye out for shooting stars so you can make wishes with them. (Pexels)
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Published on Jun 17, 2024 04:17 PM IST
Garden picnic: Turn your backyard or botanical garden into a romantic oasis with a garden picnic. Set a beautiful table surrounded by lush vegetation, blooming flowers and the delightful scent of summer blossoms. Invest in an imaginative floral picnic rug and fill a wicker basket with gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads and fruit tarts. (Pexels)
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Published on Jun 17, 2024 04:17 PM IST
Picnic on a boat: For your next outing, a boat picnic offers a novel and enjoyable alternative to the usual hassle. For a leisurely dinner on the open water, just bring a delicious spread of food and drink. No need for limited menus or reservations. You are in control when you feast on the water.(Unsplash)
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Published on Jun 17, 2024 04:17 PM IST
Hot air balloon: A picnic in a hot air balloon is a dreamy and romantic event that takes place high above the ground. You and your companion can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the countryside below as you float along with the wind. Enjoy your meal in the tranquil and beautiful atmosphere of the balloon basket as you float across the sky, creating memories for life. It’s a unique and memorable way to share a special occasion.(Pexels)
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Taylor Swift says it’s ‘humiliating’ as hand locks up during gig
Taylor Swift fans are currently enjoying the Anti-Hero singer play some of the biggest stages in the country.
With the UK leg of her Eras Tour well underway, Taylor has hit some of Great Britain’s biggest and best stadiums, including Edinburhg’s Murrayfield Stadium and Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium. And she is about to arrive at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium before finally reaching London’s Wembley Stadium.
However, fans may be interested to learn of a number of forbidden items that cannot be brought into stadiums around the country.
In research conducted by Spin Genie UK, Swifties have been warned of various objects that will be not be allowed into the upcoming Taylor Swift gigs.
While each item has been banned for various safety reasons, some of them certainly do raise an eyebrow or two. Here’s the list you need to be aware of.
Don’t miss… Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets can still be bought from a little-known website
Taylor Swift tickets are out right now. (Image: GETTY)
Celery
No, we’re serious. Celery is banned from football stadiums, such as Wembley Stadium.
In the 1980s, Chelsea fans chanted “celery” during football matches, and even started throwing the vegetable onto the pitch during games.
One horrific moment occurred when the stalk hit an Arsenal player in 2007.
Although the chant was reportedly inspired by a popular Cockney song by Chas ‘n’ Dave, the vegetable has now been banned from football grounds. So, finish your salad before you enter Taylor’s concerts.
Inflatable objects
Comical inflatable objects have been completely banned from football events and stadiums.
This ban was reportedly put in place by police due to their “potential to distract players, interfere with the game, or cause injuries”.
Don’t miss… Taylor Swift fans can get last-minute tickets for Eras Tour now
Taylor Swift is on tour in the UK. (Image: GETTY)
Noise-making devices
After their infamous amount of use during the 2010 world cup, vuvuzelas were the beginning of the end for noise-making devices at football stadiums.
Whether it’s a large rattle, a whistle, or the aforementioned South African air horn, instruments of aural chaos have been blanket banned from many of the country’s biggest stadiums.
Naturally, this ban was to prevent any distraction to the players, musicians, bands, artists, etc. And, of course, Swifties wouldn’t want to distract Taylor during her Eras Tour shows.
Balloons
Balloons are not allowed at large sporting venues as they can distract the audience, sports teams, obstruct views, and pose “safety risks”.
On top of that, they can interfere with security measures and stadium equipment if they are helium-filled and released into the ether during shows.
Drones
This probably goes without saying: But don’t bring remote-controlled drones to any of Taylor Swift’s shows.
On top of the obvious issues – such as security threats, distractions, technical difficulties, and safety problems – there is also the added issue of copyright.
Taylor’s team probably wouldn’t take too kindly to having her performance filmed by a drone during her most highly-anticipated event of the year.
Taylor Swift still has some massive London shows on the way. (Image: GETTY)
Large costumes and hats
Large novelty costumes and hats have been banned from the stadiums, but these are likely assessed on a case-by-case basis.
While a large feather hat may be looked upon kindly if it is part of an elaborate outfit, but a mascot-style over-all outfit will certainly be turned away.
Confetti and streamers
Although these may seem like harmless celebratory accessories for excited fans, they are strictly prohibited in many football stadiums.
Not only do they cause distractions for security, artists, football players, and more, they can also be hazards.
Excessive use of confetti may become a slipping hazard, leaving the stadium liable for any issues that may arise from injuries caused.
Lasers and laser pointers
To round off the list of prohibited items: Lasers and laser pointers.
These dangerous objects could be used to blind football players or musical artists at stadiums – or, indeed, other attendees.
How to buy Taylor Swift tickets for Eras Tour now
Tickets for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour are still available right now – through resale websites such as viagogo and Vivid Seats.
By looking on viagogo and Vivid Seats, resale tickets will allow fans to track down their ideal tickets for the Eras Tour.
With that said, they may be a little more expensive than you’re expecting. At the time of writing, some tickets are being priced at just over £400 for a seated ticket. Some others have been priced at just above £600.
Here’s the links you need:
VIAGOGO – Buy Taylor Swift resale tickets here.
VIVID SEATS – Buy Taylor Swift resale tickets here.
Sites such as viagogo and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans. However, it is important to note that many event promoters say tickets should not be resold after initial purchase and will not be valid for admittance to gigs.
Fans attending live events with tickets acquired through resale websites are advised to double-check the ticket terms and conditions at the point of sale – such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation – to ensure a smooth live event experience. Tickets could be voided if they were found to be bought second-hand. As a result, fans are buying at their own risk.
With that said, viagogo also commented: “viagogo is a regulated marketplace where fans have the freedom to buy and sell tickets to their favourite live events, safely and securely, backed by a guarantee.”
The Volvo XC60 Recharge T8 Black Edition PHEV is like a regular XC60 but, you guessed it, more black.
Joining the line-up as the flagship variant of Sweden’s popular mid-sized SUV, the Black Edition is positioned to sell on style considering it’s essentially an aesthetic upgrade over the Recharge Ultimate T8 Plug-in Hybrid.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but is it worth spending over $100,000 on the XC60 – Black Edition or otherwise?
Especially considering Volvo’s mid-sized SUV is seven years old now, and an electric replacement is in the works.
WATCH: Paul’s video review of the XC60 T8 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid!
Even if you’re set on an XC60, the base model Plus B5 nets you a whopping $30,000 saving, and rivals from the likes of Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi are impossible to ignore in the premium SUV sphere.
How does the Volvo XC60 compare?
View a detailed breakdown of the Volvo XC60 against similarly sized vehicles.
Volvo
XC60
How much does the Volvo XC60 cost?
The 2024 Volvo XC60 range starts at $73,990 before on-road costs for the base Plus B5, and tops out with our T8 Black Edition tester at $103,990 plus on-roads.
Model Variant
$RRP
2024 Volvo XC60 Plus B5 MHEV
$73,990
2024 Volvo XC60 Ultimate B5 Bright MHEV
$80,990
2024 Volvo XC60 Recharge Plus T8 PHEV
$92,990
2024 Volvo XC60 Recharge Ultimate T8 PHEV
$101,990
2024 Volvo XC60 T8 Black Edition PHEV
$103,990
To see how the Volvo XC60 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What is the Volvo XC60 like on the inside?
The interior of the XC60 is very stylish, very Swedish, and very black.
In this case those are all good things, and there’s plenty of substance to match the style.
It all starts with the perforated leather seats, which leave little to fault. They’re soft, supportive and fully adjustable. We’re not just talking slide and recline; there’s a page in the infotainment system dedicated to adjustments for bolster width, thigh support and lumbar support, in addition to the expected functions.
Changes can be made via toggles on the side of the seat and through the screen itself, so it’s easy find a comfortable setup that moulds to your frame. With so much adjustability available, memory settings are handy when switching between drivers.
You’ll never find the seats too hot or cold either, as both front chairs have three-stage heating and cooling functions.
The next most important touchpoint is the steering wheel, and it also feels premium.
A happy medium between thin and thick, the rim is trimmed in leather with black stitching. While there’s not much padding or squidge, it’s comfortable to hold and should wear well over time.
As with other top end Volvos, the piece de resistance is the Orrefors crystal gear selector.
It adds no functionality whatsoever and does look a little out of place among the rest of the black and silver trim, but I don’t care. The cabin is a more special place because of it, and it’s far more interesting than the pint-sized toggles you see elsewhere.
Not for everyone, but I commend Volvo for thinking outside the box.
Elsewhere it’s a swathe of black leather and plastic with some metal accents.
The dash, door cards and armrest are all trimmed in soft leather, so you never come in contact with anything cheap and nasty. I do question the longevity of the glossy black plastic surrounding the gear selector and infotainment screen though.
Every part feels sturdy too, so it’s hard to feel shortchanged. All the physical buttons and switches have a solid clunk to them.
Aside from the crystal gear selector, there’s less bling here than in other premium SUVs. In my view that’s a drawcard, as the cabin is comfortable and easy to adjust to if you’re new to the Volvo brand.
That approachability carries over to the technology on offer in the XC60 Black Edition.
Behind the steering wheel sits a digital instrument display that shows all the information you need and not much more.
From left to right you get a speedo, customisable centre screen and drive mode display. Throughout the test I stuck with maps as the centre readout, which is a great way to keep your eyes facing ahead while driving.
Automotive industry take note – you can prioritise safety without introducing overbearing nannies.
None of the available display space has gone to waste as trip information and range figures are located at the base of the screen.
Shifting across, a 9.0-inch portrait infotainment screen is located front and centre, and it has quickly become one of my favourite systems going around.
Jointly developed with Google, the system is laid out like a smartphone with built-in Google apps and services such as YouTube and Google Maps.
The main upside of this is that people are so used to living with smartphones that navigating the infotainment screen feels like second nature.
It’s easy to move between the home screen and different apps, while convenient shortcuts to commonly used features are permanently pinned to the bottom of the screen. Like a modern iPhone, the screen in the Volvo is ultra responsive.
Google Maps in particular is a valuable inclusion, as the app provides accurate, up-to-date traffic information.
The user-friendly nature of Volvo’s infotainment setup makes it all the more surprising that Apple CarPlay requires a wired connection.
The native system is great, but you’d expect wireless mirroring in a $100,000 premium SUV. Having said that, the wireless charging pad proved temperamental so plugging devices in is the safest option if you want to arrive at your destination with a fully charged phone.
Two USB-C points can be found under the centre armrest, and there’s a 12V outlet near the gear selector.
The buttons on the steering wheel also lack edges to separate them, so it can be difficult to make the right selection without looking down.
It was a mistake I made often as I was regularly reaching to crank up the incredible 15-speaker Bowers and Wilkins stereo. As well as looking the part, the speakers are clean, crisp, and easily configurable.
Custom sound experiences are available within the infotainment menus, and I particularly enjoyed the ‘concert’ mode which transports you to the mosh pit at your favourite live music act.
The sound system is one of several features elevating the interior of the XC60, but it didn’t completely distract me from the lack of storage space available.
Aside from generous door bins and a large glovebox, the clever storage solutions associated with Swedish engineering are in short supply.
There’s no space underneath the centre stack, the centre cupholders are on the smaller side and sunglasses are left homeless. A BMW X3 or Mercedes-Benz GLC definitely offers more on this front.
At least occupants aren’t left wanting for room as there’s plenty for both first and second row passengers, with one exception.
Kids and adults of all shapes and sizes can get comfortable in the rear outboard seats as legroom is plentiful. Just don’t extend your knees out too far, as the front seat backs are too firm to rest against.
Even with the panoramic sunroof, only tall types topping six-four will struggle for headroom. The middle seat is a child-only zone, though.
A tall transmission tunnel eliminates just about all legroom for the middle passenger, forcing them to take up the foot room of people either side.
It’s a shame given the XC60 serves as a family car for many. The rear doors don’t open especially wide either, making it difficult for less mobile people to access the back seats.
Volvo has thought of the children though, including pop-up booster seats in the outboard seats to save parents from lugging around a loose, bulky alternative.
Given the compromised seating space, the centre seat is better left empty with the armrest folded down. That gives the option of retractable cupholders, freeing up space elsewhere.
Other amenities include a pair of USB-C connections, air vents located next to the rear windows, map pockets, and small door bins on either side.
Further back, boot space is down on most rivals at 468 litres. It’s easy to load items thanks to a wide-opening powered tailgate, but the total space available is capped.
Hardcore IKEA enthusiasts can take solace in the fact that the rear bench folds 60/40 to unlock 1445L of cargo room.
Camping trips are made easier by the inclusion of a 12V outlet on the boot wall, which is perfect for powering an esky.
A net on the left side helps to keep smaller items secure, and the boot is well lit.
Dimensions
Volvo XC60 Recharge T8 PHEV
Length
4708mm
Width
1999mm
Height
1658mm
Wheelbase
2865mm
Kerb weight
2146kg
Boot space (seats up)
468L
Boot space (seats folded)
1445L
To see how the Volvo XC60 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What’s under the bonnet?
There are two engines offered for the 2024 Volvo XC60.
XC60 B5 models are fitted with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine mated with a 48V mild-hybrid system. Outputs are rated at 183kW and 350Nm and Volvo claims the XC60 B5 can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds.
The top-spec XC60 T8 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid teams a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor and 18.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The petrol motor makes 223kW and 400Nm on its own, while the rear-mounted electric motor develops 107kW and 309Nm. System outputs are 340kW and 709Nm, and Volvo claims the XC60 PHEV can sprint from 0-100 in 4.8 seconds.
Technical Specifications
Volvo XC60 T8 PHEV
Engine
2.0L 4cyl turbo PHEV
Engine outputs
223kW + 400Nm
Electric motor outputs
107kW + 309Nm
Total system power
340kW
Total system torque
709Nm
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Battery
18.8kWh lithium-ion
Driven Wheels
All-wheel drive
Weight
2147kg (tare)
Fuel economy (claimed)
1.6L/100km
Electric range
81km
Fuel economy (as tested)
0.5L/100km (full battery) 5.0L (empty battery)
Fuel tank
71L
Octane rating
95 RON
To see how the Volvo XC60 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
How does the Volvo XC60 drive?
Modern Volvos promise comfort and safety. While both are present here, the XC60 has some tricks up its sleeve in Recharge T8 guise.
2022 Recharge Ultimate T8 PHEV shown
The plug-in hybrid powertrain offers drivers a choice, and imbues the car with a wonderfully split personality.
If you ignore the little bag of charging goodies in the boot, the XC60 runs as a smooth, efficient hybrid with bucketloads of power on tap when called upon.
System outputs are 340kW and 709Nm, and the XC60 PHEV feels every bit as quick as Volvo claims it is when your put your foot down. All the while, the fuel economy readout rarely tipped over 5.0L/100km in my experience.
That makes the T8 a capable long-distance cruiser, as overtaking is never an issue and fuel stops are few and far between. It’s comfortable, too.
Floaty suspension keeps the disturbances of potholes and coarse country roads out of the cabin, while tyre noise is minimal even with the 21-inch alloys.It feels like a big car, because it is.
But what if you have no interest in 0-100km/h times and just want to negotiate the daily city commute without losing your cool? The XC60 can do that, too.
Volvo claims the plug-in hybrid can travel 81km on electric power alone, so in theory an average commute (33km round trip in Australia) can be completed in peaceful, efficient silence.
That formed the basis of my experience with the car, as I charged it every night and activated the Pure EV drive mode every morning before setting off to work, hence the fuel consumption figure in the table above. Your mileage may vary.
Charging times will vary depending on the resources at your disposal, but when plugged in to a traditional wall socket the battery in our tester charged from zero to 100 per cent in around eight hours.
In EV mode the XC60 is whisper quiet, and still packs enough punch to seize upon gaps in the traffic.
The auto-hold feature takes some of the effort out of sitting in bumper-to-bumper jams, allowing the driver an opportunity to give their right foot a rest from modulating the brake pedal.
As for suburban streets, it’s more of the same except for a couple of frustrating quirks.
For example, we found the front collision warning system to be over-sensitive, sending unnecessary shudders through the cabin when passing through narrow openings between parked cars.
What do you get?
The new Black Edition gets all the best kit of the XC60 range as well as a black exterior package.
XC60 B5 Plus highlights:
19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels
LED headlights with active bending
LED front fog lights
9.0-inch Android Automotive infotainment system
Satellite navigation incl. Google Maps
DAB radio
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
Digital Service, 4yr subscription
Wireless smartphone charger
Dual-zone climate control
Electric tailgate
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
Electric front seats with memory
Power-folding rear headrests
Leather-accented upholstery
XC60 B5 Ultimate Bright adds:
20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels
Head-up display
Unique instrument panel display
Heated front seats
Heated steering wheel
Crystal gear selector
XC60 Recharge Ultimate T8 Plug-in Hybrid adds:
Air suspension with Four-C Active Chassis
Bowers and Wilkins sound system
Rear privacy glass
21-inch alloy wheels
R-Design exterior styling
XC60 T8 Black Edition adds:
Onyx Black exterior paint
Onyx Black grille and badging
Black window trims
21-inch black alloy wheels
Black Nappa leather upholstery
Ventilated front seats
Power adjustable side support
Is the Volvo XC60 safe?
Volvo XC60 models built in 2024 are currently unrated, although petrol versions of the Volvo XC60 built between 2017 and the end of 2023 wear a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on Euro NCAP tests in 2017.
The XC60 scored 98 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 76 per cent for pedestrian detection and 95 per cent for safety assist.
Standard safety features include:
Adjustable speed limiter
Adaptive cruise control incl. Pilot Assist
Active lane centring
Stop&Go function
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
Forward, Reverse
Pedestrian, Cyclist, Animal detection
Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic assist
360-degree cameras
Front, rear, side parking sensors
Hill start assist
Hill descent control
How much does the Volvo XC60 cost to run?
Like the wider Volvo line-up, the XC60 is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with eight years of complementary 24/7 roadside assistance.
Aftersales Program
Volvo XC60 Black Edition
Warranty
5 years, unlimited kilometres
PHEV battery warranty
8 years
Service intervals
12 months or 15,000km
3-year service plan
$1750
5-year service plan
$3000
CarExpert’s Take on the Volvo XC60
The new Black Edition doesn’t change the XC60 formula in any significant way. It’s still a handsome, comfortable and clever medium SUV.
As such, the appeal of the blacked-out version will be subject to individual aesthetic preferences.
It’s $2000 dearer than the regular Recharge Ultimate T8, and if black is your colour (or shade?) then the upgrade is probably worthwhile.
However, this debate is more about whether the Recharge Ultimate T8 stacks up against the competition and lesser XC60 models.
That question is tougher to answer.
The plug-in hybrid powertrain on offer here is a real selling point – it blends efficiency and performance seamlessly in all driving environments.
The equivalent BMW X3 or Mercedes-Benz GLC can’t match the Volvo on either front, and the Swede still comes in cheaper. You may not get quite as much gadgetry or bling in the cabin of the XC60, but that brings a charm of its own.
Sure, you also have to pay a hefty premium over the base XC60 B5, but that’s often the case with premium brands when upgrading within the model range.
If only the Volvo had a little more storage space. Then it would be a truly compelling package.
Click the images for the full gallery
MORE: Buy a Volvo XC60 MORE: Everything Volvo XC60
As employees have now received Form 16, they can now file income tax returns (ITR) for the assessment year 2024-24 (or financial year 2023-24). However, if you are filing your ITR, there are some common mistakes that you need to avoid for successful submission of the income tax return. Filing your ITR accurately and on time is crucial to ensure compliance and to avoid unnecessary hassles with the tax authorities. Here are some common mistakes to avoid while filing your ITR for AY 2025.
1. Incorrect Personal Information
One of the most frequent mistakes is entering incorrect personal information such as name, address, PAN, and bank details. Ensure that the details match those in your official documents and bank records to avoid any discrepancies that can delay processing or refunds.
Double-check all personal information before submitting your ITR. Ensure that your name, PAN, and bank details are correct and up-to-date.
2. Choosing the Wrong ITR Form
There are different ITR forms for different types of taxpayers and income sources. Using the wrong form can lead to rejection or processing delays.
ITR-1 (Sahaj) for salaried individuals with income up to ₹50 lakh.
ITR-2 for individuals and HUFs not having income from business or profession.
ITR-3 for individuals and HUFs having income from business or profession.
ITR-4 (Sugam) for presumptive income from business and profession.
3. Failure to Report All Income Sources
Many taxpayers forget to report additional income sources such as interest from savings accounts, fixed deposits, rental income, or capital gains. Omitting these can result in penalties and interest on unpaid taxes.
Gather all financial documents and income statements, including those for interest, dividends, and rental income, to ensure all sources are reported.
4. Not Claiming Eligible Deductions
Taxpayers often miss out on claiming deductions under various sections like 80C, 80D, 80E, etc., which can reduce their taxable income significantly.
Be aware of all the deductions available under the Income Tax Act and claim them appropriately. Common deductions include investments in PPF, NSC, insurance premiums, home loan interest, and tuition fees.
5. Errors in TDS Details
Mismatch between the TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) details in your Form 26AS and the TDS claimed in your ITR can lead to discrepancies and delays in processing. Also, if a PAN is not linked with Aadhaar, TDS is required to be deducted at double the applicable rate.
Verify your TDS details in Form 26AS and ensure they match the details you enter in your ITR.
6. Failure to Verify ITR
After filing the ITR, it is crucial to verify it either electronically or by sending a signed physical copy to the Centralized Processing Centre (CPC) within 120 days. Unverified ITRs are considered invalid.
Prefer e-verification using Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or other available methods for quick processing.
7. Ignoring Income from Previous Employer
If you switched jobs during the financial year, make sure to include the income from your previous employer as well. Ignoring this can lead to a notice from the tax department for under-reporting income.
Collect Form 16 from all employers and report the aggregate income in your ITR.
8. Incorrect Bank Account Details
Providing incorrect bank account details can delay your refund. Ensure that the account number and IFSC code are accurate and updated.
Update your bank account details in the ITR form and verify them carefully before submission.
9. Missing Out on Foreign Income
If you have income from foreign sources, it must be reported in your ITR. Failing to do so can result in penalties and legal issues, especially for NRIs or those with overseas investments.
Include all foreign income and assets in your ITR, and seek professional advice if necessary.
10. Delay in Filing ITR
Filing your ITR after the deadline can attract late filing fees, interest on the tax due, and reduced time for revising the return if needed.
Aim to file your ITR well before the deadline to avoid last-minute rush and potential errors.
Filing your ITR accurately and timely is essential to ensure smooth processing and avoid penalties. By being aware of these common mistakes and taking steps to avoid them, you can ensure that your tax filing process for AY 2025 is hassle-free. When in doubt, consider seeking assistance from a tax professional to navigate the complexities of tax filing.
As Bitcoin’s price declines from its recent peak of $70K to the low of $65K level, the once-lucrative meme coin market is feeling the pressure. The sector had previously offered robust returns exceeding 500% among the top tokens by market capitalization. Now, traders are cautiously eyeing potential gains in meme coins amid the downturn. However, SHIB price is witnessing a surge in selling demand as it declines heavily with a drop in whale interest.
SHIB Faces A Drop In Whale Interest
Bullish traders are facing substantial losses, with Coinglass noting liquidations exceeding $566,000. The total liquidation is now nearing the $600K mark. Interest in trading Shiba Inu has sharply declined, as reflected in open interest dropping by 6.1% to $68.8 million. This slowdown in market activity has resulted in reduced price volatility for SHIB.
Based on IntoTheBlock data, whale interest has sharply decreased in recent weeks. On June 11, large transactions amounted to $467 million. However, with the crypto market experiencing bearish pressure following softer-than-expected CPI news, whale interest in SHIB declined significantly. This metric dropped over the past week, hitting a low of $24 million—a staggering 94% drop.
As big investors step back, selling pressure on SHIB might ease, which could make SHIB price more stable. But fewer big investors also suggest less confidence and less trading overall. This could mean less money available for SHIB trading and more quick price changes for smaller investors.
However, over the past 24 hours, the rate at which SHIB is being burned has surged dramatically. Data shows a 164315.09% increase in the SHIB burn rate, resulting in a total of 10,361,439 SHIB destroyed so far.
As more SHIB tokens are burned, the total supply decreases. This reduction in supply, if demand remains constant or increases, can potentially lead to a higher price per SHIB token.
What’s Next For SHIB Price?
Shiba Inu has been gradually declining below the critical support level at $0.000020 as sellers took the lead with strong selling dominance. As a result, buyers failed to defend the price above immediate Fib channels, resulting in a strong bearish pattern. As of writing, SHIB price trades at $0.0000192, declining over 8.2% in the last 24 hours.
A recovery above the $0.000020 level, followed by a breakthrough above the moving averages, would indicate a continued trading range. This scenario could prompt bulls to target the resistance at $0.000026 for the SHIB/USDT pair. A successful move above that level might send the price toward $0.00003.
Conversely, a bearish move below the moving averages would suggest continued bearish pressure. A strong close below $0.00001825 would signal a potential downtrend continuation towards the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $0.000015. As the RSI levels hovers within the oversold region, SHIB price might soon test buyers’ patience.
Did you hear the one about the U.S. government agency that attracts millions to its social media accounts?
It takes puns to new heights.
Yes, it’s the Transportation Security Administration. That’s TSA for short, though the lines at airport security checkpoints don’t always seem to reflect that brevity. It’s also a serious business given TSA was created to thwart terrorist attacks and other nefarious actions after Sept. 11, 2001.
At Content Marketing World 2023, Emily Bonilla-Pieton took the audience behind the scenes of TSA’s social media strategy with her presentation, Travel Tips and Dad Joke Hits: How To Maximize Your Team To Produce Results While Staying Punny.
Injecting humor into content can surprise and delight an audience expecting staid, by-the-book content. Emily says that strategy has paid off for TSA, where she’s worked for 15 years and currently serves as the acting social media branch manager in the Office of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs at TSA in the Department of Homeland Security (evidently, TSA doesn’t like short titles either).
Squeezing the TSA dad-joke juice
Passenger to TSA: “Can I carry a suitcase full of fresh oranges?”
TSA: “Orange ya glad the answer is yes?!”
TSA uses that so-called dad joke to give a fresh squeeze to a standard reply on TSA’s Instagram AMA (ask me anything), which they operate in real time for about 10 hours every day.
But TSA goes beyond the easy joke and, in this Instagram post, crafts this well-written pun built on a video shared by a passenger. It’s received over 4 million likes in the past two years.
A ramp worker plays the children’s rock-paper-scissors game with a passenger on a plane. The caption artfully captures the essence of the video with a serious reminder about what’s allowed in carry-on luggage:
You’re in luck here. You can’t lose with this info!
It’s all fun and games until you pack your scissors over 4 inches. That’s right, if your scissors are too big, they won’t make the cut. Generally, rocks are good to go in a carry-on depending on size or weight, but your paper always wins there.
We want you to take trips, not chances! You can definitely do better than 2 out of 3 when packing for your next travel adventure. To be in the know before you go, check out our “What Can I Bring?” tool. Shoot on up to the link in our bio for all the deets.
These posts exemplify TSA’s strategy for Instagram, which boasts 1.4 million followers. “We entertained, we engaged, and then we did a shameless plug on top, all of that,” Emily says.
“Our method for the (rock-paper-scissors) post was actually let’s grab their attention with a catchy video, a catchy trending sound, and then catch the attention of the audience with our opening liner. And then of course, educate them,” Emily explains, noting the CTA to visit the link and bio.
Relatability is at the crux of TSA’s social media strategy.
“We like to speak to folks like you’re speaking to your best friend. So, it’s very personable. We’re encouraged to share our information and our content, and we’re truly authentic,” Emily says.
But the TSA team can’t also rest on that strategy alone. Though it follows a long-term strategy with evergreen content, it also reacts to trending topics. “We stay on top of the ever-changing algorithm,” Emily says. “Things can go viral, and we’re floating, and we’re like, ‘Yes!’ and the next day it could bomb.”
Keeping up with the comments — positive and negative — also keeps the team on its toes. “You have one whole hour (after posting) to demonstrate to Instagram that you are not a bot, that you are driving this account organically,” Emily says.
Singing different tunes
However, what works for Instagram doesn’t necessarily work for Facebook, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn. “It would be very easy to just cut and paste one content on each platform, but we don’t do that,” Emily says.
They tailor their voice and content to the age demographic and primary locations of their followers on each platform.
On Facebook, TSA has about 98,000 followers (less than 10% of its Instagram account) and they skew older. So, TSA tells stories, shares hiring events, and posts job descriptions to help Grandma get her grandson out of the basement and into a nice federal job.
TSA also uses Facebook to talk to people, usually 55 and older, about traveling with firearms in a non-critical way. “Our approach is, ‘Oops, you might have not traveled for a while. Let’s check your bags first because you don’t want to accidentally forget your firearm at the checkpoint.’”
Given TSA is a federal agency and the drama around X, they don’t devote a lot of budget to manage the account. About two employees are dedicated to over 258,000 followers and they focus heavily on TSA’s existing stories and news releases.
“We’re creating relationships with beat reporters because we do rely on them to tell our story (on X) because it doesn’t cost us any money.” Emily says.
TSA’s LinkedIn presence has grown significantly in recent years, with over 148,000 followers today. The target demographic is people between 25 and 34 years old. Though they use their page to highlight roles within TSA, Emily says LinkedIn offers another invaluable use — a place to feature agency initiatives that don’t fit on other social platforms, such as innovative technology news.
“I can’t tell you how many times someone’s like, ‘We want your 1.2 million followers on Instagram to know about our technology. Would you be interested in that on Instagram?’” Emily says.
“We politely say, ‘You know, where that would fit is on LinkedIn.’ We kind of use LinkedIn as our scapegoat, and when we show them our numbers. We end up having happy customers.”
TSA’sYouTube channel has about 95,000 subscribers. Over two dozen playlists with dozens of videos tell the TSA story, from employees on the job and their testimonials to travel tips and items people tried to bring through TSA. It also includes the TSA Kids series. “Kids are speaking to other kids on basic travel tips,” says Emily, whose children help voice some of the videos.
They also host town halls and other live events on YouTube. And since the federal government agency can’t be on TikTok, they plop in videos to YouTube Shorts the day after they find success on Instagram.
Peanut butter is a liquid and other team news
The TSA social media team is built on flexibility. Emily is the only team member based in Washington, D.C. Others on the remote team work from their home states, including California, Minnesota, and Florida.
It was a colleague in Idaho who texted Emily at 9 p.m. one night. He wanted to jump on a conversation on X about whether TSA considered peanut butter a liquid. She said yes, and he entered the debate with the definitive, “Yes, peanut butter is considered a liquid.”
“This was our opportunity to demonstrate that anything you can spill, pour, pump, or spread, is considered a liquid. It needs to be 3.4 ounces or less to be carried on (a plane) and anything greater should be checked in, (luggage),” she says.
They highlighted how people tried to hide their vapes and firearms inside peanut butter, and the conversation trended a bit for a few weeks. Now, every National Peanut Butter Day and other times of the year, they rehash it all. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” Emily says.
The award-winning social media team learned on the job about a lot more than peanut butter. Only one team member arrived with a social media background. All the others first worked in the field at their local airport. And they’re united in their work, trusting each other to step in when burnout becomes a reality. “After all, social media is designed to get us hooked. It’s like gambling, not always healthy,” Emily says.
But the social media team doesn’t operate in a silo. They act as social listening agents for the TSA media ops team and help distract the media with a better story when a negative one pops up.
Still, having all this fun with content doesn’t mean they don’t take the numbers seriously. One team member reports the numbers every week, detailing their key performance indicators as well as the dollar equivalent of the organic exposure their posts and interactions would have cost had they purchased them.
The social media team’s strategy is working in more than one way. “For some strange reason, our leadership, the administrator, the agency, they love this, and they’re like, ‘They know what they’re doing. We’re going to let them just continue on.’”
Now, that’s how you squeeze dry government information into sweet and tangy sips of content marketing.
Register to attend Content Marketing World in San Diego. Use the code BLOG100 to save $100. Can’t attend in person this year? Check out the Digital Pass for access to on-demand session recordings from the live event through the end of the year.
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Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute
“Bharat” and “India” will be used interchangeably in NCERT textbooks as is the case in the country’s Constitution, National Council of Educational Research and Training Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani has said.
The comments assume significance in the wake of a high-level panel working on the social science curriculum recommending that “India” should be replaced with “Bharat” in school textbooks for all classes.
In an interaction with PTI editors at the agency’s headquarters here, the NCERT chief said both the words will be used in the books and the council has no aversion to either “Bharat” or “India”.
“It is interchangeable….our position is what our Constitution says and we uphold that. We can use Bharat, we can use India, what is the problem? We are not in that debate. Wherever it suits we will use India, wherever it suits we will use Bharat. We have no aversion to either India or Bharat,” he said.
“You can see both being used in our textbooks already and that will continue in new textbooks. This is a useless debate,” Saklani said.
Also read: Education Ministry asks NCERT to review, update textbooks on yearly basis
A high-level committee for social sciences, constituted by the NCERT to revise the school curriculum, had last year recommended that “India” should be replaced with “Bharat” in the textbooks for all classes.
Committee chairperson C I Isaac, who was heading the panel, had said they have suggested replacing the name “India” with “Bharat” in the textbooks, introducing “classical history”, instead of “ancient history” in the curriculum, and including the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) in the syllabus for all subjects.
“The committee has unanimously recommended that the name Bharat should be used in the textbooks for students across classes. Bharat is an age-old name. The name Bharat has been used in ancient texts, such as Vishnu Purana, which is 7,000 years old,” Isaac had told PTI.
The NCERT had then said that no decision has been taken on panel’s recommendations.
The name Bharat first appeared officially last year when the government sent out G20 invites in the name of “President of Bharat”, instead of “President of India”.
Later, the nameplate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit in New Delhi also read “Bharat”, instead of India.
The HISTORY of leveraged finance—the business of lending to risky, indebted companies—is best told in three acts. High-yield (or “junk”) bonds were the subject of the first. That ended in 1990 when Michael Milken, the godfather of this sort of debt, was sent to prison for fraud. In the second act, the extraordinary growth of private equity was financed by both junk bonds and leveraged loans, which require companies to pay a floating rate of interest rather than the fixed coupons on most bonds. Private-credit investors are now supplying the third wave of money. Since 2020 such firms, which often also run private-equity funds, have raised more than $1trn. When interest rates rose in 2022 and banks stopped underwriting new risky loans, private credit became the only game in town. Wall Street chattered that its “golden age” had begun.
America’s $4trn leveraged-finance market now comprises junk bonds, leveraged loans and assets managed by private-credit firms, in roughly equal proportions. Yet owing to fierce competition to refinance debt and fund scarce new deals, private credit’s prospects may no longer dazzle. The industry’s fondness for ancient Greece (two big lenders are called Apollo and Ares) seems not to extend to the work of Hesiod. If it did, fund managers would know that what follows a golden age is not a platinum one, as with American Express cards, but the descent into a grim iron age.
The Google Pixel 7 series incudes some powerful phones that ranked among the best Android phones when they were released. They still have a lot to offer, even with the release of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro last October. However, with the newer models now fully coming into their own, the Pixel 7 series is getting harder to find and so are deals on them. That hasn’t stopped us from finding what savings there are, though.
The Pixel 7 series offers some serious improvements over the 2021 Pixel 6 phones. Both the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro come with the second-gen Tensor chip, so you get a lot more power and efficiency, with battery life remaining relatively the same, even though you’re getting more performance out of the phones.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
They both also come with improved cameras and have some changes to screen size, with the Pixel 7 going for the smaller 6.3-inch display rather than the 6.4-inch display of the Pixel 6. As for the Pixel 7 Pro, it continues to have a large 6.7-inch display, which is perfect for those who prefer larger screens. Note that there’s also the more recently released Pixel 7A on the market from $499. And the Pixel Fold might also be something you’d be interested in, especially if you’ve been eyeing the foldables market for a while.
What colors do the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro come in?
Google/CNET
The Pixel 7 comes in three colors: snow (white), obsidian (black) and lemongrass (yellow). The larger Pixel 7 Pro is available in snow, obsidian and hazel (green).
How much do the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro cost?
The Pixel 7 series has the same prices that the departing Pixel 6 series held, starting at $599. Here’s how US pricing breaks down in full:
Pixel 7 (128 GB): $599
Pixel 7 (256GB): $699
Pixel 7 Pro (128GB): $899
Pixel 7 Pro (256GB): $999
Pixel 7 Pro (512GB): $1,099
Best Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro deals
While there aren’t straightforward discounts on the Google Pixel 7 or 7 Pro through Google right now, you can trade in your old phone for up to $450 off in trade-in credit. Trade in the latest models from Google, Apple and Samsung for the biggest discount.
There are a few benefits that come with buying your Pixel 7 from Google directly. For one, all models and colors are in stock, so you don’t have to worry about getting your ideal configuration, and Google allows you to buy your phone outright, as opposed to an installment plan required by some retailers and carriers.
Best Buy doesn’t have any direct discounts right now, but you can get up to a few hundred dollars back with trade-in credit, depending on the condition, make and model of your current phone. New subscribers will also get three free months of YouTube Premium and a Google One 100GB subscription.
AT&T doesn’t have any special offers on the Pixel 7 series at the moment, but it does have a trade-in program where you can save up to $465 with an eligible trade-in. The latest iPhones will net you the biggest discount, and you’ll receive your credit in the form of an AT&T promotional card that can be used toward future purchases or bill payments.
Though the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro aren’t discounted, you can save on service with Mint Mobile’s buy six months, get six months free offer on wireless service.
“Microdosing” chocolate bars designed to give consumers “peace of mind” have sent more and more people to hospitals, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently reported.
The FDA published an initial advisory message about Diamond Shruumz, a company that produces “microdosing” chocolate bars and gummies, on June 7. At the time, six people who had consumed the products were hospitalized.
The FDA now reports that at least 10 people have been hospitalized after eating the products. An additional two people sought medical care but were not hospitalized.
“Do not eat, sell, or serve Diamond Shruumz-Brand Microdosing Chocolate Bars,” the FDA’s site warns.
MUSHROOM-INFUSED ‘MICRODOSING’ CHOCOLATE BARS ARE SENDING PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL, PROMPTING INVESTIGATION: FDA
At least 10 people have been hospitalized after consuming Diamond Shruumz products, the FDA said.(FDA | iStock)
“[The] FDA is working to determine the cause of these illnesses and is considering the appropriate next steps,” the statement added. “More information will be provided as it becomes available.”
The products are distributed nationally. The FDA’s website said hospitalizations were reported in Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. Four hospitalizations were recorded in Arizona, and two were reported in Indiana.
The consumers who ate the “microdosing” products experienced “severe” symptoms, officials reported.
STUDY FINDS EVIDENCE OF MICROPLASTICS IN BRAINS AND OTHER ORGANS
Several people have suffered a variety of medical symptoms from the chocolates, including nausea.(iStock)
“People who became ill after eating Diamond Shruumz-brand Microdosing Chocolate Bars reported a variety of severe symptoms including seizures, central nervous system depression (loss of consciousness, confusion, sleepiness), agitation, abnormal heart rates, hyper/hypotension, nausea, and vomiting,” the FDA says.
“Microdosing” is when drug users take a minuscule amount of hallucinogenic drugs to increase creativity and boost their mood without having a psychedelic trip. Even though the Diamond Shruumz products are marketed as “microdosing,” the company reports that its products have no psilocybin in them.
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The FDA is warning consumers against Diamond Shruumz chocolate bars.(FDA / iStock)
“There is no presence of psilocybin, amanita or any scheduled drugs, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience,” Diamond Shruumz’s website says. “Rest assured, our treats are not only free from psychedelic substances but our carefully crafted ingredients still offer an experience.”
“This allows you to indulge in a uniquely crafted blend designed for your pleasure and peace of mind.”
The chocolate bars are marketed to boost mood and creativity.(iStock)
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The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating the products. Fox News Digital reached out to Diamond Shruumz for comment but did not hear back.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
Soha Ali Khan is a big food enthusiast. Whether it’s her love for strawberries, enjoying lunch with friends, or relishing biryani, she never misses a chance to post about her foodie shenanigans. On Sunday, the actress celebrated Father’s Day, and needless to say, it was a foodilicious affair. There was a cake and some cupcakes, presumably as a sweet gesture from her little daughter Inaaya for her father Kunal Kemmu. In pictures shared on Soha’s Instagram Stories, we can see a white crumbly cake topped with blueberry icing, chocolate chips, and star-shaped treats. Additionally, there were not one, not two, but a total of six cupcakes featuring different flavours such as chocolate, blueberry, strawberry, and more. Sharing the picture, the actress attached a “Happy Father’s Day” GIF to the frame.
Also Read: Soha Ali Khan Turns Chef, Impresses Fans With Her Roti-Making Skills
Just like Soha Ali Khan, if you also love to give your loved ones foodie surprises, here are some cake recipes to try.
Here Are 5 Delicious Cakes You Can Make At Home:
1. Orange Cake
A moist cake made with fresh orange juice and zest. It has a citrus flavour and is often topped with a sweet orange glaze or frosting. Click here for the recipe.
2. Dundee Cake
A Scottish fruitcake made with currants, sultanas, and sometimes a bit of marmalade. The top is decorated with almonds. This dish is rich and full of fruity flavours. Recipe here.
3. Walnut Cake
This cake is full of chopped walnuts, which give a crunchy texture and nutty flavour. Often topped with a creamy frosting, this cake can be flavoured with coffee or maple syrup. Want the recipe? Click here.
4. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
A fun cake with caramelised pineapple slices and cherries on the bottom, which become the top when the cake is flipped. The fruit creates a sweet, sticky topping on a soft butter cake. Detailed recipe here.
5. Black Forest Gateau
A classic German cake with layers of chocolate sponge cake, whipped cream, and cherries. It is often soaked with cherry brandy and decorated with more cream, cherries, and chocolate shavings. This cake is rich and delicious. Follow the recipe here.
Sarah Paulson, Daniel Radcliffe, Eddie Redmayne and Rachel McAdams are a few of the celebrities nominated this year fueling the excitement for the 2024 Tony Awards.
For the third time, Ariana DeBose, who herself has appeared in six Broadway shows, hosts the Tonys, which are being held for the first time at New York’s Lincoln Center. The broadcast promises to be a busy one, with performances from all five contenders for best new musical, as well as the anticipated performances from “Cabaret” (which stars Mr. Redmayne) and “Merrily We Roll Along” (starring Mr. Radcliffe).
But before the curtains were raised, here’s what Broadway’s biggest stars (and Anna Wintour) wore to celebrate.
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn more »
If your cat has recently been coughing, you may wonder if something is going on that requires a veterinary examination, particularly if your companion’s cough sounds like they’re channeling a duck.
The sounds cats make when coughing can often be difficult to describe, and often confusing, due to a lack of standardization with regards to coughing vocabulary. Some people may further describe it as retching, or hacking, though these terms can mean different things to different people. Coughing can further be confusing due to colloquial terms such as “coughing up a hairball”, which is generally more accurately a description of vomiting.
This article will look at some of the more common causes of coughing in cats, and help you determine what to do if you notice your cat coughing.
What Are the Common Conditions That Can Cause Cats to Cough?
Various conditions can cause cats to cough, including asthma, cancer, foreign objects that have gotten stuck, and respiratory infections.
Asthma
Asthma is when a cat’s lungs and airways narrow and swell. Although the trigger isn’t always known, the result is an inflammatory reaction within the respiratory system. Signs of the condition are non-specific, and can include repeated coughing, and bouts (or paroxsysms) of coughing. If your cat is coughing but not having trouble breathing, consider contacting your veterinarian and explaining the situation to determine whether they need to be seen immediately or can wait for a regular appointment. Cats with breathing problems should be seen immediately by an emergency veterinarian.
Treatment is usually geared towards controlling inflammation. Cats with asthma typically need anti-inflammatory medication to keep the situation under control long-term. Other conditions should be ruled out before a diagnosis of asthma is made.
Image Credit: Prystai, Shutterstock
Cancer
Cats can develop benign and malignant tumors in their respiratory systems, including their larynxes, tracheas, and lungs. Laryngeal and tracheal tumors are rare in cats, as are primary lung tumors. Primary lung tumors are diagnosed far more frequently in older than younger cats. Cats can also develop malignant tumors when cancer metastasizes from other sites.
Signs of laryngeal and tracheal tumors may include difficulty breathing, coughing, or a change in voice. This may be where some people describe a cough as duck like, though it is not the only potential cause. The diagnosis of laryngeal and tracheal tumors usually involves examination of the suspected areas when possible, generally under sedation, along with imaging such as x-rays or endoscopy.
Respiratory Infections
Viral and bacterial infections can cause lower respiratory problems in cats. Fungi and parasites can also be responsible. Signs can include include coughing, fast or open mouth breathing, fever, lethargy, changes in appetite, and weight loss. Similar to other lower airway diseases, veterinary consultation, diagnostics, and treatment are the common next steps.
Image Credit: sophiecat, Shutterstock
Conclusion
Cats can cough for several reasons, ranging from lower respiratory infections, to chronic conditions such as asthma and diseases like cancer. Coughing in cats should always be evaluated by a veterinarian. If your kitty sounds like a duck when they cough, contact your veterinarian for an examination.
Featured Image Credit: Suzanne Tucker, Shutterstock
Tribeca Developers, an exclusive licensee of Trump Organisation-branded luxury properties in India, plans more launches across the country.
“Gurgaon will get a second Trump tower, Mumbai will get a second Trump project,” Tribeca founder Kalpesh Mehta told businessline. “We’re looking at doing Trump projects in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. So, there will be four more Trump towers at least in the next 12 months.”
Two under-construction projects in Gurgaon and Kolkata will be ready for delivery later this year, he said.
Tribeca Developers had earlier licensed the Trump brand to the Lodha Group for a project in Mumbai’s upscale Worli neighbourhood and to Panchshil Realty for a project in Pune.
Mehta said that while the projects in Mumbai, Pune and Gurgaon represent the full-stack development model, where the company undertakes all aspects of the project, including capital investment and construction, in other cities it adopts a partial-stack format, where it partners with local developers and focuses solely on branding, design, sales, and marketing, with no direct capital or construction involvement.
Growing demand
Mehta foresees sustained demand for luxury homes in India and, based on the growth over the past three years, a scope for price escalation in this segment.
“Luxury is doing well. The Trump brand has been very well received in all the four cities that we are present in,” Mehta added.
The company is not only looking at joint ventures but also considering acquiring land in newer markets such as Hyderabad, Chennai, and Chandigarh.
Recently, Tribeca partnered with the Tejukaya Group for its first luxury residential project in Mumbai. With about 400 units, it is slated for development in Mumbai’s Parel micro-market at an estimated investment of around ₹1,000 crore.
Banking on rising aspirations and economic growth, especially wage hikes, in second-tier cities, Tribeca is eyeing projects in Coimbatore, Raipur, Indore, and Jaipur, with the minimum pricing at ₹10,000-12,000 per square metre.
Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.
LEGENDARNA Martha Stewart nedavno je snimila selfie u Las Vegasu na događaju u svojem restoranu The Bedford by Martha Stewart. Nosila je jednostavnu heklanu haljinu, upečatljiv zlatni nakit i jednostavnu šminku, a pozornost je privukla njezina futrola za mobitel. Naime, u pitanju je torbica za mobitel brenda Bandolier.
Ovu torbicu rado nosi i Blake Lively
Marthina je futrola maslinaste boje, ima džep i dugačak remen za nošenje, a utor za mobitel nalazi se s bočne strane. Riječ je o futroli naziva Hailey koja je dostupna u još nekoliko boja, uključujući crnu i crvenu, kao i s cvjetnim dezenom.
Mnogi su u komentarima primijetili i koliko mladoliko Stewart izgleda: “Za tebe vrijeme ide unatrag”, “Izgledaš fantastično”, “Prekrasna”, “Martha, predivna si i moja junakinja”, “Kraljica”, “Izgledaš jako dobro.”
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Stewart nije jedina slavna osoba koja rado nosi ovu torbicu. Ona je drag izbor i glumice Blake Lively, koja je viđena kako je nosi dok šeće ulicama New Yorka. Njezin je omiljeni izbor klasična crna torbica.
Ovakve su torbice korisne ako ne želite nositi ništa više od mobitela i par malenih stvari koje možete staviti u džep jakne ili, uostalom, same futrole. Mobitel vam je tako i uvijek pri ruci te ćete u tren oka posegnuti za njime i javiti se na važan poziv ili snimiti lijep trenutak.
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The good vibes derived from Tyler Glasnow’s dominant seven-inning start and Shohei Ohtani’s two-homer game were shattered in the seventh inning on Sunday when a 98-mph fastball struck the back of the left hand of Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, who writhed on the ground for a few minutes before coming out of the game.
The Dodgers went on to defeat the Kansas City Royals 3-0 in front of a sellout crowd of 52,789 at Dodger Stadium, but they lost their dynamic leadoff man in the process — X-rays showed that Betts suffered a broken bone in his left hand, and though he won’t need surgery, he will be sidelined for several weeks, if not months.
“It’s a big blow, it is,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I feel really bad for Mookie. He was having an MVP season. It’s very unfortunate, but you’ve got to move on, and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to be fine. We have really good players.”
Mookie Betts is hit by a pitch during the seventh inning Sunday against the Royals at Dodger Stadium.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Mookie Betts, left, writhes on the ground after being hit by a pitch as manager Dave Roberts and a team trainer tend to him during the seventh inning Sunday.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Betts, who is batting .304 with an .893 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, 10 homers, 16 doubles, 40 RBIs and 50 runs, had a 1-and-2 count when he could not get out of the way of Royals reliever Dan Altavilla’s up-and-in heater. The ball hit Betts on the back of the left hand, which Betts clutched as he fell to the ground.
“I think that’s the first time I got hit in the hand, so I wasn’t sure [how bad it was],” Betts said after the game, his left hand wrapped. “I just went numb, and it hurt. Unfortunately, it’s broken. There’s nothing we can really do now.”
Betts did not travel with the team to Denver on Sunday night. He will be examined by Dr. Steven Shin, a hand specialist, on Monday.
“What’s next? I’m honestly not sure,” Betts said. “Obviously, I’ll be watching the boys, cheering them on, but other than that, it’s just rest, maybe use it as a mental break, be ready to go whenever it heals up.”
Betts moved from right field to second base over the winter and from second base to shortstop because of Gavin Lux’s throwing woes in early March.
The Dodgers have an excellent defensive option at shortstop in Miguel Rojas, but Rojas is nowhere near the hitter Betts is, and he has been slowed this season by leg injuries that prevent him from playing every day.
Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run off Royals pitcher Brady Singer in the third inning Sunday at Dodger Stadium.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Roberts said utility man Kiké Hernández will also be used at shortstop. The team will recall left fielder Miguel Vargas from triple-A Oklahoma City to replace Betts on the roster. Ohtani will likely be moved to the leadoff spot in the order.
“It’s very tough to see as a teammate,” Ohtani, speaking through an interpreter, said of Betts. “He’s obviously a very important part of the team. If he’s out for some time, it’s really up to the rest of the team to pick him up.”
The Betts injury, which came on the same day the Dodgers put pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the 15-day injured list because of a rotator-cuff strain, put a damper on an otherwise successful afternoon for the Dodgers.
Glasnow allowed three hits, striking out nine and walking one, over seven scoreless innings, and Ohtani and Freddie Freeman powered the offense with solo home runs.
Setup man Daniel Hudson struck out two of three batters in a scoreless eighth inning, and closer Evan Phillips threw a scoreless ninth for his 10th save.
Glasnow gave the Dodgers much-needed length after the team employed a “bullpen game” on Thursday night against the Texas Rangers and were forced into another bullpen game when Yamamoto left Saturday night’s start against the Royals after two innings because of injury.
“I definitely knew I had to be efficient and try to fill up the zone,” said Glasnow, who improved to 7-5 with a 3.00 ERA in 15 starts. “I just tried to get ahead, mix up my pitches a bit more, not be so heavily reliant on the fastball, mix in the two-seamer, and it worked out today.”
Glasnow’s only real trouble came in the fourth, when Bobby Witt Jr. reached on a one-out infield single and Vinnie Pasquantino walked. He escaped the jam by striking out Salvador Perez with an 83-mph curve in the dirt and getting Adam Frazier to ground out to Betts, who ranged to the second-base side of the bag for Frazier’s grounder.
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers during the first inning Sunday.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
“He was absolutely fantastic,” Ohtani said of Glasnow. “Really, no threats throughout the game.”
Glasnow needed only 85 pitches, 62 of them strikes, to complete seven innings. He leaned heavily on his four-seam fastball, which averaged 96.0 mph, and an 83-mph curve that he used to induce eight of his 15 swinging strikes. He also got five called strikes with the curve.
“I’ve been able to land it for strikes the last couple of starts,” Glasnow said of his big breaking ball. “I’ve made some mechanical adjustments to try to keep it in the zone as opposed to just always trying to strike out guys with it.”
Glasnow’s third pitch is usually an 89-mph slider that he threw 15 times on Sunday, but he also threw a 96.8-mph two-seam sinker 15 times on Sunday after throwing it only 64 times in his first 14 starts.
“It’s basically just a heater, so it’s not like you have to learn a new pitch, and I think it gets me behind my four-seamer, too,” Glasnow said. “I’ve been a lot more comfortable throwing it kind of up and in to righties, and today to a lefty. I’m just trying to mix it in a little bit more to not be so predictable.”
Ohtani gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead when he “used the big part of the field,” as Roberts likes to say, crushing a 451-foot solo home run — his second-longest of the season — to left-center field off Royals right-hander Brady Singer in the third inning.
Ohtani had been “getting a little too rotational” in his swing over the past week, Roberts said, causing him to pull off pitches early and hit too many ground balls to the right side, but he stayed on Singer’s 93-mph sinker for his 18th homer of the season, a laser that left his bat at 114.3 mph.
“That swing he took for that homer to left-center, that’s as good a swing as I’ve ever seen,” Roberts said. “When he does things the right way, gets his pitch, uses the big part of the field, it’s pretty special.”
Ohtani then crushed an 80-mph first-pitch slider from Singer over the right-field wall to lead off the sixth inning for his 19th homer of the season and 18th multiple-homer game of his career, this shot leaving his bat at 110.7 mph and traveling 400 feet.
Freeman followed with his 10th homer of the season, driving a 2-and-0 slider from Singer 401 feet to right-center field for a 3-0 Dodgers lead.
“That last homer was a slider down below,” Roberts said of Ohtani, “and for him to hit it like that instead of pulling it foul or hitting on the ground speaks to him seeing the ball better.”
Although the season of sales is yet to arrive, Apple has got raining discounts for people on its iPhones ahead online. After many high-end smartphone makers have started offering huge discounts on their handsets, Apple has also reduced the cost of its iPhone 13 during Flipkart’s June bonanza mega sale. Currently, people can get huge discounts on the purchase of a 512 GB model of pink-coloured iPhone 13. For people who are interested in taking a lot of pictures and selfies, this smartphone from the house Apple might be an apt choice for them. This phone allows users to shoot videos and save them without experiencing any problems with space that they might otherwise be worried about in the case of other handsets.
Discounted price of iPhone 13
Flipkart is providing around a 13 per cent discount on the iPhone 13, which will allow people to have a high-end iPhone at a low price. Buyers will also get an additional discount of Rs 14,901 on the purchase of iPhone 13 which will cost only Rs 74,999. The smartphone was originally priced at Rs 89,900; hence it turns out to be a huge 16 per cent discount. Along with a 16 per cent off, people can also get further discounts while using other deals and bank offers available on the e-commerce site including a 5 per cent cashback deal. Hands down, it is an irresistible deal available on the Apple smartphone.
Exchange offer
Some people might get an even bigger price cut on an iPhone 13 purchase if they opt for an exchange offer. Buyers can easily exchange their old smartphone which is in working condition to get up to Rs 50,000 off on the purchase of the iPhone 13 handset. To be able to avail of the iPhone 13 exchange offer, buyers should first find out whether this offer is accessible in their area or not by entering their pin code in the relevant case provided on the e-commerce site.
Specifications of iPhone 13
The phone comes with a super retina XDR OLED screen, a 6.1-inch display, an Apple A15 Bionic processor, and a dual camera system with two 12-megapixel rear shooters and a 12-MP front camera.
Honolulu police recently received some attention on social media for recommending beachgoers not leave their valuables unattended and instead take those items with them into the ocean in a waterproof bag. But the police and the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, a nonprofit organization that helps tourists who become victims of crime or other problems, also have even more basic advice: Don’t take your valuables to the beach at all. Instead, they say, leave them at the place you are staying.
Honolulu police data show a decrease in theft cases, but still urge visitors to take proactive measures to prevent theft.(Pixabay)
The number of thefts in Honolulu generally, and Waikiki in particular, were lower last year than in 2022 and 2021, but locals still have some tips on how to avoid becoming a theft victim on Hawaii’s famous beaches.
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How do I protect myself from theft at the beach?
Jessica Lani Rich, CEO of the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, recommends only bringing with you what you need for the day. For example, just take $20 so your vacation isn’t ruined if you lose it.
In the past, she helped a South Carolina woman who took all her jewelry with her to the beach and then had it stolen. Some Japanese visitors brought all their cash with them. One man buried his wallet in the sand for safekeeping with the intention of digging it back up later but was never able to find it, even after volunteers from Rich’s group helped him look.
“You don’t need to bring … thousands of dollars in cash,” she said. “You don’t need to bring all of your credit cards.” Rich recommends visitors use their hotel safe for valuables and always have one member of their party stay with their belongings at the beach. “Never leave your valuables unattended on the beach,” Rich said. “Tucking it under a towel, putting it in your tennis shoe is not as safe.”
Waikiki convenience stores sell waterproof pouches that can hold a cellphone and other items. Some have lanyards so you can wear them around your neck.
What about leaving things in the car?
If you leave bags in your car, make sure you don’t leave them anywhere visible, Rich said. Earlier this month, the society helped a woman who left her purse in her front passenger seat. Thieves smashed the car window and ran off with it. In another case, a woman from Los Angeles who stopped to see turtles at Laniakea Beach on Oahu’s North Shore left her purse on the front seat of an open convertible. It was stolen.
If you put your purse or bag in your car trunk, do it before you arrive at the beach. “Do not do it at the location of where you’re going to park your car because people are watching,” Rich said. Maj. James Slayter, the Honolulu Police Department’s officer in charge of the tourist mecca of Waikiki, reminds people to roll up their windows and lock their doors. “It’s important to just take a lot of proactive measures to prevent easy crimes of opportunity from occurring,” he said.
What do locals do?
Mindy Pennybacker, a surfer and author of “Surfing Sisterhood Hawaii: Wahine Reclaiming the Waves,” said she puts her car key, driver’s license, credit card and sunblock in a plastic bag and zips the bag inside a small pocket of her surf shorts. A loop inside the pocket also secures the key. She can do this because her key is an older type she inserts directly into a car door and ignition, not an electronic key that could get damaged by saltwater, she said.
She always shops for wetsuits or shorts that have a well-fastening pocket. “You really can’t leave anything in the car at all as far as I can tell. Anywhere, by any beach,” Pennybacker said. She also leaves her cellphone at home. “It’s just not worth it,” she said.
How safe is Hawaii?
Honolulu is Hawaii’s biggest city with a metropolitan area — all on the island of Oahu — of nearly 1 million. It has crime like many other places. But those who become crime victims are a small share of the nearly 10 million visitors who travel to the islands each year. Honolulu Police Department data show there were 1,927 instances of theft in Waikiki last year, down from 2,276 in 2022 and 2,167 in 2021.
For all of Oahu, theft cases dropped 23% and 7.1% during the same periods. Slayter, the police major, said the city is working with the Waikiki Business Improvement District nonprofit organization to install lockers at some beaches to give visitors another option to store their belongings. It’s easy to become complacent.
Rich and Slayter both say some travelers are lulled into thinking that Hawaii is so beautiful that nothing bad could happen to them here. Rich once even helped a law enforcement officer visiting from Virginia whose official ID was snatched when he and his wife went swimming and left their belongings on the sand. Many theft victims tell Rich they never thought they’d be the ones to be preyed upon. “Hawaii is a safe place,” she said, “but we also advise that visitors also use common sense when going to the beach.”
Taylor Swift is finally in the UK parading her Eras Tour around the country, and fans who bought tickets are excited to see her hit stages near them.
Thus far, the Anti-Hero singer has played shows in Edinburgh and Liverpool.
Before the month is out, though, she’ll be hitting stadiums in Cardiff and London, as well, before jetting off to Europe.
After that, she’ll make a return to London for five more dates at Wembley Stadium.
But, for fans who have not yet been able to grab tickets for the Eras Tour, there is still a way to get involved – and it’s not how you think.
While many fans have flocked to resale site viagogo for their way into the Eras Tour, it is one of the most popular second-hand ticket websites on the planet.
As a result, some fans may have better luck looking at Vivid Seats – one of the lesser-known resale sites around.
With a similar mantra to viagogo, Vivid Seats allows fans to buy and sell tickets originally purchased at official points of sale. And, at the time of writing, it has more than 20,000 positive reviews on Trustpilot.
This means Taylor Swift fans will be able to grab tickets to the Eras Tour show(s) of their choice – right up to the day of the show.
For example, at the time of writing, Vivid Seats has almost 200 tickets left for some Wembley Stadium shows.
These range from back row seated to front standing, and begin at £655 per ticket (depending on your choice).
You can look at the entire collection of Vivid Seats tickets by clicking the below link:
Buy Taylor Swift resale tickets from Vivid Seats now.
Otherwise, there may be some hope left at Ticketmaster.
The online ticketing giant has its own resale network set up. The key selling point of this is to avoid prices being increased exponentially.
However, many tickets are sold out within seconds. So act fast if you spot one pop-up online.
TICKETMASTER – Buy Taylor Swift resale tickets now.
Sites such as viagogo and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans. However, it is important to note that many event promoters say tickets should not be resold after initial purchase and will not be valid for admittance to gigs.
Fans attending live events with tickets acquired through resale websites are advised to double-check the ticket terms and conditions at the point of sale – such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation – to ensure a smooth live event experience. Tickets could be voided if they were found to be bought second-hand. As a result, fans are buying at their own risk.
With that said, viagogo also commented: “viagogo is a regulated marketplace where fans have the freedom to buy and sell tickets to their favourite live events, safely and securely, backed by a guarantee.”
The Smart #5 has broken cover, with the Tesla Model Y-sized electric SUV set to be the brand’s most powerful vehicle to date.
Key specifications for the Smart #5 were revealed in a Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) filing and published by automotive outlet CarNewsChina, and it’ll join the #1 and #3 in Smart’s electric vehicle (EV) lineup.
It’s only slightly smaller than a Tesla Model Y, and in flagship guise packs more power than the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Kia EV6 GT.
The #5 was revealed in concept form at this year’s Beijing motor show in April, pitched as the brand’s largest and most rugged vehicle yet.
The production Smart #5 is expected to be officially revealed later this year.
Photo: CarNewsChina
According to the MIIT filing, the Smart #5 will be available with four powertrain options: two single-motor rear-wheel drive configurations and two dual-motor all-wheel drive ones.
CarNewsChina reports it’ll use an 800V electrical architecture that will allow it to be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in 15 minutes, while a battery with a capacity larger than 100kWh will be available in its longest-range variant.
The Smart #5 is capable of up to 700km of range on the CLTC cycle used in China.
RWD models will be fitted with a single rear-mounted motor producing either 250kW or 267kW, paired with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
AWD models are fitted with a 165kW front motor and either a 267kW or 310kW rear motor. The least powerful of the two has a combined output of 432kW, while the range-topping AWD variant produces 475kW.
They’re fitted with a nickel cobalt manganese battery pack.
Photo: CarNewsChina
In its most powerful guise, the #5 is expected to be able to hit 0-100km/h in less than three seconds.
For comparison, the Ioniq 5 N produces 448kW of power, which can be increased to 478kW for 10 seconds with its N Grin Boost function, while the EV6 GT produces 430kW.
Both cars have a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.5 seconds.
The Smart #5 is a five-door, five-seater and measures 4705mm long, 1920mm wide, and 1705mm tall – 46mm shorter, 58mm narrower and 81mm taller than a Model Y.
It can be fitted with wheels ranging in size from 18 to 21 inches, while the top-spec AWD variant has a kerb weight of 2450kg.
Interior images haven’t been released, though the production model will likely follow the Concept #5 in offering a screen-heavy cabin.
Smart will be returning to the Australian market later this year after nearly a decade’s absence.
Geely-owned Volvo, Polestar and Lotus already sell EVs here, while EV-only brand Zeekr is also gearing up for a local launch.
A launch date for the Smart #5 has yet to be confirmed, and it’s unclear whether it’ll make its way Down Under.
The Smart #1 and #3 have both been confirmed for Australia, including in flagship Brabus performance guises, though local specifications haven’t been revealed.
In China, they offer single rear-mounted electric motors producing up to 200kW of power and 343Nm of torque, paired with a 66kWh nickel-cobalt-manganese battery.
Brabus versions add a front electric motor and boost outputs to 315kW and 543Nm.
Smart is now joint-owned by Geely and Mercedes-Benz, and all its cars are built in Xi’an, China.
MORE: Off-road concept previews largest Smart ever MORE: Quirky Smart brand confirms Australian return with electric SUVs MORE: Smart #1 unveiled MORE: Smart #3 electric SUV leaked in China
India’s gold and silver imports from its free trade agreement (FTA) partner UAE have skyrocketed 210 per cent to USD 10.7 billion in 2023-24 and there is a need to potentially revise the concessional customs duty rates under the pact to mitigate the arbitrage driving this surge, a report said on Monday.
Economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said this sharp rise in gold and silver imports is primarily driven by import duty concessions granted by India to the UAE under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
India allows 7 per cent tariffs or customs duty concessions on import of unlimited quantities of silver and a 1 per cent concession on 160 metric tonnes of gold. CEPA was signed in February 2022 and implemented in May 2022.
Additionally, India facilitates gold and silver imports by allowing private firms to import from the UAE through the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) in Gift City. Previously, only authorised agencies could handle such imports, the report said.
“While India’s total imports from the UAE fell 9.8 per cent from USD 53.2 billion in FY23 to USD 48 billion in FY24, imports of gold and silver skyrocketed 210 per cent, from USD 3.5 billion to USD 10.7 billion,” it said.
“Import of all remaining products fell 25 per cent, from USD 49.7 billion in FY23 to USD 37.3 billion in FY24,” it said.
GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said the current import of gold and silver from the UAE is unsustainable as the UAE does not mine gold or silver or add sufficient value to imports.
“High import duties in India on gold, silver, and jewellery at 15 per cent are at the root of the problem. Consider lowering tariffs to 5 per cent. This will cut large-scale smuggling and other misuse,” Srivastava said.
Trade in gold, silver, and diamonds has been prone to misuse due to their low volume but high value and high import duties in India. Low tariff imports of gold, silver only benefit few importers who keep all profits arising through tariff arbitrage and never pass it to consumers, he said.
Srivastava suggested the government implement certain measures to help India balance its trade policies, protect domestic revenue, and ensure fair competition in the import of precious metals and jewellery.
It suggested reassessing and potentially revising the concessional duty rates under CEPA to mitigate the arbitrage driving the surge in imports of gold and silver.
“At least, implement yearly import quotas (tariff rate quotas) for silver, similar to those for gold, to control the volume of imports and prevent revenue loss,” it said, adding that India should rigorously verify the claimed value addition by Dubai-based refiners in gold and silver imports to ensure compliance with CEPA rules of origin.
It also asked to tighten regulations around the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) at Gift City to control the volume and nature of precious metal imports and the exchange should not allow country-based exemptions.
As increased imports contribute to a higher current account deficit and since gold and silver act more like financial instruments than regular trade items, India should avoid including them in any FTA.
“India has granted tariff concessions for these items in many FTAs and under the DFTP (duty-free tariff preference) scheme, so a comprehensive review is needed.
India announced the scheme for LDCs (least developed countries) in 2008. Under this, India provides duty free/preferential market access on about 98.2 per cent of India’s tariff lines (or product categories).
Further, the report stated that silver imports from the UAE increased multifold to USD 1.74 billion in 2023-24 from a meagre USD 29.2 million in 2022-23 due to India charging an 8 per cent duty under the CEPA versus a 15 per cent duty from other countries.
“The large 7 per cent tariff arbitrage resulted in a loss of revenue for India of Rs 1,010 crore in FY24. Revenue loss will increase as India has committed to make tariffs zero on unlimited quantities of silver from the UAE within next 8 years,” it added.
It said this trade is unusual because the UAE just imports large silver and gold bars, melt and convert these into silver grains and unwrought gold for exports.
“A check with global refiners will show that value addition in such process is much less than 1 per cent as opposed to 3 per cent required under the FTA,” it said.
On gold bars, the report said India agreed to import 200 metric tons of gold annually from the UAE with a 1 per cent tariff concession and due to this gold imports rose 147.6 per cent from USD 3 billion in FY23 to USD 7.6 billion in FY24, causing India to lose Rs 635 crore in revenue in FY24.
Similarly, India’s jewellery imports have increased 187.6 per cent from USD 1.1 billion in FY23 to USD 3.3 billion in FY24, whereas these imports from the UAE have increased 290 per cent from USD 347 million in FY23 to USD 1.35 billion in the last fiscal.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
After more than three years of legal dispute over XRP sales between the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Ripple Labs, the case has reached the final phase.
Following the notable change in cryptocurrency oversight by the United States government amid approaching elections, the U.S. SEC has advocated for a settlement with Ripple.
Moreover, the US SEC has finalized a settlement with Terraform Labs and Do Kwon for violating securities laws.
US SEC vs Ripple Settlement Deal
According to a court document filed on June 14 by the US SEC to the presiding judge Analisa Torres, a settlement deal is inevitable and on the horizon. Late last week, Ripple filed a notice of supplemental authority regarding the Terraform Labs consent judgment, which resulted in a $4.47 billion settlement.
The @SEC is raging. Ripple defended itself – “agreeing to nothing.” The court gave clarity that XRP is not a security. There are no “victims” to compensate. And worst of all for the @SEC, Ripple is thriving. But at least @SEC seems to have abandoned its absurd demand for $2B. https://t.co/KVSkB9OqlH
Notably, Ripple has continued to advocate for a $10 million fine settlement and not the hefty fine proposed by the US SEC. In its response letter, the US SEC urged the court to consider issuing $102.6 million for the $876.3 million XRP sales found to have violated securities laws.
According to Stuart Alderoty, Ripple and XRP have continued to thrive since the court ruled the digital asset is not security. Most importantly, Alderoty acknowledged the fact that the US SEC has dropped its demand from $2 billion to about $102 million.
Impact on XRP Price Action
The recent legal developments in the SEC vs Ripple case have helped the XRP price establish a robust support level of around 50 cents. The large-cap altcoin, with a fully diluted valuation of about $49 billion, is well bolstered by notable Ripple-backed developments and acquisitions.
In the past week, Ripple announced the acquisition of Standard Custody, to complement Metaco services.
The company also announced a web3 fund for South Korean and Japanese web3 developers. Meanwhile, Ripple has unveiled an EVM-compatible sidechain on the XRPL amid the anticipated launch of its fiat-backed stablecoins.
So, what’s going on with content and marketing celebrating LGBTQ+ communities? Is this quieter Pride Month a broader shift in advertising and marketing creative? Or are politics playing a heavy hand?
We asked Robert Rose, CMI’s chief strategy advisor, for his take, and he reminded us we were talking about the same question this time last year. But he still had a take for 2024. Watch this video or read on to find out what Robert has to say:
Brands decrease big Pride Month campaigns
Is your company creating content or marketing campaigns to celebrate Pride Month?
If I believe the anecdotal evidence, more of you will say no than at any time in recent history. Recent marketing trade articles note that 2024 has seen a marked decrease in the number of brands planning big campaigns to celebrate Pride Month.
Target actually announced it’s scaling back, saying it would only sell its Pride Month collection in about half of its 2,000 stores and online.
Additionally, organizations such as GLSEN, a national nonprofit working to support LGBTQ+ youth in K through 12 schools, saw a marked decrease in brand support last year. It attributed the decline to the backlash brands received for their support and noted this year’s brand support was down again.
Last year, I covered some of the backlash that marketers received with my take. I mentioned that the 2023 public pushback made Pride Month feel different than 2022, but many brands were still doing something. Mastercard hosted Pride Plaza, which seems to begoing fine in 2024. Skittles announced its Pride site in 2023, and it is still going strong in 2024 but without the announcement fanfare.
Are brands publicizing their Pride efforts less?
So, are there fewer campaigns this year? Is it quieter from a content perspective? Or is it that brands aren’t publicizing their efforts as much? In other words, brands are just saying, “If you know, you know.”
I think it’s the latter. Big brands are trying to avoid backlash by quietly continuing or launching supporting initiatives for the target audience. They don’t want to make news with their marketing campaigns, preferring to rely on the communities and their allies, and social media and other influencers, to spread the word.
That said, some influencers say brands aren’t turning to them as much this year. In an article in Modern Retail, one influencer noted that they usually made one-third of their yearly income in June, but this year it’s more like “just another month.”
Is this reality for 2024?
Is this good? Is it right?
It’s neither good nor bad. It’s a recognition of the reality for most brands in today’s highly politicized environment.
Last year, I noted that succeeding with any campaign like this requires the realization that the celebration isn’t about your brand. The LGBTQ+ communities don’t need or want your permission to be themselves. In many ways, to avoid backlash from the celebrated communities themselves, you need to celebrate who the communities are and not that your brand is selling your way into being part of the communities.
I also noted that you shouldn’t even attempt to have that conversation about Pride or any other community-focused celebration by asking, “How will we defend this decision?” Having that discussion is a sure sign that you haven’t really explored whether the entirety of your organization — your brand — believes in what it’s doing.
That’s the lesson Bud Light learned the hard way last year.
Brands may take these cautions to heart. They may say to themselves, “We’re going to support the community and continue doing what we do. But we’re not going to scream that we’re doing it in some performative, virtue-signaling way.”
If you look at this from the positive perspective, brands are trying to do good work and create spaces for communities without drawing attention to themselves for doing it.
If you look at this from the negative side, brands aren’t willing to have hard discussions about what they’re willing to do in today’s climate.
What answer is right for your brand? For me, I tend to lean hard into doing the work and letting the work speak for itself. That creates trust over attention, but honestly, I value the former over the latter.
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Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute
Management, technology, and risk consulting services provider Guidehouse — operating from Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram — has sponsored the upgradation of the computer lab and library at Sainik School, Thiruvananthapuram.
This is aimed at helping the school raise its quality of education, a company spokesman said. The company has also provided the school 25 PCs and computer chairs as part of the initiative, for which it spent ₹16.77 lakh as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.
Debbi Ricci, Chief Financial Officer; Lori Carter, Director, Payroll; Marylyn Shinaberry, Partner; and Christy Jones, Director–Procurements, Guidehouse, together inaugurated the modernised computer lab. Among those in attendance were Mahendra Singh Rawat, Partner and Country Head, Guidehouse India; Saji Zacharia and Unni Krishnan, local officials.
Guidehouse plans to support more such initiatives in the future, the spokesman said.
Returning from his paternity leave last week, your columnist was keen to get writing. After all, numerous studies say parents’ careers can suffer after they have children. Best to immediately dispel any notion that his might do so. But then he remembered that he is a man, and went to get a coffee. For the child penalty, as the career hit is known by economists, is commonly believed to affect mothers alone.
In fact, it might be that women returning to work after childbirth can afford to relax, too. It is true that their immediate earnings are likely to fall, and perhaps infuriating that those of new fathers are not. Yet two new studies suggest that, in the long run, compared with women who do not have children, the motherhood penalty may vanish—or even turn into a premium.
In the world of Westeros, the Targaryen name has historically carried a ton of weight and power throughout the realm. Though the family is in shambles when House of the Dragon returned on Sunday night, its debut episode, A Son for a Son, reminds us some oaths will be kept — no matter what.
HBO rolled out a mega campaign to fuel the upcoming war between Team Green and Team Black, signifying that the prequel series will set TV screens ablaze with tension, monstrous acts of violence and of course, dragons. As we revisit King’s Landing and Dragonstone, prepare to meet a lineup of new characters who will play pivotal roles in “Dance of the Dragons,” and the battle for the Iron Throne.
Step into the family feud with our recap of season 2’s premiere episode below, and don’t forget to read our refresher on season 1. Be warned: Spoilers ahead, and it may be a little too early to choose sides in this drama.
Read more: Snag a Week of Max for Free to Stream House of the Dragon and Much More
Getty Image/Zooey Liao
Winter is coming in the North
An overhead shot of a bird soaring from the woods over coastlines, mountains, knolls, and to a stone stronghold lands in the North. A narrator explains the meaning of duty and sacrifice, and how the North owed a great duty to the Seven Kingdoms — since the days of the first men. Since the days of old, “We have stood as guardians against the cold and dark.” It’s the Night’s Watch. Under his ancestor, King Torrhen Stark, one in 10 men was to be chosen to fortify the watch. It’s an honor and duty for those who serve the North. The North must stand ready, as winter is coming, he warns.
Cregan Stark, Lord of Winterfell, speaks with Jacaerys Velaryon.
Ollie Upton/HBO
We meet Cregan Stark who’s explaining their ancestral duty to Jacaerys. The prince brings up the oath made to King Viserys and how unity in the kingdom is under threat. Cregan says his duty’s torn between North and South. He’s worried about guarding the wall — especially in the winter. Even dragons refused to cross the wall, and Cregan asks Jacaerys, “Do you think my ancestors built the wall to keep out snow and savages?” and the prince soon learns it keeps out death.
Cregan offers his graybeard force. As they chat, Cregan is handed a message from the queen, and he looks at Jacaerys. Clearly, it’s news about Lucerys’ death.
Grief and anger at Dragonstone
Jacaerys is away, but things are happening back at home. A dragon lands at Dragonstone; it’s Rhaena.
Daemon is ready to kill Vhagar and tries to convince Rhaena to double-team with him. “A son for a son,” he says. Rhaena advises him not to act on vengeful impulse. Daemon retorts that if she’d acted on impulse, she would’ve ended Aegon and his line, referring to the season 1 finale moment when she and her dragon burst through the floor during his coronation and refused to roast them all.
For a moment, we see Queen Rhaenrya, who’s looking out to sea from a cliff. Her face is rife with anger, sorrow and guilt.
Corlys is shown walking to the docks — using a cane. He sees ships getting cleaned up and readied, and another new character is introduced: Allyn Hull. Allyn briefs him on the ships’ status, but their conversation is awkward. This guy is who dragged Corlys out the sea, bringing him to safety when he was sick in season 1. He says he’s indebted to Allyn.
Meet Allyn, a seafarer in House of the Dragon, season 2.
Ollie Upton/HBO
Fear at King’s Landing
Things cut to King’s Landing with Vhagar soaring in for a landing. The army is told to stand down, demonstrating they’re ready for an attack from Team Black at any given moment. Inside the castle, Aegon is in his chambers looking for his heir to give him “king” lessons. His sister-wife Helaena says she’s afraid — not of the army, but of the rats. It’s not obvious what she means by that, yet.
Elsewhere in the palace, Alicent and Criston are being extremely intimate before they go meet with the council. They get dressed and scurry to the meeting where her dad, Otto Hightower, says letters to the North are unanswered. However, Prince Aemond’s pact with the Baratheons in the Storm Lands should solidify their allegiance. There’s a problem though, as Rhaenyra’s blocked the Gullet with Corlys’ sea fleet. The council is also figuring out that “Princess Rhaenyra” doesn’t want to negotiate.
Because her blockade is affecting how things roll in King’s Landing, they need help from the Lannisters and Hightowers to break it. They need the River Lands help as well, and Aegon says he’ll just use Vhagar to burn everyone who doesn’t side with him. Alicent tries to deter that, and with a glare toward Aemond, says Vhagar must stay at King’s Landing to prevent Rhaenyra’s retribution for her son’s death.
After the meeting, Larys Strong, the sneaky manipulator, shares with Alicent that he’s killed her old staff and handpicked new people for her. He’s the original Littlefinger in every way.
There’s no reason to like this Larys Strong guy.
Ollie Upton/HBO
Lucerys is honored and revenge is afoot
Rhaenyra and Syrax land on a beach where people found a dragon wing. In a tragic scene, she finds Lucerys’ clothing is wrapped up the net and wails — as does Syrax. Her pain is palpable.
At King’s Landing, inexperienced King Aegon struts into the throne room where he begins to hear the townspeople’s petitions. The first bemoans his flock being taken ahead of winter, and the king wants to return the man’s sheep but Otto advises against it. He said people should tithe livestock to feed dragons for war. Aegon protests but Otto — ever controlling — says no.
Next is Hugh, a blacksmith who asks for an advance so they can buy iron to make weapons. “Our victory depends on the efforts of the small folk,” says Aegon and grants the man’s petition. Otto doesn’t like it. Clubfoot (Larys Strong) pulls Aegon to the side to plant doubt in his ear about Otto. They both want to control Aegon but he’s convincing the kid that his grandfather is a bad idea, and he should be “The Hand” instead.
Alicent, who’s also under Clubfoot’s influence, argues with her father about him undermining her during council meetings. She also justifies Aemond’s psychopathic behavior by saying Luke was never punished for slashing his eye. Bah.
Plotting ratchets up at Dragonstone when a crew finds Mysaria, the White Worm, stowing away on a ship. Daemon confronts his former lover about selling secrets to Otto. She says she goes with the highest bidder and is sent to the dungeon. He then confronts Ser Erryk about working for Otto. Erryk once again pledges his loyalty to Rhaenyra and admits that the Hightowers turned he and his twin brother against each other. Daemon walks out and heads to the war room.
Rhaenyra enters the room where everyone’s gathered around the Painted Table. They all give updates, and the only thing she says is “I want Aemond Targaryen.” Understood.
Daemon visits White Worm in the dungeon and she doesn’t budge. He then makes an offer for her knowledge in exchange for her freedom. We find out later that she accepts.
Jacaerys approaches his mom in her private chambers, giving her a report about who’s helping, including Lord Cregan who’s pledged 2,000 men. He can barely get through it and starts sobbing as talks to his queen/mother. The family will lay Lucerys to rest.
Back at King’s Landing, Alicent lights a candle at an altar, and hesitates to say Lucerys’ name. At the same time, Rhaneyra and the family light the pyre for her son. She tosses in what she found on the beach — Lucerys’ cloak — but the young Joffrey has small a toy which he throws in the fire to honor his big brother.
Rhaenrya, Jacaerys and Joffrey mourn Lucerys at a funeral pyre.
Theo Whitman/HBO
Blood and Cheese enter the fray
At dawn, Daemon arrives on the shores of King’s Landing in a disguise. He bribes a guard who hates the Hightowers to take him inside. He speaks with the castle’s rat catcher, and attempts to hire him as a hitman for Aemond. We already know this won’t work out how everyone thinks it will, but he accepts the gig.
Aemond and Criston are in the prince’s room talking about war strategy, and Aemond complains that his mother and grandsire are being too cautious. He wants to be more aggressive, but Criston says his mom has a soft spot for Rhaenyra.
Criston departs as Otto walks in, and grandpa already knows how Aemond feels. He tells him Vhagar and Aemond are a powerful team, but he needs to chill because other factors are at play. To nail that point home, he tells him his brother doesn’t know how to keep his impulses in check.
Two peas in a pod: Prince Aemond and Ser Criston.
Ollie Upton/HBO
A tense scene unfolds as we follow the rat catcher who’s in the tunnels with a dog and another guy he’s hired out to do the job. In A Song of Ice and Fire books, this pair is known as Blood and Cheese, two unscrupulous assassins. They climb into the castle and end up in the throne room where they overhear Aegon and his friends talking smack and brainstorming. The king is obviously distracted. After a squabble about not being allowed upstairs where the royals are, the two hitmen creep up into Aemond’s quarters.
With the prince nowhere to be found, they lurk. But they can’t find any royals except the sister-queen and Aegon’s kids. The rat catchers put a knife to her throat and debate over killing her kids. They force her to point out which one is the male heir, and she tells the truth. In a horrifying turn, they cut the child’s head off.
Helaena runs out the room traumatized and heads to her mother’s quarters where she’s having relations with Criston. Though it’s not Aemond, a son for a son is what is delivered.
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Every day of the week, Fox News Digital publishes a range of health and wellness pieces to keep you up-to-date on medical research, new medications, mental health trends, success stories and more.
In case you missed them, here are a few of the biggest health stories from the past week.
As always, you can see a full list of recent health pieces at http://www.foxnews/health.
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1. FDA tells COVID vaccine makers to update their fall shots
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that COVID vaccine manufacturers update their formulas for fall doses, in an attempt to target the KP.2 strain of the JN.1 variant.
Dr. Marc Siegel shared insights on the risks as this variant grows more prominent. Click here to get the story.
“It makes sense to target the KP.2 strain because it is becoming the predominant strain — it is surging in California and will spread across the country,” Siegel told Fox News Digital.(iStock)
2. Expert offers 7 tips to soothe sunburned skin
If not treated properly, sunburn can lead to severe skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer, experts warn.
Angela Rosoff, a San Francisco-based wellness and beauty expert, shared some proven remedies to treat sun-damaged skin. Click here to get the story.
More than one out of every three adults experienced a sunburn last year, according to a survey by the American Academy of Dermatology.(iStock)
3. Tiger mosquitoes blamed for spread of dengue fever
As dengue fever continues to spread throughout Europe, experts are naming an invasive mosquito species as the culprit.
CANCER NEARLY TOOK HIS LEG, BUT NEW JERSEY FATHER OF 6 WALKS AGAIN: ‘I SHOULDN’T BE HERE’
Infectious diseases experts weighed in on the level of risk and share prevention tips. Click here to get the story.
Tiger mosquitoes — the species Aedes albopictus — have spread into 13 EU countries, according to an alert from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.(iStock)
4. Certain exercises could reverse Alzheimer’s, expert says
In her new book, “Reversing Alzheimer’s,” Dr. Heather Sandison, a renowned expert in dementia care, offered specific recommendations for the types of exercise that can benefit patients living with the disease.
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“Exercise benefits several of the root causes of neurological disease,” she wrote. Click here to get the story.
Sunburn remedies, new COVID vaccines, anti-Alzheimer’s exercises and more important stories are covered here. (iStock)
5. Experts bust sunscreen myths
Some claims on social media about sun safety have led to a major misconception that sunscreen could cause skin cancer.
Dermatologists debunk these potentially dangerous myths. Click here to get the story.
Thirty-two percent of Americans believe that a tan makes people look better and healthier, according to the Orlando Health Cancer Institute study.(iStock)
6. New Alzheimer’s drug gets thumbs-up from FDA advisory committee
Donanemab, designed to treat mild cognitive impairment and other symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease, was endorsed by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel.
Here’s what that could mean for patients. Click here to get the story.
Eli Lilly officials presented clinical trial results showing that the drug, donanemab, slowed cognitive and functional decline for people with mild cognitive impairment due to early stages of Alzheimer’s.(iStock)
7. FDA panel rejects MDMA-assisted therapies for PTSD
Many veterans’ hopes were dashed when an FDA advisory committee voted against the overall benefits of MDMA when used to treat PTSD.
Advocates and doctors discussed what this means for the future of psychedelic treatments. Click here to get the story.
“When I heard the verdict, all I could think about was the hopes of those veterans being dashed … and not having a solution for them,” one advocate said.(iStock)
Food safety and hygiene are important concerns, whether you are eating home-cooked food, going to a restaurant or buying packaged food products. A viral video is circulating on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in which a woman, Deepa Devi from Noida, shows that she found a frozen centipede inside an Amul Ice Cream tub which she ordered via Blinkit. Sharing a picture of the same on her X handle on June 15, 2024, she wrote, “Finding an insect inside my @Amul India ice cream was truly alarming. Quality control and food safety should never be compromised. @FSSAI Publication have to take some legal action on such kind of incidents they are increasing in numbers day by day.”
“Finding an insect 🐞 inside my @Amul India ice cream 🍨 was truly alarming 🚨 Quality control and food safety should never be compromised@FSSAI Publication have to take some legal action on such kind of incidents they are increasing in numbers day by day pic.twitter.com/K7yxiARwK5
On the same day, the official Customer Care Twitter Account of Amul responded in the comments section, “Request you to kindly DM us your address and phone number. Our team will contact you.”
“Finding an insect 🐞 inside my @Amul India ice cream 🍨 was truly alarming 🚨 Quality control and food safety should never be compromised@FSSAI Publication have to take some legal action on such kind of incidents they are increasing in numbers day by day pic.twitter.com/K7yxiARwK5— Deepa Devi (@Deepadi11) June 15, 2024
Elaborating on the incident, Deepa Devi told IANS, “This morning, my children wanted to drink mango shake so I ordered Vanilla ice cream through the Blinkit app. When I opened it, I saw a black centipede on the lid. I informed Blinkit about this. They returned my money (₹ 195) and I was assured that they had conveyed the same to Amul and that I would get a call or message from Amul,” adding, “No matter how big a brand, such negligence cannot be ignored.”
Noida: A woman who bought ice cream says, “I had ordered Amul ice cream from Blinkit. When I opened it, a black earwig was found in it. I informed Blinkit about this. They returned my money and I was assured by them that I would get a message or a call from Amul. But till now no… pic.twitter.com/MmNxzR5Frs— IANS (@ians_india) June 15, 2024
People are alarmed after seeing the photos and videos of the reported food safety violation, reacting to and resharing the same on social media. An X user wrote, “Companies only focus on sales number, they forget quality and its ill effects on consumer health. Company should be heavily penalized so that they never do such irresponsible activities.” Another added, “Please pay attention to this so that such a mistake does not happen again in future.”
Also Read: Is Your Milk Safe? Food Authority Reveals Easy Tests To Find Out
About Jigyasa KakwaniJigyasa finds her solace through writing, a medium she is exploring to make the world more informed and curious with every story published. She is always up for exploring new cuisines, but her heart comes back to the comforting ghar-ka-khana.
Sol de Janeiro has built on the cream’s popularity by releasing more products with sweet scents and bright, cheerful visual profiles. It sells a dragon-fruit-scented pink tub of “Elasti-Cream” and a suite of pastel fragrance sprays. A new, limited-edition Brazilian Bum Bum Cream comes with a pack of stickers shaped like bananas, coconuts and hot-air balloons.
Rachel Azzolini, 29, who lives in Louisville, Ky., said that the bright packaging and fruity scents were what drew her 5-year-old daughter to Sol de Janeiro’s products. She said she was concerned when a Sephora employee gave her daughter a miniature sample of the Sol de Janeiro Elasti-Cream, which says it is “retinol-mimicking” on its packaging.
“I thought, I don’t want my 5-year-old using retinol,” she said.
Ms. Azzolini allowed her daughter to use the cream once she discovered that it did not actually contain retinol, a vitamin A derivative that can be irritating, especially to younger skin. She tries to avoid harsh ingredients, but otherwise said she was happy to support her daughter’s interest in skin care, despite the negative comments she sometimes sees about “Sephora kids” on social media.
“It’s not that serious,” she said. “They’re just trying to have fun.”
She recently bought her daughter a travel-size set of Sol de Janeiro creams that includes Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. She said she was not worried about her daughter engaging with the product’s language about firming and tightening. “She doesn’t even think about that stuff or comprehend that yet,” Ms. Azzolini said.
Still, the product appears to fit into a trend of young people fretting about their appearances earlier and earlier, said Charlotte H. Markey, a professor of psychology at Rutgers University and the author of a coming book on adolescents’ body image.
Highlighted by notable company and product maneuvering at the top and the continued dramatic growth of therapeutic settings such as GLP-1s, Pharm Exec’s latest listing of the top global biopharma sales producers is proof-positive of an industry in transition.
As cat owners, we know how stressful it can be getting our cats to the vet. Telehealth services are gaining traction in the pet industry, making it easy to receive veterinary advice and consultations from your home and taking some of the stress out of vet visits for both your cat and you.
That’s why we at Catster are excited to announce the launch of our new telehealth service: PangoVet. With PangoVet, you can schedule a video consultation with one of our expert veterinarians, who can give you advice about your cat’s health or just answer any questions or concerns you may have in an affordable and convenient way.
Key Features of PangoVet
Besides taking the stress out of trying to get your cat to the vet, PangoVet gives you the advantage of flexible scheduling, so that you can make a telehealth appointment at your convenience.
Here are few key features of PangoVet:
Licensed veterinarians: Our veterinarians are licensed, experienced, and knowledgeable about cats (and dogs, too) so that you can feel confident in the advice you’re given.
Personalized advice: Our veterinarians understand what your pets mean to you, and they take the time to listen to your concerns to provide personalized advice regarding your cat’s specific needs.
Helpful resources: Through the resource center, you can access free articles written by our veterinarians that you can use to help answer your questions or follow up your consultation.
“The key is our personal approach to medicine,” says PangoVet’s Dr. Lauren Demos. “What you expected 20 years ago when everyone in the local veterinary clinic was a familiar face, and really connected with you and your pet. So much has changed in the veterinary industry, especially since Covid, and these wonderful relationships have been lost. Telehealth allows us to really focus on both healthcare and building back these relationships, for the better of all involved.”
Image Credit: Prostock-studio, Shutterstock
How Does PangoVet Work?
It’s easy to make an appointment with PangoVet. All you have to do is fill out an online form about your cat and your reason for wanting a consultation, including any questions and concerns you have about your cat.
Once you pay the consultation fee, you will be scheduled for a 20-minute video consultation with one of our veterinarians. This gives you the opportunity and time to address any concerns more in-depth.
After the consultation, you’ll receive a report that summarizes your consultation. This report can be helpful for your personal records or in the event that you do need to follow up with a veterinarian in person.
What Specific Issues Can PangoVet Help With?
Although PangoVet can’t offer a diagnosis or prescribe medications, our vets can answer your questions and offer advice about:
Our veterinarians will also let you know if your pet needs to be seen by a veterinarian in person for further evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment and how soon they need to be seen. They can even help you find a vet in your area if necessary.
For more information about PangoVet and to see the answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the PangoVet website. We hope that you’ll find this service helpful for your cat, and convenient and affordable for you. We hope to revolutionize the way that you receive pet healthcare with this new service.
Featured Image Credit: Dmytro Zinkevych, Shutterstock
WeWork India, a provider of flexible workspace, expanded its footprint in the country by launching its facility – Olympia Cyberspace – in Chennai.
Spanning 130,000+ sq. ft. of space and 2,000 seats across two floors, Olympia Cyberspace in Guindy is the company’s 55th building in the country.
With Olympia Cyberspace, WeWork India seeks to provide innovative and collaborative work environments to meet the rising demand for flexible workspace solutions.
Chennai is currently experiencing a surge in demand for flexible workspaces, fuelled by the emergence of fast-growing micro-markets like Old Mahabalipuram Road and Porur, according to a statement.
Olympia Cyberspace facility includes amenities like event spaces, wellness rooms, F&B markets, and quiet spaces among others. The central location provides easy access to major transportation hubs.
The entry into the Chennai market underscores the immense potential of Chennai’s talent pool, robust IT sector, and flourishing manufacturing base. We have already signed a range of members, such as Wheelocity Fresh, Molex India, Dr. Wamser + Batra India, and H2O LLC, said Karan Virwani, CEO, WeWork India.
Over the past seven years, WeWork India has built its presence across 8 cities, with over 90,000 desks and more than 70,000 members, indicating the growing demand for flexible workspaces in India.
Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.
BROJNI domovi imaju puno uređaja koji nemilosrdno troše struju, a posebno se to odnosi na domove s puno pametnih uređaja. Više uređaja i predmeta znači veće opterećenje za napajanje i više mogućih točaka pregrijavanja. Naravno, nema ih smisla uključivati i isključivati svaki dan, no kad odete na odmor i odsutni ste, neke uređaje biste trebali ugasiti zbog štednje i zbog sigurnosti.
Mali kuhinjski aparati
Prema Danu Mocku iz Mister Sparkyja, svakako biste trebali isključiti aparate za kavu, tostere, mini pećnice i druge male kuhinjske aparate. “To nazivamo ‘vampirskim’ uređajima, što znači da koriste energiju čak i kad su isključeni”, objasnio je Mock za Livingetc. “Štetni su za okoliš i za vaš novčanik.”
Mathew Shelly iz Dualita također preporučuje isključivanje malih kuhinjskih uređaja kako biste izbjegli rizik od požara ili oštećenja uređaja: “Za razliku od većih uređaja, poput hladnjaka, nema negativnih strana isključivanja manjih uređaja, a to će vam donijeti i mir dok uživate u odmoru.”
TV-uređaji i igraće konzole
Ostavljanje televizora i konzola za igranje uključenima može ugroziti vaš dom. Štoviše, Mock navodi kako su to među uređajima koji najčešće ostaju uključeni dok se ne koriste. Pojasnio je: “Ako dok ste odsutni dođe do oluje, a nemate zaštitu od prenapona, uređaji poput televizora i igraćih konzola mogu se preopteretiti i može doći do kratkog spoja.”
Računala i pametni kućanski uređaji
Većina modernih domova može se smatrati pametnim domovima, što znači da biste trebali obratiti malo više pažnje na svoje uređaje prije nego što odete na odmor. Neki smatraju kako je dovoljno računalo staviti u stanje mirovanja, no to nije istina u slučajevima kad vas nema više od jednog dana.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
“Potpuno ga isključite iz utičnice kako biste smanjili količinu energije koju dom koristi i zaštitili računalo od problema koji mogu nastati zbog prenapona”, pojasnio je Mock. “Ne želite se vratiti kući i shvatiti da vam računalo ne radi.”
Osim računala, isključite i Google Home, Alexu i slične uređaje koji ne služe svrsi dok vas nema. Uvijek možete iskoristiti pametne prekidače ili prekidače s vremenskim odbrojavanjem kako bi se sami isključili.
Ventilatori i pročišćivači zraka
Mock preporučuje isključivanje i odspajanje svih ventilatora i pročistača zraka prije nego što napustite svoj dom na dulje vrijeme.
Perilice posuđa i rublja
Prema Ianu Palmer-Smithu iz Domestica & Generala, perilica rublja i perilice posuđa troše puno energije zbog potrebe za vodom: “One moraju imati više energije od ostalih uređaja u stanju pripravnosti jer trebaju biti spremne zagrijati vodu tog trena kad ih uključite.”
Okarakterizirao ih je kao najgore potrošače i savjetuje vlasnicima da ih isključe ne samo kad su odsutni nego kad god nisu u upotrebi: “Ovi uređaji bi trebali biti isključeni kako biste zaštitili svoj dom i smanjili račune za energiju.”
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Over the franchise’s last 19 games, the Chargers have won five times.
This is a team that has beaten one opponent that finished with a winning record since Dec. 5, 2021, a stretch covering 40 games.
The over/under win total for the 2024 version of Chargers has been set at 8.5, which, in the NFL, is the exact expression of .500 or, stated another way, mediocrity.
Still, the Chargers will enter training camp near the end of July flush with confidence cultivated during the offseason program by, most of all, new head coach Jim Harbaugh.
“There’s no doubt in my mind we have the right guys and the right staff,” quarterback Justin Herbert said at the conclusion of minicamp. “We just have to go out there and execute. We have that faith we’re going to get things right.”
This is the time of year when every NFL team believes it has improved and most are convinced the Super Bowl is a realistic possibility.
Then again, at this point in 2023, much of the talk surrounding the Chargers was how Herbert was going to be uncorking bombs all over the place under then-offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Instead, following a series of injuries and failed game-winning opportunities, Herbert finished with an average gain of 6.9 yards per pass attempt, the second-lowest mark of his career.
So the talk is nothing more than just that — talk. Winning will be determined by action, and here are five areas that, depending on how the action unfolds in training camp, will shape the Chargers’ success this season:
Flipkart is hosting the June Bonanza Mega sale and this amazing Google smartphone is up for grabs at a great discounted cost. Google has reduced the cost of its Pixel handsets in India. People who want to buy a Google Pixel 8 can now save around Rs 22,000 on its original price. Along with that, people can also avail of additional discounts on exchange as well. The Google Pixel 8 was unveiled in October 2023 and within a year of its release, the top smartphone has gotten a huge price cut in India. The e-commerce site is also providing extra discounts on the purchase of Google Pixel 8.
The discounted cost of Google Pixel 8
This powerful handset has two variants. The basic variant with the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage was originally priced at Rs 75,999 at the time of its launch. However, now, it can be bought for Rs 61,999 during the sale and people can get direct Rs 14,000 on the phone. Likewise, the model with 256GB memory was initially priced at Rs 82,999 at the time of unveiling. Now, it is up for grabs at the discounted price of Rs 71,999 during the sale. People can save around Rs 11,000 on the purchase of this model during the sale in India.
Moreover, the e-commerce site is offering substantial trade-in discounts of up to Rs 55,000 on the purchase of Google Pixel 8. People can also receive a cashback deal of up to Rs 8,000 while buying the smartphone with ICICI bank cards and EMI transactions, which essentially reduces the cost of the phone to Rs 53,999.
Specification of Google Pixel 8
The Google Pixel 8 operates on Android 14 and has a 6.2-inch FHD+ (1,080×2,400 pixels) OLED display along with a refresh rate of 120Hz. It has Google’s Tensor G3 processor paired with a Titan M2 security chip and 12GB of RAM. The phone consists of a dual rear camera system, comprising a 50-MP Samsung GN2 sensor and a 12-MP ultra-wide-angle shooter. It also features a 10.5-MP front camera for selfies and videos, a 4,575 mAh battery along with 27W wired charging.
The number of visitors to Goa has increased in the just-concluded tourist season and touched the one crore-mark, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has said, dismissing perception of the footfall going down in the coastal state. (Also Read | Visiting Hawaii’s famous beaches? Here are tips to prevent theft during your vacation)
The official tourist season ends in Goa in June with the onset of monsoon and resumes in September.
There has also been a rise in the number of international tourists, which is 150 per cent more than the pre-COVID-19 figures, Khaunte told PTI in an exclusive interview here on Saturday.
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He, however, admitted there was competition to Goa from other states in the country as well as international players.
The official tourist season ends in Goa in June with the onset of monsoon and resumes in September.
The state has continued to receive tourists even during the monsoon season, the minister said.
“In the monsoon, there is 80 per cent occupancy of hotels in Goa. People flock to Goa during the monsoon as they have realised that Goa is not only about the beaches,” he said.
Asked about the perception of there being a dip in the number of tourists to Goa, Khaunte said. “The footfall has increased. We have touched the mark of 10 million, which is more than the earlier figures,” he said.
Goa still needs to improvise by connecting to new markets, the minister said.
“We have prepared a vision document for the tourism industry which can be implemented only with the active participation of the tourism stakeholders. We have started working towards it,” he said.
Khaunte conceded there is immense competition from various other players, including other Indian states after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative.
“We have to look at this challenge of competition with other states and also international players,” he said.
The minister said one of the challenges is to ensure Goa is not an expensive destination during months like December.
“The cost of hotels in Goa in December is so high that tourists start looking at other destinations like Thailand, where they can travel with the same budget and still save money,” he said.
The minister said discussions would be initiated with various airlines and the hotel industry to put a cap on their tariffs during the tourist season, including the month of December.
The state has continued to receive tourists even in the rainy season, he said.
“The monsoon is about waterfalls, lush green villages, forests, rural tourism. Monsoon is about going on nature trails,” he said.
Tourists visit villages and realise Goa is much more than its beaches. “This also helps to boost the rural economy,” he added.
From Paul the Octopus to the lesser known Walter the Orangutan, everybody has a prediction in their back pocket when it comes to football. Video games have also been used to predict football scores, including EA Sports FC 24, which recently added an official Euro 2024 game mode as part of a free update. Ahead of England’s opening game against Serbia, Electronic Arts has run a test to see how far England can get in the tournament and who they could potentially face if they made it to the final. Indeed, EA Sports simulated hundreds of tournaments to see who comes out on top more often than not.
According to EA’s simulations, England are favourites to win the tournament and end the 58-year wait for silverware.
Perhaps more surprisingly given the various ramifications of where teams finish in their groups, EA Sports FC 24 thinks England will face Germany in the final.
“The most coveted prize in European international football is here with the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament,” reads an EA blog post.
“Hosts Germany welcome 23 other nations—including reigning champions, Italy — to compete for the title of Europe’s best.
“Powered by our advanced Frostbite engine, we’ve used the official Tournament mode equipped with HyperMotionV technology to simulate hundreds of tournaments to determine who will hoist the trophy in July.
“The final will see two international football giants take to the stage.”
According to EA Sports, England will win the final against Germany, and Harry Kane will score the winning goal.
“England, having endured 58 years of hurt since winning their last International trophy at Wembley, London, will take on their host, Germany at the Olympiastadion, Berlin in the UEFA EURO 2024 final on July 14.
“After a tense and engaging battle, we will watch as Harry Kane scores a late winner to seal victory for ENGLAND in a 2-1 thriller.”
As part of the recently released Euro 2024 game mode, fans can play through the tournament with all of the official standings, groups, squads and players.
Players can also create their own Euro 2024 tournaments, taking teams through qualification and into the finals.
New commentary has also been recorded for the tournament, complete with updated analysis and background for each team.
There was such buzz for the Kia EV6 GT before it launched in Australia in 2023.
Here was the fastest Kia ever, capable of doing the 0-100km/h dash in just 3.5 seconds – faster than some supercars!
It was delayed getting here and its moment in the sun was short, for sister brand Hyundai early this year introduced an even more exciting electric vehicle (EV).
It isn’t really any quicker, and it’s around $11,000 more expensive, but the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N offers one of the most customisable driving experiences of any EV on the market. You can even turn on simulated gear shifts and faux exhaust sound you can hear from outside the car.
It takes quite a car to make something as distinctively styled and searingly quick as an EV6 GT seem less exciting in comparison.
While you mightn’t be able to simulate the feel of a combustion-powered car in the EV6 GT, we’ve put it to the test again to see whether it’s still worthy of consideration against its petrol-flavoured platform-mate.
A facelift for the core EV6 range was recently revealed ahead of a fourth-quarter 2024 launch in Australia, and Kia is set to reveal a facelifted GT later this year ahead of a launch here a few months later. At this stage, we don’t know the extent of the GT’s upgrades.
We do know the core EV6 has received a larger battery, as well as revised in-car tech and a fresh face. But whether the GT will get more performance or even some of the Ioniq 5 N’s cool features remains unclear.
If you like the styling of the current EV6, then the updated model should still appeal. Kia may have changed the look up front a bit, but it still has the same bulging hips, muscular stance, and dramatic full-width tail lights.
The current EV6 GT is a looker, and there are plenty of neat details like the textured material below the tail lights, or the little lights on the C-pillar that seem to serve no real purpose other than to look cool.
While VFACTS industry sales reports classify it as a “large SUV”, the EV6 really seems to blur the line between a medium-to-large crossover and a medium-to-large hatchback or wagon.
Kia has even referred to it as the successor of the dearly departed Stinger GT.
How does the Kia EV6 compare?
View a detailed breakdown of the Kia EV6 against similarly sized vehicles.
Kia
EV6
How much does the Kia EV6 cost?
The GT sits atop the EV6 range. Rivals include not only the Ioniq 5 N, but also the Tesla Model Y Performance and Ford Mustang Mach-E GT.
Model Variant
$RRP
Kia EV6 Air
$72,590
Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD
$79,590
Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD
$87,590
Kia EV6 GT
$99,590
All prices exclude on-road costs
To see how the EV6 GT shapes up against its rivals, use our comparison tool.
What is the Kia EV6 like on the inside?
The EV6 GT’s interior makes a positive first impression.
You sit in extremely grippy, supportive and heavily bolstered front sports seats, which are manually adjustable.
They really hug you in place, though on long drives I found them a bit stiff – particularly the headrests, which had my neck hurting. Those chunky bolsters don’t get in the way when you need to climb in or out of the car, which is a win for older owners.
Unlike the Ioniq 5 N’s front sports seats or the seats in the cheaper EV6 GT-Line, EV6 GT’s lack ventilation.
The steering wheel feels good, and intuitively features buttons for drive mode selection.
The dashboard is rakishly styled, with interesting patterned inserts. But it’s all finished in hard plastic, which makes the EV6 feel a little more low-rent inside than an Ioniq 5.
The ambient lighting, however, improves the vibe. It’s colour-adjustable and bathes the footwells, the bottle holders in all four doors, and the two levels of the centre console.
There’s also some brushed metal-look trim that provides some neat decoration, while gloss black trim is kept to a minimum. We also dig the GT-exclusive lime green accents, which tie in with the lime green brake calipers outside.
The split-level centre console consists of both a shelf on the floor and a bridge that juts out but doesn’t connect to the centre stack.
Switchgear on this bridge includes the heated seat and heated wheel controls and the start button, which falls neatly to hand.
There are dual 12.3-inch screens: a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment touchscreen.
The EV6 will move to Kia’s latest generation of infotainment with the update, but for now it goes without features like a voice assistant that can control vehicle functions, and wireless smartphone mirroring.
Though it lacks these features, the infotainment system still works well with generally intuitive menus and quick response times.
The digital instrument cluster is pretty standard Kia fare, and while the instruments are neat and legible they don’t feel all that special. We’d like to see some more unique themes to select from, or the ability to view maps as in various Volkswagen Group, Chery, and Jeep products.
One thing those other brands can’t offer, though, is Kia’s Blind Spot View Monitor. This shows camera footage of your blind spot when you turn on your indicator and, in conjunction with the warning light in the mirrors, an audible alert and active steering assist, means you’d have to be completely out of it to wander into another vehicle’s path.
The camera view did get washed out though, literally, when we were driving in the rain. Otherwise, it’s hard to fault the array of cameras in the EV6.
There’s plenty of storage up front. There’s a deep centre console bin, plus the aforementioned large shelf on the floor.
The lined bottle holders in the doors can easily accommodate large bottles, though the ones in the rear doors will struggle with even a 600ml Coke.
Speaking of the doors, they’re finished in a mix of soft-touch plastic up top, plus suede, hard plastic and high-gloss black plastic trim, though the door tops are hard in the rear.
The approach unlock function works well, unlocking the vehicle as you approach it with the key without requiring you to press a button or swipe a sensor.
The flush-mounted door handles pop out, allowing you to easily grab them and open the doors. They also make a funny sound as you drive off and they pop back into place.
Step into the back and you’ll find an almost entirely flat floor, as well as air vents (in the B-pillars), two USB-C outlets, and a fold-down armrest with cupholders.
There are three top-tether and two ISOFIX anchor points for child seats.
The EV6 has vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, which allows you to use both this outlet and an external outlet to charge external appliances. This came in handy while road-tripping, as I could charge my laptop in the back.
Despite the sporty roofline, the EV6 has plenty of rear-seat headroom, but things get a little less practical further back.
The rakish tailgate with its narrow opening means the load space isn’t as large as some crossovers, nor is it as easy to access.
You can still fit in a pair of suitcases, provided they’re not too large, and there’s a handy luggage net. But with 480L of luggage space back here and just 20L under the bonnet, it’s down on the 854L across both storage areas in the Model Y.
There’s a total of 1260L of space in the back when you drop the rear seats.
As is depressingly common with EVs, there’s no spare tyre. Instead, you’ll find only a tyre repair kit. Under the rear boot floor is a compartment to safely tuck away your charging cables.
Dimensions
Kia EV6 GT
Boot space (seats up, VDA)
480L
Boot space (second row folded, VDA)
1260L
Under-bonnet space
20L
What’s under the bonnet?
There’s a small storage area, but the magic of the drivetrain lives deeper under the skin.
Technical Specs
Kia EV6 GT
Power
160kW front 270kW rear Total: 430kW
Torque
350Nm front 390Nm rear Total: 740Nm
Driven wheels
Dual-motor all-wheel drive
0-100km/h (claimed)
3.5 seconds
0-100km/h (observed)
3.76 seconds (GT mode, 50% charge)
Transmission
Single-speed
Battery
77.4kWh lithium-ion
Claimed range
424km (WLTP)
Energy efficiency (claimed)
20.6kWh/100km
Energy efficiency (observed)
20.2kWh/100km
Maximum AC charging rate
10.5kW
Maximum DC charging rate
350kW
Charge time (DC power, 10-80 per cent)
Approximately 18 minutes (350kW charger)
Charge time (AC power, 10-100 per cent)
Approximately 7h 20m (3-phase, 16A, 11kW charger)
Tyres
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 255/40 R21
Tare weight
2185kg
It has almost 200kW more than the GT-Line, cutting 1.7 seconds from the 0-100km/h time. Not that this matters in Australia, but top speed is also bumped up from 188km/h to 260km/h.
How does the Kia EV6 drive?
Wet weather really put a damper on my time with the EV6 GT.
A weekend getaway in northern New South Wales brought the promise of plenty of winding country roads, but almost all had been stricken with potholes. My usual spirited winding road drive at Mount Glorious was also marred by rain, fog and road debris.
It’s frustrating to know you have a vehicle with such immense power and capability that you can’t fully utilise.
And yet, having to use the EV6 GT for commuting and cruising duties underscored just how versatile it is. You can potter around town in Eco mode as if this isn’t packing 430kW and 740Nm, and it’s an entirely pleasant commuter. Power is delivered smoothly, and you can drive your grandma to church without any drama.
Of course, you can also pop it into GT mode, turn on max power mode, and let ‘er rip. From a standstill, the EV6 GT’s acceleration is meteoric, and you can feel the rear wheels struggling to get the power down.
Max power mode is only available when the battery is above 70 per cent, and if you keep doing 0-100km/h runs you’ll burn through your charge.
There are multiple levels of regenerative braking, plus an i-Pedal mode that allows for one-pedal driving. It’s not the most aggressive system we’ve experienced, but it will bring the EV6 to a halt.
As with many Kias, the EV6 GT has a local suspension and steering tune.
The EV6 GT handled the ravaged roads of New South Wales with aplomb, never feeling crashy or lumpy despite riding on huge 21-inch alloy wheels.
However, it’s very firm, and there’s a persistent if slight vibration of sorts to the ride that never goes away. Is it a deal-breaker? Hardly.
The Kia always feels flat and planted, and ready to storm up a winding mountain road.
Ok, so the EV6 GT isn’t as customisable as an Ioniq 5 N. But there’s still a bevy of available settings to configure, more so than even an Audi RS e-tron GT I recently drove.
Perhaps the most customisable element is the Active Sound Design, i.e. the fake propulsion noise. There’s no way to make it sound like a turbocharged four-cylinder engine as in its platform-mate, but you can choose between three preset sounds or even configure your own.
Additionally, you can choose between three levels of sound, or just turn it off entirely and listen to the standard electric motor whir.
Then there are the settings that actually change the way the EV6 drives. You can choose between Normal, Sport and Sport+ modes for the suspension, steering, electronic limited-slip differential and electric motors, with the latter also offering an Eco mode.
You can tailor these settings to your tastes and press the GT button on the steering wheel to call up your custom drive mode.
Additionally, you can toggle the electronic stability control between Normal, Sport (which allows some oversteer) and off.
While I fiddled around with many of these settings, I kept the suspension in normal when I programmed my custom drive mode, but put the steering in Sport+.
By default, the steering already has a nice weight to it, and communicates what’s going on on the road. But Sport+ mode adds some nice heft to it which makes the EV6 feel even sportier.
In terms of braking, the EV6 GT has 380mm front and 360mm rear ventilated discs, instead of 325mm discs front and rear as in lesser EV6s. You can also choose between Normal and Sport modes for the brakes.
The EV6 GT uses Kia’s older traffic sign recognition system, which means it uses navigation data instead of reading signs. But this also means it doesn’t bing and bong every time the speed limit changes, so there’s that.
The cabin is so quiet that I commented the raindrops hitting the sunroof were surprisingly loud.
The EV6 GT is great on the highway, with its Lane Following Assist keeping you neatly centred in your lane and the adaptive cruise control keeping you at your set speed.
When the sun goes down, the matrix LED headlights provide excellent illumination.
The EV6 GT features Kia’s Remote Smart Park Assist, which allows you to use the key fob to move the car forward and backwards. It might sound like a gimmick, but we did end up using it to get the vehicle in and out of a tight car port at an Airbnb.
What do you get?
The GT sits atop the EV6 range, but it does miss out on some features found in the GT-Line one rung down – namely power-adjustable front seats with ventilation.
Standard equipment on the GT includes:
21-inch alloy wheels
Tyre pressure monitoring
Tyre repair kit
Matrix LED headlights
Active Sound Design
One-pedal drive mode
Adaptive suspension
Electronic park brake
Auto hold
Hands-free power tailgate
Rear privacy glass
Remote Smart Park Assist
Key fob parking operation
Semi-autonomous parking assist
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Satellite navigation
DAB digital radio
14-speaker Meridian sound system
Wireless phone charger
Head-up display
Suede/leatherette upholstery
Six-way manual front sports seats
Heated front seats
Heated rear seats
Heated steering wheel
Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
Electrochromic rear-view mirror
4 x USB-C outlets (two up front, two in the rear)
1 x USB-A outlet (front; for data transfer)
64-colour ambient lighting
Is the Kia EV6 safe?
The Kia EV6 Air and GT-Line have a five-star ANCAP rating, but the GT remains unrated.
Standard safety equipment includes:
Autonomous emergency braking
Pedestrian detection
Cyclist detection
Vehicle detection
Junction turning assist
Reverse AEB
Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
Blind-spot assist
Blind-Spot View Monitor
Intelligent speed limit assist
Lane-keep assist
Lane Following Assist (lane centring)
Rear cross-traffic assist
Rear occupant alert
Safe exit assist
Front and rear parking sensors
Surround-view camera with 3D mode
Front, front-side, front-centre and curtain airbags
How much does the Kia EV6 cost to run?
Kia backs the EV6 GT with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, plus a seven-year, 150,000km warranty for the high-voltage electrical components like the battery.
Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.
The company offers three-, five- and seven-year pre-paid service plans, priced at $835, $1561 and $2309, respectively – slightly pricier than the same plans on more affordable EV6 models.
CarExpert’s Take on the Kia EV6 GT
The EV6 GT is bloody fast, handles well, and yet can be a comfortable and calm commuter.
By any measure, it’s an excellent car. So why is it not my electric car of choice at this end of the market?
The EV6 GT is highly adjustable, but its Hyundai sibling just adds that little bit more and is a more engaging vehicle to drive as a result. It also has an interior that feels nicer.
And then there’s the EV6 GT-Line. If you don’t want the outright pace of the GT, the GT-Line is still far quicker than you arguably need, while being more affordable and comfortable.
There’s also the looming update for the EV6 GT, which promises to include some worthwhile improvements including the latest technology from Kia.
The EV6 GT is a great car, no bones about it. But we’d recommend carefully evaluating what you want in a high-performance electric car before signing on the dotted line.
Even as the Karnataka government has hiked petrol and diesel prices by increasing value-added tax (VAT) on the fuel, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday justified the recent VAT hike on petrol and diesel, saying Karnataka’s fuel rates are still lower than those in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
“In Maharashtra, the VAT on petrol is 25% plus Rs 5.12 additional tax, and on diesel, it is 21%. Karnataka’s revised rates are still more affordable. Despite the VAT hike, diesel prices in Karnataka are still lower than in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. We remain committed to keeping fuel prices reasonable for our citizens,” the chief minister said in a series of posts on X.
On Saturday, June 15, the Karnataka government hiked sales tax on fuel which will make petrol and diesel costlier. According to official sources, petrol will now go up by Rs 3 and diesel by Rs 3.5 per litre. In a notification issued by the Finance Department, the government has hiked sales tax on petrol by 3.92 percentage points, from 25.92 to 29.84 per cent. On diesel, the hike is 4.1 percentage points, from 14.34 to 18.44 per cent.
Defending the price hike, the chief minister in another post on X said Karnataka’s VAT adjustment ensures we can fund essential public services and development projects. The state remains committed to balanced and responsible governance.
In another post on X, Siddaramaiah said, “The then Double Engine BJP government collaborated to divert Karnataka’s resources to other states. The state BJP govt kept reducing VAT on petrol and diesel while the Central govt increased its own taxes. This manipulation led to reduced revenue for Karnataka, while the Central government collected more for its coffers, cheating Kannadigas.”
The central government had increased excise duty on petrol from Rs 9.21 to Rs 32.98 and on diesel from Rs 3.45 to Rs 31.84. These high taxes are a burden on our citizens, Siddaramaiah added.
“Despite subsequent reductions, the current central excise duty on petrol is Rs 19.9 and on diesel is Rs 15.8. We urge the Union Government to reduce these taxes for the benefit of the people,” he added.
The Karnataka goverment’s decision to hike petrol and diesel prices comes days after the Lok Sabha poll results, in which NDA got 19 out of 28 seats in Karnataka, with BJP winning 17 and JD(S) with 2. The ruling Congress in the state has won nine seats.
The move, aimed at resource mobilisation, comes after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is also the finance minister, reviewed the state’s revenue generation and fiscal position.
During the meeting, the CM asked officials to work harder towards meeting revenue collection targets.
According to sources, the hike is expected to generate Rs 2,500-Rs 2,800 crore during the financial year.
Hitting out at the government, Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra urged the chief minister to roll back the hike in petrol and diesel prices, as he threatened a state wide protest by the party on Monday, at all district centres.
“Faced by defeat in Lok Sabha polls, the chief minister is not ready to accept that the financial situation of the state has deteriorated, but the hike in fuel prices proves it. The government is unable to run the administration because of guarantees, they are unable to get proper resources….The government should withdraw this decision (of fuel price hike),” he said.
Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka said this “anti-people” Congress government is taking revenge on Kannadigas for voting BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.
“Having emptied the state’s coffers with its unscientific guarantee schemes the Congress government in Karnataka is going to fill the treasury by taxing the Kannadigas,” he posted on ‘X’, adding that with this hike the government has “cut” into the public pocket.
Siddaramaiah has set aside Rs 52,009 crore for his government’s flagship five guarantee schemes this year.
The Congress government’s five guarantee schemes are — 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), payment of cash-in-lieu of the additional 5 kg of rice to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for diploma holders for two years (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).
The volatility in the cryptocurrency market is on a constant rise, highlighting increased price action. However, top tokens have failed to gain momentum, resulting in them recording significant corrections in their respective portfolios.
With the current market situation, investors have expressed increased concerns about the upcoming bull rally, and questions like “Is cryptocurrency market going to rise again?” and “Will crypto recover in 2024?” have recorded increased traffic. Planning on investing in altcoins for the upcoming Bull Run?
Scroll down as, in this article, we have covered market sentiments, price analysis, and short-term price targets of the top 4 altcoins that have the potential to record massive price action during the upcoming week.
Beldex (BDX):
Despite recording a correction of 10.37% within the past 24 hours, the BDX price has recorded a jump of 14.95% over the past seven days. Furthermore, the altcoin has added 11.83% within the past 30 days, indicating a long-term bullish sentiment for the altcoin in the coming time.
TradingView: BDX/USDT
With a trading price of $0.03842, a circulating supply of 6,447,708,970 BDX, and a total supply of 9,925,088,970 BDX, the Beldex crypto has successfully secured the 254th spot in the global crypto market list with a capitalization of $248.033 Million.
The technical indicator, RSI, is headed toward its mid-point after recording a sharp drop above the overbought range. Moreover, the average trendline displays a high possibility of a bearish convergence, suggesting uncertainty in future price action.
If the bulls regain momentum, the Beldex price will prepare to test its upper resistance level of $0.050 in the coming time. However, if the bears continue to dominate the market, the BDX coin price will plunge toward its lower support level of $0.032.
BakeryToken (BAKE):
After trading under a closed range between $0.2225 and $0.3630 for a brief period, the BAKE coin price has regained momentum and broke out of its resistance level, highlighting an increase in the buying pressure for BakeryToken in the crypto market.
TradingView: BAKE/USDT
The Cross EMA 50/200-day shows a bullish rise in the 1D time frame, suggesting an increase in the buying-over-selling pressure for the altcoin.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) displays a constant rise in the green histogram, indicating an increase in the bullish sentiment in the market. Furthermore, the averages show a positive trend, suggesting the price will continue gaining value in the coming time.
If the bulls continue to gain momentum, the BAKE price will head toward its upper resistance level of $0.6115 in the coming time. Conversely, in case of a bearish reversal, BakeryToken will plunge to its lower support level of $0.2225 this month.
Dimitra (DMTR):
Despite increased price volatility in the crypto market, the Dimitra token continues to trade in a closed range between $0.0940 and $0.1377. Moreover, the altcoin has recorded a correction of 3.83% within the past day but has added 20.89% over the past week, and has a YTD of 217.59%.
TradingView: DMTR/USDT
The technical indicators, SMA and MACD display a bullish price action in the 1D time frame, suggesting an increase in the buying pressure for the DMTR token in the cryptocurrency market.
If the market pushes the Dimitra price above the resistance level, the bulls will regain momentum and prepare to test its upper resistance level of $0.180. Negatively, if the bears gain power, the DMTR crypto will test its crucial support level of $0.0940.
Maneki (MANEKI):
Built on the Solana Chain, the name Maneki originates from a Japanese beckoning cat. It is known as the legendary leader with the wisdom of ages and the power to bring fortune to those who rally under its banner. The project is supported by its native token “MANEKI”.
The Maneki price has recorded a correction of 5.11% within the past day but has added 6.36% over the past week. Furthermore, the altcoin has surged 48.71% within the past 30 days, highlighting a long-term bullish sentiment for the crypto token in the market.
With a trading price of $0.011, a circulating supply of 8,422,887,212 MANEKI tokens, and a total supply of 8,888,887,212 MANEKI tokens, the altcoin has successfully secured the 456th position with a market capitalization of $92.545 Million.
I’ve heard about more organizations kick-starting their content marketing strategy lately. That’s a welcome change from the past year when teams hunkered down to figure out generative AI and all the changes in social media and search.
But I too often hear these teams say they’re trying to rebuild their airplanes while flying them.
I don’t know where that phrase originated, but a 22-year-old advertising campaign from Fallon for digital consulting firm EDS helped popularize it. The comical TV and print ad showed people assembling an airliner in the air and professing how much they love their jobs.
The ad’s tagline explained that EDS could help you “build your digital business even while you’re up and running.”
Fallon created the ad as part of an integrated campaign with two other funny videos: Cat Herders, about managing the complexity of digital business, and Running With the Squirrels, which claimed EDS could help legacy businesses compete like disruptive startups.
Any one of these ads would be relevant in 2024.
But let’s explore why it’s time to ground the “build the plane while flying it” approach to new content marketing projects once and for all.
The frustration of in-flight construction
The to-do list for implementing a new (or rebooted) content marketing initiative includes:
It’s a lot. Frustration sets in quickly when team leads realize they can’t shut anything down while they work to implement all the new ideas. And everybody else is busy, too. They all still need to launch campaigns, write blog posts, craft event materials, and feed content to the website, all while trying to master technology they haven’t fully implemented.
I recently worked with a B2C e-commerce company that identified an exciting new project: a new physical event supported by a digital hub and newsletter that would build an addressable audience.
The problem: It required cross-functional support across several marketing and technology teams. No one on those teams had extra bandwidth or resources to devote to the new initiative. And no one wanted to give up on existing projects to make room for the new one.
They didn’t want to build a new plane while flying the existing one.
So, what’s the answer? It’s simple: Stop building planes for a bit.
New strategies, not new tactics
Whenever marketing teams cite the airplane cliché, I suggest a spin on the metaphor: Don’t try to build another airplane while flying the existing one. Instead, let the existing planes fly while you build an airplane factory.
Let me explain.
I recently worked with a client in the B2B technology space. Enabling content (educational content that helps customers improve at their jobs) is hot in that space.
My client initially planned to tap its digital and PR teams to modify the existing PR newsrooms on its website to create a new online learning platform. But neither the newsroom nor the website suited that content marketing strategy.
Everything from the website hierarchy to the audiences it attracted to the technology platform it ran on posed challenges to the new project’s success. The content team wanted to build a new learning destination using different technology.
However, the firm’s existing processes were built to focus all digital efforts — and paid and earned media — on its website. So business leaders resisted.
They said, “We already have this technology and that team with that skill set. Why don’t we just use what we have?”
It was as if the company said, “OK, you can bring us into the jetliner age — as long as you do it by repairing and upgrading our propeller plane while it’s in the air.”
Instead of pressing forward by explaining why the new project needed this or that, the content leads found a different answer. They pulled back and audited all the existing teams, workflows, technologies, and processes used for content marketing across the business. And they found that the company had room to do something new.
To tie into the metaphor, they found that by changing how they manufactured all airplanes, they could upgrade their factory to handle new projects without having to rebuild old ones while in the air.
When the article came out in 2000, businesses faced disruptions due to the growth of the internet and globalization. And its advice remains relevant as companies grapple with the disruption of generative AI.
The article explores how to respond to disruptive innovations, which create something entirely new (e.g., launching an online university), vs. sustaining innovations, which improve something already considered valuable (e.g., replacing stock photography with AI-generated imagery).
The authors advise against approaching disruptive innovation the way you would approach changing something existing. Instead, you should approach it as building something within a new organizational space.
That’s what my technology company client did.
I know – because I meet them every day – that content and marketing practitioners are scrappy, resourceful, and innovative. Requests to build the content equivalent of new airplanes come in all the time.
And I know content teams can hack planes together and manage some repairs and changes mid-flight. But when you’re rolling out a new content marketing project, it’s more productive to set up a new space.
Christensen and Overdorf outline three ways to create this new organizational space:
You can create a new team within the existing organizational structure.
You can spin out a new and independent organization from the structure.
You can acquire a different organization that becomes a new part of your existing structure.
Create a new space for new content projects
Every successful new content strategy follows one of those three options. Here are some examples of each approach.
A new content team within the existing organizational structure: When a new content team gets formalized, named, and documented, the chance for success immediately improves. Red Hat Linux offers a great example. At Red Hat, for example, Laura Barnes (2019 B2B Content Marketer of the Year) created a new strategic team to handle all the organization’s content marketing. Over the years, the team has grown, changed, and morphed as the organization has evolved. And it remains a core piece of the company’s strategy.
A new organization separate from the existing structure: Content as a strategic function in an enterprise is a powerful business model. When ServiceNow wanted to build an audience through thought leadership, for example, it didn’t add new e-books, videos, or white papers to the marketing team’s load. Instead, it built a dedicated content product team and launched Workflow, a digital publication, along with online learning, a print magazine, and an email newsletter.
A newly acquired group: Content brand acquisitions continue. For example, software company Pendo acquired Mind the Product, a product management community that provides content, training, and conferences that serve a global audience of more than 300,000 product managers, designers, and developers.
Regardless of which approach your organization takes, the first step on the road to content marketing success involves creating a factory that lets you build any kind of airplane you want.
Doing that won’t completely eliminate the need to build airplanes while flying them. But if you expect to stay in the air, you’ll occasionally have to come back to Earth to build something new from the ground up.
It’s your story. Tell it well.
Updated from a January 2022 post.
Robert Rose consults and hosts workshops on helping marketing teams align their marketing processes to all kinds of technologies – including generative AI. Contact him to learn about those programs.
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Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute
Expressing his views on the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) undergraduate exam issue, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that the decision on 1,563 candidates who got “grace marks” has been taken as per the students’ conformity.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, “Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan held cordial talks with representatives of students and parents. The decision on almost 1,563 candidates has been taken as per the students’ conformity, I hope that Dharmendra Pradhan will work very seriously on this matter.”
Earlier, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan assured students that a transparent process will be followed and they should not worry.
“The government assures the students that full transparency will be adopted in the probe into alleged irregularities and re-conducting the NEET exams. The students do not need to worry,” Pradhan said while speaking to ANI.
“Students who wanted to meet us, I called them, their parents also came, I met them. I heard their side and I made them feel better. The government is committed, and all students should have this assurance that a transparent process will be followed. 24 lakh students were the applicants, and 23.30 lakh students have taken the exam, this is natural, whatever doubts come to their minds, some issues came to mind that some irregularities in the centre were noticed, due to lack of time for grace marks, some objections were raised in the formula used for giving grace marks, that was also rectified”, he added.
Also read: NEET grace marks nixed, re-test option for 1,563 students: Govt
Pradhan further stated, “The Supreme Court permitted them to take the exam again, they have been informed. Those who want to take the exam can take the exam there as well”.
However, the education minister ruled out the possibility of any irregularities in the NEET-UG examination, stating that there has been “no paper leak” in the NEET-UG paper and the government is ready to give answers to the Supreme Court which is hearing the petitions related to the exam.
Also read: NEET-UG Exam Results 2024: 74 students scored centum
“I want to assure the students and their parents that the Government of India and NTA are committed to providing justice to them. Twenty-four lakh students have successfully taken the NEET examination. There is no paper leak, no proof has been found yet. A court-recommended model was adopted for around 1560 students and a panel of academicians has been formed for the same…We will accept the verdict of the Court,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Testing Agency (NTA) told the Supreme Court that the scorecards of 1563 candidates who got “grace marks” in the 2024 National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (undergraduate) exam will be cancelled and the candidates will have a chance to reappear for the exam.
Is a fresh housing boom under way? In April a house-price index for the world, excluding China, rose by more than 3% year on year (see chart 1). American house prices are 6.5% higher than a year ago, Australian ones are up by 5% and Portuguese ones are soaring. In other countries, the market looks surprisingly strong given years of high interest rates (see chart 2).
England resume their quest to end their 58-year trophy drought on Sunday as they take on Serbia in their opening fixture at Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate’s side were beaten finalists to Italy last time out, and with a side blessed with the likes of Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Harry Kane are many pundits’ favorites to log one better this time and finally lift the Henri Delaunay Trophy in Germany for what would be the very first time.
This year’s tournament marks the first time Serbia have qualified for the Euros as an independent nation, and will likely fancy their chances of making a big impact here. Their squad boasts an array of talent, including striker Dusan Vlahovic, Ajax’s Dusan Tadic and Al-Hilal duo Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live, wherever you are in the world.
Fresh from winning the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, young England midfielder Jude Bellingham is predicted to be one of the stars of Euro 2024.
Boris Streubel/UEFA/Getty Images
Serbia vs. England: When and where?
Serbia take on England on Sunday, June 16, at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Kick-off is set for 9 p.m. CET local time in Germany, making it a 8 p.m. BST start in the UK. In the US and Canada it’s a 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT start, while the game gets underway at 4 a.m. AEST in Australia on Monday morning.
How to watch every Euro 2024 game online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view Euro 2024 matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the tournament — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.
Sarah Tew/CNET
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49% — the equivalent of $6.67 a month with code SPECIALDEAL, which should be automatically applied.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream Serbia vs. England in the US
This match is set to be shown live on Fox in the US. The majority of Euro 2024 games will be shown on either Fox or FS1, but there are a handful of group stage matches that will be shown exclusively on Fubo.
A Fubo Pro Plan will give you access to those five group stage matches, as well as all of Fox and FS1’s coverage.
Fubo
Fubo’s Pro Plan costs $80 per month and gives you 121 channels, including FOX and FS1, awhile also offering you access to the five Euro 2024 group-stage games exclusively streaming on the service.
If you don’t have Fox and FS1 as part of your cable lineup, both can be streamed via Sling TV.
Sling TV’s Blue plan includes Fox and FS1, making it a great option for those wanting to watch international soccer action. It’s $40 a month ($45 in some places) and includes over 40 channels, including other sports channels like ESPN.
Livestream Serbia vs. England for free in the UK
The great news for footy fans in the UK is that free-to-air broadcasters the BBC and ITV are sharing live duties for Euro 2024.
This match is set to be broadcast on BBC1.
BBC
With matches being broadcast on BBC1, that means you’ll be able to watch games online for free via the network’s on-demand streaming service, BBC iPlayer.
With an app that’s available for Android and Apple mobile devices, as well as a vast array of smart TVs and streaming boxes, all you need is a valid UK TV license to stream the game.
Livestream Serbia vs. England in Canada
Canadian soccer fans can watch the tournament via TSN and its streaming service TSN Plus. Existing TSN cable subscribers can watch at no extra charge using the details of their TV provider.
TSN
TSN Plus is a direct-streaming service that costs CA$8 a month and also offers coverage of PGA Tour Live golf, NFL games, F1, Nascar and the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments.
Livestream Serbia vs. England in Australia
Football fans Down Under can also watch all the action from Germany on streaming service Optus Sport.
With exclusive rights to screen every English Premier League match live, as well as German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga games and international fixtures, streaming service Optus Sport is a particularly big draw for Aussie soccer fans.
If you’re already an Optus network customer you can bag Optus Sport for a reduced price, with discounts bringing the price down to as low as AU$7 per month. If you’re not, a standalone monthly subscription to the service starts at AU$25.
Quick tips for streaming Serbia vs. England using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming European Championship matches may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that COVID vaccine manufacturers update their formulas for fall doses, in an attempt to target the KP.2 strain of the JN.1 variant.
The Thursday announcement came just a week after the agency’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted to recommend a “monovalent JN.1-lineage vaccine” at its June 5 meeting.
As of the end of March 2024, the KP.2 variant was responsible for just 4% of infections in the U.S., according to the COVID Data Tracker from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
CDC WARNS OF ‘DUAL MUTANT’ FLU STRAIN THAT COULD EVADE ANTIVIRAL DRUGS: ‘NEED TO CLOSELY MONITOR’
Meanwhile, over 50% of infections at that time were attributed to its parental strain, JN.1.
Just a few weeks later, KP.2 is now the cause of around 28% of infections, while the JN.1 variants have largely dropped in prevalence, the tracker shows.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recommended that COVID vaccine manufacturers update their formulas for fall doses, in an attempt to target the KP.2 strain of the JN.1 variant.(iStock)
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, recently spoke with Dr. Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the Food and Drug Administration, about the new vaccine formulations.
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“It makes sense to target the KP.2 strain because it is becoming the predominant strain — it is surging in California and will spread across the country,” Siegel told Fox News Digital.
KP.2 is now the cause of around 28% of infections, while the JN.1 variants have largely dropped in prevalence, CDC Tracker data shows.(iStock)
The KP.2 strain is “highly immunoevasive,” the doctor warned — which means that immunity from previous variants and subvariants don’t offer much protection.
COVID-FLU COMBO VACCINE SHOWS ‘POSITIVE’ RESULTS IN PHASE 3 TRIALS, MODERNA SAYS: A ‘TWO-FOR’ OPTION
“On the other hand, the vaccine will cause a production of immune cells and antibodies that will continue to protect you against previous variants and subvariants,” Siegel added.
The updated vaccine is especially important for high-risk groups, those who have chronic illnesses, the elderly and anyone who comes in contact with them, according to doctors.(iStock)
It is especially important for high-risk groups, those who have chronic illnesses, the elderly and anyone who comes in contact with them, according to the doctor.
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In a statement to Fox News Digital, vaccine maker Novavax — which makes protein-based vaccines — said the company “just filed” its application for a JN.1 COVID vaccine.
A vial of the Phase 3 Novavax coronavirus vaccine is seen ready for use in the trial at St. George’s University hospital in London, on Oct. 7, 2020.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
“Novavax’s updated JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine is active against current circulating strains, including KP.2 and KP.3,” the company said in a press release.
“The submission is in line with guidance from the U.S. FDA, European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to target the JN.1 lineage this fall.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Pfizer and Moderna — both of which produce mRNA-based vaccines — requesting comment on their plans for fall formulations.
We all want healthy skin that is glowing, soft, supple, and radiant. However, our skin can become dull, dry, or acne-ridden due to factors such as poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle, air pollution, etc. While applying certain creams and lotions may help, detoxing from within by eating antioxidant-rich foods and drinking more water can significantly improve your skin quality. In a recent Instagram video, Nutritionist Arjita Singh shared the recipe for a simple glowing skin tonic that you can make at home using just three simple ingredients. The recipe also uses summer-special ingredients to help you beat the heat.
So, What Goes Inside This Glowing Skin Tonic?
Here are the three simple, effective, and powerful ingredients used by the nutritionist in this recipe:
Black raisin and saffron water
Gond Katira (Tragacanth gum)
Sabja (basil) seeds
Skin Health Benefits of Black Raisin and Saffron Water:
Regular consumption of black raisin and saffron water in the morning will significantly “enhance your skin’s health and overall well-being by providing an antioxidant boost, essential nutrients, hydration, and detoxifying benefits, giving you glowing, healthy, radiant skin,” the nutritionist explains in the caption.
Skin Health Benefits of Gond Katira:
Gond Katira helps to reduce the body’s heat and retain the skin’s moisture, which gives supple skin. The nutritionist adds, “It can help alleviate acne and eczema and soothe rashes and irritation.” Also Read: Hair Growth Tea: This Magical Tea Can Help Your Scalp Hair Grow Longer While Reducing Unwanted Hair
Skin Health Benefits of Sabja (Basil) Seeds:
According to Holistic Nutritionist Luke Coutinho, basil seeds are healthy for your skin as they “boost collagen production to keep your skin supple and healthy. The rich antioxidants and flavonoids in sabja fight wrinkles and fine lines too.”
How to Make This Glowing Skin Tonic Drink | Glowing and Healthy Skin Drink Recipe
The process of making this drink starts by soaking 10 raisins and 10 saffron strands in some water overnight. In another cup, soak a little quantity of Gond Katira in water. In a third cup, soak some basil seeds in water.
The next morning, you can prepare this drink. Blend the raisins, saffron strands, and water. Now take a glass, add 1 tbsp of soaked Gond Katira and ice cubes, pour the raisin water, and add 1 tbsp of soaked basil seeds. Mix everything and consume immediately.
In the caption, the nutritionist adds, “No one drink or food can do anything if your lifestyle is compromised. It’s always your overall lifestyle, and this genuinely helps in boosting the skin glow. I’ve been consistent and have seen positive results.” Also Read: From Dull Skin To Radiant Glow: How Mint And Lemon Juice Can Transform Your Skin
Disclaimer: This content, including advice, provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
After the birth this spring of her third child, a baby girl named Whimsy Lou, the lifestyle influencer Nara Smith posted a TikTok listing some of the names she and her husband liked but did not ultimately use. Among them were Tank, Clementine, Flick, Halo and Dew.
Francesca Farago, a reality television star, posted a similar video recently, including names like Heart, Ethereal, Prosper and Afternoon. Her husband also liked the name Orca, she said. (Ms. Farago vetoed naming her child after the killer whale.)
Baby names have come a long way since Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin made headlines for naming their daughter Apple two decades ago. In 2024, almost anything can be a name. A recent TikTok trend seems to offer a satirical critique of just how out there some parents are willing to go in search of unique names for their progeny.
The joke setup goes like this: “Normalize naming your kid after something you love.” Users respond with something hyper-specific that they would probably never actually name a child, like Diet Coke, Velveeta or “cheeky bit of work gossip.”
Emily Kim, a full-time baby name consultant, said the trend seems like a direct response to “how extreme” baby naming has become.
Ms. Kim, who is 33 and lives in Minneapolis, made a name for herself on TikTok thanks to her uncanny knack for predicting what celebrities and influencers will name their children based on their internet aesthetics. Last year, she correctly guessed what the football player Jason Kelce and his wife, Kylie, would name their third daughter, Bennett. (Ms. Kim said she knew it would be a traditionally male name, given the Kelces’ two other daughters were named similarly.)
Naming a child, Ms. Kim explained, has become for many people an extension of personal branding.
“A baby name is just one facet of your personal style, in the same way home décor and clothing is part of your style,” Ms. Kim said. “In our parents’ day, the elements of your personal style were known by your close friends and maybe your neighbors, your family, but your style wasn’t showcased on a larger scale to acquaintances and strangers in the way that is the norm now.”
Ms. Kim’s consultations start at $295 for a five-minute session in which she shares her personalized suggestions. During the sessions, the most common request she hears is for names that are “unique but not too out there.” The clients don’t want their children to arrive on the first day of school only to find they are one of five in the class with the same name, she explained. (Looking at you here, Emilys of the world.)
That access to a wider pool of people via social media has made many of her clients feel as if certain names are off limits “because they’ve already been ‘used,’ even though it’s by someone you don’t really know,” Ms. Kim said.
Morgan Kline, another baby name consultant, got her start on TikTok sourcing vintage-sounding names from old yearbooks. She specializes in finding “uncommon names,” said Ms. Kline, who is 29 and lives in Rock Island, Ill. “A lot of people hire me to find a name that was only used, like, less than 25 times last year.”
Recently Ms. Kline helped a client land on the name Woods.
Like Ms. Kim, Ms. Kline said personal branding often played a role for clients when selecting a baby name. “I think especially that’s true for people in the public eye,” she said. “Certain influencers really want to make sure their kid has a one-of-a-kind name in case they also want to follow in the entertainment industry in some way.”
As for the recent joke trend, Ms. Kline said she could even see some of the joke names being selected for by real people — like “Mocha,” one creative TikToker’s idea.
“I could definitely see the right person actually using that as a name,” Ms. Kline said.
Our June issue of Pharmaceutical Executive offers a uniquely diverse range of coverage and voices—a “sum-of-its-parts” balance that’s not always easy to pull off.
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn more »
Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two adventurous cats, Pancake and Tiller.
I first encountered acupuncture in cats while working as a veterinary technician. One of the vets I worked with in Alaska used the technique on multiple species, to help with arthritis issues. I was interested, but never really delved into the process until much later. In vet school, we were very lucky to have the late Dr. Bruce Ferguson, a pioneer in veterinary acupuncture from Chi University in Florida, and I was privileged to spend time learning from him, in great detail.
This led to a few externships where I participated in feline acupuncture. I was amazed to find cats sitting in their bed, in the exam room at a clinic, calmly purring for an acupuncture session. And their owners sat, singing the praises, and how it improved their cat.
And that’s how I found myself, sitting with an acupuncture needle in my own foot at a veterinary conference a few weeks ago, wondering, could I help patients, too? What benefits did acupuncture have?
In this article, I’ll look specifically at that with regard to cats, and how it may help your favorite feline to feel fine (or feline fine, to play on the words!).
Missed part one? Click here to read the first article in this series!
Acupuncture needle in my foot – it helped!
The Use of Veterinary Acupuncture
Acupuncture has a history of originally being used in working or production animals—basically the animals that had a higher monetary value in society. So horses were a common acupuncture patient, far before cats and dogs. Today, things have changed, and even pet chickens have been known to receive acupuncture.
There are lots of reports and publications about the use of acupuncture in humans and animals, and you may be surprised at the variety of medical conditions in which acupuncture treatment may complement traditional Western medicine. They include but are not limited to:
Arthritis
Chronic skin issues
Acute respiratory collapse or CPR
Feline hyperesthesia
Gingivostomatitis
Rectal prolapse
Dental pain
Anesthesia
Osteochondrodysplasia
Fever
Cryptorchidism
Diabetes
Cancer adjunct
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Urinary Incontinence
Constipation
Chronic otitis
These little needles can potentially make a big difference: Acupuncture needle vs pen for size comparison
So, if you sign your cat up for acupuncture, what can you expect?
Many acupuncture treatments are around 20 minutes or so, but can vary. Theoretically, even stimulating a point for a very short time may have marked benefits
Generally, expect a first visit to be longer, as it will include history, exam, and planning for the treatment. Treatment may or may not happen on the day.
Most acupuncturists recommend weekly treatments, less commonly twice weekly. Rarely would they occur more often
Expect to see full effects of the treatment after a month; don’t dismay if you don’t see anything immediately after the first one (though some patients will respond very impressively)
Many courses of treatment will enter a maintenance phase once the cat is doing well; this may mean acupuncture every 2-4 weeks, or less.
Check your country’s laws for who can perform veterinary acupuncture as well; I generally recommend using one of the professional organisations to find members that are certified or approved to practice on animals.
In the final article in this series, we will take a more in depth look on how acupuncture is actually believed to work, in general, and in some of the specific conditions.
The fashion and apparel sector dominated retail store leasing in the first quarter of 2024 contributing 40 per cent to the total leasing volume of 1.1 million square feet across top seven cities by the retail sector, JLL India said in a report.
The data pertains to leasing in organised retail centres and prominent high streets. Around 70 per cent of the leasing volume was in Mumbai, Delhi NCR, and Bengaluru.
In the fashion segment, growth was driven by mid-segment brands, which captured a significant share of 40 per cent, closely followed by value segment brands at 38 per cent. This underscores the robust growth potential in India’s fashion retail market, the report said.
The food and beverage segment also experienced significant growth, contributing to over a fifth of the leasing activity. Experiential dining brands, delivering unique and memorable dining experiences, accounted for 38 per cent of the segment.
“The organised retail market in India has witnessed a surge in new developments over the past few years, leading to a heightened velocity of launches across urban centres and emerging cities,” said Rahul Arora, Head of Office Leasing & Retail Services, India.
“This has motivated retailers to expand their footprint into newer micro-markets, bringing them closer to consumers,” he added.
Domestic brands were highly visible capturing a substantial 76 per cent share of the retail leasing activity. Encouragingly, seven international brands also chose to open their first stores in India, with Delhi NCR and Mumbai emerging as preferred locations, the report said.
Majority of these brands were in the beauty and cosmetics category, which has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years. Apart from global brands, leading domestic retail chains have also ventured into this segment and are seeing remarkable response from the consumers.
According to JLL India, most of these stores by domestic retailers are multi-brand outlets (MBOs), which also facilitate the entry of global beauty and cosmetics brands into the Indian market. Premium Indian Beauty and Cosmetics brands are expanding globally, with store openings in cities like Dubai and London, thus broadening their reach in foreign markets.
Read: Warehouse leasing dips in 2023; industrial leasing rises
“Prime retail spaces with high footfall continue to be in robust demand across the nation, as both international retailers and leading national brands display a strong appetite for superior-grade retail developments,” said Samantak Das, JLL India’s Chief Economist and Head of Research.
The report said that in top-quality retail centres, vacancy levels were low at around 6 per cent, but average retail developments experienced higher vacancy rates of approximately 20 per cent. Efforts were underway to revitalize non-performing and poorly managed retail developments, with some being repurposed or transformed to meet evolving market demands.
Majority of the upcoming retail supply of 45 msf is lease-based that allows developers to have greater control over the quality of the tenant mix and day-to-day management of the property, thus enabling them to command higher rentals.
Gabriel Pec scored a goal and assisted on two others Saturday as the Galaxy opened the second half of their season with a 4-2 win over a stubborn Sporting Kansas City team at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Dejan Joveljic, Joseph Paintsil and Miguel Berry also scored for the Galaxy (8-3-7), who moved to third in the Western Conference standings, three points behind first-place Real Salt Lake. The win also kept them unbeaten through eight home games for the first time since 2016.
Only two other MLS teams — the New York Red Bulls and LAFC — have yet to lose at home this season, while the four goals matched a season high for the Galaxy.
“Home games are huge,” midfielder Diego Fagundez said. “That’s the key part, making sure that when we come home, we make it hard for teams. And we are doing that.
“We’re scoring a lot of goals, but at the same time, we need to be a little bit better defensively. It would be nice to win a game 2-0 or 1-0. I keep saying it over and over: If this team plays 90 minutes, I don’t think there’s a team that’s better than us.”
The Galaxy, returning after a two-week break and playing without playmaker Riqui Puig, who is nursing a groin injury, went ahead to stay on Joveljic’s goal in the 40th minute. After a tedious start in which the teams combined for only two shots on goal, the Galaxy got three in a matter of seconds, the final a right-footed shot from Joveljic that found the back of the net.
The sequence started with Pec putting a right-footed shot on goal from just inside the box. Kansas City keeper Tim Melia parried that away with both hands, but the ball dropped at the feet of Joveljic, who redirected it on goal. This time Melia made the save with his body as he went to the turf and the rebound hit Joveljic in the chest, allowing him to gain control and dribble past the keeper before sending a shot into the roof of the net from a right angle.
The goal was Joveljic’s team-leading 10th of the season.
Pec, who had a massive game, then doubled the lead nine minutes into the second half, running on to a chipped pass from Joveljic, dribbling into the center of the box and driving a low left-footed shot across his body and just inside the near post.
The goal was Pec’s fifth of the season, the assist Joveljic’s third.
Sporting Kansas City scored in the 66th minute when Stephen Afrifa came off the bench to one-time a left-footed shot past a sprawling John McCarthy just seconds after entering the game. But Paintsil restored the two-goal lead nine minutes later on a breakaway tally.
Defender Miki Yamane set up the goal with a long diagonal ball to Pec. Two Kansas City defenders collapsed on him, leaving Paintsil, playing for the first time in a month, open in the center of the box. Pec pushed the ball to him and the easy finish gave Paintsil his fifth goal of the season.
“It was great to get Joe back,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said of Paintsil, who came on at halftime. “He’s got to get back into match fitness and just get sharp again. He probably had three chances to score. He could have had a hat trick in 30 minutes.
“He does so many things at a high speed [so] repeatability is something you’ve got to work [on]. It doesn’t just come overnight.”
But Kansas City (3-10-5), which has won only one of its last 12 games, wouldn’t quit, pulling to within a goal again in the 82nd minute when defender Robert Castellanos bounced a shot off McCarthy’s outstretched right hand and in at the near post.
That was as close as Kansas City would get, though, with Berry closing the scoring for the Galaxy two minutes into stoppage time, sliding to redirect a Pec pass in with his right foot. The two-assist game was the first for Pec in MLS.
Canon has announced that it is developing the RF-S7.8mm f/4 STM Dual lens for its popular EOS R7 camera. The new development is aimed at enabling users to capture moments in spatial video while also allowing them to relive memories on the Apple Vision Pro.
The new Dual lens would be an addition to Canon’s EOS VR System lineup which is going to be available later this year.
The RF-S7.8mm f/4 STM Dual lens is going to give videographers an opportunity to record spatial videos even in challenging lighting conditions. After capturing video with the interchangeable lens, the EOS VR Utility app helps in transforming the video captured from the camera to spatial video, which viewers can watch on the Apple Vision Pro.
Moreover, the RF-S7.8mm f/4 STM Dual lens is also expected to feature a field angle that would be similar to a person’s field of view enabling videographers to naturally capture sights. The lens is also supposed to be equipped with a high-speed autofocus mechanism, allowing users of all levels to record spatial video.
The EOS VR System, launched in 2021, features dual lenses and utilizes the left and right lenses to produce content with depth and dimension. To streamline the video production workflow, the light entering from the respective lenses is recorded on a single CMOS sensor, which eliminates the need for camera position adjustments or synchronization prior to shooting, or the need for piecing together footage after filming.
The RF-S7.8mm f/4 STM Dual lens is envisioned by Canon to produce immersive video as videographers try to explore new ways of storytelling.
Beaches on Singapore’s top resort island of Sentosa, which also house luxury waterfront homes, were shuttered on Saturday due to an oil spill at a nearby port, maritime authorities said.
People walk next to an oil slick at Tanjong Beach on Sentosa, Singapore June 15, 2024. Singapore travel alert: Sentosa’s Tanjong, Palawan, Siloso beaches closed after oil spill (REUTERS/Edgar Su)
The oil spill resulted from an accident on Friday at the Pasir Panjang terminal between a Netherlands-flagged dredger and a stationary Singapore-flagged bunker vessel, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said.
Now catch your favourite game on Crickit. Anytime Anywhere. Find out how
Waters of three popular beaches on the island “are currently closed for beach clean-up works due to instances of oil spillage observed in the sea waters,” the island said in a notice on its website.
Black residue from the oil slick is visible on the beaches, an AFP photographer on the scene said.
One sign put up on a cordoned off beach read “Oil slick spotted. Clean up in progress. Please stay clear of water.”
The MPA said patches of oil and light sheens have been observed off Pasir Panjang Terminal and along Tanjong, Palawan, and Siloso beaches.
Sentosa is a popular tourist destination that hosts a casino, Southeast Asia’s only Universal Studios attraction and luxury waterfront homes for expats and the ultra-rich.
“Oil spill response craft have been deployed to continue spraying oil dispersants and to collect the oil slicks on the water surface,” said the MPA adding that navigational traffic has not been affected.
This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
Taylor Swift is currently on the road in the UK, playing Eras Tour shows at some of the country’s biggest stadiums along the way.
She has already touched down at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium, and she’ll soon hit Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium for three consecutive gigs later this week.
After that, she’ll go on to play no fewer than eight shows at London’s Wembley Stadium, where she’ll no doubt break attendance records in the process.
And fans attending these shows will be looking forward to attending the shows with their hand-made friendship bracelets with plans on trading them with other friends along the way.
However, some fans may be excited to purchase something a little more permanent for these upcoming shows. And that’s where Abbott Lyon comes in.
Abbott Lyon, one of the leading jewellery sellers, is offering a collection of friendship bracelets that may be perfect for attending The Eras Tour this year.
Included in this plethora of jewellery options are bracelets with fixed charms, adjustable bracelets, bangles, and many more.
On top of that, they have a number of materials and colours available. These include silver, rose gold and gold, as well as charms made out of pearl, birthstones, and more.
These bracelets are perfect for Taylor Swift’s shows as they are customisable.
Certain styles have engraving options, while others have options to add charms of your choice.
You can look at the full collection by clicking the below link:
If these aren’t your style, you could still buy some friendship bracelets, or friendship bracelet kits elsewhere. You can find some links below, or read our full guide here.
If you’re not as craft-minded as other fans – or simply haven’t got enough time to hand-make every single one of your bracelets – Etsy has a massive amount of options available.
Taylor Swift fans have already handmade many friendship bracelets for you to purchase outright.
You can get yours using the link below:
Although tickets for the Eras Tour were first released back in 2023 (and subsequently sold out very quickly) there is still a way to get more right now.
By looking on viagogo and Vivid Seats, resale tickets will allow fans to track down their ideal tickets for the Eras Tour.
With that said, they may be a little more expensive than you’re expecting. At the time of writing, some tickets are being priced at just over £400 for a seated ticket. Some other have been priced at just above £600.
Here’s the links you need:
VIAGOGO – Buy Taylor Swift resale tickets here.
VIVID SEATS – Buy Taylor Swift resale tickets here.
Sites such as viagogo and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans. However, it is important to note that many event promoters say tickets should not be resold after initial purchase and will not be valid for admittance to gigs.
Fans attending live events with tickets acquired through resale websites are advised to double-check the ticket terms and conditions at the point of sale – such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation – to ensure a smooth live event experience. Tickets could be voided if they were found to be bought second-hand. As a result, fans are buying at their own risk.
With that said, viagogo also commented: “viagogo is a regulated marketplace where fans have the freedom to buy and sell tickets to their favourite live events, safely and securely, backed by a guarantee.”
To many Australians, Cadillac conjures up images of enormous pastel-coloured coupes with soaring tail fins.
The brand has gone through many transformations since its glory days of the 1950s, and General Motors executives have openly admitted the luxury was recently in need of an overhaul.
“If you do the right thing, people tend to forget what you’ve done in the past,” GM design boss Michael Simcoe told Australian media.
“It’s not something that happens overnight.”
Celestiq
The brand’s pivot to electric vehicles (EVs) is its latest transformation. It has recently announced a goal to be EV-only by 2030, and debuted a range of new SUVs plus a hand-built flagship liftback, the Celestiq.
“Cadillac has been a bit of an effort, you’ll probably notice we tried to resurrect the brand probably three or four times in my recollection,” he said.
“The last time around, we created a flagship, showed that at Pebble, and that was just on the cusp of the world and Cadillac’s dedication to EV.
“That one didn’t get up, but using EV and Cadillac as the point of the spear, the theme created by Magalie Debellis for the Celestiq was put together.”
2016 Escala concept
Mr Simcoe was referring to the Escala concept, revealed in 2016.
It used the Omega platform from the CT6 sedan, as well as a twin-turbocharged 4.2-litre petrol V8 engine.
The Escala was developed while former BMW and Audi executive Johan de Nysschen was the head of Cadillac, a tenure that saw him move Cadillac headquarters from Michigan to New York City in search of more autonomy and prestige.
But as with other striking concept flagship Cadillacs like the Elmiraj, Ciel, and Sixteen, the Escala never reached production, and the brand ended up moving back to Michigan after Mr de Nysschen’s 2018 ouster.
The concept Evoq from 1999…
…and the production 2004 XLR
The concept’s twin-turbo V8 did enjoy a brief run in the CT6, but this model was axed in 2020 in North America as GM made room for EV production.
Before its latest, EV-focused makeover, Cadillac’s largest transformation took place in the early 2000s.
It had dabbled in sporty sedans since the 1980s, but vehicles like the Seville STS – while packing V8 power – were front-wheel drive.
The 1999 Evoq concept previewed a new design language called Art & Science, as well as a much stronger embrace of rear-wheel drive.
The future of Cadillac design, the Vistiq
Elements of this razor-sharp design language can still be seen in today’s Cadillac lineup, while BMW-fighting rear-wheel drive sports sedans have been a mainstay ever since the first CTS debuted for 2002.
But while models like the new Lyriq make a statement with styling resembling the handbuilt, ultra-luxury Celestiq flagship, not every Cadillac is as dramatically styled.
The head of design for Cadillac has made it clear the brand’s models need to offer a compelling reason for buyers to choose them over products from other luxury brands.
“Especially at the top ends of the space, you really have to have a strong point of view, and something that people can respect in the execution,” said Bryan Nesbitt, executive director of global Cadillac design.
The past it doesn’t want to repeat, the Catera
“If you try to be all things to all people, then you end up like maybe the old Catera or something.”
Mr Nesbitt was referring to Cadillac’s former entry-level luxury sedan, introduced in 1997. This was little more than a rebadged Opel Omega, and was eventually replaced by a much more distinctively Cadillac with the CTS.
While Cadillac has been selling vehicles in markets like China and the Middle East for many years now, it’s using its new EV lineup to drive a reboot in Europe, and enter new markets like Australia.
It’s leaving the other members of its model range behind in this new global push, though they continue to be offered in markets like the US and China.
Cadillac has quite a disparate range of vehicles. It includes the rear/all-wheel drive CT4 and CT5 sport sedans and the China-only CT6 sedan; the front/all-wheel drive XT4, XT5 and XT6 crossovers; and the full-sized Escalade, related to GM’s pickup trucks.
Its new EV family, spearheaded by the new Lyriq which will be the brand’s first model here when it returns late in 2024, feature dedicated EV underpinnings and a fresh look inside and out.
That extends to elements like unique switchgear, aimed at giving the brand a more premium feel inside.
“Cadillac actually has its own set of componentry,” said Mr Simcoe.
Lyriq
“In a traditional form through the brands you would share perhaps the background and the core architecture, the switches and the controllers, and then make them customer-facing in a branded way.
“Cadillac, from the customer-facing all the way through to the core architecture of the switches and the steering wheel and everything, every other component of the car is specific to Cadillac.
“It’s that sort of commitment that needed to happen.
“Once an organisation is committed at that level, I won’t say the rest comes easy, but you have a commitment to treat the brand as a very specific thing.”
Optiq
GM has also confirmed the Cadillac brand won’t go SUV-only, with a new sedan – almost certainly an EV – planned for the lineup.
After various leadership changes at Cadillac over the years and multiple aborted models and changes in strategy, the brand now appears to have the clearest focus it has had in a while.
But its EV push is occurring just as demand for these vehicles is cooling in markets like the US. GM recently lowered its EV production targets for 2024, while Cadillac executives have appeared to leave some wriggle room in their previously firm 2030 target for an EV-only lineup.
Electric Escalade iQ
Petrol-powered Escalade-V
“EVs and ICE (internal combustion engine), we want to be clear, will coexist for a number of years,” global Cadillac vice president John Roth said in May in remarks reported by Detroit Free Press.
“We want to make sure that we have that luxury of choice in the marketplace and both will have an opportunity to meet the customer needs as we look forward.”
“We are always listening to the customer. We are still on strategy of offering an all-EV portfolio by the end of the decade and we’re going to listen to the customer and let them be our guide. That’s our answer.”
CT6, GT4 and XT4
Cadillac director of communications Mike Albano further clarified the brand’s earlier commitments to an EV-only lineup from 2030 were “a mission statement, if you will”.
“The fact that we refreshed our ICE portfolio should tell you that we knew the transition is going to be slow, the transition will be led by the customer,” he said.
MORE: SUVs ‘a necessary evil’, but sedans not dead – GM design boss MORE: Will this electric SUV be Cadillac’s second model in Australia? MORE: Why GM is continuing post-Holden revival with Cadillac MORE: Cadillac locked in for Australia in 2024: Everything you need to know
Since its launch in 2014, the eMigrate project has been assisting Indian workers
MEA and SBI have signed an MoU to provide an additional digital payment service of the bank through its payment gateway SBIePay to users of the eMigrate portal
The Ministry of External Affairs and the SBI have signed an MoU to provide an additional digital payment service of the bank through its payment gateway SBIePay to users of the eMigrate portal, including Indian migrant workers and recruiting agents, officials said on Saturday.
This agreement would “further facilitate and enhance the ambit of safe and legal migration of Indian migrant workers”, according to a statement issued by the ministry.
Since its launch in 2014, the eMigrate project has been assisting Indian workers going to emigration check required countries for employment by making the emigration process online and transparent, and to bring foreign employers, registered recruiting agents and insurance companies issuing the Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna on one common platform to facilitate seamless, safe and legal migration, it said.
The portal also has a mechanism for voluntary registration of emigrants holding ECNR category passports proceeding for overseas employment, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement said.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Bramha Kumar, Joint Secretary (OE & PGE) on behalf of the ministry and Neelesh Dwivedi, General Manager (NW-I), from the SBI’s side at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan here.
The MoU seeks to “provide an additional digital payment services of the SBI through payment gateway called SBIePay to Indian migrant workers, recruiting agents and other users of the eMigrate portal ( https://emigrate.gov.in)”, it said.
It will be operational soon after successful integration of the SBIePay with the eMigrate portal, the officials said.
“Through implementation of this MoU, payment of various emigration related fee would be possible with NIL transaction charges for payment through UPI, credit/debit cards and NEFT through net banking of all Indian banks. Signing of this MoU would further facilitate and enhance the ambit of safe and legal migration of Indian migrant workers,” the statement said.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
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With Bitcoin Halving Triggering Anticipation for a Bull Run, Oracle Meme Seizes the Moment by Introducing Advanced Features on Binance Smart Chain. The project offers AI-powered meme creation, a meme coin generator, and a scalable Layer-2 network.
Following the latest Bitcoin Halving, the anticipation for cryptocurrency bull run has reached new heights. Bitcoin halvings occur more or less every 4 years and are huge occasions that reduce the rewards for mining new blocks by half. This reduction in supply has historically led to a surge in Bitcoin’s price due to the increased scarcity.
Following these events, not only does Bitcoin usually revel in a fee boom, but altcoins also tend to gain, frequently seeing even more gains due to their lower marketplace capitalization and higher volatility. The effects go far beyond Bitcoin as the market evolves and adjusts to these new dynamics. Altcoins, leading the way with Bitcoin’s stability and reputation, usually capture substantial attention and investment, potentially leading to higher returns.
A notable development within this competitive landscape is the rise of ORACLE MEME. This new entrant in the crypto market is positioning itself as a stand-out player within the meme coin sector by integrating substantial utility into the typical speculative meme coin world.
Why ORACLE MEME?
This project is designed to redefine the meme coin market by creating a functional, inclusive, and engaging platform. Built on the Binance Smart Chain, leveraging the Solidity programming language, the platform offers multiple cutting-edge features that aim to enhance user experience and utility.
Oracle Meme offer various functionalities, including Meme AI Generator, which employs artificial intelligence to assist users in creating personalized and engaging memes, facilitating easy sharing and higher interaction rates. A Meme Coin Generator allows individuals to create their own meme coins, simplifying the token creation process and democratizing access to cryptocurrency innovation.
The Meme Layer-2 Network addresses common blockchain concerns like scalability and high fees, ensuring swift and cost-effective transactions within the meme ecosystem. Additionally, the platform includes a Meme Wallet for managing meme-based assets and a Meme Launchpad that supports the launch and promotion of new meme coins, providing a springboard for community-driven projects and increasing visibility.
The platform’s commitment to decentralized governance empowers its users to vote on key policy decisions, fostering a transparent and engaging community environment.
A blockchain analyst commented on the project’s innovative approach,
“ORACLE MEME is really raising the bar in the meme coin market. By mixing humour with practical use, the project draws in a wide audience and adds value to the crypto space’s meme culture. This unique combination of fun and functionality captures users’ attention and sets a new standard for future blockchain innovations.”
The presale of ORACLE MEME is currently underway, marking an exciting phase for this innovative project. The platform is designed for microtransactions, purchasing unique meme assets and many more; the project stands out due to its exceptional offerings.
Within its Layer 2 network, it incentivizes the creators, rewards community engagement, and facilitates transcendent transactions. Considering the market conditions and the effects of the Bitcoin halving event, the ORACLE MEME project stands out as the most promising venture launched this year, with the potential for higher returns compared to rivals like Bitcoin.
How to Participate
Join the ORACLE MEME presale with Ethereum, USDT or BNB Chain. Simply connect your wallet to the presale widget and reserve your $OMEME tokens.
Join the Meme Revolution. Follow ORACLE MEME Coin on: X (Twitter) | Telegram
If you answered no, no, and no, you would be right.
According to the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer Global Report, less than 60% of the global population trusts NGOs (59%), government (51%), or media (50%), putting them at the neutral trust level.
So, who do people trust? The answer might surprise you — 63% say business.
That’s an increase of 1 percentage point over the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer.
This increased trust presents a great opportunity for businesses.
In a recent CMI post, Robert Rose wrote about brand trust as a more desired outcome than audience attention. “Your brand is probably more trusted than the media company you’re paying to advertise with. That might be the strongest argument for an owned media strategy in 2024,” he said.
Know the benefits of a B2B influencer marketing strategy
Influencers can play a critical part in that 2024 owned media strategy.
Here’s who responded yes to this statement: “I trust online influencers that I follow that talk about, review, and recommend brands and products,”
Ages 14 to 17: 75%
Ages 16 to 26: 63%
Ages 27 to 41: 70%
Ages 42 to 55: 67%
Ages 56 and older: 63%
That’s a high percentage of trust placed in influencers.
In addition, over three-fourths say they “have bought, started to trust, or talked about a brand in the last six months because of an influencer I follow.” While this statement focuses on consumer products, I think a parallel exists for B2B marketers to shape brand perception and affinity.
Ashley Zeckman might agree with this. The co-CEO of Onalytica presented “Cut the BS: B2B Influencer Marketing Strategies That Actually Work” at Content Marketing World 2023.
In the talk, she gives six marketing benefits for B2B partnerships with influencers:
Increase in awareness
Better demand generation results
Increase in quality content
Scalable and organic-led engagement
Cost-effective engagement
Increase in brand trust
Understand the B2B influencer types
Before diving into a B2B influencer marketing campaign, you should understand the types of influencers. Spoiler alert: Some may sit in the office, cubicle, or Slack channel next to you.
Ashley details the six B2B influencer categories:
Professional influencers — The “big names” in an industry who are beloved and have a high number of followers. They’re good for general authority but might not have the deep expertise for narrower, more niche topics. Ashley says it’s a good idea to partner with professional influencers to increase the reach of your content.
Content creators — They create large amounts of quality content. Ashley advises marketers to figure out where the content shines the most (e.g., video, social media posts, etc.)
Niche experts — They have a smaller audience size but are hyper-relevant. Think data scientists with deep domain expertise and knowledge. Ashley says marketers work with them to get their brand in front of more people and give them educational information.
Up-and-comers — Also called micro-influencers, they’re on the path to becoming professional influencers. Brands can benefit by getting in the door early so that by the time they hit professional influencer status, they have already built a good advocacy program with you.
SMEsand executives — Your team members, colleagues, and bosses are also B2B influencers. Executives and subject matter experts paired together can publish content and raise their visibility in tandem. This influencer type rates the highest for relevancy because they live and breathe your business.
Customers and prospects — By including prospects in your B2B marketing, you form a relationship and create credibility before engaging them in a sales-oriented discussion. It’s more valuable and organic than a cold outreach email, Ashley says. Customers are effective because they’re living the day-to-day existence of your target audience. Prospects can see themselves in your customers. Prospects will say things like, “Oh yeah, I’m experiencing that exact same thing. That is what keeps me up at night. This is the struggle I’m having within my organization.”
Decide on business goals before the influencers
You must first decide which benefit(s) your brand wants to achieve for a B2B influencer campaign. Is your goal awareness and thought leadership? Or is it demand generation?
Your answer dictates both the tactics and the influencers.
If your goal is awareness or thought leadership, consider:
Tactics: Blog posts, social content, LinkedIn Live, social video, and events
Influencer types: Professional influencers, content creators, up-and-comers, internal SMEs, and executives
Professional influencers work well for awareness because your goal is to reach more people, Ashley says. Then, you might look at the content creators, up-and-comers, and a few internal experts to build their credibility.
If your goal centers on demand or lead generation, consider:
Tactics: Webinars, white papers, original research, gated assets
Influencer types: Niche experts, customers and prospects, SMEs and executives
Invite influencers to sit in on a panel discussion. Ask the influencers to promote their webinar participation to their followers. “It’s a great way to increase numbers beyond having to invest a lot in paid advertising or trying organically to get people to register,” Ashley says. “Including influencers is almost guaranteed to help drum up excitement and get people to attend.”
Get the typical costs for influencer marketing
Ashley recommends combining multiple influencer types in your programs. “You want a mix. It’s going to depend on your program and what you want to achieve, but a mix of at least two to three types is always best,” she says.
Once you’ve identified your influencer types, you should understand the costs of their deliverables. This ballpark pricing from Ashley accounts for the spectrum of influencer types. Estimates based on the tactic include:
Short contribution/quote — free to $500
Podcast guest — $1,000 to $2,000
Blog post creation and publication — $1,200 to $3,000
LinkedIn Live guest — $2,500 to $7,000
In-person event — $5,000 to $17,000
Webinar — $3,000 to $12,000
Note: All these tactics include promotion.
These numbers and parameters aren’t set in stone, but they can help frame your conversations and negotiations.
Expect pricing to be both higher and lower. Ask for client references in a similar industry to understand their value. If you don’t have a budget, use no-cost influencer options like executives, SMEs, customers, and prospects.
Dispelling common influencer marketing myths
As with any emerging marketing discipline, myths emerge. Ashley dispels some of the most common:
Myth 1: B2B influencer marketing is an expensive, unproven tactic that your team cannot execute.
Dispelled: Influencer marketing is an extension of your content and social media marketing strategy. You don’t need a new team, tools, and processes. Think of influencer marketing as an extension of what you’re already doing.
Myth 2: Your desired tactics should lead the influencer marketing program.
Dispelled: Lead with your business objectives and the KPIs to measure those objectives. Then, define influencer types and tactics.
Myth 3: Influencer collaborations are like affiliate marketing.
Dispelled: Influencer partnerships are a relationship-based, long-term approach that builds affinity, trust, and advocacy. “That doesn’t happen overnight. Just because you pay someone to collaborate with you doesn’t mean that you have a lasting program … It’s the relationships that do,” Ashley says.
Are you ready to consider B2B influencer marketing?
Businesses are the only category today deemed trustworthy by the world. As Robert Rose says, “Your brand is probably more trusted than the media company you’re paying to advertise with. That might be the strongest argument for an owned media strategy in 2024.”
Here’s how you can get started adding an influencer component to your owned media strategy:
Document the business goals for the programs in which you’ll engage with B2B influencers.
Identify the influencer types you want to engage.
Map your goals into tactics and influencer types.
List the KPIs to measure influencer and overall program effectiveness.
Reach out to influencers, keeping the ballpark costs in mind.
Execute your programs.
Measure results and assess.
Use #CMWorld on social media to let us know how it goes (or how it’s already going).
Register to attend Content Marketing World in San Diego. Use the code BLOG100 to save $100. Can’t attend in person this year? Check out the Digital Pass for access to on-demand session recordings from the live event through the end of the year.
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Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute
The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that the decision to give grace marks to 1,563 NEET-UG, 2024 candidates for admission to MBBS, BDS, and other courses has been cancelled. They will be given an option to take a retest on June 23.
The counsel for the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) told a vacation bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that students who were given grace marks would be given the option to retest.
The court said the counselling process for admissions will not be continued.
If the 1,563 candidates do not wish to take the retest, their earlier marks, sans the grace marks, will be used to calculate the results.
The retest results will be declared on June 30, and the centre said counselling for admission in the MBBS, BDS, and other courses will start on July 6.
Taking note of the submissions, the bench said all the pleas, including the one filed by Alakh Pandey, the chief executive of EdTech firm Physics Wallah over the award of grace marks, will be taken up for hearing on July 8.
They also include the petitions seeking to cancel NEET-UG, 2024, on account of an allegation of question paper leaks and other malpractices.
The NTA held the examination on May 5 across 4,750 centres, and around 24 lakh candidates took it. The results were expected to be declared on June 14 but were announced on June 4, apparently because the evaluation of the answer sheets was completed earlier.
The allegations, such as the leak of question papers and the grant of grace marks to over 1,500 medical aspirants, have led to protests and the filing of cases in seven high courts and the Supreme Court.
As many as 67 students scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA’s history, with six from a centre in Haryana’s Faridabad figuring in the list, raising suspicions about irregularities.
Scores of students protested in Delhi on June 10, seeking a probe into alleged irregularities. Grace marks, it has been alleged, contributed to 67 students sharing the top rank.
The NTA conducts the NEET-UG examination for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other courses related to government and private institutions across the country.
In some parts of the world, not least America’s capital, “trade” is a dirty word. Both Donald Trump and Joe Biden now champion protectionism, and neither president signed a single new trade deal. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is a shell of its former self. So you might think that trade deals are history—but in fact, from South Asia to Latin America, dealmaking continues apace.
To understand the new landscape, start with the birth of the modern trade deal. The first half of the 20th century saw escalating tariffs and two world wars. Then, in 1948, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was signed in an effort to temper zero-sum competition. The construction of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which formalised continuous negotiations, followed in 1995. One of its core principles is the “most-favoured nation” clause: if you change tariffs on one country, you must do so for all the others, too.
Looking for the answers to the June 16 New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test, but Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but the game editor knows how to trick you by using words that can fit in more than one group.
And do you also play Wordle? We’ve got today’s Wordle answer and hints, too.
We’ve also got today’s answer for Strands, a new game from the Times that’s still in beta, and some tips for how to play that game.
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: The way it is now.
Green group hint: Out in the boonies.
Blue group hint: Statuettes on grass.
Purple group hint: Certain kind of story.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Answer for today’s Connections groups.
Yellow group: Current situation.
Green group: Remote rural area.
Blue group: Classic lawn ornaments.
Purple group: ____ tale.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: The Entire Alphabet Ranked by Letter Popularity
What are today’s Connections answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is current situation. The four answers are condition, form, shape and state.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is remote rural area. The four answers are bush, country, sticks and woods.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is classic law ornaments. The four answers are flamingo, fountain, gnome and pinwheel.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is ____ tale. The four answers are fairy, fish, folk and tall.
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully, and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account – free of charge.
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What happens when you pair honeybees and halitosis? Potentially a life-saving new method to screen for cancer, according to one study.
Researchers at Michigan State University have learned that honeybees can detect chemicals associated with lung cancer in human breath. The insects were able to sniff out human lung cancer biomarkers with a remarkable 82% success rate, according to a study published in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
“These results indicate that the honeybee olfactory system can be used as a sensitive biological gas sensor to detect human lung cancer,” the study authors wrote.
“Insects have an amazing sense of smell the same way dogs do,” said MSU professor Debajit Saha, according to an MSU news release.
YOUNG VAPER WHO REQUIRED DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT SHARES WARNINGS AS E-CIGARETTE SALES RISE
A honeybee drinking nectar from a flower in Markham, Ontario, Canada.(Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Saha, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering and MSU’s Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, sought to determine whether honeybees could distinguish chemicals in a healthy person’s breath from that of someone sick with lung cancer.
His team developed a “recipe” for a synthetic breath mixture that contained six compounds present in the breath of someone with cancer and a synthetic “healthy” breath mixture.
“It took a steady hand to create the recipe,” said Elyssa Cox, Saha’s former lab manager. “We tested the synthetic lung cancer versus healthy human breath mixtures on approximately 20 bees.”
The researchers placed each live bee in a custom 3D-printed harness and attached a tiny electrode to its brain to measure activity.
SOME BREAST CANCER PATIENTS COULD BE AT RISK OF ANOTHER TYPE OF CANCER, STUDY REVEALS
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. An estimated 235,580 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2024 in the U.S., according to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation. (Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen/iStock)
“We pass those odors on to the antenna of the honeybees and recorded the neural signals from their brain,” said Saha. “We see a change in the honeybee’s neural firing response.”
The researchers found that the bees were able to detect the cancer-indicating compounds even in small amounts.
“The honeybees detected very small concentrations; it was a very strong result,” said Saha. “Bees can differentiate between minute changes in the chemical concentrations of the breath mixture, which is in the parts per 1 billion range.”
The bees also could tell the difference between the synthetic lung cancer breath and healthy breath.
UK TO INTRODUCE BILL TO PHASE OUT LEGAL SALE OF TOBACCO
A honey bee visits a blooming catmint plant growing in Santa Fe, New Mexico.(Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
Scientists hope this research will lead to the development of a sensor based on a honeybee brain that can be used to test human breath for the presence of lung cancer.
“What’s amazing is the honeybees’ ability to not only detect cancer cells, but also distinguish between cell lines of various types of lung cancer,” said Autumn McLane-Svoboda, a graduate student on Saha’s team. “The future implications for this are huge, as our sensor could allow for patients to receive specific cancer diagnoses quickly, which is imperative for correct treatment routes.”
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. An estimated 235,580 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2024 in the U.S., according to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation.
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Smoking is the leading risk factor for lung cancer and is responsible for 80% of lung cancer deaths.
Early detection of high-risk lung cancer can reduce the chance of death by up to 20%.
Mira Kapoor knows how to embrace the spirit of summer with travel, good food and memorable moments. In a recent post on Instagram, she shared her excitement with the caption “Summer on my mind.. where to next.” Accompanying this message were several slides that showed her summer experience. One slide showed a delicious ice cream cone from a store in the background which said “Nicecream, Copenhagen”. In another slide, a bright and beautiful bouquet of sunflowers captured the essence of the season. Mira’s summer celebration continued with a mouth-watering spread in the next picture. The plate was a delightful mix of various foods: sausages, eggs, some cut fruits like papayas, passion fruit and strawberries. The ensemble also included pancakes along with some oatmeal and cherry tomatoes.
Mira Kapoor’s Instagram often highlights her love for food, ranging from lavish meals to comforting snacks. A few days back, she took her followers on a nostalgic journey, reminding us of our childhood love for Parle G biscuits. She shared a photo of a container full of Parle G biscuits beside a half-filled cup of tea. The caption read, “Vaise Vala din,” meaning “those kind of days.” This post brought back memories of dunking biscuits into tea and enjoying the way they often became delightfully soggy. Read the full story here. Also Read: Parineeti Chopra’s Delicious Mango Breakfast Will Leave You Hungry
Recently, Mira Kapoor also shared a post about the joy of homemade food. The sentiment about “maa ke haath ka khanna” was captured beautifully in Mira’s Instagram post, where she gave fans a glimpse into her special family dinner prepared by her mother. Read the full story here.
We are excited to see what’s next in Mira Kapoor’s foodie adventures!
On Saturday morning Catherine, Princess of Wales, tiptoed back onto the public stage for the first time since announcing her cancer diagnosis last year in her signature color-coordinated way, joining the rest of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the traditional finale flyover of King Charles’ birthday parade. She wore a white knee-length Jenny Packham dress with a black-and-white striped belt and a jaunty bow at the neck, topped off with a Phillip Treacy hat, angled just so.
The nautical theme was reflected in the navy dress with a sailor collar and white trim worn by Princess Charlotte (who also wore white shoes to go with her mother), along with the matching double-breasted navy suits with their gold buttons, white shirts and bright blue ties of Princes George and Louis, all of which made a neat Union Jack trio with William’s bright red military uniform — which in turn matched that of Charles and Prince Edward.
As a family unit, on the balcony, it created the image of a tightly controlled, unmistakably harmonic, unified front for a photo op set to go ’round the country. Nothing anxiety-provoking to look at here, the picture seemed to say. It’s business as usual. Everything’s going to be fine.
It was a trademark bit of image-making on the part of the princess, who is still in the process of recovery. Catherine has always been finely attuned to the attention paid to what she wears as part of a family whose job it is to symbolize, rather than speak, and the communications opportunities embedded therein. Since the beginning of her marriage, she has used her clothes to signify a neat compromise between tradition and modernization. Her wardrobe seems often geared to telegraph a respectful sensitivity to what’s next, rather than, say, a royal in a gilded bubble, whether it’s mixing high street brands with high fashion, upcycling her gown multiple times, renting an evening dress or supporting British designers.
Instead Catherine chose white, itself a color rife with meaning — of new starts, rebirth, purification.
She chose Jenny Packham and Phillip Treacy, both brands she has often worn before, both tent poles of the British fashion establishment.
And she chose a dress that appeared to have been upcycled: worn first in 2023 at a Buckingham Palace before King Charles’ coronation, and now given a bit of a lift. After all, she has other things to think about right now than shopping. But dressing for purpose is also part of the job.
It seems like she is getting ready to do it again.
The Russian Blue Siamese mix is a rare hybrid breed resulting from pairing a Russian Blue with a Siamese. These gorgeous cats are intelligent, affectionate, and loyal to their family members, but their appearance and remaining personality traits will depend entirely on which parent breed they favor. Read on to learn more about this interesting mixed breed to see if it’s right for you, your lifestyle, and your family.
Breed Overview
Colors:
Bluish gray, silver, slate, seal point, chocolate point, blue point, lilac point
Suitable for:
Families searching for a loving and intelligent cat
Temperament:
Affectionate, sensitive, intelligent, reserved, devoted, active
The Russian Blue Siamese mix is an interesting hybrid resulting from two very different breeds. While they do have some similarities, the parent breeds are very different in many ways. One thing is for sure: you’re going to receive a gorgeous cat, as both Russian Blues and Siamese cats are downright stunning.
However, their temperament will be a mixed bag. One kitten from the litter may be outgoing, extroverted, and vocal like their Siamese parent, while the next will be reserved, quiet, and shy like their Russian Blue parent.
Russian Blue Siamese Mix Characteristics
Energy
+
A high-energy cat needs a lot of physical and mental stimulation to keep healthy and happy, while a low-energy cat needs minimal physical activity, but still needs mental stimulation. When choosing a cat, It’s important to ensure their energy levels match your lifestyle.
Trainability
+
Cats that are easy-to-train are more willing and skilled at quickly learning prompts and actions with minimal training. Harder-to-train cats are usually more stubborn or aloof and require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
+
Certain cat breeds are more prone to various genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every cat in those breeds will have these issues, but they do have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Lifespan
+
Due to their size or potential genetic health issues of a specific breed, some cats have shorter lifespans than others. Proper nutrition, exercise, mental stimulation, and hygiene also play an important role in your cat’s lifespan and quality of life.
Sociability
+
Some cat breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other cats and animals. Cats that are more social have a tendency to rub up on strangers for scratches or jump on laps for cuddles, while cats that are less social shy away, hide, are more cautious, and even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed or gender, it’s important to socialize your cat and expose them to many different situations.
Russian Blue Siamese Mix Kittens
While finding a breeder specializing in Siamese cats is relatively simple, the same cannot be said about Russian Blues. This is a relatively rare breed in North America, and folks with their hearts set on adopting one may need to wait quite some time before a kitten becomes available. That said, locating a breeder that specializes in mixing the two breeds will be even more challenging.
It is crucial, however, to do your due diligence if you do find a breeder focusing on the Russian Blue Siamese mix. We wouldn’t recommend adopting a kitten resulting from an accident litter, as proper genetic testing will not be done beforehand to ensure the health of the kittens.
Russian Blue Siamese Mix Origin & History
There is no origin story for the Russian Blue Siamese mix, though the history of the parent breeds is a lot easier to trace.
Russian Blues originated in the port of Arkhangelsk in Northern Russia, which is why they’re sometimes known as Archangel Blues. Sailors may have taken them from the Archangel Isles in Russia to Great Britain during the 1860s.
Siamese cats originated in Siam (modern-day Thailand). Legend says they were used to guard Buddhist temples and were therefore considered very sacred. Like the Russian Blue, the Siamese was transported to Great Britain in the late 1800s.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Russian Blue Siamese Mix 🧠
The Russian Blue Siamese mix may be a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to their personality, as it can depend on which parent breed they take after. The parents are precisely opposite in personality in many ways, so it’s impossible to know what to expect temperament-wise.
Russian Blues are known to be pretty reserved, especially around new people. They’re not particularly clingy or needy but are very sweet and gentle with their family members.
Siamese cats, however, are incredibly playful, social, and curious. They’re known for getting into mischief if they’re not given the enrichment they need to stay physically and mentally stimulated. They bond very closely with their humans and always want to be a part of the goings-on in the home.
Whereas a Russian Blue is content being on their own all day, a Siamese will be somewhat shadow-like toward their owner. Russian Blues are definitely introverts in the feline world, while the Siamese are, without a doubt, extroverts.
Are These Cats Good for Families? 👪
These cats can make fantastic family pets, especially if they take after their Siamese parent. Siamese cats are very gentle, playful, and friendly, making them terrific companions in homes with children. That’s not to say that Russian Blues wouldn’t make a good family pet, though. This breed is charming and can get along well with kids, though they’re not lap cats by default.
Both parent breeds tend to form a deep connection with one particular human family member.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?
The amiable and outgoing temperament of the Siamese DNA in this mixed breed’s blood makes them very compatible with other feline companions. But don’t be put off if your kitty takes after the other parent more. Russian Blues can also get along well with other cats, though they may need more time to learn to become familiar and friendly with a new face.
This mixed breed can also get along with well-socialized and trained dogs, provided they’re introduced properly.
Things to Know When Owning a Russian Blue Siamese Mix:
Food & Diet Requirements 🐡
The best thing to feed a Russian Blue Siamese mix is a high-quality commercial diet approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for their life stage (kitten, adult, or senior). Most vets also recommend feeding your pet a combination of wet and dry food to ensure your pet reaps the benefits of both types.
Free-feeding this breed is not recommended, as Russian Blues are prone to obesity. Try using a food puzzle or lick mat to banish boredom at mealtime and to slow down their eating speed.
Exercise 🐈
The Russian Blue Siamese cat can be a highly spirited and energetic kitty. They’ll need to be engaged in physical and mental stimulation regularly to stay happy, healthy, and out of trouble. Owners must provide opportunities for their agile cat to climb and perch. Offer plenty of cat trees, scratchers, toys, and window perches to encourage natural behaviors.
Training 🧶
This is a sensitive and gentle breed that responds best to positive reinforcement. They’re brilliant, so engaging them in activities and training is a great way to keep them stimulated and out of trouble. Some may be perfect candidates for harness and leash training, as well as other types of training, including tricks. However, please note that your cat may have a mind of their own, so it’s important to temper your expectations. The Russian Blue DNA in this breed’s blood can make them highly independent and even stubborn at times.
Grooming ✂️
This is a relatively easy breed in terms of grooming. They don’t have any requirements for routine washing, brushing, or combing, especially if they take after their Russian Blue parent in appearance. In fact, much fussing over their fur can actually ruin their double cat.
If they have the short, color-pointed coat of their Siamese parent, you should brush them once a week.
This breed has no specific eye, ear, or skin care requirements, either. However, if you notice them overgrooming or itching themselves, it’s best to check with a veterinarian to rule out any potential health conditions.
Health and Conditions 🏥
Both Russian Blues and Siamese cats have relatively long average lifespans of around 15 years. However, some Siamese cats have lived well into their 20s. While the mixed kitten resulting from these breeds may be healthier than their purebred parents, they still can be prone to the conditions often seen in their lineage.
Siamese cats are prone to pica (eating non-food items), asthma, amyloidosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, mammary tumors, and hip dysplasia.
Russian Blues can be prone to obesity, diabetes mellitus, urinary tract diseases, and polycystic kidney disease.
As with all breeds, this mixed breed kitty can also develop dental issues and eye problems.
Minor Conditions
Dental issues
Eye problems
Serious Conditions
Mammary tumors
Hip dysplasia
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Kidney disease
Urinary tract diseases
Asthma
Diabetes mellitus
Amyloidosis
Male vs Female
The only significant difference between male and female Russian Blue Siamese mixes is their sizes. Males are typically a little heavier and larger than their female counterparts.
Personality is not dependent upon sex, though it may play a small role in some cases. Unneutered male cats can develop aggressive behaviors, typically toward other intact males. They may also be more likely to spray inside the home than males who have been neutered.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Russian Blue Siamese Mix
1. This mixed breed may be suitable for some folks with allergies.
While there is no 100% hypoallergenic cat breed, folks with allergies may find living alongside a Russian Blue Siamese mix a little more tolerable than other breeds. The best part is that it doesn’t matter which parent your kitty takes after more, as Siamese cats have short coats that aren’t prone to heavy shedding, and Russian Blues are also relatively light shedders.
2. Siamese cats and Russian Blues are considered natural breeds.
A natural breed occurs through natural rather than artificial selection. Siamese cats are natural as their coat pattern was the result of a genetic mutation. Russian Blues are a natural breed as they came to be without any help or selective breeding from humans.
3. Every Russian Blue Siamese mix will look different.
There are many visual differences between a Russian Blue and a Siamese cat, so it’s impossible to know for sure what the kittens will look like. They may have a coat that’s a dark slate gray or shimmery silver like their Russian Blue parent or a pointed pattern (pale body with darker extremities) as seen in their Siamese parent.
Final Thoughts
The Russian Blue Siamese mix is a rather unpredictable hybrid cat breed, both in appearance and temperament. Kittens resulting from such pairings can be extroverted, playful, affectionate, and social like their Siamese parent, or they could be sensitive, intuitive, and reserved like their Russian Blue side. Regardless of which side they take after more, this kitty is certain to bond tightly with their family members, though they may prefer one human over the others in the household.
These kitties will need a fair amount of enrichment, both mentally and physically, to stay happy and healthy. They’re quite active and limber, so the more opportunities you have for climbing and perching, the better.
The Russian Blue Siamese mix will be an affectionate and intelligent companion with a lot of love to offer their human, feline, and even canine housemates.
Featured Image Credit: Left: Russian Blue Cat (Review News, Shutterstock) , Right: Siamese Cat (Andreas Lischka, Pixabay)
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has ordered initiating an insolvency proceeding against Supertech Realtors, which is developing a residential apartment, office, retail and luxury hotel at its Supernova project.
A two-member Delhi bench of NCLT admitted the insolvency plea filed by the Bank of Maharashtra over a default of ₹168.04 crore and appointed Anju Agarwal as interim resolution professional (IRP), suspending the board of Supertech Realtors, a step-down subsidiary of Supertech.
Supertech is also facing a Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP).
Supertech Realtors is developing the Supernova project at a cost of ₹2,326.14 crore on land measuring 70,002 square metres in Sector 94, Noida.
As per the plans, the Supernova project will have 80 floors and be the tallest building in Delhi-NCR at 300 metres.
For the project, Supertech Realtors approached a consortium of lenders led by Union Bank of India, seeking financial assistance of Rs 7,35.58 crore. It also requested a credit facility of Rs 150 crore, which was granted by the Bank of Maharashtra.
In December 2012, a term loan of ₹150 crore was granted. The term loan was repayable quarterly in the consolidated door-to-door tenor for 10 years and four months by March 2023.
However, Supertech Realtors failed to maintain financial discipline and defaulted on properly maintaining the said accounts, in addition to committing other breaches and violations of the credit limit, leading to the accumulation of huge outstandings.
This was also acknowledged by the realty firm and despite repeated reminders and requests, no further payments of the dues were made, the corporate debtor (Bank of Maharashtra) said. Following this, it approached NCLT.
The realty firm opposed the plea on technical grounds and submitted that the date of default in the said petition varies and is in contradiction to each other.
It alleged that the non-performing asset, as per the creditor, is reckoned to be September 28, 2018. Therefore, the said application is not only defective but also barred by limitation and liable to be dismissed.
Further, it submitted that it was a victim of the economic slowdown and financial crunches that crippled the real estate industry. Also, due to farmers’ and land-owners objections and additional compensations, the period from 2010 to 2015 was completely unfavourable and disturbing.
However, the NCLT said that after perusing the documents, it is satisfied that the Bank of Maharashtra comes within the definition of a financial creditor, the loan was disbursed to Supertech Realtors, and there exists a debt and a default.
“Thus, it is clear that when a default takes place i.e., the debt becomes due and is not paid, the Insolvency Resolution Process shall begin against the corporate debtor… we are satisfied that the present application is complete in all respects… the present company application stands admitted and the CIRP is hereby initiated against Supertech Realtors,” the tribunal said.
The NCLT also put a moratorium on all transactions related to Supertech Realtors, as per the provision of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code.
“We direct that public announcement shall be made by the Interim Resolution Professional immediately” about the admission of the insolvency application, said the 34-page NCLT order.
Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.
PHARRELL WILLIAMS, kreativni direktor muške linije Louis Vuittona, upravo je na Instagramu podijelio intrigantan sadržaj koji sugerira moguću suradnju s tehnološkim divom Appleom.
Na svom profilu @skateboard, posvećenom njegovom radu za Louis Vuitton, Pharrell je objavio video koji prikazuje nešto što podsjeća na srebrnu, okruglu kutiju s logotipima obje kompanije. Ova objava odmah je pokrenula širok spektar nagađanja među njegovim pratiteljima.
“Louis AirTag?”, “Nadam se da je suradnja s Apple Watchom”, “Apple x LV?”, “LV AirTag bi bio nevjerojatan”, “Privjesak za AirTag?”, samo su neki od komentara koji su pokušali odgonetnuti o čemu se radi.
Isječak potencijalne suradnje sastoji se od niza fotografija i videa objavljenih u jednoj objavi. Uključuje i zrnastu sliku svemira sa strelicom koja pokazuje na malenu točku – Zemlju, te fotografiju poznatog astronoma Carla Sagana. Za sada nije objavljeno o čemu se točno radi.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Suradnja između ova dva brenda ne bi bila neuobičajena s obzirom na to da Louis Vuitton već nudi luksuzne futrole za Appleove uređaje poput iPhonea i iPada, kao i remene za Apple Watch.
Louis Vuitton revija zakazana je za 18. lipnja
Osim te objave, Pharrell je nastavio objavljivati zanimljive sadržaje vezane za nadolazeću kolekciju za proljeće/ljeto 2025. Jedna od objava prikazuje dizajn pozivnice za modnu reviju s natpisom “le monde est à vous” (svijet je vaš). Druga objava prikazuje traper košulje s istim sloganom, a tekst uz objavu otkriva da se radi o uniformama za osoblje.
Bez obzira na to hoće li suradnja s Appleom zaista biti realizirana, jasno je da Pharrell ima mnogo toga pripremljenog za predstojeću reviju Louis Vuittona. Revija je zakazana za 18. lipnja i održat će se u Parizu.
Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?
Caitlin Clark’s name gets thrown around a lot these days.
A lot of those discussions involve some pretty heavy issues.
The Indiana Fever rookie was asked Thursday about how she feels about her name being used in such a manner. After her answer received some criticism on social media, including from one of her WNBA rivals, Clark was asked a similar question later in the day, before her team’s 91-84 win over the Atlanta Dream.
Here is a synopsis of Clark’s day, starting with the morning shootaround. The all-time leading scorer in NCAA basketball history was asked by the Athletic’s Jim Trotter about her thoughts on her name being used by others in whatever culture wars they might be fighting in the U.S.
“It’s not something I can control, so I don’t put too much thought and time into thinking about things like that, and to be honest, I don’t see a lot of it,” Clark said. “Like I’ve said, basketball’s my job. Everything on the outside, I can’t control that, so I’m not going to spend time thinking about that. People can talk about what they want to talk about, create conversations about whatever it is, but I think for myself, you know, I’m just here to play basketball. I’m here to have fun. I’m trying to help our team win … my focus is on helping us do that.”
Later in the interview, Trotter asked Clark if she’s bothered by the fact that some people might be weaponizing her name in such a manner.
“No. I don’t see it,” she said. “That’s not where my focus is. Again, my focus is here and on basketball. You know, that’s where it needs to be and that’s where it has been and I’m just trying to get better on a daily basis.”
“Dawg. How one can not be bothered by their name being used to justify racism, bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia & the intersectionalities of them all is nuts,” Carrington wrote. “We all have a platform. We all have a voice & they all hold weight. Silence is a luxury.”
“Yeah, I think it’s disappointing,” Clark said in response to Boyd’s question. “I think everybody in our world deserves the same amount of respect. The women in our league deserve the same amount of respect. People should not be using my name to push those agendas. It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable.
“Just treating every single woman in this league with the same amount of respect, I think, it’s just a basic human thing that everybody should do. You know, just be a kind person and treat them how you would want to be treated. I think it’s very simple.”
Clark finished the game with seven points, six assists, four rebounds and seven turnovers in 35 minutes.
Essar Group sees huge growth potential in its IT firm Black Box with boom in artificial intelligence (AI) technology driving demand for new data centres and managed services across the globe, a top official of the multinational conglomerate said.
In an exclusive interview with PTI, Prashant Ruia, director of Essar Capital, which manages the group’s portfolio of investment, expressed confidence in the sector.
“This is a company which can see tremendous growth, because the kind of growth taking place in data centres and managed services globally is exponential,” he said.
Black Box, listed on the Indian stock exchanges, has operations spread across 35 countries, but its major business comes from the US.
“It’s obviously listed in India, but it’s primarily headquartered, main operations are in the US. We currently do about USD 800 million of revenue in Black Box… About 75 per cent of the market for us is the US. We have a very large operation headquartered in Dallas, we have close to 3,000 people,” he said.
More than USD 200 billion/year of data centres are getting built in America alone, he said.
He attributed this to the growth of Artificial Intelligence, which has “dramatically” increased the requirements for computing power.
“People are building massive data centres in the US to manage this requirement. And that’s a huge market opportunity. I think even in India, a very large number of data centres are coming up,” he said.
Ruia, however, noted that the company is not into investing in data centres, but helping build and manage them.
Black Box reported a multi-fold ascent to Rs 138 crore in its profits for FY24, while its revenue remained flat at Rs 6,282 crore.
Founded by brothers Shashi Ruia and Ravi Ruia in 1969, the Essar group, which once owned Hutchison Essar (now Vodafone-Idea), has no plans to re-enter the telecom market due to a lack of growth potential, said Ruia.
The group ventured into the telecom space in 1995, with Essar Cellphone, and started GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) operations from Delhi in the same year. Through the Hutchison Essar partnership, it started acquiring telecom circles in India, and by 2006, all the circles were under Hutchison Essar Limited.
“From 1995-2010, it was an amazing time for being in the telecom sector. And we certainly benefited from that investment, we’ve benefited from that growth. Those days, there were 10-12 telecom companies, it was not a two-player or three-player market,” he noted, calling it a golden phase for investment in the sector.
In 2006, Hong Kong-based Hutchison sold 67 per cent of its stake to Vodafone for about USD 13.1 billion and exited India.
Essar, which continued to hold a 33 per cent stake in Vodafone-Essar, too sold its stake and bid goodbye to the telecom business.
“When we started, nobody had a mobile phone. And then we build the business. By the time we sold it to Vodafone, we had 90 million customers,” Ruia reminisced.
Ruia said he believes the market was once ripe for growth, offering unique opportunities to scale and invest. However, he does not see the same potential today, citing the lack of opportunities to expand and invest.
“We were addressing a market, which was open — the customers did not have phones, we were introducing phones… But today, everybody already has a phone, everybody has a service.
“So unless there’s a unique proposition, it’s very difficult, for anybody for that matter, to enter the telecom space at this stage,” he said.
Explore seven remarkable destinations perfect for celebrating Eid ul Adha 2024, each offering unique cultural experiences and vibrant festivities.
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As Eid ul Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, approaches, many individuals and families are making travel plans to destinations that offer unique cultural experiences and the opportunity to participate in the festivities of the holiday. Here is our special guide to Eid ul Adha travel destinations, featuring countries where the occasion is joyfully celebrated and where returning home for this special holiday is cherished.(Pexels)
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Istanbul, Turkey: Istanbul is a great place to celebrate Eid ul Adha because of its rich historical and cultural heritage. At this time of year, the city takes on a truly spiritual atmosphere. Visit the magnificent Hagia Sophia, soak up the colourful atmosphere of the historic Blue Mosque and tour the ancient Topkapi Palace. Enjoy the unique fusion of Turkish traditions and Islamic customs while doing good deeds such as giving meat to the less fortunate or taking part in Qurbani.(Pixabay)
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Malaysia, a country known for its global mix, offers an unforgettable experience during Eid ul Adha. The vibrant capital city of Kuala Lumpur comes alive with celebrations. Join in the congregational prayers at the National Mosque to experience the spirit of solidarity of the Muslim community. Visit the colourful markets of Petaling Street and explore Chinatown and Little India, two distinct ethnic communities.(Pixabay)
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Marrakech, Morocco: Marrakech offers a special atmosphere for celebrating Eid ul Adha with its fascinating blend of Islamic, Berber and Arab traditions. Visit the famous Koutoubia mosque to feel the hypnotic aura as people gather for prayer and introspection. Explore the bright souks and bustling medina, where you can buy delicious local delicacies and traditional handicrafts.(Pixabay)
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Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Experience an incredible Eid ul Adha in Dubai, a city known for its opulence and magnificence. Take in the striking architectural marvels of the city, such the Palm Jumeirah and Burj Khalifa, and immerse yourself in the holiday’s cultural and religious elements. Attend communal prayers at the stunning Jumeirah Mosque and take part in neighborhood gatherings that encourage charitable giving. (Pixabay)
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Dakar, Senegal: Senegal, a country with strong Islamic traditions, offers a deeply spiritual and heartfelt experience during Eid ul Adha. The capital, Dakar, comes alive with colourful festivities, group prayers and customary practices. Witness the unity and devotion of the faithful during Eid by visiting the famous Mosque of the Divinity. Take part in the local Qurbani custom and observe the distribution of meat to the underprivileged.(Pixabay)
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Mecca, Saudi Arabia: Millions of Muslims travel to the holiest city in Islam as their final destination during the Hajj. Each year, pilgrims from around the world gather in Mecca to perform the Hajj rituals, transforming the city into a centre of intense spiritual activity. The celebration of Eid ul Adha marks the end of the pilgrimage and is a time of great religious significance, group prayer and sacrifice. (AP photo)
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Jerusalem, Israel: Jerusalem, home to one of Islam’s holiest sites, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, becomes a popular destination for Muslims around Eid ul Adha. A congregation of believers flocks to the city to take part in unique prayers and rituals. Families gather to rejoice, make sacrifices and share joyful meals, reflecting on the city’s deep religious and historical significance. (Pixabay)
Shirley MacLaine’s new film People Not Places is currently under fire from crew members claiming they’re owed around $245,000 (£193,000) after they were sent home two months ago.
The production starring the Hollywood and Downton Abbey star has been labelled a “disaster” by one crew member who spoke out this week.
“This whole thing is really a disaster,” they told Variety. “This has been insane.”
The publication said the controversy around the indie film is “a case study in the desperate state of the business”.
Crew member Andy Zolot admitted he was initially reluctant to accept the job and had to be offered several times before he agreed.
However, he eventually accepted due to the current slow state of the cinema industry plus the once-in-a-lifetime chance to work with Oscar-winner Shirley, 90.
“F*** it,” he said. “It’s Shirley MacLaine. And I need the check.”
Zolot says he and a few dozen crew members started production this March in Atlantic City, New Jersey but ran into problems with the film’s director, Brad Furman.
He and five other crew members, who remained anonymous to “avoid being sued”, accused Furman of being frequently late and even completely absent at important meetings.
The director was also allegedly rude to people and delayed script cuts which would have helped save on budget.
Financier Jeff Katz stepped back from production after just a few weeks, per Variety, due to budgetary problems and Furman’s behaviour.
However, Furman’s lawyer Marty Singer has since called him a “consummate professional”, claiming there was no misconduct on his part. He also claimed the filmmaker only missed meetings because he was recovering from surgery on his gallbladder.
Furman has now recommenced filming “using money from his family to pay the new crew”.
But the former crew claim they still haven’t been paid, and have taken up the issue with their unions and New Jersey state.
The crew also expressed they didn’t understand why the Directors Guild of America had not stepped in to shut production down.
The DGA said it is “aware of this situation” and “working to ensure that both the DGA members who performed the initial work and the DGA members who are now working will receive everything they are entitled to under our collective bargaining agreement.”
Furman’s lawyer also told Variety that he has been in touch with union officials to ensure everyone is paid.
Once a top seller, the C-Class is a staple but not a star in the Mercedes-Benz range.
These days the Three-Pointed Star’s mid-size executive sedan plays second fiddle to the GLC and GLE SUVs, and is often neck-and-neck in the sales race with the smaller A-Class range.
For the latest (W206) model launched in Australia in 2022, Mercedes-Benz streamlined the range in line with its agency model rollout. Prices are well up, too.
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz C 300 Sedan remains a pricey option. At $95,900 before on-road costs it’s risen by $5500 in a couple of years – making it over $100,000 on the road before you add optional colours and packages.
It’s aligned with its arch nemesis, the BMW 330i Sedan (from $94,700), but the Benz still needs a few boxes ticked to make it a proper luxury experience with all the available features and tech on offer.
WATCH: Paul’s video review of the MY22 C 300 Sedan
With sedan sales on the decline, and the related GLC 300 SUV another $10,000 dearer than this mid-spec C-Class, is this luxury staple still worth a look?
Despite only mild electrification and increasing competition at this end of the market from mass-market EVs of similar size, the C-Class still has something to offer for the typical Benz buyer.
How does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class compare?
View a detailed breakdown of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class against similarly sized vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz
C-Class
How much does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class cost?
Prices have slowly crept up since the current-generation C-Class launched in 2022. The range now opens with the C 200 Night Edition from $86,900 plus on-road costs or $89,990 drive-away.
On test we have the C 300 Sedan, which currently is priced from $95,900 before on-road costs. Drive-away, you’re looking at over $100,000 – that’s a lot for a four-cylinder sedan.
Model Variant
$RRP
2024 Mercedes-Benz C 200 Night Edition
$86,900
2024 Mercedes-Benz C 200
$89,900
2024 Mercedes-Benz C 300
$95,900
2024 Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC
$138,900
2024 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance 4MATIC+
$187,900
Prices exclude on-road costs.
To see how the C-Class lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class like on the inside?
The C-Class impresses has a lot of showroom appeal with its big screens and sweeping dash design. It feels a lot more modern than its predecessor.
Look closer and there’s a lot of fingerprint-prone gloss black surfaces and some harder, scratchier materials used lower down in the cabin, and we’ve had issues with the sliding drawer on the centre console being grabby or squeaky.
Ahead of the driver is Mercedes-Benz’s latest steering wheel with double-decker touch-capacitive spokes and a chunky, perforated Nappa leather rim. Unlike some of the trimmings, this feels really upmarket and futuristic.
The new controls may take a bit of getting used to, though. The funny shape and small control area mean you may not always find these controls to be accurate, and at times it’s just plain annoying.
Adjusting adaptive cruise control requires a diagonal swipe on a curved surface, so I was regularly going up or down by too much or just plain pressing the wrong thing.
Behind the steering wheel is a free-standing 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a familiar Mercedes look and feel. Being MBUX 2.0 there’s a vast array of layouts and widgets debuted in the S-Class.
As we’ve come to expect, graphics are crisp, refresh rates are slick, and there’s plenty of configurability while also retaining its own personality compared to the digital cockpits from rivals.
Comfort up front is good thanks to the well-bolstered, supportive sports seats that come as standard with electric adjustment (including lumbar). Memory settings are standard in the C 300, too.
I found the footwell to be unusually tight though, with my left foot too large to sit on the foot rest without wedging against the plastic lining. The same thing occurred in the GLC, and even the E-Class in my recent testing.
The pièce de résistance is the stunning 11.9-inch portrait oriented touchscreen infotainment system, which juts out of the centre console as if Mercedes has bonded an iPad to the C-Class’s interior.
Running the MBUX 2.0 interface, the system supports over-the-air (OTA) software updates and even features a fingerprint scanner to unlock – much like we’re used to in smartphones.
The look and feel is familiar, but you get a larger display and integrated climate controls over to the first MBUX. It all works pretty well, and you could spend hours flicking through the menus and settings though it’s far less convoluted than before.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the former worked well during our loan if with the odd dropout in known dead spots around Melbourne. Connected services and DAB radio are also included.
Despite the medium size classification, the C-Class and its rivals have never been standout for rear practicality. The new C-Class does offer more room than its predecessor, partly thanks to an additional 25mm of wheelbase.
At 6’1 I fit behind my driving position just fine, but if you want more luxurious accommodation you’re better off looking at the more spacious GLC SUV.
Rear air vents, a fold-down armrest with cupholders, rear map pockets, and bottle holders in the door are standard fare, though it’s disappointing a third zone of climate control isn’t available on non-AMG C-Class models locally.
Kids will be fine back there, particularly if they’re in car seats. There’s ISOFIX anchor points for both outboard seating positions, and top-tether points across all three rear pews.
The C-Class Sedan offers 455 litres of boot capacity, which is the same as the previous model.
Unfortunately the C-Class Estate has been culled from the Australian lineup, meaning if you like the C-Class look and feel but want more space for the family’s luggage you’ll have to get a GLC.
As in the previous model, a chunky rear bumper makes for a fairly high loading lip, but the boot is pretty wide and square.
As the C-Class gets run-flat tyres across the range, there’s no spare wheel under the boot floor. Vehicles fitted with the 19-inch AMG alloy wheels (as tested) get a repair kit which includes an air compressor as well.
Dimensions
Mercedes-Benz C 300 Sedan
Length
4751mm
Wheelbase
2865mm
Width
1820mm
Height
1437mm
Boot space
455 litres
To see how the C-Class lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What’s under the bonnet?
The C-Class is four-cylinder only – including AMG models.
Tech Specs
Mercedes-Benz C 300 Sedan
Engine
2.0L 4cyl turbo 48V MHEV
Power
190kW @ 5800 rpm
Torque
400Nm @ 2000-3200 rpm
Transmission
9-speed automatic
Driven Wheels
Rear
Weight – tare
1744kg
0-100km/h – claimed
6.0 seconds
Fuel economy – claimed
7.3L /100km
Fuel economy – as tested
8.1L /100km
CO2 emissions – claimed
164g /km
Fuel tank
66 litres
Octane rating
98 RON
To see how the C-Class lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
How does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class drive?
It may have hot hatch-rivalling outputs and AMG styling, but the C 300 isn’t really an AMG-lite.
Mercedes-Benz has definitely been going hard on comfort with its recent releases, and the C-Class definitely has more of a mini E- or S-Class vibe about it rather than it trying to go toe-to-toe with the 3 Series.
With 400Nm on tap from 2000rpm and nine ratios to choose from, the C 300 wants to waft along effortlessly rather than have its neck wrung.
Be gentle with it and it’s quite a comfortable and pleasant thing to cruise in. Put your foot down harder than there’s strong acceleration, but I’m not sure it feels 6.0s to 100km/h quick.
The ride is pretty cushy as well, especially in its Comfort setting. There’s a nice soft rebound to the suspension and there’s a touch of roll in corners even in its Sport setting.
All the driver controls are light and heavily assisted, which makes mundane daily commutes and manoeuvres much easier but also takes away feel.
It all plays into that Benz focus on comfort and driving refinement – if you don’t want to feel super connected to the car and road thanks to a layer of cushioning, it’ll suit your tastes just fine.
Noise from the 2.0-litre petrol engine is pretty well subdued, and only under hard acceleration do you get a whiff of its gravelly note. It’s not as raucous as some other four-cylinder Mercedes models, but it’s not as sweet as the 330i.
The 48V mild-hybrid system helps the C 300 come to a smooth stop when using idle stop-start and fires the engine up again almost imperceptibly. However, despite the 48V architecture it doesn’t seem to be able to keep the engine off for long when at a standstill, which somewhat defeats the purpose of the larger battery in my opinion.
Our test car wasn’t fitted with the optional Plus Package, and therefore missed out on the full gamut of driver assists available on the C-Class.
Adaptive cruise control worked fine but lacks a traffic jam function in its basic form. Likewise the C 300 will keep you away from lane markings but won’t actively centre you in your lane unless you tick the option box.
Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist are handy, as is the standard surround camera system. However it’s pretty disappointing you need to spend more money on a $100,000 car to add assistance features you’ll find on base model Toyotas, Hyundais, and Kias.
The standard LED headlights with auto high-beam are likewise fine, but Mercedes-Benz’s adaptive high-beam tech tied to the optional Digital Light headlights is pretty swish and will help on poorly-lit regional roads.
What do you get?
The C-Class is a sedan-only affair in Australia, with two non-AMG variants offered.
C 200 + C 300 standard equipment:
Exterior
AMG Line exterior
Agility Control suspension – lowered
19-inch AMG multispoke alloys – bicolour
Rear privacy glass
Metallic paint – excl. Manufaktur
Ambient lighting incl. logo projection
Exterior mirrors – power adjust, folding, heated
Keyless-Go – keyless entry, auto boot
LED headlights
Adaptive Highbeam Assist
360-degree camera
Tirefit – repair kit
Tyre pressure monitoring
Panoramic sliding sunroof
Interior
AMG Line interior
Sports front seats
Anthracite Linestructure Lime Wood trim
Centre console in high-gloss black
Ambient lighting plus
Artico upholstery
Roof liner in black
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
Electrically adjustable front seats
Memory Package – front seats
Heated front seats
Folding rear seat backrests – 40:20:40 split
Dual-zone climate control
MBUX 11.9-inch multimedia system
MBUX Navigation Premium
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto – wireless
DAB+ digital radio
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
Wireless smartphone charger
Mercedes-Me Connect
Head-up display
USB Package
Options
One main option package is available for the C 200 and C 300.
Plus Package: $6900
Driving Assistance Package Plus
MBUX Augmented Reality Navigation
Digital Light – Adaptive headlights
Burmester 3D surround sound
Urban Guard vehicle protection
Heat, noise insulating acoustic glass
Manufaktur paint: $1500
Patagonia Red Bright Metallic
Opalite White Bright Metallic
Is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class safe?
The C-Class wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on Euro NCAP testing in 2022.
It scored 91 per cent for adult occupant protection, 90 per cent for child occupant protection, 80 per cent for pedestrian protection, and 84 per cent for safety assist.
Standard safety equipment includes:
10 airbags incl. front-centre airbag
Active Parking Assist
Adaptive cruise control – Distronic
Adaptive High Beam Assist – auto high-beam
AEB with Pedestrian, Cyclist detection
Blind-spot monitoring
Lane keep assist
Parking sensors – front, rear
Rear cross-traffic assist
Surround camera system
Traffic sign assist
Plus Package adds:
Driving Assistant Package Plus
Active Lane Change Assist
Adaptive cruise control with stop, go
Adaptive High Beam Assist Plus
Evasive manoeuvre support
Pre-Safe impulse side
Route-based speed adaptation
How much does the Mercedes-Benz C-Class cost to run?
Mercedes-Benz covers its range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia.
Aftersales program
Mercedes-Benz C 300 Sedan
Warranty
Five years, unlimited kilometres
Service intervals
One year or 25,000 kilometres
Five-year service plan
$6015
CarExpert’s Take on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class
There’s something about some of the latest Mercedes-Benz models that leaves me underwhelmed.
I can appreciate the focus on comfort and refinement, as well as the glossy tech inclusions that seem like a natural progression for rusted-on Benz owners looking to spend up from an older model.
What I can’t really get past is the value equation. The fact the C 300 before optional colours and packages is already more than $100,000 drive-away seems exorbitant to me – not long ago this was where the old AMG C 43 sat.
It’s also disappointing the C-Class lacks a full driver assistance package as standard despite costing what it does.
The lack of the Estate wagon body grates, given there will be plenty of people wanting more boot space but unwilling to spend another $10,000 for a GLC.
You also can’t get a non-AMG Line version anymore so every C-Class in Australia looks just about the same.
There’s no proper hybrid option either, despite a C 300e with 100km of EV range being available abroad. When you’re spending this kind of money, customers should be afforded more choice.
Click the images for the full gallery
MORE: Buy a Mercedes-Benz C-Class MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Know key focus areas on how to pick the right sector to invest in going forward. (Representative image)
S Ravi has suggested key focus areas on how to pick the right sector to invest in going forward.
When a new government is elected in India, investors often reassess their strategies to align with the anticipated policy changes and economic directions. Investors usually remain vigilant and adaptable, closely monitoring policy announcements and economic indicators to fine-tune their investment strategies in response to the government’s initiatives.
S Ravi, founder, Ravi Rajan & Co., shared that most policies are expected to continue as the NDA is continuing the government at the centre.
“Prime Minister Modi is in his third tenure as the Prime Minister, which implies that most of the policies framed in NDA one and two would continue. The Prime Minister in his allocation of the portfolio of the cabinet has preferred continuity to a large extent. This implies that most of the vision documents including Viksit Bharat would be relevant in today’s context,” Ravi said.
Ravi added that NDA 2 had focused on e-mobility, infrastructure including rural infrastructure, ESG, Defence, and IT infrastructure.
“Indian banking has been well capitalised and strictly regulated. Steps were taken in the case of PMC Bank, Yes Bank, and Laxmi Vilas Bank. RBI is closely regulating NBFCs, Arc, and cooperative banks,” Ravi highlighted.
Looking into the future, Ravi said that the focus will be on good governance and strong regulatory measures.
Ravi, who is a former chairman of the Bombay Stock Exchange, has suggested key focus areas on how to pick the right sector to invest in going forward.
Banking stocks especially PSU banks will attract investments considering the fact they are well capitalised with good capital adequacy and growth in balance sheet size.
“We have to also understand that banks that have merged will now show more profitability and resilience,” Ravi said.
The insurance sector will do well as India has opened up this sector by increasing FDI. Insurance for all initiated by IRDA will see an increase in reach. The regulator has allowed listing is a forward-looking measure.
Infrastructure companies that are in very technical construction like tunnels, roads, airports, and ports would do well as there is a vision to connect India as per Gati Shakti’s vision. Railways and allied services would also see a huge upsurge.
Defence is another area that has opened out and has huge prospects.
In the IT and software space, there is a lot of potential for cyber security as this will be an area of immense importance considering that online business and frauds are increasing. Data protection will be the key as data security is highly vulnerable.
Building and construction companies will do well as they are more regulated after the introduction of RERA, FMCG, agri, logistics, and transportation companies will do well.
PSU manufacturing companies especially in heavy engineering would be an interesting watch.
Pharmaceutical companies with international distribution would be good for investment.
The union budget is around the corner and it will certainly clearly outline the policies of the new government, Ravi concluded.
Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Readers are advised to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Namit Singh Sengar
Namit writes on personal finance, economy and brands. Currently contributing to News18.com as a Senior Sub Editor in the business vertical. Prior to t…Read More
Meme coins have been at the mercy of the crypto market so far, as volatility has left the top tokens struggling for gains. For some tokens, though, the end of their price fluctuations might be near. Dogecoin has hit its ‘make or break’ levels, and the next few days will be decisive.
Still, the crypto bull run is ongoing, and many new projects are offering top profits to early buyers. An anonymous Dogecoin (DOGE) whale stated that one of the new coins on Ethereum is well poised for 3000% ROI in its presale.
Only early buyers get the whole stash; we have details on the new coin below.
Dogecoin Bringing Hope at Last?
The past month has been tense for DOGE traders, as the market forces have forced Dogecoin to trade sideways for most of the period. While whales kept accumulating DOGE tokens, other factors prevented the token from a substantial spike.
Dogecoin has always maintained a close connection with the top altcoins, and a DOGE spike might depend on Bitcoin’s movements. At least, that’s what CrediBull Crypto thinks. While he hinted that Dogecoin’s price was crucial, he stated that Bitcoin is also at a range low.
If the DOGE whales can hold Dogecoin’s price above its current support at $0.14, a rebound on Bitcoin’s charts could mean a price reversal from Dogecoin. The DOGE uptrend would take the token back to bullish ways.
RCO Finance: Getting the AI Trader Bot That Fits!
The AI crypto sector was predicted to be the business for the year in the crypto-verse, and AI use cases have spiked ever since. It may be late for the older coins, but RCO Finance (RCOF) is on point with its AI breakthrough.
The Robo Advisor on RCO Finance was developed using advanced programming and machine learning algorithms. These ensure that it learns your trading behaviour and preferences before recommending trading tips to users.
That’s a groundbreaking feature, especially considering how generic other AI trading platforms are. With RCO Finance, you’re in for a personalized experience, so you don’t second-guess your moves and market positions.
The Robo advisor can guide you on target buying and when to take profit. For instance, if you want to buy Apple Inc. (AAPL) stock, the RCO Finance Robo Advisor will advise on sentiments, trends and moving averages based on different indicators. With this, traders can do less emotional trading and more data-backed trading.
Next up, and almost better, is the assortment of trading options on RCO Finance. You get regular margin trading and perpetual derivatives markets, including futures and ETF trading.
Dogecoin vs. RCOF
Even though Dogecoin appears hopeful, its traders are looking for other options. Top among them are the new crypto projects, as most are brewing with potential. Plus, after Notcoin, DOGE traders are out for profits.
And wherever they can find them. That’s why RCO Finance (RCOF) is such an attractive option. The token will be launched on Ethereum and provide world-class DeFi trading features. RCOF can draw investors from the crypto market; even Dogecoin traders can spot it.
RCO Finance’s presale is a hotshot, but it’s not even the most spectacular thing about the token. Here’s more.
Next-Level Defi Trading Starts Here
RCO Finance guarantees profits. The Ethereum token offers both long-term and short-term benefits. On the platform, traders gain; on the presale, everybody gains.
With all its interesting features, zero geographical limitations, security, and AI assistance, traders will have a great time on the project.
The tokens are worth $0.0127 and are in the first presale stage. When RCOF launches, investors can expect a 3000% ROI.
Take advantage of it!
For more information about the RCO Finance Presale:
Embracing the machine brain of technology as a partner with the human brains of content marketers lets you do things for your audience and brand that you could only imagine or considered too resource-intensive just a few years ago.
These examples of what’s possible with tech-human collaborations today and in the future — and what marketers should do about them — come from the experts who spoke at the recent ContentTECH Summit. You can still register (free) to go more in-depth and watch their sessions on demand.
Establish a single source of truth
“Your brand is your personality and your story. It’s how you stand out in that crowded marketplace,” says Ariana Keil, senior growth marketer at Canto.
But too often, that story gets jumbled across a customer’s journey. The prospect sees one personality on the brand’s social media and another in the deck a salesperson sent to them. That problem compounds itself each of the seven times a customer typically sees your messaging before taking the desired action.
“Your brand identity, your personality, your message has to be cohesive. It has to be consistent enough over those seven touch points so that the seed of your brand keeps getting watered,” Ariana says.
It’s a mistake that can cost your brand’s bottom line, Ariana says. Brand consistency across all platforms can increase ROI by 23%, according to a Lucidpress survey.
To ensure consistency, every company should have a brand management strategy, Ariana says.
A brand management strategy is a comprehensive plan to create, maintain, and enhance brand identity over time. It details the tactics, processes, workflows, and technology that make it happen. It also includes checkpoints to ensure you’re maintaining that consistency.
To create a brand management strategy, you must:
And you have to pull it all together into a centralized single source of truth. For enterprise organizations, that usually requires a digital asset management system (DAM).
As the content hub of your tech stack, a DAM should integrate with your project management, content creation, distribution, and analytics tools. It should also offer easy and accurate search features, otherwise employees will resort to their own devices to create and publish branded assets.
But integrating a DAM into your brand management strategy is not enough. Ariana advises treating the strategy as a dynamic concept. Measure how the brand narrative is being received through social media engagement, website traffic, conversion rates, etc. Then, take that knowledge, revise, and retool.
“Everything does change, and change is OK as long as your messaging consistently evolves along with your brand.”
Treat AI as the solution, not the challenge
Marketers have faced no greater change in recent years than the advent — and rapid adoption — of easily accessible generative artificial intelligence.
“[Without] a pragmatic or thoughtful approach to AI, organizations risk being overloaded with random point solutions,” says Ali Hart, senior product marketing manager at Optimizely.
If each team develops its own AI tech stack, they’re rebuilding silos you worked hard to tear down. Brand governance and compliance takes a hit. The AI tools may create biased or inaccurate content published by different teams, and it all can lead to the deterioration of brand and digital experiences.
But if you create a systematic approach to AI across the organization, AI tools can work with your human team members for the greater good. With this strategy, you can improve empathetic personalization.
Ali says you can customize marketing messages and experiences based on the individual’s preferences, behaviors, and needs. That personalization, though, should respect customers’ privacy and boundaries.
She also outlines other areas of impact of a positively embraced AI strategy, including:
Account-based marketing: AI-based analytics and lead scoring removes the manual work and better predicts the account’s interest or readiness to buy based on historical ad data and behavior patterns. It can also deliver more personalized and relevant content.
Dynamic ad targeting: Using AI technology, you can deliver ads with more relevant content at the best time based on real-time data.
Customer experiences: With a tailored strategy, AI can automate and personalize customer interactions, providing them with information and support.
You also can create your own large language model (LLM) based on your company’s guidelines, brand guidelines, etc., to inform your generative AI tools.
“Instead of just getting tools to say, ‘We are using AI,’ make sure they can help you do your jobs better,” Ali says.
Just don’t forget the human touch. Incorporate human oversight and intervention to ensure accuracy, fairness, and ethical considerations are addressed.
“AI should be your copilot,” Ali says. “It’s really essential to maintain a balance between automation and human insight to ensure that marketing still remains authentic and engaging and to ensure you’re still benefiting without compromising your brands.”
Also, let your audience know how AI is involved. Disclose how you collect data and provide clear explanations on how your AI algorithms work and benefit your customers. Add an AI disclaimer on your website. That transparency can go a long way in earning and maintaining your audience’s trust.
Deliver better for your customers
Given the benefits of generative AI for marketers, it only makes sense that your audiences will benefit, too.
“AI has allowed for really more nuanced and effective customer engagement,” says Sitecore’s Zach Escabedo.
Instead of offering only a handful of personalized experience options, you can use your metadata and AI tools to tailor thousands or millions (depending on your web traffic) of customized experiences.
Generative AI also can create a different search experience for consumers today. Instead of asking Google, they can just ask your brand, and they don’t need to limit themselves to inquiries for your products and services.
For example, visitors to a brand’s website or app could search for restaurants near the company’s bricks-and-mortar stores, even specifying the preferred type of food, and be served up a menu on the site.
“Your brand becomes an extension and leans out beyond what is traditionally known in the commerce world,” Zach says.
In a generative AI world, buyers won’t just search for a new pair of jeans. They can ask the brand to show them the popular fashion trends of the year. Then, they can ask about accessories to pair with those trending styles.
“It’s really starting to go beyond just a static experience with customers and really start to allow teams and organizations to lean into different tools and capabilities,” Zach says.
But don’t pursue generative AI possibilities without first establishing parameters. For example, you don’t want to allow someone at the last stage in the workflow to be able to create and publish a new paragraph or image that doesn’t match your branding. It disrupts the brand consistency you set up the system to enforce.
So, evaluate generative AI embedded in existing tools as well as any new tools to ensure you can establish the proper controls for your enterprise.
Understand AI’s role in SEO and more
Google Search is one tool you already know uses AI. It recently rolled out AI-generated overviews at the top of search results to the world. That prompted more questions on what marketers should do about AI.
Kelly Hungerford, director of digital strategy and services at SUNSTAR, a global oral health care brand, says Google’s generative AI move indicates search remains important. “As marketers, we need to be focusing on SEO,” she says.
Well-structured content for SEO will become even more important because that’s what AI tools will rely on, too.
Second, Kelly says, focus more on branded images and video, tactics that often don’t get the metadata attention they deserve. Google and other AI-integrated services are paying more attention to visuals.
“Start experimenting,” she says. “Image and video are really going to play … more than just text.”
Third, marketers operating websites across languages and markets should create SEO legs for each site. “You have to get that engine cranked up and running as soon as possible. If you have content that’s shared across multiple languages, multiple markets, you need to make sure you’re really localizing it and differentiating it,” Kelly says.
Ready for the future
Tech futurist Cathy Hackl, co-CEO of Spatial Dynamics, says people focus on AI, but you’re really seeing a convergence of different technologies moving really fast.
“They’re going to change human-computer interactions in ways that we’ve never seen before,” she says.
Spatial computing is evolving as a 3D-centric form that uses technologies to seamlessly blend virtual experiences into someone’s physical world.
With that advance comes new hardware, and Cathy says there will be more than just Apple’s Vision Pro or Meta’s new multimodal AI glasses. Expect Samsung, Google, Microsoft, and others to enter the marketplace. “That is going to force marketers to start to think about how they will play with these new devices … to think about new content types,” Cathy says.
It also will likely change the answers to questions every marketer asks: Where are people consuming content? What immersive experiences do audiences want to participate in?
But you don’t need to prepare by going out and buying an Apple Vision Pro, Cathy says. Just start paying attention to all the AI and tech announcements. For example, OpenAI’s GPT-4o’s assistant has vision.
Look to the gaming space to learn from the convergence of physical and virtual commerce. Cathy, a metaverse advisor-in-residence for Walmart, points to the retailer’s recent partnership that allows participants to buy physical things in Roblox and have them delivered to their houses.
Don’t be scared
With all the available technology and all the data collected from your audience’s digital experiences, the ability to ingest that information to help guide your strategy is huge. It also can be intimidating, especially for non-technical marketers. But don’t let it. AI and other tech opportunities aren’t going away. “It’s super important for us as marketers to invest our own time in learning how to use AI,” Ali says. “You may always feel a little step behind … but something is better than nothing.”
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Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute
The scorecards of 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were given grace marks for time lost in the examination will be scrapped, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday. The students can opt for a re-test on June 23, and the results will be declared on June 30. If these candidates do not take the re-test, their earlier score will be considered the result, without the grace marks.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who welcomed the Supreme Court’s order to withdraw grace marks and carry out a re-test for select students, said that there was no evidence of any question paper leak.
“For those who appear for a re-test, the May 5 (earlier) scores will be discarded,” the Court said. The Supreme Court has not put a halt on the counselling process for NEET-UG 2024.
This year, 24 lakh students took the NEET, out of which around 13 lakh qualified.
“The grace/compensatory marks awarded to 1,563 students stand withdrawn. A retest will be held on June 23,” the National Testing Agency (NTA), which carries out the NEET, said in a post on social media platform, X. The agency further said it will “shortly” reach out to these candidates via email so that they receive “official communication.”
Also read: NEET-UG entrance exam: 67 candidates secure the top rank this year
WIDESPREAD DISSATISFACTION
The Centre’s decision follows allegations of irregularities and unfair marking in the nationwide medical entrance exams, resulting in widespread protests.
Post-results coming out on June 4, it was found that a high number (67) of students scored 720 out of 720, thereby securing the top spot nationwide. This, many said, was impossible. In fact, many of the toppers were from one particular centre only, which further fanned the concerns.
Subsequently, Alakh Pandey, the CEO of education technology firm Physics Wallah, filed a petition regarding irregularities in NEET-UG 2024. Other petitions alleging paper leaks and irregularities in awarding grace marks, among others, were also filed.
“The respondent NTA may proceed for holding the re-test….” the court order read.
Hearings on other petitions, such as the paper leak, will continue.
NO PAPER LEAK
According to the Education Minister, there is no concrete evidence of any paper leak. Rather, awarding grace marks led to a 100 per cent score for some.
“There is no evidence of a paper leak. These are allegations, and we are ready to give answers in Court,” he said.
Explaining the process, Pradhan said there are two question sheets for the NEET. On the day of the exam, it is announced whether question sheet A or B will be used. In six centres (with these 1,563 students), the wrong set of questions were given. When the matter was noticed, the correct question paper set was given. This led to time loss.
“There is a standing order of the Supreme Court that if such issues are raised in entrance exams, instead of giving a re-exam, an average marking can be done. The NTA followed it. Post this, some students got 100 per cent marks,” he said.
Pradhan, who took charge as Education Minister on Thursday, said the NTA was a highly competent authority. “There is no corruption. This environment (of distrust) has been created over the past few days . The Centre has taken up seriously the specific instances that have come to light. Action will be taken against those found guilty.”
TRUST FACTOR
Physics Wallah’s Pandey said there was a trust issue now with the testing agency. “The question is if NTA has other discrepancies that we are unaware of. So, there is a trust issue now,” he told media.
A political slugfest has also broken out.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, in a post on social media platform X, said that the future of 24 lakh students appearing in the NEET examination is at stake. “A nexus of exam centres and coaching centres has been formed, where the game of ‘pay money, get paper’ is being played,” he wrote.
It is the million-person mystery, and its solution will help determine just how strong American growth truly is. According to an official survey of employers, America’s economy has added 1.2m jobs in net terms since the start of the year. But a separate survey of households paints a completely different picture: that the country has in fact shed about 100,000 jobs over the same time period.
Slight discrepancies between the two closely watched surveys are normal, but rarely has the gap been so wide. One suggests a robust economy that is coping just fine with high interest rates; the other, that growth is rapidly decelerating.
Italy begin the defense of the title with an opening Group B Euro 2024 encounter against Albania on Saturday.
The Azzurri come into this match looking to become only the second side to win back-to-back Euros alongside Spain.
They face an Albanian side making only their second appearance in this tournament, but likely with a spring in their step after comfortable warmup victories against Liechtenstein and then Azerbaijan.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live, wherever you are in the world.
Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca looks set to lead the line up front for Italy in today’s game.
Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Italy vs. Albania: When and where?
Italy take on Albania on Saturday, June 15, at Signal-Iduna-Park in Dortmund. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CET local time in Germany, making it a 8 p.m. BST start in the UK. In the US and Canada it’s a 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT start, while the game gets underway at 5 a.m. AEST in Australia early on Sunday morning.
How to watch every Euro 2024 game online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view Euro 2024 matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the tournament — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.
Sarah Tew/CNET
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49% — the equivalent of $6.67 a month with code SPECIALDEAL, which should be automatically applied.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream Italy vs. Albania in the US
This match is set to be shown live on Fox in the US. The majority of Euro 2024 games will be shown on either Fox or FS1, but there are a handful of group stage matches that will be shown exclusively on Fubo.
A Fubo Pro Plan will give you access to those five group stage matches, as well as all of Fox and FS1’s coverage.
Fubo
Fubo’s Pro Plan costs $80 per month and gives you 121 channels, including FOX and FS1, awhile also offering you access to the five Euro 2024 group-stage games exclusively streaming on the service.
If you don’t have Fox and FS1 as part of your cable lineup, both can be streamed via Sling TV.
Sling TV’s Blue plan includes Fox and FS1, making it a great option for those wanting to watch international soccer action. It’s $40 a month ($45 in some places) and includes over 40 channels, including other sports channels like ESPN.
Livestream Italy vs. Albania for free in the UK
The great news for footy fans in the UK is that free-to-air broadcasters the BBC and ITV are sharing live duties for Euro 2024.
This match is set to be broadcast on BBC1.
BBC
With matches being broadcast on BBC1, that means you’ll be able to watch games online for free via the network’s on-demand streaming service, BBC iPlayer.
With an app that’s available for Android and Apple mobile devices, as well as a vast array of smart TVs and streaming boxes, all you need is a valid UK TV license to stream the game.
Livestream Italy vs. Albania in Canada
Canadian soccer fans can watch the tournament via TSN and its streaming service TSN Plus. Existing TSN cable subscribers can watch at no extra charge using the details of their TV provider.
TSN
TSN Plus is a direct-streaming service that costs CA$8 a month and also offers coverage of PGA Tour Live golf, NFL games, F1, Nascar and the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments.
Livestream Italy vs. Albania in Australia
Football fans Down Under can also watch all the action from Germany on streaming service Optus Sport.
With exclusive rights to screen every English Premier League match live, as well as German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga games and international fixtures, streaming service Optus Sport is a particularly big draw for Aussie soccer fans.
If you’re already an Optus network customer you can bag Optus Sport for a reduced price, with discounts bringing the price down to as low as AU$7 per month. If you’re not, a standalone monthly subscription to the service starts at AU$25.
Quick tips for streaming Italy vs. Albania using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming European Championship matches may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
legal requirements for providing constructive dismissal
Constructive dismissal, also known as constructive discharge, occurs when an employee resigns due to an employer’s conduct, which has made the working environment intolerable. Understanding the legal requirements for providing constructive dismissal is essential for both employers and employees to navigate the complexities of employment law and avoid potential litigation.
Firstly, it is crucial to define constructive dismissal accurately. Constructive dismissal happens when an employer’s actions or omissions fundamentally breach an employee’s contract of employment, effectively forcing them to resign. This breach can manifest in various forms, such as significant changes in job duties, reduction in pay, or a toxic work environment. The key element is that the employee’s resignation is not voluntary but a response to the employer’s breach of contract.
The legal framework governing constructive dismissal varies across jurisdictions, but some common principles apply universally. In many countries, employment laws protect employees from unfair treatment, and these protections extend to constructive dismissal claims. To establish a case of constructive dismissal, the employee must demonstrate that the employer’s conduct was sufficiently serious to justify their resignation. This conduct must constitute a fundamental breach of contract, not just minor grievances or isolated incidents.
what are the legal requirements for providing constructive dismissal
One of the critical legal requirements for providing constructive dismissal is the concept of a fundamental breach of contract. A fundamental breach occurs when an employer significantly alters the terms of employment without the employee’s consent. This could include drastic changes in job responsibilities, demotion without justification, or unilateral reduction in salary or benefits. For instance, if an employer suddenly reduces an employee’s pay by a substantial amount without agreement, it could be considered a fundamental breach, leading to a potential constructive dismissal claim.
Another essential legal requirement is the timing of the resignation. Employees claiming constructive dismissal lawyer must resign promptly after the breach occurs. If an employee continues to work for an extended period after the breach, it may be interpreted as acceptance of the new terms, weakening their claim. Courts typically expect employees to resign within a reasonable time frame after the breach to maintain the validity of their constructive dismissal claim.
Additionally, employees must demonstrate that the employer’s conduct directly caused their resignation. This causal link is vital in proving constructive dismissal. The employee must show that their resignation was a foreseeable consequence of the employer’s actions, making their continued employment untenable. For example, if an employer consistently harasses an employee, creating a hostile work environment, the employee must prove that this harassment directly led to their decision to resign.
Furthermore, employees are generally required to exhaust any internal grievance procedures before resigning. This step is crucial because it demonstrates that the employee attempted to resolve the issue within the organization before taking the drastic step of resigning. Failure to follow this procedure can weaken a constructive dismissal claim, as it may appear that the employee did not give the employer a fair opportunity to rectify the situation.
In conclusion, the legal requirements for providing constructive dismissal involve establishing a fundamental breach of contract by the employer, timely resignation by the employee, demonstrating a direct causal link between the employer’s conduct and the resignation, and exhausting internal grievance procedures. Employers must be aware of these requirements to avoid actions that could lead to constructive dismissal claims, while employees should understand their rights and the necessary steps to take if they believe they are being forced to resign due to their employer’s conduct. Constructive dismissal is a complex area of employment law, and both parties benefit from legal guidance to navigate potential disputes effectively.
Heart disease has been the world’s No. 1 killer for over a century, and experts predict that it will become even more prevalent in the coming decades.
A report this month from the American Heart Association (AHA) predicts that at least six in 10 U.S. adults could experience cardiovascular disease within the next 30 years.
The rate of hypertension (high blood pressure) — which is one of the key risk factors for heart disease — is expected to increase from 51.2% in 2020 to 61.0% in 2050.
HEART ATTACKS MORE LIKELY DURING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND OTHER STRESSFUL TIMES, STUDY SHOWS
Diabetes, another major risk factor, is also expected to rise (16.3% to 26.8%), along with obesity (43.1% to 60.6%), according to the study, which was published in the AHA journal Circulation.
As a result, total cardiovascular disease is predicted to rise from 11.3% to 15.0% between 2020 and 2050.
Heart disease has been the world’s No. 1 killer for over a century, and experts predict that it will become even more prevalent in the coming decades.(iStock)
“The landscape of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. is seeing the arrival of a near-perfect storm,” Dr. Dhruv S. Kazi, vice chair of the advisory writing group and a Boston cardiologist, said in a press release.
ANGER CAN INCREASE HEART ATTACK RISK, STUDY FINDS
“The last decade has seen a surge of cardiovascular risk factors, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, each of which raises the risks of developing heart disease and stroke,” he continued.
“It is not surprising that an enormous increase in cardiovascular risk factors and diseases will produce a substantial economic burden.”
As a result of the risk factors identified in the study, total cardiovascular disease is predicted to rise from 11.3% to 15.0% between 2020 and 2050.(iStock)
On a positive note, the researchers determined that hypercholesterolemia (high levels of LDL, or “bad cholesterol”), will decline (45.8% to 24.0%).
They also predicted that diet, exercise and smoking habits will improve, although sleep quality is expected to worsen.
ASK A DOCTOR: ‘WHY AM I HEARING MY HEARTBEAT IN MY EARS?’
The researchers analyzed data from the 2015 to March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the 2015 to 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
“We projected through 2050, overall and by age and race and ethnicity, accounting for changes in disease prevalence and demographics,” they wrote.
“[The] most adverse trends are projected to be worse among people identifying as American Indian/Alaska Native or multiracial, Black or Hispanic.”
Life’s Essential 8 consists of the following eight lifestyle behaviors for optimal heart health, according to the American Heart Association.(iStock/American Heart Association)
The study looked for trends in cardiovascular risk factors based on adverse levels of Life’s Essential 8 and clinical cardiovascular disease and stroke.
WANT TO LIVE LONGER? FOLLOW 8 HEART-HEALTHY HABITS, SAYS THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
Life’s Essential 8 consists of the following eight lifestyle behaviors for optimal heart health, according to the AHA:
Following a healthy sleep schedule
Not smoking
Getting regular physical activity
Adhering to a healthy diet
Maintaining a healthy body weight
Maintaining healthy blood glucose levels
Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels
Maintaining healthy blood pressure
Overall, the report predicts that clinical cardiovascular disease (affecting the heart or blood vessels) will affect 45 million adults by 2050, and clinical cardiovascular disease (including hypertension) will affect more than 184 million adults.
Overall, the report predicts that clinical cardiovascular disease (affecting the heart or blood vessels) will affect 45 million adults by 2050, and clinical cardiovascular disease (including hypertension) will affect more than 184 million adults.(iStock)
“The prevalence of many cardiovascular risk factors and most established diseases will increase over the next 30 years,” the researchers stated.
Renato Apolito, M.D., the medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, was not involved in the AHA study but shared his insights on the findings.
“We are all under a lot of pressure and stress to work more to make ends meet.”
One of the key factors is the projected increase in obesity in the coming decades, Apolito said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“Obesity is very commonly associated as a driver of hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea and hypertriglyceridemia,” he said.
Some of the greater causes of obesity are lack of exercise and a heavy reliance on processed and fast food, he noted.
Some of the greater causes of obesity are lack of exercise and a heavy reliance on processed and fast food, a cardiologist said.(iStock)
“I suspect that as our standard of living goes up, our reliance on processed and pre-prepared food — in addition to lack of exercise and lack of sleep from our hectic work lives — will drive up obesity as the common denominator leading to all the other risk factors mentioned,” Apolito predicted.
“All of those factors put together would lead to an increase in coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke.”
Reducing the risk
“Clinical and public health interventions are needed to effectively manage, stem and even reverse these adverse trends,” the researchers advised.
Apolito agreed that change is needed.
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“We are all under a lot of pressure and stress to work more to make ends meet,” he said.
“This typically leads to the bad lifestyle habits mentioned above.”
The doctor recommends starting small, setting aside just 10 to 20 minutes per day to do some form of exercise and to make conscious decisions to avoid processed and fast foods.
A cardiologist recommends starting small, setting aside just 10 to 20 minutes per day to do some form of exercise and to make conscious decisions to avoid processed and fast foods.(iStock)
“You would maintain a healthier weight, which would mitigate your risk of hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, dyslipidemia and, ultimately, cardiovascular disease,” he said.
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Apolito also pointed out that the study is speculative, using predictive models on data from the past and present to predict the future — “which is never easy to do.”
“Hopefully, with increased public education, we can turn the tide and improve overall health in the coming decades by making healthy choices in lifestyle,” he added.
Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
Forget your dusty old arcade and dimly lit bowling alleys. Noida has a new contender in the entertainment arena, and it’s raising the bar in a major way. Buckle up, BuzzFeed fam, because we’re taking you on a whirlwind tour of The Game Palacio, a multi-sensory playground that combines high-end gaming with exquisite dining in a luxurious setting.
First Impressions: Opulence Meets Excitement
Walking into The Game Palacio at DLF Mall of India is like stepping into a scene straight out of a swanky Vegas casino (minus the questionable life choices, of course). A grand circular entrance with intricate details and shimmering chandeliers sets the tone for an evening of sophisticated fun. The expansive space is bathed in a warm glow, with a tasteful blend of dark and gold hues creating an undeniably luxurious ambience.
Gamer’s Paradise: A Feast for the Fingers
But the real magic happens beyond the foyer. Gamers of all ages, rejoice! The arcade boasts a mind-blowing selection of over 80-100 games. We’re talking classics like Pac-Man alongside adrenaline-pumping racing games like Asphalt Legends and Fast and Furious. Whether you’re a nostalgic button masher or a competitive esports enthusiast, The Game Palacio has something to get your heart racing and your thumbs twitching.
Beyond the Arcade: Bowling, VR, and More
And guess what? The arcade is just the tip of the iceberg. The Game Palacio offers a whole spectrum of entertainment options. We channelled our inner Fred Flintstone and unleashed our competitive spirit on the state-of-the-art bowling lanes. For the more tech-savvy folks, there’s a dedicated VR zone where you can explore fantastical worlds and embark on immersive adventures.
Fueling Up for Fun: A Culinary Escape at Verde
After dominating the virtual racetrack and striking up a storm (pun intended), it was time to refuel. Thankfully, The Game Palacio isn’t just about pixels and pins. It houses two fantastic restaurants: Verde, a luxury Italian fine-dining experience, and Kamakaze, a high-energy global bar. We opted for a culinary adventure at Verde, and let me tell you, it was a revelation. The menu boasts an impressive selection of authentic Italian dishes, each prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients. We indulged in melt-in-your-mouth pasta, wood-fired pizzas that were crispy on the outside and perfectly chewy on the inside, and decadent desserts that were the perfect ending to a delightful meal. The service at Verde was exceptional, with attentive staff who ensured our dining experience was flawless.
More Than Just Games: A Night Out Redefined
The Game Palacio isn’t just a gaming centre; it’s a complete entertainment experience. Live music, themed nights, and interactive DJ sessions add another layer of excitement to the atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to gather your friends, family, or significant other for a night of laughter, competition, and delicious food.
The Final Verdict: A Must-Visit for Gamers and Foodies Alike
Whether you’re a seasoned gamer seeking a challenge or a casual player looking for an evening of fun, The Game Palacio has something for everyone. With its luxurious ambience, top-notch gaming facilities, and exceptional dining options, it truly redefines the concept of a night out. So, ditch your usual Netflix routine and head to Noida’s newest entertainment haven. Trust us, your inner child (and adult you) will thank you!
The term refers primarily to low-value internet content and the effects caused by spending too much time consuming it. Example: “I’ve been watching so many TikToks, I have brainrot.”
Online discussion of brainrot has recently grown so widespread that some social media users have begun creating parodies of people who seem to embody the condition.
Several videos by the TikTok user Heidi Becker show her facing the camera as she strings together one internet reference after another in rapid-fire fashion.
“Hiii, oh my god, the fit is fitting, pop off king!” she says at the start of a recent video that has over 200,000 likes.
Other lines in her soliloquy include: “It’s giving golden retriever energy,” a piece of slang describing someone who gives the impression of being friendly, goofy or harmless; and “I really like hot girl walking and I really like girl dinner,” references to daily activities that TikTok has gendered and renamed.
Accusing someone of having brainrot is not a compliment. But some people evince a hint of pride in admitting to the condition. A recent BuzzFeed quiz challenging readers on obscure internet trivia was headlined: “If you pass this brainrot quiz, your brain is 1000% cooked.”
“One of the easiest ways to tell if someone’s brain has been destroyed by social media is to notice how often they reference internet jargon,” the influencer Joel Cave recently posted in a TikTok. “The fact that the internet can infiltrate our brain so much that people don’t even have control over what they’re saying — they just have to spout out whatever meme they’ve been seeing a lot — is crazy to me.”
Some social media accounts are dedicated to creating “brainrot content,” which has become its own entertainment subgenre. The TikTok user “Fort History” takes clips of movies and TV shows and dubs them with the latest internet lingo.
“Hey, Rizzler, it’s just you and me today,” Phil from the sitcom “Modern Family” appears to say to his son, Luke, in one clip.
“All right I’ll edge right down,” Luke responds.
Taylor Lorenz, the author of “Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet,” said she sees “brainrot” as synonymous with the phrase “broken brain.” Both online terms apply to those who have become so warped by what they see on the internet “that they have lost the ability to function in the physical world,” said Ms. Lorenz, a Washington Post columnist who was previously a reporter for The New York Times.
A Badge of Honor?
The term “brainrot,” which appeared online as early as 2007, is meant to be playful. But its rise in popularity relates to growing recognition of a disorder that researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital have called Problematic Interactive Media Use.
Michael Rich, a pediatrician who founded the Digital Wellness Lab at the hospital, said that his patients refer to brainrot as “a way of describing what happens when you spend a lot of your time online, and you have shifted your awareness over to the online space as opposed to IRL, and are filtering everything through the lens of what has been posted and what can be posted.”
Dr. Rich added that many of his patients seem to consider having brainrot a badge of honor. Some even compete for the most screen time in the same way they do for high scores in video games. They joke about it, self-aware enough to understand that obsessive internet usage affects them, but not enough to stop it.
“Even though they’re experiencing brainrot, they don’t use that as motivation to get away from it,” Dr. Rich said.
Joshua Rodriguez Ortiz, an 18-year-old high school senior in Billerica, Mass., said that he had heard the term pop up increasingly over the last two months.
“I think people started realizing that TikTok is so consuming over our lives that it just felt like brainrot, because people are scrolling on TikTok constantly, and there’s so many niche references from TikTok,” he said.
He cited a recent viral video titled “The Tik Tok Rizz Party,” which showed a group of teens dancing to Kanye West at a Sweet Sixteen party.
Data presented at the European Hematology Association Congress indicated that patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with Imbrivica had a significantly longer median progression-free survival compared to patients treated with chlorambucil.
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
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Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.
Cats are known to be fastidious creatures, often devoting hours of their day to grooming, so it’s not often that we have to give them a bath. However, sometimes this unfortunate task cannot be avoided, and while there are some cats who actually enjoy getting wet, the majority would prefer to stay well clear of the bathtub or shower. Grime or grease show up more easily on Clutch’s snow-white fur, so he does receive the occasional bath, which, like most things, he takes in his stride with very little protest, making him an ideal model for a demonstration. Zelda, on the other hand, is a lot more flighty and doesn’t even like being brushed, so I was less enthusiastic about taking her for a dip, but the cat litter stuck to her long furry trousers has put her in the line of bathtime fire.
This does mean that I can show you how to bathe a cat, plus how to bathe a cat that is likely to put up a lot of resistance.
Preparation is Key
Cat bathing supplies: towels, shampoo, and a non-slip mat
Assume that your bathing session is going to be a disaster – by expecting the worst, you will hopefully be prepared for all eventualities. I have found that cats settle more quickly if you place them into a tub of water and get as much of them wet as possible – if they think they can escape without getting soaked, they will fight much harder to get away, so choose a deep sink or bathtub for your scene.
You should choose a small, enclosed room, with minimal jumping or hiding spots, so the bathroom tends to be the obvious choice. Move any bottles, jars, or other objects from shelves and surfaces where they could be knocked over in the event of a mad scramble, and make sure the window is secure.
I recommend trimming your cat’s claws before their bath to help minimize the damage they may inflict if the situation turns ugly. Make sure you have everything you’ll need within reach of the basin/tub, but you shouldn’t need much in the way of supplies.
a non-slip mat, towel, or bath mat to place in the bottom of the tub – the slippery surface can be almost as distressing as the water to your cat.
Place one towel on the floor to soak up the water that will spill.
Have a ‘drying room’ ready for your cat to chill out in at the end – make sure it’s warm and free of draughts.
Zelda keeps her eye on the (closed) door.
Get The Water Temperature Right
Whether you’re using a hose attachment, faucet, or jug, it is vital to get the water temperature right. Remember that a cat’s body temperature is slightly higher than ours, so the water should feel warm, but not hot. Make sure you run the water long enough to know it won’t get hotter during the bath.
If you’re using a hose-type attachment, be careful. While Clutch had no problem with the hose, Zelda’s initial struggles caused a fumble that resulted in me squirting her with the shower hose. This did not enhance her experience!
Fill the tub so that it is deep enough to reach halfway up your cat’s body. This will allow you to immerse most of them in the water right away.
Prepare to Get Wet
Once you have checked you have everything you need, it’s go time.
Pick up your cat with confident hands, but do not cuddle them tightly against you. When they spot the water, they are likely to try to escape, usually by clambering up and over you. Use the secure hold I showed you in the How To Safely Restrain A Cat video; this will allow you to more easily maneuver them into the water without having to detach their claws from your clothes or skin!
Place them swiftly, but gently, into the water, being careful to keep their head and ears dry. This is when the worst of the struggling will occur, so be wary of teeth and claws, but try to maintain a confident, firm hold. Immobilizing the shoulders and guiding the hind legs to the towel or mat in the tub should enable you to keep them in the water.
Keep Everyone Safe
The aim here is to show your cat that you ‘mean business’ by being confident, without using excessive force – friendly but firm. If they think they can escape, they will, but if they believe you are in control, they are less likely to fight.
Although I try not to let my cats scramble free, if they become extremely stressed, panicked, or aggressive, do not persevere. No bath is worth emotional or physical trauma for either of you.
A firm, confident hold is vital for success.
The Easy Part
Once your cat has (hopefully) calmed down a bit and accepted that this bath is going to happen, use a jug or shower hose to wet them from the neck down, and lather up some shampoo. You can use your hand or a cloth to wipe over their face, but make sure no shampoo gets in their eyes, and no water goes into the ears.
Make sure you rinse them thoroughly and start to drain the water from the tub. Try to squeeze excess water from their fur, and either lift them onto the waiting towel, or bring the towel to them. Give them a vigorous drying off, a huge amount of praise, and take them to a warm room to recover.
Clutch, clean but unimpressed
They Will Forgive You
Every now and then, we all have to do things that our cats aren’t going to like, but if you’re patient, firm, and friendly, they will get over the trauma of getting wet. What causes more upset to our cats is when we shout, panic, get angry, or upset – this is what they will remember, so this is what you must avoid.
You will see in my video that Zelda did not have a great time, but in the end, she calmed down a lot, and I can’t tell you with complete honesty that she was on my lap later that night.
So be confident, be safe, and be prepared to get wet!
Thirteen leading listed real estate players have sold an area of over 100 million square feet in FY24 worth over ₹1.1-lakh crore, up around 40 per cent on year and this is set to go to well over 150 msf in the current fiscal year with a total value of over ₹1.5-lakh crore.
The companies have added projects with a gross development value of around ₹2.5 to 3-lakh crore forming an impressive pipeline of launches in the current year and giving the companies ample revenue visibility over the next several years. The companies will be adding more projects every year as part of their business development ensuring that they have enough housing stock to meet the demand momentum that doesn’t look as if it will abate very soon.
Robust sales
Housing sales in FY24 for the industry as a whole crossed 1 billion square feet, with 20 per cent growth year-on-year (y-o-y). This has come at a time of elevated mortgage rates and higher home prices. The Reserve Bank of India has held key lending rate steady for a year now at 6.5 per cent and housing prices have increased in FY24 by over a tenth.
Almost all the companies comfortably achieved their sales targets for the last financial year and some of them overshot it as demand kept up ahead of supply. Mumbai-based Godrej Properties in Mumbai and Bengaluru-based Prestige Estates Projects were far ahead of the competition.
Godrej Properties sold 20 million square feet in FY24 with booking value of ₹22,527 crore, up 84 per cent on year and 61 per cent above its guidance. The management has set a target of achieving sales of ₹27,000 crore in the current fiscal year.
Prestige Estates sold over 20 million square feet with a booking value of ₹21,000 crore and in FY25, it has projected sales of ₹26,000 crore. It launched around 32 msf of housing projects.
Sales have been robust especially in the two major real estate markets of Mumbai Metropolitan Region and the National Capital Region. In NCR, Godrej saw a 180 per cent growth on sales and in MMR, it was 114 per cent. Prestige had more sober growth metrics with Bengaluru, dominating both in sales and in growth, followed by Hyderabad.
Smaller players are also riding on the demand momentum. Keystone Realtors, which sells under the Rustomjee brand and had sales of over ₹2,200 crore last year with more than one launch a quarter, is planning to accelerate the pace of its launches in FY25.
Bengaluru-based Shriram Properties, which sold 4.59 msf last year with a value of ₹2,362 crore aims to sell 15 per cent more this year.
Pipeline
Buying land, signing up for redevelopment projects and monetising existing land bank are some of the ways that the real estate companies are adding to the project pipeline.
Macrotech Developers or Lodha added new projects with a GDV of ₹20,300 crore in FY24 and expects to add projects worth ₹21,000 crore this year.
Mumbai-based Sunteck Realty, which sells houses from mid-income to luxury, has projects with a gross development value of ₹28,965 crore in the pipeline in the current year.
Despite the frenetic pace of launches and the heightened business development inventory in the industry,it has fallen 6 per cent y-o-y to 1.37 billion square feet with 1.3 years to sell, a multi-year low.
Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.
INDEXOVI novinari otputovali su u Njemačku kako bi iz prve ruke pratili događanja vezana uz Europsko prvenstvo u nogometu. Dok su tamo, iskoristili su priliku da posjete popularnu njemačku trgovinu Aldi i usporede cijene pojedinih proizvoda s onima u Hrvatskoj.
S obzirom na to da u Hrvatskoj nema Aldi trgovina, za usporedbu cijena istražili smo više trgovina u našoj zemlji i u svakoj tražili slične artikle, slične gramaže ili mililitraže. Ako nismo našli odgovarajuću gramažu, usporedili smo onu približno istu ili dostupnu, što je istaknuto u tablici.
Također, u Hrvatskoj su za neke od navedenih artikala na snazi ograničene cijene, što smo označili zvjezdicom. Na kraju smo istaknuli i kretanje cijena u Hrvatskoj pregledavajući nekoliko trgovačkih lanaca.
Za usporedbu smo odabrali nekoliko proizvoda koji se nalaze u gotovo svakom kućanstvu i usporedili njihove redovne cijene u Aldiju s redovnim cijenama istih ili sličnih artikala u nekoliko vodećih trgovačkih lanaca u Hrvatskoj. Ispod možete vidjeti tablicu.
Osnovne namirnice i meso povoljniji u Njemačkoj
Osnovne namirnice, poput jaja, svježeg mlijeka i brašna, povoljnije su u njemačkom Aldiju nego u većini naših trgovačkih lanaca. Nadalje, meso koje smo uspoređivali također je povoljnije u tom njemačkom trgovačkom lancu nego u bilo kojoj trgovini kod nas u kojoj smo gledali ponudu istih artikala.
U Hrvatskoj je uglavnom povoljnije povrće
Što se tiče namirnica poput riže i tjestenine, i one su povoljnije u Aldiju nego kod nas, osim špageta koje su kod nas nešto jeftinije, vjerojatno zbog ograničenja cijena.
Kad govorimo o hrani, u Hrvatskoj su uglavnom povoljnije cijene povrća, tako da su kod nas tikvice, češnjak, luk, krumpir, cvjetača i brokula jeftiniji. No miks paprika povoljniji je u Aldiju.
Što se tiče slatkiša i grickalica, one koje smo gledali u Aldiju povoljnije su nego kod nas. Tako je čips Pringles čak i za euro jeftiniji nego u većini naših trgovina, a samo u jednoj smo ga našli za 2.99 eura, što je i dalje skuplje nego u Aldiju.
Popularni Nutella keksi skuplji su i za euro, a Nutella u staklenci od 500 grama tamo stoji 3.49 eura. Kod nas takvog pakiranja Nutelle nema pa smo gledali onu u staklenci od 400 grama, a najpovoljnija koju smo našli košta 4 eura. Cijene pića poput Coca-Cole i kave slične su i u Aldiju i kod nas.
Tekući deterdžent Ariel u Hrvatskoj i pet eura skuplji
Još jedna stavka koja se kod nas može pronaći povoljnije je toaletni papir, ali valja napomenuti da su i njegove cijene u Hrvatskoj ograničene. No tekući deterdžent Ariel kod nas je pet eura skuplji, dok je Schauma šampon skuplji za čak 1.70 eura. Kod nas je skuplja i hrana za mačke, i to ravno dva eura.
Samo ćemo na kraju zaključiti ovim podatkom – u Hrvatskoj je prosječna bruto zarada po satu u 2023. bila 14 eura, a u Njemačkoj 41 euro (izvor Eurostat).
*Više fotki iz Aldija i cijene pogledajte u galeriji.
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The Dodgers tapped into some unlikely power sources to erase a three-run deficit Friday night, Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor each hitting home runs in a score-tying fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals.
Then they turned to one of their fossil fuels to win it, as veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman, who turns 35 in September, stroked a two-out, run-scoring single to center field in the eighth inning to lift the Dodgers to a 4-3 victory in front of a crowd of 49,580 at Dodger Stadium.
Mookie Betts sparked the winning rally with a one-out single to left field in the eighth. Betts took second on reliever Will Smith’s errant pick-off throw to first.
Shohei Ohtani popped out to shortstop for the second out, but Freeman reached out for an 83-mph slider off the plate and poked a soft single to center — the ball left his bat at 75.7 mph — to score Betts for a 4-3 lead.
Right-hander Daniel Hudson threw a scoreless eighth inning in relief of starter Gavin Stone, and left-hander Alex Vesia gave up a single in a scoreless ninth for the save, as the Dodgers ended a two-game losing streak.
Royals starter Cole Ragans, whose five-pitch mix featured a fastball that averaged 96.2 mph and topped out at 98.3 mph, was nearly untouchable for four innings, giving up one single and striking out two, and Salvador Perez staked the left-hander to a 3-0 lead with a three-run homer in the top of the fourth.
Freddie Freeman drives in the go-ahead run on a single in the eighth inning against the Royals on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia reacts after earning a save to close out a 4-3 win over the Royals on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
But that lead disappeared in the span of four bottom-of-the-order batters in the fifth, a rally that rookie Andy Pages sparked with a one-out infield single to the shortstop hole.
Rojas got ahead with a 3-and-1 count and turned on a 94-mph fastball from Ragans, driving his third homer of the season — and 47th of his 11-year career — 390 feet to left field to pull the Dodgers to within 3-2.
Kiké Hernández grounded back to the mound for the second out, but Taylor, the seldom-used utility man who entered with a .100 average and .307 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 103 plate appearances this season, jumped on a 2-1 changeup, lining his first homer into the left-center field pavilion for a 3-3 tie.
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1.Dodgers starting pitcher Gavin Stone delivers against the Royals in the first inning Friday.2.Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages makes a sliding catch in the seventh inning.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)3.Chris Taylor runs the bases after hitting a solo home run off Royals pitcher Cole Ragans in the fifth inning.
Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. helped keep the teams level with a spectacular defensive play in the seventh, racing into shallow left-center for an over-the-shoulder catch of a Pages popup, spinning and firing to second baseman Nick Lofton, whose relay to first base doubled off Teoscar Hernández.
Stone, who entered with a 7-2 record and 2.93 ERA in 12 starts, faced the minimum nine batters through three innings, yielding a leadoff single in the third to MJ Melendez, who broke for second base while Stone was still in the stretch and was tagged out in a rundown.
But Stone ran into trouble in the fourth, Maikel Garcia leading off with a single to center field, taking second on a Witt groundout and third on a wild pitch. Vinnie Pasquantino walked to put runners on first and third with one out.
Stone then hung an 88-mph first-pitch slider to Perez, who demolished the middle-of-the-plate offering for his 11th homer of the season, the ball leaving the veteran catcher’s bat at 113.3 mph and traveling 437 feet for a 3-0 lead.
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1.Dodgers fans Denise, left, and Colleen Quinn-Allen enjoy Pride Night at Dodger Stadium before Friday’s game against the Kansas City Royals.2.Dodgers fans dance to music during Pride Night at Dodger Stadium.3.Dodgers fans enjoy Pride Night at Dodger Stadium.4.Dodgers fans enjoy Pride Night.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Stone escaped a first-and-third, two-out jam in the fifth by getting the dangerous Witt to fly out to center field, and he retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh innings to give the Dodgers a chance.
It marked the fourth time in nine starts that Stone, who gave up three runs and four hits, struck out three and walked two for a no-decision, completed seven innings. Stone threw 94 pitches, 61 for strikes. Though he induced only eight swinging strikes, Stone racked up 20 called strikes.
In a move that promises to revolutionize the way we connect, tech giant WhatsApp has announced a series of updates that will enhance the calling experience for its users across desktop and mobile devices.
Since the introduction of WhatsApp in 2015, the platform has continued to evolve with the addition of group calls, video calls, and multi-platform support.
Now, the latest updates set to roll out over the next few weeks are poised to take calling to a whole new level.
One of the most exciting updates is the introduction of screen sharing with audio, allowing users to watch videos together while sharing their audio.
This feature is set to transform the way friends and family interact on the platform, bringing them even closer despite physical distance.
In addition, the number of participants on a video call has been increased to up to 32 people across all devices, offering users the opportunity to connect with larger groups in a seamless and engaging manner.
Furthermore, the addition of the speaker spotlight feature will greatly enhance the user experience, making it easier to identify who is speaking during a call, with the speaker automatically highlighted and appearing first on the screen.
These updates mark a significant step forward in enhancing the overall quality of calls on WhatsApp, with a relentless focus on audio and video excellence.
WhatsApp has also made significant strides in improving audio and video quality, ensuring clearer calls regardless of the user’s location.
The recent launch of the MLow codec has significantly enhanced call reliability, especially for mobile users. With improved noise and echo cancellation, calls can now be made in noisy environments with ease, while video calls boast higher resolution for those with faster connections.
Even in cases of poor network connectivity or when using older devices, the audio quality is crisper and more reliable.
Following the footsteps of prophets beneath a burning sun, Muslims from around the world congregated Saturday at a sacred hill in Saudi Arabia for intense, daylong worship and reflection. The ritual at Mount Arafat, known as the hill of mercy, is considered the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage. It is often the most memorable for pilgrims, who stand shoulder to shoulder, feet to feet, asking God for mercy, blessings, prosperity and good health. The mount is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Mecca.
Muslim pilgrims pray on the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. A spiritual highlight of Hajj for many is the standing on the plain of Arafat, where pilgrims praise God, plead for his forgiveness and make supplications. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
It’s believed that Prophet Muhammad delivered his final speech, known as the Farewell Sermon, at the sacred mount 1,435 years ago. In the sermon, the prophet called for equality and unity among Muslims. “It’s indescribable,” Ahmed Tukeyia, an Egyptian pilgrim, said on his arrival Friday evening at a tent camp at the foot of Mount Arafat. Hajj is one of the largest religious gatherings on earth. The rituals officially started Friday when pilgrims moved from Mecca’s Grand Mosque to Mina, a desert plain just outside the city. (Also read: Hajj 2024: Arafah vs Arafat key differences that pilgrims, other Muslims should know ahead of 9th Dhul Hijjah )
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Saudi authorities expect the number of pilgrims this year to exceed 2 million, approaching pre-coronavirus pandemic levels. The pilgrimage is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. All Muslims are required to make the five-day Hajj at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to make the demanding pilgrimage. The rituals largely commemorate the Quran’s accounts of Prophet Ibrahim, his son Prophet Ismail and Ismail’s mother Hajar — or Abraham and Ismael as they are named in the Bible.
This year’s Hajj came against the backdrop of the raging war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas, which pushed the Middle East to the brink of a regional war between Israel and its allies on one side and Iran-backed militant groups on the other. Palestinians in the coastal enclave of Gaza were not able to travel to Mecca for Hajj this year because of the closure of the Rafah crossing in May, when Israel extended its ground offensive to the strip’s southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt.
Staving off potential protests or chants about the war during the Hajj, Saudi authorities said they won’t tolerate politicizing the pilgrimage. The time of year when the Hajj takes place varies, given that it is set for five days in the second week of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
Most of the Hajj rituals are held outdoors with little if any shade. When it falls in the summer months, temperatures can soar to over 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). The Health Ministry has cautioned that temperatures at the holy sites could reach 48 C (118 F). It urged pilgrims to use umbrellas and drink more water to stay hydrated. After Saturday’s worship in Arafat, pilgrims will travel a few kilometers (miles) to a site known as Muzdalifa to collect pebbles that they will use in the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the devil back in Mina.
Pilgrims then return to Mina for three days, coinciding with the festive Eid al-Adha holiday, when financially able Muslims around the world slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to poor people. Afterward, they return to Mecca for a final circumambulation, known as Farewell Tawaf.
Once the Hajj is over, men are expected to shave their heads, and women to snip a lock of hair in a sign of renewal. Most of the pilgrims then leave Mecca for the city of Medina, some 340 kilometers (210 miles) away, to pray in Prophet Muhammad’s tomb, the Sacred Chamber. The tomb is part of the prophet’s mosque, which is one of the three holiest sites in Islam, along with the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Hajj is a notorious choke-point for crowds. In 2015, several thousands of pilgrims were crushed to death in a crowd surge. Saudi authorities never offered a final death toll.
In recent years, Saudi authorities have made significant efforts to improve access and avoid deadly accidents. Tens of thousands of security personnel were deployed across the city, especially around the holy sites, to control the crowds, and the government built a high-speed rail link to ferry people between holy sites in the city, which has been jammed with traffic during the Hajj season. Pilgrims enter through special electronic gates.
Saudi authorities have also expanded and renovated the Grand Mosque where cranes are seen around some of its seven minarets as construction was underway in the holy site.
Taylor Swift is in the air right now. She recently arrived in the country to kickstart her long-awaited Eras Tour in the UK, and she’s already finished her journey in one city.
She arrived in Edinburgh last week to play three sold-out, record-breaking shows at Murrayfield Stadium.
This week, she’ll move on to Anfield Stadium in Liverpool. And from there, Tay-Tay will go to Cardiff and eventually London’s Wembley Stadium.
However, fans believe she has another stop planned for her journey: An early arrival at Wembley Stadium this Sunday, June 16, 2024.
This weekend, Capital is hosting its annual Summertime Ball event. And, traditionally, the event brings out some surprise guests along the way. Could that be Taylor Swift?
Buy Capital Summertime Ball resale tickets here.
Fans seem to think so. With F speaking out on X/Twitter: “Taylor Swift at summertime ball this year? she’s free on the 16th June and in the UK…” (sic)
Tyler agreed: “delulu theory: please please please is going to feature taylor swift and then sabrina is going to bring taylor out at summertime ball since she’ll be in the uk, yup it’s gonna happen.” (sic)
“Wild theory but I think Taylor Swift could be a surprise artist for the Capital Summertime ball,” Bekah said. “She’s in Liverpool on the 15th and doesn’t perform in Cardiff until the 18th” (sic)
Megan went on to add fuel to the fire: “That summertime ball line up is awful. Glad I’m not bothering this year. The only way they’d make it better is if Taylor Swift is the surprise act being announced tomorrow. #CapitalSTB” (sic)
Buy Capital Summertime Ball resale tickets here.
As pointed out by the fans, Taylor has a gap in her schedule between Saturday’s show in Liverpool and her Tuesday gig in Cardiff. Could she be gearing up to hit Wembley ahead of time?
Last year’s Summertime Ball saw the unexpected arrival of Kylie Minogue at the last minute, replacing Lewis Capaldi.
So, this year, it certainly could be the Anti-Hero singer – but there are currently no guarantees.
Thankfully, if you want to attend Capital Summertime Ball and do not have a ticket, you could grab one on resale ahead of time. Here’s the link you need:
Buy Capital Summertime Ball resale tickets here.
Otherwise, if you are looking to buy tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour ahead of time, you still have a chance.
Tickets for the Eras Tour were first released back in 2023, and subsequently sold out very quickly. But, by looking on viagogo and Vivid Seats, resale tickets will allow fans to track down their ideal tickets for the Eras Tour.
With that said, they may be a little more expensive than you’re expecting. At the time of writing, some tickets are being priced at just over £400 for a seated ticket. Some other tickets have been priced at just above £600.
Here’s the links you need:
VIAGOGO – Buy Taylor Swift resale tickets here.
VIVID SEATS – Buy Taylor Swift resale tickets here.
Sites such as viagogo and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans. However, it is important to note that many event promoters say tickets should not be resold after initial purchase and will not be valid for admittance to gigs.
Fans attending live events with tickets acquired through resale websites are advised to double-check the ticket terms and conditions at the point of sale – such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation – to ensure a smooth live event experience. Tickets could be voided if they were found to be bought second-hand. As a result, fans are buying at their own risk.
With that said, viagogo also commented: “viagogo is a regulated marketplace where fans have the freedom to buy and sell tickets to their favourite live events, safely and securely, backed by a guarantee.”
Is this a facelifted 1990s Prado or does the 2024 Toyota LandCruiser 76 Wagon actually have something to offer?
Introduced in 2007, the 76 Series has proven to be a popular seller for Toyota despite its many drawbacks, including the spartan and utilitarian fit-out – you basically get very little for your money in terms of tech, comfort and modernisation, although I was surprised to see electric windows, a cup holder and a digital centre screen in the current model.
Add the fact the LandCruiser 76 sports a narrower rear wheel track, a design abomination left over from the first V8 model, when Toyota had to widen the front of the vehicle to accommodate the wider engine (1VD-FTV), yet didn’t bother to widen the rear.
It has created stability issues to the point where numerous aftermarket suppliers offer kits to rectify the problem. Yet, Toyota continues to ignore the issue along with requests from consumers and has done nothing about it for over 16 years – but the concerns regarding ‘nothing being done’ and this vehicle stem back way further!
Have you ever seen an original Prado? These vehicles, known across South East Asia as the LandCruiser II, are stalwarts of the off -road scene that are still prized possessions today, being quite popular in places like Malaysia where there’s a huge thirst for off-road jungle camping.
Launched back in 1990, the original Prado – a four-door version of the original two-door 70 Series, introduced in 1984 designed to take over from the formidable 40 Series – have virtually remained unchanged over 36 years and you would in no way be questioned for glancing at a 1990 LandCruiser II and thinking ‘there goes a 2024 76 Series!’
On road the Cruiser is comfortable enough to cruise along with ease. For some, it’s no big deal, but you need to remember the 76 Series V8 only comes in manual which rules out most millennial drivers! The interior is bland, outdated and offers nothing more than simplistic function over form. It’s not winning any design awards and it’s a ‘bare bones’ driving experience.
Electric windows are a big bonus, as are a couple of cup holders and a relatively tiny digital screen in the centre of the dash that again, simply does the bare minimum. Apart from that, there is nothing really to talk about above and beyond what you might expect from a vehicle built in the 1980s.
With that all said, the 76 is realistically a refined version with, for the most part, an upgraded braking system, a coil front end, and of course the legendary 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel (although even that is under threat these days). Apart from that though, what are you really getting for your money and how much better does it actually perform?
Off-road
The LandCruiser 76 Series (also known as the LC76 or 76 Cruiser) is a part-time 4WD.
Behind the five-speed transmission sits the HF1A standard transfer case that, apart from coming with a more modern electrical motor for shifting, doesn’t really do anything more than the comparable transfer case from any LandCruiser born in the 1970s or 1980s.
Being part-time 4WD, it is primarily a 2WD until you select 4H which keeps the same drive ratio but engages the front hubs and redirects 50 per cent of power and torque to the front axle.
Shifting to 4L changes the ratio of the transfer case for a true low-range experience. The system is basic and again, whilst very well-designed and built for reliability, does nothing more than what any old LandCruiser could.
The front coils are a nice touch, providing a softer ride up front, but they don’t seem to provide any real improvement in suspension articulation. The 70 Series are renowned for being stiff and the lack of flex can really only be compensated by the activation of both front and rear diff locks.
Without those though, the 76 is arguably more comfortable, yet no more capable than a 60-, 55- or even a 40 Series LandCruiser.
On the dirt it trundles along reliably but offers nothing to impress beyond the torque of the diesel V8. In low range it crawls with confidence and control, but there’s nothing outstanding, groundbreaking or noteworthy. It simply gets the job done with no frills (or thrills).
What more can we say, whilst the LandCruiser 70 Series driveline remains fairly similar to that of the original 40 Series from the late ’70s and early ’80s, and the front coils do offer some concessions and benefits, you are basically still driving what is affectionately referred to as a ‘brick on wheels’.
It’s basic, purely functional, nothing fancy. Sure it’s robust, tough and reliable, but you are going to need to spend money on it to get any improvements in off-road performance from what you could get from a 1977 FJ45 LandCruiser kitted out with a set of ARB front and rear diff locks, and not much else…
What’s under the bonnet?
The LandCruiser wagon we are driving today is fortunately powered by the proven and robust 1VD-FTV 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel.
It comfortably produces 151kW of power and 430Nm of torque, and is backed by a five-speed manual transmission – yes, you’re getting the picture, Toyota don’t even offer an automatic transmission version of the V8.
Combine all of this with a ‘near to unchanged’ transfer case and third members, and there are not a lot of performance improvements to the gearing and differential end of the vehicle’s driveline.
Unfortunately, the legendary diesel V8 has virtually been decommissioned, and whilst this V8 powerplant has been a defining feature of the LandCruiser’s robust performance and off-road prowess for many years, a new era has dawned.
Last year Toyota released an updated version of the LandCruiser 70 Series with a version of the 2.8-litre four-cylinder out of the HiLux and Prado with a six-speed automatic option.
Mod-ability
This is one area where the LandCruiser certainly is king. As one of the top selling 4WDs in the world, there is no end to the number of accessories, modifications and upgrades that can be done to a LandCruiser.
A visit to ARB could easily part you with $30,000, leaving you with a solid recipe for a tough, hard working and well equipped farm truck – but it doesn’t stop there!
A number of companies offer extensive GVM upgrade solutions that can even incorporate 6WD conversions, turning your humble LandCruiser into an all-terrain super touring animal (with the appropriately widened rear end).
Power upgrades are also abound, with numerous offerings at the extreme end of full ECU remaps that take full advantage of that bulletproof 4.5-litre V8 with big increases in both power and torque.
Combined with a turbo, intake and exhaust upgrade, it’s not unreasonable to achieve gains of up to 94kW and 320Nm, turning your V8 LandCruiser into an axle-snapping tourer or a towing beast!
What you do and how you do it is unlimited. The overall message is that you can customise and improve on this very basic offering from Toyota to make the LC76 a far more capable, comfortable and appealing in almost every aspect.
For many, the appeal of the very spartan LandCruiser is that along with it’s ultimate reliability, it’s a blank canvas for you to create your ideal workhorse, weekend warrior or tough tourer!
It’s also worth mentioning that the LC76’s GVM was recently upgraded from 3060kg to 3510kg. What that has done is both confronting and a grand improvement.
At the previous GVM of 3060kg, if you added a few accessories, whacked a fridge in the back and you headed off with three mates for the weekend, you would likely be close to or at your GVM limit and legally unable to pack any food, let alone a few beers.
So, while the upgrade to the GVM is welcomed, it’s important to know the only reason it was done was to move the LC76 into the Light Truck category that didn’t need to pass the same stringent safety standards as other light passenger vehicles.
CarExpert’s Take on the Toyota LandCruiser 70
I am left with mixed emotions and a split decision on the worth and value of the LandCruiser 76 Series.
There’s no doubt Toyota is the king of off-roaders, and its vehicles’ performance and reliability is undeniably amongst the best in the world in terms of availability of vehicles, parts and accessories, durability and endurance.
What really gets me though is the lack of innovation, any creature comforts or advanced tech, and the rising price tag. While that’s a hard pill to swallow, the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series overall will continue to retain its iconic status at the top of the 4WD scene.
The 76, just like the 79, may lack personality but it certainly has its place. But, the reality is the LandCruiser 70 Series is the staple farm truck Australia-wide and an iconic symbol of the outback.
Has its overall performance improved at all across the past 36 years? If the V8 diesel is taken out of the equation (which it sadly now is) and we overlook the marginal improvement in the brakes (plus electric windows and a cup holder or two), there’s not really much in it – it’s basically the same truck, just newer.
Spartan it may be, it’s popular and continues to perform moderately well off-road and off the salesroom floor.
What things should Toyota add, in terms of tech and interior comforts, to bring the 70 Series into the 21st century? Let us know in the comments below.
Click the images for the full gallery
MORE: Buy a Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series MORE: Everything Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series
Sebi inspected the matters of Grovalue Financial Services, a Sebi-registered research analyst, from April 2021 to August 2022.
Markets regulator cancelled the certificate of registration of Grovalue Financial Services for flouting regulatory norms.
Markets regulator Sebi on Friday cancelled the certificate of registration of Grovalue Financial Services for flouting regulatory norms.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) inspected the matters of Grovalue Financial Services, a Sebi-registered research analyst, from April 2021 to August 2022.
The inspection was carried out to verify whether the books of accounts and records were being maintained or whether the provisions of the Sebi’s Research Analysts norms were being complied with by the notice.
“The noticee (Grovalue Financial Services) has contravened with the provisions of the Research Analyst regulations and failed to abide by the conditions of his certificate of registration,” Sebi’s Chief General Manager G Ramar said in the order.
The regulator also observed that the non-cooperation shown during the inspection and the non-appearance and lack of response to the notices issued by Sebi show the lackadaisical attitude of the noticee, which is concerning of an intermediary responsible for analysing investment decisions of investors.
As per the Sebi SCORES portal, Grovalue Financial Services had received complaints from April 2021 to August 2022. However, the firm failed to resolve some of these complaints within 30 days.
Under the Sebi rules, the regulator mandates that all Sebi-registered intermediaries are to take immediate action in the resolution of complaints within 30 days and file an Action Taken Report (ATR) with the markets watchdog.
Non-filing of ATR under SCORES within 30 days for a grievance will be treated as a failure to constitute non-redressal of investor grievance.
The grievances of investors within the time, Grovalue Financial Services has violated the Research Analyst rules.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
Namit Singh Sengar
Namit writes on personal finance, economy and brands. Currently contributing to News18.com as a Senior Sub Editor in the business vertical. Prior to t…Read More
What is this GORB everyone seems to be talking about?
You may have seen ads for it, or various influencers talking about it. Regardless, its take on the space is absolutely hilarious. GORB is not your typical meme coin. Featuring a wild, crazy-eyed seal that loves chaos and crypto domination, GORB brings a fresh and entertaining twist to the meme coin market. Its unique character and narrative have captivated the crypto community, setting the stage for a revolution in meme coins.
The upcoming presale on Pinksale, scheduled for June 18th at 8:00 pm UTC, is generating immense buzz. The development team’s transparency and commitment to the project’s long-term success further enhance its appeal.
WIF: Strong Community, Limited Utility
WIF, a meme coin on the Solana blockchain, has gained significant traction thanks to its strong and loyal community. Depicting a dog with a pink hat, WIF has become one of the top meme coins in 2024. However, WIF’s rise is primarily community-driven, lacking substantial utility or innovative features to sustain long-term growth.
While WIF’s community remains active, the project’s limited utility may challenge its position in the competitive meme coin market. The focus on community support, without new developments, could hinder WIF’s ability to keep pace with more dynamic projects.
Why ETH Whales Are Flocking to GORB
ETH whales are gravitating towards GORB due to its fresh appeal and robust fundamentals. Unlike typical dog-themed meme coins, GORB’s unique and humorous character offers a refreshing break. Moreover, GORB’s strategic marketing campaign ensures it stays in the spotlight, attracting new investors and maintaining momentum.
The timing of GORB’s launch, during Ethereum Summer 2024, further boosts its appeal. With increased activity in the crypto market along with major influencer support, GORB is perfectly positioned to capture investor interest.
In the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) has a pizza delivered to his history class taught by Mr. Hand (Ray Walston), who isn’t pleased.
“Mr. Spicoli, you’re on dangerous ground here. You’re causing a major disturbance on my time.”
“I’ve been thinking about this, Mr. Hand. If I’m here, and you’re here, doesn’t that make this OUR time?”
“You’re absolutely right, Mr. Spicoli. It is OUR time.” Then, Mr. Hand invites the entire class to eat the pizza and takes a slice for himself.
It’s a perfect metaphor for where big technology seems to be headed with your content.
Marketers think, “If my content is here, and your content is here, doesn’t that make this OUR platform?”
And the tech companies say, “You’re absolutely right, Marketer. It is OUR platform.” Then, they proceed to take your content and feed it to their learning models for their generative AI tools.
In the past week, Adobe Creative Cloud customers grew outraged over a new policy that seemed to give it access and rights to any users’ content. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, informed the U.K. and other European users that its new privacy policy allows their information to be used to develop and improve its AI products.
What should marketers make of all this? Should you sit back and watch your content pizza get distributed to the class? Do you even care about sharing it with the class if that’s what is necessary for it to become the best answer given by generative AI?
We asked Robert Rose, CMI’s chief strategy advisor, to answer the tough questions. Watch or read on for his take:
Social media has long benefited from your content
A long-learned lesson in social media is that your content helps build their audiences.
In the halcyon days of social media, marketers bet on organic reach. You could use social media to reach an aggregated audience without spending advertising dollars. You just needed to create engaging, wonderful, differentiated content that resonated with audiences on whatever platform you used.
Of course, as these things go, every marketer in every industry got that same memo and soon organic reach began to fall. So, you started paying for the privilege of making sure your content got in front of those audiences, and social media became just another media channel.
But you didn’t give up hope. You didn’t stop producing content for that organic reach and engagement. You put some of your most valuable thoughts in that content, thinking if it’s really good and really engages the audience, you would build enough interest that whatever organic reach it would get would be valuable to your marketing.
We could have a great debate about whether those days are still here, if they’re long gone, or if they ever really existed. But what is evident is that these platforms are now using your content in new ways to build value for themselves.
Do you even have a choice in the matter?
In the last month, Meta surprised many Facebook and Instagram users by revealing that content on the platforms trains the company’s AI image generator. Hundreds of thousands of Instagram users reshared a message on the platform telling the company they did not consent to using their data to train AI.
But that declaration is worth as little as that meme from your mom telling you to cut and paste the denial to use your information on Facebook. You signed away all those rights when you started using the platform.
The truth is more complicated. Technically, you or your employer owns a copyright on the original content you post on Facebook or Instagram. But the terms of service your company originally agreed to granted Meta licensing rights to use that work as it sees fit. It can duplicate, distribute, learn from, and modify it. In most cases, it can create derivative works from it. (Think about those year-in-review or memory posts it creates.)
In fact, get ready for a tasty slice of irony. Meta usually has more license to use your company’s imagery and content than you do as an employee.
Let that sink in a little bit.
Drama seems about a lot of nothing
But now, these platforms are going further. Just last week, Adobe found itself on the wrong end of the pitchforks and torches when it modified its terms of service. This phrasing most upset its users: “(W)e may access your content through both automated and manual methods, such as for content review … and using techniques such as machine learning in order to improve our Services and Software and the user experience.”
Well, that didn’t work out great for Adobe.
Social media users (irony duly noted), tired of their acquired role as epidemiologists and economists, decided they were now lawyers. They concluded that Adobe wanted to spy on customers’ content and use it to train its large language models.
Any sane review of the service term changes would likely think Adobe wanted to cover itself for using AI features to automate some services it provides to customers. To do that, it must know what the content is.
Anyway, I won’t pretend to be a lawyer, but this feels like a lot of drama about nothing. But the conversation does bring up a relevant point.
Should you be OK with your content on any platform – a proprietary one for private content development (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Word, Google Docs) or a public one (e.g., Facebook, Instagram)?
The answer isn’t clear.
More than a handful of consulting clients have come to me in the last few months truly worried about allowing Google or Facebook to have their content. They fear their wonderful thought leadership content and inspiring customer stories will end up as fodder for the learning model and become the answer to a prompt on ChatGPT or Gemini.
That concern is legitimate.
They wonder if they should trust companies like Google, Microsoft, and Adobe that could access proprietary, private, and sometimes sensitive information to train LLMs.
Again, the concern is legitimate.
By the way, Apple just announced its new AI feature that will create actions based on everything you’ve done on your personal device, such as playing the podcast your wife mentioned in that email.
The only real conclusion for marketers
It all brings up the one lesson and only way for marketers to think about this.
There’s a big difference between the content you post publicly to reach and engage an audience and the content you keep private.
I can only see the benefit if your content signals AI to become the answer for a search or to become part of its derivative content for others. Creative marketing has always been a copycat business. Great campaigns, creative, copy, and thought leadership have always been unique and extraordinary until they aren’t.
As human marketers, you have always learned from and adapted your predecessors’ thought leadership, blatantly stolen your competitors’ copy, been inspired by someone else’s advertising copy or tag line, tweaked authors’ content to match your point of view and brand. The only thing AI does is speed up that process.
So, what do you do about platforms using your content to train their AI? Lean in. If you don’t want to play the game, stop using the toys. But, if you learn how to play the game, you can also win it.
As Spicoli might say, “That’s awesome. Totally awesome.”
Want more content marketing tips, insights, and examples? Subscribe to workday or weekly emails from CMI.
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Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute
The Bengaluru bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has directed the embattled edtech major Byju’s to maintain status quo with regard to existing shareholders and their shareholding.
“Status quo with regard to existing shareholders and their shareholding shall be maintained till the disposal of the main petition,” the order that was made available on June 13 said.
The order restrained Byju’s from using the proceeds of the second rights issue, which, according to the investors, commenced on May 13 and was to end on June 13 and, the same is to be deposited in a separate account till the disposal of the main petition.
“The respondents are further directed to keep the amounts collected so far since opening of the second rights issue in relation to this offer in a separate account which should not be utilised till the disposal of the main petition,” the NCLT order read.
The tribunal directed Byju’s to file the complete details of the escrow bank accounts concerned from the opening of the rights issue on January 29 till date, within 10 days from June 12.
Further, Byju’s must file the complete details of the allotment made on March 2 before the increase of authorised share capital. This must include information such as the name of the shareholder, equity shares held on January 27, entitlement as per rights offer and equity shares allotted on March 23; and also equity shares allotted after the increase in authorised share capital, the order noted.
The order was passed with regard to an ‘oppression and mismanagement’ application filed by the investors of the company such as Peak XV Partners, General Atlantic, Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative and Prosus.
The case is now expected to come up for hearing on July 4.
Perviously, on Feburary 27, the tribunal had directed Byju’s not to allot shares to investors participating in the rights issue without increasing its authorised share capital. The company was also asked to keep the proceeds of the rights issue in an escrow account to protect investors’ rights.
Chinese officials seem pleased with the yuan’s recent progress as a global currency. The international monetary system is diversifying at an accelerating pace, said Pan Gongsheng, the governor of China’s central bank, in March. The yuan has become the fourth-most active currency in global payments, he noted. In trade finance, it now ranks third. And according to the central bank’s data, about half of China’s transactions with the rest of the world (for financial assets, as well as goods) are now settled in yuan.
Despite these gains, the yuan’s global position still looks modest compared with past expectations. In the wake of the financial crisis of 2007-09 it was easy to imagine a bigger role. In 2008 Fred Hu, then of Goldman Sachs, predicted the yuan would account for 15-20% of foreign-exchange reserves by 2020. More memorably, “Super Sad True Love Story”, a novel written by Gary Shteyngart and published in 2010, imagined a dystopian future in which a tottering America had pegged the crumpled dollar to the mighty yuan.
Looking for the answers to the June 15 New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test and Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but the game editor knows how to trick you by using words that can fit in more than one group.
And do you also play Wordle? We’ve got today’s Wordle answer and hints too.
We’ve also got today’s answer for Strands, a new game from the Times that’s still in beta, and some tips for how to play that game.
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Scoring attempt.
Green group hint: Swimming critters.
Blue group hint: Words in shampoo ads.
Purple group hint: Words preceding a word for kid.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Basketball shots.
Green group: Fish.
Blue group: Qualities of thick hair.
Purple group: ____ child.
What are today’s Connections answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is basketball shots. The four answers are dunk, floater, layup and three.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is fish. The four answers are perch, pike, skate and sole.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is qualities of thick hair. The four answers are body, bounce, lift and volume.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is ____ child. The four answers are flower, only, poster and problem.
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully, and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Twenty years ago Joshua Cooper Ramo, a consultant, first wrote about the “Beijing consensus”. The Washington consensus of financial liberalisation, floating currencies and openness to foreign capital was, he posited, a damaged brand. China was pioneering its own approach to development based on principles of equality, innovation and a relentless focus on sovereignty and national security. This would appeal to lots of developing countries.
In the years since, China’s leaders have mostly denied any ambition to export a state-led model of development. But they are sometimes more brazen. Last year, for instance, Xi Jinping argued in a speech to Communist Party officials that the country’s economic model “breaks the myth that modernisation equals Westernisation”, and that its growth was expanding “choices for developing countries”. Leaders past and present in the developing world—from Pakistan’s Imran Khan and Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad to Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa—have expounded the benefits of at least some aspects of the model. And since Mr Cooper Ramo first wrote about the Beijing consensus, the Chinese economy has quadrupled in size in real dollar terms, boosting the country’s diplomatic and military sway.
Looking for the answers to the June 1 New York Times Connections puzzle? To me, Wordle is more of a vocabulary test and Connections is more of a brainteaser. You’re given 16 words and asked to put them into four groups that are somehow connected. Sometimes they’re obvious, but the game editor knows how to trick you by using words that can fit in more than one group.
And do you also play Wordle? We’ve got today’s Wordle answer and hints too.
We’ve also got some tips for Strands, a new game from the Times that’s still in beta.
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Do it fast.
Green group hint: Related to the sea.
Blue group hint: Weightlifting words.
Purple group hint: Sound-alike names for famous thinkers.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Don’t delay.
Green group: Ocean phenomena.
Blue group: Dumbbell exercises.
Purple group: Philosopher homophones.
What are today’s Connections answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is don’t delay. The four words are hurry, now, pronto and stat.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is ocean phenomena. The four words are current, drift, tide and wave.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is dumbbell exercises. The four words are curl, fly, press and row.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is philosopher homophones. The four words are lock, marks, pane and rustle. (John Locke, Karl Marx, Thomas Paine and Bertrand Russell.)
How to play Connections
Playing is easy. Winning is hard. Look at the 16 words and mentally assign them to related groups of four. Click on the four words you think go together. The groups are coded by color, though you don’t know what goes where until you see the answers. The yellow group is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is the toughest. Look at the words carefully, and think about related terms. Sometimes the connection has to do with just a part of the word. Once, four words were grouped because each started with the name of a rock band, including “Rushmore” and “Journeyman.”
Want to go on a bar crawl covering iconic spots in Mumbai? Or are you looking for a special destination for celebratory cocktails? Either way, we have a list that will come to your rescue. We have curated region-wise selections of some of the best bars in Mumbai you must try. If you’re keen to explore the city’s cocktail scene, these places should be on your radar. Every establishment offers a distinctive experience, whether it’s through the ingredients of their drinks, the uniqueness of the decor, the fantastic view outside, or a different factor altogether. Check out our top selections below:
14 Best Bars In Mumbai – For A Bar Crawl, A Celebration Or A Fun Night Out
Colaba:
1. Leopold Cafe, Colaba
Start your evening at one of the most iconic establishments of South Mumbai – Leopold Cafe. Perhaps you can drop by after catching a glimpse of The Gateway Of India (it’s located nearby). Here, the attraction is more about the vibes than the menu. So immerse yourself in the old-school charm of this cafe and bar established in 1871. Ensure you tick it off your ‘Things to do in Mumbai’ bucket list. Where: Police Station, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Colaba Causeway, near Colaba, Mumbai.
2. Woodside Inn, Colaba
The Woodside Inn is the ultimate haven for indulgent burgers and drinks. The space has a warm, inviting atmosphere perfect for catching up with friends or simply unwinding after work. Guests can choose from a special curation of beers (including great craft options) and comfort cocktails. Where: Indian Mercantile Mansion, Wodehouse Road, Opposite Regal Cinema, Colaba Causeway, Colaba, Mumbai.
3. The Table, Colaba
The Table was among the first pioneering restaurants to champion the ‘Farm To Table’ philosophy in the country. It was ranked 78th among Asia’s 100 Best Restaurants for 2023. It also won the Award of Excellence by the Wine Spectator for 4 consecutive years since 2019. So, if you want to end your night with scrumptious food paired with an amazing wine or cocktail selection, this is the place to be. Where: Ground Floor, Kalapesi Trust Building, opposite Dhanraj Mahal, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai.
Also Read: Top 10 Breakfast Places In Mumbai You Must Try
Fort & Nariman Point
4. The Eau Bar, The Oberoi Nariman Point
You can start your evening at the Eau Bar with multi-hued views of the Queen’s Necklace at sunset or end it with the same expanse, now dazzling against the dark midnight. The bar features regal Art Deco interiors, an outdoor deck and excellent libations. Guests can also enjoy live music acts from Thursday to Sunday. Where: Oberoi Hotel, Nariman Point, Mumbai.
5. Ekaa, Fort
Photo Credit: Ekaa
Drop by one of Mumbai’s award-winning restaurants, named among Asia’s 100 Best Restaurants 2024. The bar programme at Ekaa was separately featured on the 50 Best Discovery list. The current cocktail menu pays homage to the heritage of Ayurveda, while fusing tradition with innovation. Experience novel concoctions with supasawa, edible camphor, khus roots and other unique ingredients. Where: 1st Floor, Kitab Mahal, D Sukhadwala Road, Azad Maidan, Fort, Mumbai.
6. Americano, Fort
Americano is another city restaurant named among the 100 Best in Asia, with a bar that was singled out by 50 Best Discovery. Guests can enjoy exquisite cocktails made using in-house ingredients that spotlight local and global influences. At the same time, enjoy lip-smacking food from the California-inspired menu by Chef Alex Sanchez. Where: 121/123 Radha Bhavan, Nagindas Master Rd, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai.
Pro tip: Colaba and Fort are almost adjoining neighbourhoods that can easily be traversed as part of a single route. Hence, you can also easily visit bars in both localities on a single night. For more things to do (ideally during the day) in this part of South Mumbai, check out our guide here.
Also Read: Where To Eat In Kala Ghoda: 10 Best Cafes And Restaurants
Worli – Lower Parel
7. AER, Four Seasons Mumbai, Worli
Begin with a bang – of the visual kind. AER is the plush rooftop bar at the Four Seasons and boasts one of the best views of the Mumbai skyline extending out to sea. Catch the sunset unlike never before and indulge in stunning cocktails inspired by nautical motifs (which are also reflected in the decor). Renovations completed in 2023 allowed AER to offer patrons its birds-eye views throughout the year, thanks to a retractable roof. Where: 1/136, 34th Floor, Dr Elijah Moses Rd, Gandhi Nagar, Upper Worli, Worli, Mumbai.
8. Koishii & Koi Bar, The St. Regis Mumbai
Instead of AER, you can also head to the 37th floor of The St. Regis Mumbai to feast your eyes on those skyline views. Both the Koishii and the Koi Bar at this hotel offer luxurious experiences in terms of drinks, food and ambience. The Koi bar presents a combination of Latin American and Asian flavours and has exclusive Pisco drinks you should not miss. It turns into a high-energy spot as the night progresses, so plan your arrival accordingly. Koishii at the penthouse level also celebrates a blend of cuisine, specifically through its Nikkei offerings Where: 462, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai.
9. Slink & Bardot, Worli
Want to partake of the sea’s bounty beyond the visual? Slink & Bardot, nestled in a corner of Worli Village, offers you the opportunity to do just that. This lavish bar has become a favourite among many cocktail enthusiasts for its experimental combinations that balance sophistication with fun. The current menu is a heartfelt tribute to its surroundings: the people and produce of the Worli Koliwada village. Where: Thadani House 329/A Opposite Indian Coast Guard, Worli Village, Mumbai.
10. PCO, Lower Parel
Not everyone can experience the cocktail-forward offerings of PCO or Pass Code Only firsthand. As the name suggests, entry depends on knowing the passcode sent weekly to an exclusive list of patrons and friends. This speakeasy is known for its Mood Cocktail menu, which allows guests to spin a special wheel in order to decide on a drink. PCO first rose to fame when it opened its doors in South Delhi more than a decade ago. Where: NRK House, next to Kamala Mills gate, 1, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai.
11. The Bombay Canteen, Lower Parel
Want a fascinating blend of the classic and inventive? Then head to The Bombay Canteen for expertly crafted drinks that tell a story with flair. It was on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023. Also, don’t forget to taste at least one of multi-award-winning Chef Hussain Shahzad’s delectable dishes. The restaurant and bar often host takeovers and exciting collaborations with chefs and mixologists from other parts of the country and globe. Check out what’s on their calendar before you. Where: Unit-1, Process House, S.B. Road, Kamala Mills, Lower Parel, Mumbai.
BKC – Bandra
12. O Pedro, BKC
O Pedro shines as a fun, colourful antidote to the dreary surroundings (the stiff corporate essence that the Bandra Kurla Complex can seem to embody). Guests can enjoy a lively ambience while savouring hearty Goan and Portuguese fare, paired with refreshing sips. In keeping with its susegaad motto, its current cocktail menu is inspired by the antics of an alcoholic rooster. Where: Jet Airways, 2, Godrej BKC, Plot No C-68, G Block BKC, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai.
13. Toast & Tonic, BKC
This contemporary restaurant and bar is originally from Bengaluru, helmed by celebrated Chef Manu Chandra. The casual decor is influenced by New York’s East Village, which sets the tone for a lively yet relaxing evening. Gin is the key spirit celebrated by the bar programme, but don’t let that stop you from sampling various other creative delights on the menu too. Where: 1, Ground Jet Airways-Godrej, G Block BKC, Bandra East, Mumbai.
14. Bonobo, Bandra
While BKC is undoubtedly emerging as a cultural hub, you also need to visit Bandra West to get a taste of the city’s bustling charm. One of the best nightlife spots there is Bonobo, which has been around for 15 years and is still going strong. Enjoy satisfying food, fun cocktails and live music acts that will make for a memorable night out. The bar also has the option of outdoor seating. Where: 2nd floor, Kenilworth Plaza, Off, Linking Rd, Phase II, Bandra West, Mumbai.
Also Read: 10 Best Vegetarian Restaurants You Must Try In Mumbai
The Mediterranean diet has long been linked to a bevy of health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity and more — and now a new study has revealed a very specific new advantage for women.
In a long-running Harvard study published in JAMA Network Open, women who adhered to the heart-healthy, plant-focused diet were found to have a 23% lower risk of death from any cause.
The researchers attributed this lower mortality risk to improved cardiometabolic risk factors, according to the published study.
FOR A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP, TRY EATING MORE OF THESE FOODS, RESEARCHERS SAY
The study included data collected from 25,315 healthy women who participated in the Women’s Health Study over a period of 25 years, from April 1993 to January 1996.
Their average age was 54.
Women who adhered to the heart-healthy, plant-focused diet were found to have a 23% lower risk of death from any cause.(iStock)
Researchers analyzed the women’s blood samples, biomarker measurements and self-reported dietary information from June 2018 to Nov. 2023.
Previous studies have also found associations between the Mediterranean diet and increased longevity, the researchers noted.
COMMON COOKING INGREDIENT COULD REDUCE DEMENTIA MORTALITY RISK, STUDY SUGGESTS
“Another meta-analysis of 21 cohort studies, which included 883,878 participants, reported that higher Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with 21% reduced risk of CVD mortality,” they wrote.
What is the Mediterranean diet?
The Mediterranean diet is a plant-based nutrition plan that mimics the regional cuisines of the countries along the Mediterranean Sea, such as Italy and Greece.
PLANT-BASED ‘GREEN’ MEDITERRANEAN DIET LEADS TO MORE WEIGHT LOSS: STUDY
Primary foods in the diet include whole vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts, seeds, and herbs and spices, according to Mayo Clinic’s website.
Olive oil is the primary source of added fat.
Olive oil is the primary source of added fat in the Mediterranean diet.(iStock)
Other foods — including fish, poultry and dairy — can be incorporated in moderation.
The diet limits red meat, sweets, butter and sugary drinks.
The Mediterranean diet’s health benefits stem from limiting saturated fats, refined carbohydrates (including sugars) and sodium, as well as promoting healthy unsaturated fats, fiber and antioxidants, according to Cleveland Clinic’s website.
Experts highlight diet’s benefits
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, was not involved in the study but said it “confirms what we already know — that the Mediterranean diet decreases mortality.”
Siegel also told Fox News Digital, “Monounsaturated fats and antioxidants (polyphenols), which are high in the Mediterranean diet, decrease inflammation and are heart-healthy.”
MEDITERRANEAN DIET COULD HELP REDUCE BELLY FAT AND MUSCLE LOSS CAUSED BY AGING, STUDY FINDS
He added, “The alternative — saturated fats, salts and sugars — are not heart-healthy and increase the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer, all of which increase mortality risks.”
Processed foods and ultra-processed foods, which also increase mortality, are not found in the Mediterranean diet, he also noted.
Primary foods in the Mediterranean diet include whole vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts, seeds, and herbs and spices.(iStock)
New Jersey-based registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade also reflected on the longevity-boosting benefits of the Mediterranean diet in a conversation with Fox News Digital.
“One big reason that the Mediterranean diet can improve overall health and reduce mortality risk is the benefit it has on visceral fat, or belly fat,” said Palinksi-Wade, who was not involved in the research.
Women who adhered to the Mediterranean diet were found to have a 23% lower risk of death from any cause.
“High levels of fat in the midsection have been found to worsen insulin resistance and increase the risk of disease from type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease,” she added.
By making dietary changes to reduce visceral fat, which include the eating principles of the Mediterranean diet, it is possible to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce disease risk, according to Palinski-Wade.
“One big reason that the Mediterranean diet can improve overall health and reduce mortality risk is the benefit it has on visceral fat, or belly fat,” a dietitian said.(iStock)
This diet is also rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients, she said, which have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body.
This can help to reduce the risk of future disease, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
MEDITERRANEAN, MIND DIETS SHOWN TO REDUCE SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER’S IN THE BRAIN, STUDY FINDS
“The Mediterranean diet also has a positive impact on blood sugar balance, mood and even sleep, all of which can help to reduce stress levels and improve overall quality of life,” she added.
“In addition, when mood and sleep improve, many individuals find it much easier to be more physically active, which can play a large role in reducing mortality risk as well.”
The Mediterranean diet is rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients, which have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body. (iStock)
The study did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged.
“The study participants were middle-aged and older, well-educated female health professionals who were predominantly non-Hispanic White individuals, which may limit the generalizability of the findings,” they wrote.
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Because the women’s dietary intake was self-reported through questionnaires, there was some potential for misrepresentation.
Fish, poultry and dairy can be incorporated in moderation. The diet limits red meat, sweets, butter and sugary drinks.(iStock)
Another limitation is that the researchers only had access to the blood samples provided at baseline, as follow-up samples were not collected.
There is also the possibility that other factors, such as high blood pressure and high BMI, could have impacted the outcomes.
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“Future studies should examine other pathways that could potentially mediate the Mediterranean diet–associated lower mortality as well as examine cause-specific mortality,” the researchers wrote.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Harvard researchers requesting comment.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
A new frontier has opened in fashion’s fur wars, as protesters targeted the homes of more than a dozen employees of Marc Jacobs in recent months, using signs, noisemakers and fake blood in an effort to force the designer to officially renounce the use of fur in his collections.
Over the weekend, Mr. Jacobs accused the protesters of “bullying” in a statement on Instagram, but averred: His brand “does not work in, use or sell fur, nor will we in the future.” He also emphasized that he had not used fur in any of his own brand’s collections since 2018.
“This organization has made it clear that they will not stop their violence toward Marc Jacobs unless they get the statement they want,” Mr. Jacobs wrote. “While I don’t condone the behavior of this organization, I will always do what I can to protect, honor and respect the lives and well-being of the people I work with.”
The organization referenced by Mr. Jacobs is the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade, or CAFT, a group that selects targets and disseminates information and resources to anti-fur activists on the ground.
“We were ecstatic,” Matthew Klein, the executive director of CAFT USA, said of Mr. Jacobs’s statement, though he disputed the description of the protests as violent: “Home protest is protected by the First Amendment, and has a long and proud history of use by the labor and civil rights movements.”
According to Mr. Klein, CAFT has been protesting Marc Jacobs since June 2023 — a few months after the company collaborated on a runway show with the Italian brand Fendi.
That collection included large fox fur hats described by Mr. Jacobs as “upcycled.” Kim Jones, the creative director of Fendi women’s wear, confirmed the fur came from a vintage piece. The hats were used as a runway accessory and never produced for public sale.
“It was the cultural relevance that Marc Jacobs had in fashion that made him a priority for our campaign,” Mr. Klein said, calling the designer “extremely influential” to emerging brands.
The protests began outside stores and offices. But until this weekend, the brand’s only public response seemed to be an Instagram post from Mr. Jacobs’s husband, which personally criticized one particular activist. “It didn’t have the result that we wanted — a fur-free policy — but rather ridicule,” Mr. Klein said.
The campaign escalated in February, with protesters gathering outside the homes of Marc Jacobs employees. At least 18 employees were targeted, some multiple times, in New York City, Las Vegas and Austin, Mr. Klein said. (Since February, more than 100 protests have been held, he added, including Mr. Jacobs being confronted in a car on his way to the Met Gala.)
Michael Ariano, the global head of public relations for Marc Jacobs, said he was followed down the street by a shouting group of protesters, his neighbors were harassed, and slogans such as “Michael Ariano is a Murderer” were written in chalk on the ground in front of his apartment.
In the last week, there have been six arrests related to the protests, Mr. Klein said, including an incident involving a broken window at the company’s headquarters in SoHo. During another incident, the husband of a Marc Jacobs executive was also arrested after taking a cellphone belonging to a protester outside of their Brooklyn home, Mr. Ariano confirmed.
“It’s very frustrating, because the same principles and laws that we revere can be taken advantage of and turn into radical harassment,” Mr. Ariano said, referring to the first amendment.
The protests have affected not only Marc Jacobs employees, but their neighbors as well. Laura Neilson, a writer who lives in the same East Village building as a senior director at Marc Jacobs, said she spent Memorial Day helping to clean up fake blood splattered onto the facade and chalk etched on the sidewalk spanning the length of her 60-unit building.
About two dozen protesters demonstrated for about 30 minutes. They buzzed apartment doors, attempting to get inside the building, Ms. Neilson said. The target of the protest was not home at the time, but an elderly neighbor and several pets were distressed by the commotion.
“It got really scary,” said Ms. Neilson, who has contributed freelance articles to The New York Times. “It looked like a zombie apocalypse, the way they were all standing out in front, peering through the windows.”
LVMH, the French luxury group that owns Marc Jacobs, declined to comment.
These protests represent an escalation of the tactics of anti-fur groups such as PETA, which have previously focused on disrupting runway shows and store operations.
The anti-fur movement has been largely successful in its efforts to force fashion houses to stop using skins, with almost every runway brand adopting fake fur as a fabric and eschewing the use of former luxury staples such as mink and sable. Glossy magazines including Elle have likewise stopped photographing real fur, and department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Saks and Nordstrom no longer sell real fur.
As a result, the fur-free cause has turned to leather as well as exotic skins such as python and ostrich. In a statement, Tracy Reiman, executive vice president of PETA, applauded Mr. Jacobs’s official renunciation of fur and said, “we look to Jacobs to save more animals’ skins by banning leather, too.”
Mr. Klein said CAFT will soon be announcing plans to target the fashion brand Max Mara over the use of fur.
“It’s easy to ignore us when we’re outside of one of their stores,” said Mr. Klein, indicating up to 40 Marc Jacobs employees were on the list for future home protests. “It’s impossible to ignore us when we’re outside their homes.”
Results of the ADRIATIC trial indicated that treatment with Imfinzi after standard-of-care concurrent chemoradiotherapy improves overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer.
Hi, I’m Christopher! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my silly Russian Blue cat, Olga.
Domestic cats are talented climbers, leapers, and hunters, and although most love to view their environments from elevated positions, they also enjoy hiding in cramped spaces. Squeezing their bodies into small spaces is a skill most dogs probably envy, but it comes naturally to felines. They have an anatomical advantage; unlike humans, their shoulder blades and collarbones are connected to other body parts by muscles, not bones.
Fearful Hiding
When homes become too chaotic or noisy for cats, they usually run and hide. It doesn’t seem remarkable or out of the ordinary, but I’m impressed by how quickly Olga disappears when she’s scared or ready to play. If someone in my neighborhood sets off a bottle rocket, Roman candle, or firecracker, Olga breaks the sound barrier when she runs for cover.
Thunderstorms don’t faze her, but she’s miserable on the 4th of July. It’s the only time of year she spends hours hiding under the couch, and the terrified expression on her face makes me feel sorry for her.
Why did you turn on the lights? I was having a splendid nap on your clothes.
Hiding to Relax and Annoy Humans
However, she also hides every morning after eating breakfast when she’s content. Hiding because of fear isn’t unusual for cats, but I think they also enjoy it when they’re not stressed or frightened. Cramming themselves into tiny spaces may make them feel more secure, and some cats understand how hard it is for humans to find them, and they enjoy watching their owners trying to locate them.
Olga usually runs up to me if I call her name, but if she sees me packing my bags for a trip or hauling the cat carrier out of the closet, she finds an effective hiding spot and won’t respond to my calls. Her morning hiding spot is under the bed, but when she doesn’t want to be found, she hides in the bathroom or behind a cabinet in the living room.
Skillful Hiding
Sometimes, she hides in the bathtub, and once, after searching my house for 30 minutes, I found her behind the toilet. Discovering her hiding spot hurts her pride, and she lashes out when I try to pick her up. When she was a kitten, she was more violent and often used flatulence to convince me to put her down. Thankfully, she no longer uses that defense mechanism.
Christopher rarely looks in the bathtub when we’re playing hide and seek.
It’s irritating when you can’t find a hidden cat, but Olga isn’t as difficult to locate as my last cat. My Siamese cat rarely kept his mouth closed unless he was eating, sleeping, or hiding, and he was a talented escape artist. He didn’t stay in one place but moved around as I searched for him.
He escaped when I took him to the coast to visit my friends several years ago. We searched for hours and even had the local Sheriff help after he questioned us about why we were creeping around a cemetery in the middle of the night.
At some point during the search, he ran back into the house, and I found him in the kitchen cupboard behind the canned goods. Olga isn’t as devious when she hides, and I’m lucky that she’s never tried to run outside.
