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.
XIAOMI je 14 i 14 Pro pametne telefone predstavio krajem listopada, a nekoliko dana kasnije krenuli su u prodaju u Kini. Kao i obično, očekivalo se globalno lansiranje u nekom trenutku u bliskoj budućnosti – barem su tako stvari do sada išle s Xiaomijevim izdanjima na kraju godine.
>> Xiaomi 14 i 14 Pro prvi su telefoni koji imaju Qualcommov potpuno novi čipset
No kako piše GSM Arena, to će se dogoditi za Xiaomi 14, ali Xiaomi 14 Pro mu se neće pridružiti. Do ovog zaključka se došlo prema softveru koji tvrtka razvija za međunarodna tržišta. Naime, više nema kontinuiranog razvoja softvera za globalne verzije Xiaomijevog HyperOS-a za 14 Pro, za razliku od 14 koji se još uvijek razvija.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Globalni debi serije 14 trebao bi navodno biti u veljači
Naravno, postoji mogućnost da izvor ove informacije griješi, ali čini se da će samo osnovni model serije 14 izaći iz Kine, a možda to i ima smisla. Ako se eventualno pojavi i 14 Ultra, a trebao bi, onda bi 14 Pro mogao biti zanemaren.
>> Evo kako izgleda novi Xiaomi 14
Ako ste strpljivo čekali globalno predstavljanje 14 Pro telefona, onda ovo nisu dobre vijesti, ali još nije službeno, pa možda postoji nada. Ovo bismo zapravo mogli saznati ubrzo jer će prema poznatom leakeru Yogeshu Braru Xiaomi 14 imati svoj globalni debi u Barceloni na MWC-u (Mobile World Congress), koji će se održati od 26. do 29. veljače 2024.
Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?
Theo Ottosson is the reigning Mission League player of the year in soccer from Harvard-Westlake. The only problem is finding space at home for his award.
His parents have way more trophies.
His dad, Paul, has won three Academy Awards for sound editing and sound design, including for the 2008 movie “The Hurt Locker.” His mother, Karen, is one of the world’s most accomplished musicians playing the erhu, a Chinese two-stringed instrument. As a boy, Ottosson used to travel to Europe and Asia watching his mother give concerts.
Ottosson, 16, is just getting started earning trophies and plaques. He’s a 6-foot-1, 160-pound junior striker who scored 26 goals as a sophomore in leading Harvard-Westlake to the Mission League championship. In his second game this season, he scored four goals. His coach, Mike Erush, said, “He wants to play at the highest level possible.”
During an afternoon when school was out, Ottosson showed up to practice after taking a driver education class and also checked on his fantasy football team that includes Patrick Mahomes at quarterback and Ja’Marr Chase at receiver. Knowing football and fútbol is just one interesting aspect of his personality.
But make no mistake about which sport he likes best.
“I love soccer,” he said.
He’s played since he was 4, and his passion and commitment come through when he explains some of the sport’s intricacies. It’s like he’s trying to solve a Rubik’s cube.
“I t’s the greatest thing,” he said. “Once you really get into it tactically and you can see past just people running around chasing this little piece of plastic, it’s such a fascinating sport to understand and learn. You can’t practice a play. It’s not like basketball, where you can manipulate people. Every single moment you’re in the game, you have to be making your own decisions.
“There’s no coach who can tell you, ‘Do exactly this because we know how the defense is going to react.’ It’s way more creative because every player when you get the ball, you have three or more options. Almost every single play when they have the ball is like being a quarterback. They have to make their own decisions and that’s going to contribute to the success or fall of the team.
“It’s the most similar sport to chess, in my opinion. In chess, you can never practice for a scenario. Every game you play is going to be different. That’s the same with soccer. You end up in different positions and it’s super fascinating for me how to exploit different scenarios. It’s like a new challenge.”
Ottosson has the size and athleticism to succeed in other sports. Could he have been a good defensive back in football?
“I never asked my parents, but I don’t know if they’d be happy me throwing my head at other people,” he said.
Erush said, “He’s a soccer junkie. He wants to learn, he’s hungry for information. If he scores, he wants to score again.”
He’s also one of the few top players given permission to compete both in high school and in the MLS Next club competition. He wanted to keep playing high school soccer, so that helped. He missed several games this month playing for his club team but is back trying to help Harvard-Westlake as it moves from Division 3 to Division 1.
As his soccer skills keep improving, combined with his talent and passion, the trophies figure to keep coming. And he always can hold his father’s Oscar for motivation, though it comes with a penalty.
Samsung Galaxy A25 5G, Galaxy A15 5G launched in India: The global technology giant Samsung has launched its new smartphones under its Galaxy A Series – Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G – in India on Wednesday, December 27.
Galaxy A15 5G, powered by MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ processor, is the successor of Galaxy A14 5G, India’s no.1 selling 5G smartphone, according to Counterpoint Research. At the same time, Galaxy A25 5G stands out with a Super AMOLED display with Vision Booster technology, a 50MP triple camera setup that comes with a host of Awesome photo-editing features, a massive 5000mAh battery and security tools like Knox Vault.
“Galaxy A series smartphones exemplify Samsung’s prowess in delivering transformative innovations at an affordable price, making them the first choice of millions of consumers in India,” said Aditya Babbar, Senior Director, Mobile Business, Samsung India.
Galaxy A25 5G, Galaxy A15 5G Price
The models come in two variants and three colour options – Blue Black, Blue and Light Blue. In terms of storage, they are available in two configurations – 128GB and 256GB. Both of them feature a RAM of 8GB, as per the official release.
In terms of pricing, the Galaxy A15 5G will cost Rs 22,499 for (8GB+256GB) variant and Rs 19,499 for 8GB+128GB variant. While Galaxy A25 5G will come for Rs 29,999 for 8GB+256GB variant and Rs 26,999 for the 8GB+128GB variant.
Galaxy A25 5G, Galaxy A15 5G: Features and Specification
Galaxy A25 5G offers a Super-AMOLED display with Vision Booster technology, Exynos 1280 processor, a 5,000mAh battery and security tools like Knox Vault.
Galaxy A15 5G sports a plastic back panel with a haze finish, while Galaxy A25 5G’s a glossy prism pattern back panel. The device offers a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, enhanced with Vision Booster, creates smooth, bright and vivid viewing experiences with a 90Hz refresh rate and a low blue light display for eye comfort.
Galaxy A25 5G, Galaxy A15 5G: Camera
Galaxy A15 5G sports a 50MP triple camera setup with VDIS to reduce blur or distortion in videos from unsteady or shaky movements.
Galaxy A25 5G features a 50MP (OIS) triple camera setup to shoot high-resolution and shake-free photos and videos, eliminating blurred images caused by hand tremors or accidental shakes. The device has a 13MP front camera for crisp and clear selfies.
Galaxy A25 5G, Galaxy A15 5G: Availability
Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G will be available across retail stores, Samsung.com, and other online players starting January 1, 2024, said the official release.
Oil-rich and landlocked, Azerbaijan is a hidden gem at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Once part of the Silk Road, this country boasts a blend of ancient traditions and modern influences. Known for its variegated and often beautiful terrain, the country has historical cities, picturesque landscapes, and the unique intersection of Eastern and Western cultures.
Year-end travel: Have ₹1 lakh? Check out Azerbaijan (Photo by Sevil Yeva on Pexels)
If you have seen The World is Not Enough (1999) in which James Bond’s high-tech BMW Z8 creates a stir, well, that city is Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here
Here is a quick guide to must-see/eat/do in Azerbaijan.
Important Cities: Baku, Ganja, Sheki, Guba, Gabala
Must-See/Do:
• Gobustan National Park (Azerbaijan’s ancient rock carvings)
• Old City (Icherisheher) in Baku
• Heydar Aliyev Center (architectural masterpiece)
• Goygol Lake
• Khinalug Village (Europe’s highest mountain village)
• Quba Mosque
• Mud Volcanoes in Gobustan
• Flame Towers in Baku
• Lahic, a small metalwork artisan town resting high up in the mountains
• Chakur Gabala ruins.
• Sheki is a small town near the border of Georgia that served as a prime trading post on the Silk Road. Do not miss Sheki fortress and palace.
• Albanian Church ruins in Qax.
• Shirvan and Agh-Gol National Parks known for bird watching, wildlife viewing, and hiking.
Must-Eat:
· Plov: Azerbaijani rice pilaf with meat and vegetables
· Dolma: Grape leaves stuffed with minced meat and rice
· Kebabs: Grilled meat skewers, a popular street food
· Qutab: Thin flatbreads filled with meat, herbs, or pumpkin
· Piti: Lamb soup cooked in a clay pot
· Baklava: Sweet pastry with layers of nuts and honey
· Wine: Azerbaijan has historical wine regions.
What to Buy:
· Azerbaijani Carpets (famous for intricate designs)
· Gaval Dash (traditional musical instrument)
· Copperware and souvenirs from Old City Baku
· Azerbaijani silk scarves and textile
· Local honey and preserves
· Traditional Azerbaijani spices.
Where to Buy: Yashil Bazaar (Baku), Nizami Street (Baku), Taza Bazaar (Baku), Park Bulvar Mall (Baku), Ganja Mall (Ganja), Sheki Bazaar (Sheki), Gabala Bazaar (Gabala).
Packages:
Magnificent Azerbaijan (5 nights/6 days). Cost: ₹30,000+ (excluding flight). Book on: thomascook.in
Explore Azerbaijan (4 nights/5 days). Cost: ₹32,000+ (excluding flight). Book on: thomascook.in
Amazing Azerbaijan (6 nights/7 days). Cost: ₹48,000+ (excluding flight). Book on: thomascook.in
Honeymoon Special (6 nights/7 days). Cost: ₹54,000+ (excluding flight). Book on: sotc.in
3-night Baku package (including flights). Cost ₹65,000+. Book on makemytrip.com
Return flight (economy): Delhi-Baku-Delhi return flight starts at ₹41,000+. Kolkata-Baku-Kolkata return flight starts at ₹36,000+, Chennai-Baku-Chennai return flight starts at ₹39,000+.
Visa: Indian passport holders can obtain an E-visa for a stay of up to 30 days
Good to Know:
Currency: 1 Azerbaijani Manat = 0.18 INR
Language: Azerbaijani is the official language, but English is commonly spoken in tourist areas
Local Transport: Baku has a metro system, and buses are available for short trips. Taxis and shared minivans are common. Buses and trains are a convenient and affordable way to travel around the country. There are direct rail links to Sheki, Ganja, Gabala, Lankaran, Shamkir and other cities. There are daily direct flights to Nakhchivan from the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, and buses from the Baku International Bus Station.
BakiKart: BakiKart is a single Smart Card for payment on Baku Metro and BakuBus.
Wi-Fi: Hotels, restaurants, and cafes offer free Wi-Fi.
Security and Safety Tips:
• Avoid travelling to Nagorno-Karabakh, Zengilan, Jabrayil, Qubadli, Lachin and Kelbajar, the Western areas of Khojavand, Fuzuli and Aghdam rayons and within 5km of the border with Armenia.
• Crime levels in Baku are generally low, but muggings do occur after dark.
• Remember, entering Nagorno-Karabakh without the permission of the Azerbaijani authorities constitutes a criminal offence.
• Right hand drive cars are not permitted in Azerbaijan.
• If you’re planning to hire a car, check with your car hire company for information on their requirements before you travel.
• Take extra care when paying with credit cards or withdrawing money from ATMs.
• Possession or use of illegal drugs of any kind carries stiff penalties.
• You should carry your passport at all times – local cops run random id checks.
• You need an export certificate to take antiques or art like carpets, samovars, copperware or paintings out of Azerbaijan.
• Do not enter or photograph military bases, equipment and installations.
• Pay heed to advisory about earthquakes and heavy snowfall.
John Wayne was well known for his tough and gristly persona on and off-screen, not holding back on what he really thought of peers he clashed with.
He lambasted Red River co-star Montgomery Clift as “an arrogant little bas**rd” and blasted Gene Hackman as “one of the worst actors in Hollywood.”
Duke was part of a conservative inner circle that included his long-time collaborator John Ford and it turns out Wayne’s exceptionally rude dismissal of a Gone with the Wind star was rooted in a feud with the director.
Back in 1953, Clark Gable – lead of Gone with the Wind which is on Channel 5 today – starred opposite Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly in Ford’s romantic adventure Mogambo.
The director was a notoriously bad-tempered character who often humiliated and baited his cast to get better performances out of them.
During the African production, he would make remarks about Gable’s age and weathered appearance. The actor even walked off set in protest of the filmmaker’s treatment of Gardner. The scene of the latter being pushed into a mud pool by a baby elephant was only captured because Ford ignored the actress’ cries for help as he encouraged the crew to keep shooting.
According to Turner Classic Movies: “Gable and Ford had known each other for years, but their personalities clashed when working together. Ford lost patience with what he thought were Gable’s needless requests for retakes and by the end of the shooting Ford and Gable were not even speaking to each other. And they never worked together again.”
Wayne’s daughter has previously shared specifically why this grated on her father. In her book John Wayne: My Father, Aissa wrote: “During the filming of Mogambo, Ford and Gable had clashed again and again and the subsequent feud had simmered for years. In my father’s way of thinking, disloyalty to allies, support in any fashion for their enemies, was expressly forbidden. If Clark Gable took on John Ford, my father’s code demanded that John Wayne stand by his old pal.”
As a result of his loyalty to Ford, Duke made some extremely rude comments about Gable: “[He’s] extremely handsome in person. That’s one guy that doesn’t need Hollywood to make him look good. But Gable’s an idiot. You know why Gable’s an actor? It’s the only thing he’s smart enough to do.”
His daughter also shared why her father thought the Gone with the Wind star wouldn’t be able to have another career outside of acting.
Wayne saw himself as more of a star than an actor, which was in contrast to Gable’s view of being a thespian.
Duke said: “I don’t act at all, I react. In a bad picture, you see them acting all over the place. In a good picture, they react in a logical way to a situation they’re in, so the audience can identify with them. All I do is sell sincerity, and I’ve been selling the hell out of that since I started. I was never one of the little theatre boys. That arty crowd has only surface brilliance anyway. Real art is basic emotion. If a scene is handled with simplicity – and I don’t mean simple – it’ll be good and the public will know it.”
The Kia Sportage has long been popular in Australia – and driving the GT-Line 2.0D AWD I can see why.
WATCH: Paul’s video review of the MY22 Sportage GT-Line 2.0D AWD
The Sportage competes with the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-Trail and Toyota RAV4. It shares some of its bits with the Tucson; although, its cousin comfortably outsells the Sportage by over 5500 units, based on VFACTS figures from January to November 2023.
The Sportage possesses a lot of great features but does Kia miss the mark on attention to detail? Little things that could make a big difference in practicality seem to be overlooked. For a family flagship SUV the lack of rear window shades, climate controls in the second row, engine stop/start functionality and head-up display surely must combine to affect the vehicle’s score…
Let’s get into it and see.
How does the Kia Sportage fare vs its competitors?
View a detailed breakdown of the Kia Sportage against similarly sized vehicles.
Kia
Sportage
How much does the Kia Sportage cost?
The flagship Kia Sportage GT-Line Diesel is priced from $52,720 before on-road costs.
This puts it closely in line with the Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed AWD, Honda CR-V VTi L AWD and cousin Hyundai Tucson Highlander N Line AWD.
It’s worth mentioning that while Kia is yet to release the Sportage Hybrid – due here in 2024 – the GT Line Diesel competes on pricing with the Honda ZR-V e:HEV LX and Subaru Forester Hybrid S.
2024 Kia Sportage pricing:
Smartstream G2.0 FWD
Sportage S: $32,795/$34,795 (6MT/6AT)
Sportage SX: $35,350/$37,350 (6MT/6AT)
Sportage SX+: $41,850 (6AT)
Smartstream G1.6 T-GDI AWD
Sportage SX+: $43,850 (7DCT)
Sportage GT-Line: $49,720 (7DCT)
Smartstream D2.0 AWD
Sportage S: $40,195 (8AT)
Sportage SX: $42,750 (8AT)
Sportage SX+: $47,250 (8AT)
Sportage GT-Line: $52,720 (8AT)
All pries exclude on-road costs.
To see how the Sportage compares with its rivals, line it up side-by-side with any car you want using our comparison tool.
What is the Kia Sportage like on the inside?
Being the top-spec model, Kia has put about every feature possible inside the cabin. Let’s start with the seats.
The Sportage’s seats appear decent quality and are highly adjustable but for me the seats are most comfortable when the lumbar support is not engaged. I guess this defeats the purpose, but almost every time I’ve driven the GT-Line my experience remains the same.
Seat heating and ventilation are nice features, and it sets a luxurious tone to the car and does feel special over the SX+, which only offers heated seating.
There is a combination of suede and leather upholstery in the GT-Line which, if I’m being honest, I didn’t even notice at first – I don’t think it makes a major difference to the car and perhaps this was Kia trying to separate this model from the SX+. To me at least, it fell on deaf ears – or blind eyes in this case.
There are dual 12.3-inch infotainment and instrument cluster displays which are housed in a curved casing. It does feel more luxurious than what I would expect from a Kia, so points for that. Remembering the car is less than $60,000 before on-road costs, this type of instrument setup is something I’d expect to see in a BMW or Mercedes-Benz.
Under the air vents and woodgrain insert is a touchscreen to control climate and infotainment settings like media and navigation. Amongst the controls there is a small button that will select whether climate or infotainment settings are displayed, but to me it was a little too small and fiddly in operation.
I found while driving I often accidentally pressed the wrong button because the correct choice was nestled in between a variety of other virtual buttons. It’s not ideal to take your eyes off the road for any amount of time, let alone constantly moving them across rows of infotainment controls – at times I found operating these controls a little unnerving.
Two dials are located on either side of the button display, and these controls can change multiple settings, depending on which main controls are selected i.e. temperature or volume controls.
I should mention that I am fairly small, so I had to lean forward from my driving position to reach the infotainment system each time I wanted to make an adjustment. While I got used to this after a while, I haven’t have this issue with competitors and it was a little annoying.
The centre console area features a wireless phone charger, two USB ports (including a USB-A and USB-C) as well as a 12V socket. I did find it redundant to have a wireless phone charger but wired phone mirroring, which meant my iPhone wouldn’t comfortably fit in the space and would shift around as I was driving.
The centre tunnel doesn’t feel crowded with buttons and offers the driver a good number of controls and settings to choose from.
I found the cup holders a little annoying, too. Kia offers a retractable semi-circle that forms the cup holder – which will stow away when they aren’t needed – so you can store other things like keys or a small wallet. Beware however, the compartment isn’t rubber-lined and can mean harder items can rattle about.
The back seats are some of the most spacious within the segment in regards to leg room. I was also able to fit three child seats across the second row; however I would suggest if you have young ones, use compact car seats especially when choosing baby capsules.
Speaking of kids, amenities in the second row features two air vents, hooks for small bags, USB-C ports, seatback pockets, and the centre seat reveals an armrest and two cup holders. There is one small drink bottle holder in each door bin and a large hanger on the headrest of the front seats.
The panoramic sunroof makes the car feel bigger and more spacious and proves to be quite entertaining for the kids at night, especially star gazing as you’re driving home.
The boot is very spacious, I was able to fit a single pram alongside four or five bags of groceries. A full-size spare tyre is kept underneath the boot floor. Quoted volume is 543L-1829L (VDA).
I found loading things into the boot was easy because the boot height was around hip height. This made it easy to get prams, groceries etc. into the car without strain.
Although Kia could improve on little details like window shades, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display and tri-zone climate control; the cabin as a whole has a lot to offer.
What’s under the bonnet?
Model
Kia Sportage 2.0D AWD
Power
137kW (4000rpm)
Torque
416Nm (2000-2750pm)
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Driven Wheels
All-wheel drive
Weight
1759kg (kerb)
Fuel economy (claimed)
6.3L/100km
Fuel economy (as tested)
7.3L/100km
Fuel tank
54L
It’s worth mentioning that while the combined fuel economy was 6.3L, the urban claim was 7.7L/100km. I thought the 7.3L/100km I achieved was fair considering I was doing mostly city driving.
How does the Kia Sportage drive?
The first thing I realised is the seating position and transmission shifter felt a little awkward, and took quite a bit of adjusting.
It’s not uncomfortable but I did find it took some getting used to – and that was before I even turned the car on. Eventually I got things sorted and hit the road.
The diesel engine felt smooth to drive once you’re off the line. You rarely have to put your foot all the way down from a traffic light but in the cases where I needed to have a better chance of merging, I found the car lagged off the mark a little more than I would have liked.
The Sportage feels solid and confident on highways though, and is just as capable on the school run or weekend sport.
I found after consistently driving the GT-Line I became very reliant on the Blind Spot View Monitor cameras which project a live side camera feed into the instrument cluster when you indicate. Although it’s a “luxury” gimmick it did make me stop and think how it encourages lazy driving behaviour.
Drivers shouldn’t be reliant on cameras around the car to simply change lanes or pull out of a car park. Rather than assist, the tech becomes a piece of technology drivers become dependent upon – and that doesn’t sit well with me.
The Sportage GT-Line has an auto-hold function. In stop-start traffic it’s an important feature for me and I’m glad Kia has it working smoothly.
Speaking of stop-start driving – Kia still doesn’t offer fuel-saving idle start/stop technology on the bulk of its Australian range. It’s a shame, given these cars will likely spend a lot of their time in town.
There are a few drive modes available in the Sportage. I found driving in Eco or Normal to be the picks, and found them very responsive.
Some of the safety features can be a little intrusive and aggressive. I found the lane-keep assist disruptive – sometimes it would aggressively pull you in or out of a lane even when I had my indicator on.
The adaptive cruise control was responsive and not at all clunky. It works a lot better than in other SUVs, particularly Chinese-branded rivals.
The Sportage thankfully doesn’t have the annoying speed limit alert, which was a big turn-off in Kia’s newer models like the Seltos. The 360-degree camera is great when getting out of tight parking spots or making sure there aren’t any kids bikes (or kids for that matter) in the way when you’re reversing out of the driveway.
What do you get?
Sportage S highlights:
17-inch alloy wheels
8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (wireless)
DAB digital radio
6-speaker audio
‘Basic’ digital instrument cluster
4.2-inch TFT display
LED headlights (reflector-type)
LED daytime running lights
Partial-LED tail lights
Full-size spare wheel
Leather-accented steering wheel, PVC shifter
AEB with pedestrian, cyclist, junction assist
Blind-spot assist
Rear cross-traffic assist
Lane Follow Assist
Lane keep assist
Intelligent speed limit assist
Adaptive cruise control**
Electric park brake**
Reversing camera
Rear parking sensors
Tyre pressure monitoring
Front-centre airbag
**not available for manual variants
Sportage SX adds:
18-inch alloy wheels (machine face)
12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Satellite navigation
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wired)
Power driver’s lumbar adjustment
Rain-sensing wipers
Dual-zone climate control with auto de-fog
Auto up/down windows (front)
Leather-wrapped shifter
Remote-folding second-row seats
Gloss black interior trim
DAB radio
Sportage SX+ adds:
19-inch alloy wheels (machine face)
8-speaker Harman Karon premium audio
Faux leather seat trim
Heated front seats
LED front fog lights
Power driver’s seat with power lumbar
Electric tailgate
Electrochromic rear-view mirror
Keyless entry with push-button start
Steering-mounted paddle shifters
Rear privacy glass
Front parking sensors
2x USB-C chargers in front seat backs
Sportage GT-Line adds:
19-inch alloy wheels
12.3-inch instrument cluster
Leather seats with suede upper
Driver’s seat with memory function
Power passenger seat adjustment
Heated/ventilated front seats
Dual-LED headlights (projector type)
Full-LED tail lights
Shift-by-wire gear selector (dial type)
Wireless phone charger
Ambient interior lighting
LED interior lighting
Panoramic sunroof
Alloy sports pedals
Blind Spot View Monitor
Parking Collision Avoidance (reverse)
Remote Smart Park Assist (diesel only)
Surround-view cameras with 3D view
Metal scuff plates
Is the Kia Sportage safe?
The Kia Sportage wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on tests by Euro NCAP in July 2022.
It scored 87 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 66 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 74 per cent for safety assist.
Standard safety equipment includes:
7 airbags incl. front-centre
Adaptive cruise control
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
Pedestrian, Cyclist detection
Junction assist
Blind-spot assist
Intelligent speed limit assist
Lane Follow Assist (centring)
Lane keep assist
Rear cross-traffic assist
Rear parking sensors
Reversing camera
Sportage GT-Line adds:
AEB in reverse
Blind Spot View Monitor
Remote Smart Park Assist (2.0D)
Surround-view cameras
How much does the Kia Sportage cost to run?
All Kia models are backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with seven years of capped-price servicing.
The first seven services for the 2.0L turbo diesel models are $346, $537, $416, $790, $389, $675, and $412.
CarExpert’s Take on the Kia Sportage
I think the Sportage is a great car for parents who are slowly growing their family. It’s fun, it’s modern and will give you features traditionally available in expensive luxury European cars.
It’s good value for money if you are comparing with the Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, and its cousin the Hyundai Tucson; which all ask a couple of thousand dollars more for their respective flagship versions.
The Sportage GT-Line has a few features that deduct points for practicality, but with the amount of tech and gear it had for under $60,000 it’s one of the better SUVs in the segment. I don’t know if waiting six months or more for this car is justified however; especially when there was no stop-start technology or hybridisation.
I would consider test driving other models that may offer a stop-start function to reduce fuel consumption, or perhaps wait for the Sportage Hybrid which is due to arrive in Australia sometime in the early stages of 2024.
The GT-Line does at least tick a lot of boxes and should definitely be short-listed. Closely check the features list; though, as perhaps the devil is in the detail.
Max Keiser, a prominent cryptocurrency maximalist and commentator, has taken to Twitter to express his cautionary stance about Solana (SOL), hinting at a potential “rug pull,” raising eyebrows in the industry.
Rug Pull Ahead for Solana
In a recent tweet post, Max Keiser sounded a cautionary note about Solana (SOL), suggesting the possibility of a “rug pull.” Meanwhile, his tweet is filled with the usual irony and reflects a genuine concern shared by Bitcoin enthusiasts about projects like Solana.
These concerns stem from the involvement of significant venture capital and the perceived higher centralization compared to Bitcoin.
Solana, a top performer in the crypto market, recently saw a drop in its price, leading Keiser to suggest that its price rally might be coming to an end. Keiser’s warning implies that big players could be taking profits.
In simpler terms, Keiser is echoing the thoughts of Bitcoin supporters who are cautious about the rapid growth of some altcoins. They’re warning regular investors to be careful, comparing it to the risk of being caught in a potential scam
Solana’s Market Performance
Solana has consistently ranked among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization and has even closed the gap with Ethereum. While some consider Ethereum a “beta play” in the crypto community, Solana’s technological proposition and robust market performance suggest it may not be facing imminent collapse.
Market corrections following significant rallies are typical in the cryptocurrency space, representing a natural cycle of rapid growth, profit-taking, and consolidation.
Is Solana really in trouble?
Despite the recent price drop, Solana’s fundamentals remain strong. The project’s innovative technology and ecosystem have garnered significant attention and support within the crypto industry.
Investors are advised to consider Solana’s long-term potential rather than being swayed solely by short-term price movements.
“I want to step out and work outside my hometown after I complete the training,” said 18-year-old Pushpita Patra.
Patra, who is a resident of Pahadpur, Mayurbhanj in Odisha dropped out of school in class 10 but is hopeful of getting employment after completing the construction sector training at the Larsen & Toubro Skill Training Hub.
“We are learning the technical aspects of construction with on-ground experience. The training is hands-on,” pointed out Patra.
Patra is one among the 179 students who are being trained by Larsen & Toubro at its new training hub for tribal youths in Mayurbhanj, Odisha.
The centre was inaugurated by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on Tuesday.
The initiative is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by the company and is built on five acres of land. The centre was constructed in five months. The company spends close to ₹150 crore every year on its CSR activities.
The hub has a multipurpose hall, e-learning hall, digital training room, and separate hostel facilities for boys and girls.
With a training module of three months, 1,000 youngsters can be trained in a year.
The centre is equipped with a pipe welding learning workshop, four service yards, AR/VR technology, and simulators.
Also read: Seeding a B-School in Chennai and delivering a musical hug to the world
The company provides placement to students after completing training with minimum wages up to ₹15,000.
“We believe that empowering the underprivileged youth through accessible skill training is not just an investment for their future but a promise of a brighter and more inclusive tomorrow,” said Meena Subramanyan, President of Prayas Trust, which is a non-profit organization operated by women of L&T and is funded by L&T.
The centre will also provide basic computer training and coding for school children between 9th to 12th standard.
“This training center will enable candidates to fully focus on learning and developing their skills in an enabling environment with a strong focus on life skills and personality development,” Subramanyan said.
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
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Scott SteinEditor at Large
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
ExpertiseVR and AR, gaming, metaverse technologies, wearable tech, tabletsCredentials
Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps
Over the last few years, we’ve witnessed the revival of handheld game consoles — thanks to the convenience of on-the-go gaming and streaming technology. Additionally, there’s no doubt that the 2017 success of the Nintendo Switch also contributed to the shift. These days, there are even more options: Steam Deck, indie and retro consoles like the Panic Playdate, Analogue Pocket and Evercade EXP, and mobile streaming devices like the Razer Edge and Logitech G Cloud. Here are the best dedicated handheld game console options and why they’re worth considering.
Phones and tablets already do a fine job of playing tons of great games and streaming games from consoles or the cloud. Dedicated devices can provide unique features, exclusive games or extra power to do things your phone can’t. It almost feels like a return to the mid-2010s era of the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita.
The Nintendo Switch has been the best and most affordable portable game system for years and continues to be CNET’s clear top pick. At $300 (or $350 for our favorite model), it can play a huge variety of Nintendo games and indie games, it can dock with a TV and can even play some fitness games. But Valve’s Steam Deck offers a unique proposition for those with deeper pockets: It’s large, and it can double as a full gaming PC. A year later, it’s still great (and arguably even better than before).
For those who miss retro game handhelds like the Game Boy, you might consider putting yourself on the waiting list to order the Analogue Pocket or Panic Playdate too, but both of those systems are more niche — and more indie- or retro-targeted — than the Switch and Steam Deck.
We’ll explain below.
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The Nintendo Switch is over five years old now, but Nintendo has indicated that no true successor is coming right now. A Pro model has been rumored for a while, but in the meantime the existing Switch remains extremely capable, full of great games (including lots of indie offerings), and pretty affordable considering its handheld/TV-connected dual function. The Switch has also become a fantastic source of retro games (Game Boy, NES, SNES, Genesis, N64 and more) via the subscription-based Switch Online service.
The OLED-screened Switch, which was released in October 2021, is the best Switch and our recommended pick. The more vivid and larger display looks fantastic, its rear kickstand works better for tabletop gaming, and both of these upgrades are worth the extra $50. The original Switch (or the V2 version), at $300, works similarly and is also still fine, and occasionally comes in special editions and holiday game bundles. The smaller, handheld-only Switch Lite is a great value pick at $200 for anyone who just wants a basic portable game system, but it lacks any ability to connect to a TV, and its controllers don’t detach. This makes it less versatile for families, and means you can’t replace the controllers if they break.
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Switch Lite (left), Switch (middle), OLED Switch (right): the three Nintendo Switches available now.
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Valve’s big and powerful Steam Deck is a marvel. It can play a wide variety of PC games surprisingly well, and is the dream portable for any hardcore Steam fan, or anyone who has a big library of PC games. The Steam Deck can get expensive for the larger storage tiers, but for what it’s capable of, it’s not a bad deal. The ability to play PC games or stream cloud-based games, and to connect to a monitor, keyboard or other accessories, puts the Steam Deck in a class of its own. A year later, it’s still fantastic and worth getting right now (we don’t know when a second-gen Steam Deck will be announced, though).
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The Pocket looks like a totally remade Game Boy, and it is, in a sense. Analogue’s gorgeous handheld can play original Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance cartridges perfectly, and can even play Sega Game Gear games using an adapter (Atari Lynx, Neo Geo Pocket and Turbografx-16 adapters are supposed to be coming soon). It has a high-res color screen and USB-C charging, and there’s a separately sold dock for TV play. One of the most exciting updates to the Pocket is its support for FPGA cores that can replicate classic game hardware and play ROMs. There’s no game store for buying games: Pocket is a system to play classic cartridges or other games in amazing quality, if you want to tinker around with FPGA. There’s also a growing library of Pocket-compatible software in indie gaming channels like itch.io that can be sideloaded to a microSD card, too.
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The tiny, yellow, black-and-white-screened Panic Playdate looks like a weird Game Boy with a mechanical crank sprouting from its side. But this system, made by the indie game company that developed Untitled Goose Game, plays its own tiny season of 24 indie-developed games, which come included with the purchase and appear over time like weekly presents. The Playdate has Wi-Fi and can download games or sideload other indie-developed titles from sites like itch.io, but you’ll have to learn to love the experiences you discover. We’ve loved playing on it so far, but alas, the Playdate doesn’t have any backlighting — you’ll have to find a lamp instead. A recent update has added a new on-device app catalog where games can be purchased separately, but the price of the Playdate is also going up to $199: for the same price, you can also get a Switch Lite.
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The Evercade EXP only plays its own dedicated collection of game cartridges. The cartridges include a mix of retro console or arcade games from some niche players, such as Irem, Toaplan and Jaleco, as well as Capcom, Atari and Namco. There are even platform-focused collections like Intellivision, Commodore 64 and the Atari Lynx.
The Evercade EXP comes with Capcom games preinstalled, plus an Irem cartridge (remember R-Type?). The handheld can flip to vertical mode with a press of a button for vertical TATE arcade games, a clever touch. You can also plug this into a TV (Mini HDMI cable required) and play games on a bigger screen, too.
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The Evercade EXP plays retro arcade games, and flips into vertical TATE mode, too.
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Razer’s Android mini-tablet handheld (don’t call it a phone) has a crisp, high-res 6.8-inch AMOLED display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon G3X gaming-dedicated mobile chip, and can play a wide variety of Android games. At $400 for the Wi-Fi version, it’s less expensive than many phones and comes with its own snap-on game controller that normally costs about $100.
It can stream Xbox and PC games with Android apps, too, just like your phone can. But this handheld doesn’t do enough unique things well enough to merit a true reason to get one. A Verizon-exclusive 5G-enabled version isn’t likely worth the monthly subscription cost for cellular, either.
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For a future Razer Edge, I’d love a better controller and a screen that’s optimized to TV-like aspect ratios.
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Nintendo’s teeny-tiny Game and Watch reboots, which have either a mini compilation of Super Mario or Legend of Zelda classic games on them, are still around. At $50 (or even less), they’re considerably less expensive than other handheld options. Sure, they only play a couple of games. But they’re portable, and for kids or collectors they could be a perfect little travel toy.
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Link’s Awakening lives on (plus Zelda and Zelda II)
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Tablets and phones are extremely valid game consoles: The iPad has tons of games on the App Store, and hundreds more on Apple’s subscription-based Apple Arcade. The iPad can pair with Bluetooth game controllers, too. iPhones and Android phones have tons of games as well, obviously, and a number of great game controller cases are available, including the Backbone and the Razer Kishi.
Phones and tablets also offer other advantages, including an ability to cloud-stream games on a growing number of services including Microsoft Game Pass Ultimate and PlayStation Plus.
The handhelds listed above have other advantages: unique game libraries, a chance to connect to a TV and play with others, and the capability to play higher-end PC games or classic game cartridges.
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The Nintendo Switch Pro, a long-rumored upgrade to the Switch, could eventually offer 4K gaming and perhaps upgraded controllers, although the existence of such a device is entirely speculative. Odds are that Nintendo will instead just keep slightly improving the Switch via new models every couple of years, similar to how it kept upgrading its Nintendo DS and 3DS line over time.
The Steam Deck has been on the market for just over a year, but it’s unclear when and if Valve will ever choose to upgrade it with better processors or newer features. And right now, Microsoft and Sony have stayed out of the handheld gaming picture.
Razer’s Android-based gaming tablet, the Razer Edge, shows where a wave of new gaming tablets could emerge to become the Steam Decks of the mobile world. The Edge is more Android device with controller attached, however, and isn’t much better right now than a controller you could just buy for your phone.
Logitech’s streaming-only G Cloud handheld is a similar proposition, but with its controls attached to the device. These handhelds could be pointing to how more console/PC accessories could pop up as home handhelds to stream games away from a TV, but right now you’re probably better off using your phone or tablet and a game controller to do pretty much the same thing.
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My kids alternate between iPad gaming and the Nintendo Switch. The Switch is without a doubt the best kid console, with the most family-friendly game library and best parental control settings. Still, be prepared to get annoyed at buying multiple copies of games and trudging through the process of creating multiple Switch family accounts.
After making headlines for her “one-in-50-million” pregnancy, Kelsey Hatcher, 32, gave birth to twin daughters just in time to bring them home for Christmas.
The Alabama woman has a rare condition called uterus didelphys, which means she has a double uterus.
Only about 0.3% of the population has this condition.
In this pregnancy, which was Hatcher’s fourth, her twins were separated — one in each uterus. The odds of any given woman having this type of pregnancy is about one in 50 million, as an OB/GYN at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston told Scientific American.
ALABAMA WOMAN WITH TWO UTERUSES IS PREGNANT WITH TWINS, ONE IN EACH WOMB: ‘1 IN 50 MILLION’ CHANCE
Hatcher arrived at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital on Dec. 19 for a scheduled induction, according to a press release provided to Fox News Digital.
After 20 combined hours of labor, Hatcher gave birth to two girls, who ended up entering the world on different days.
Kelsey Hatcher, 32, gave birth to twin daughters just in time to bring them home for Christmas.(Kelsey Hatcher / University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital / Andrea Mabry)
Roxi was born on Dec. 19.
Rebel was born on Dec. 20.
ALABAMA WOMAN WITH RARE DOUBLE UTERUS PREPARES TO GIVE BIRTH TO HER ‘MIRACLE’ TWINS
“Never in our wildest dreams could we have planned a pregnancy and birth like this, but bringing our two healthy baby girls into this world safely was always the goal, and UAB helped us accomplish that,” Hatcher said, according to the press release.
“It seems appropriate that they had two birthdays, though. They both had their own ‘houses,’ and now both have their own unique birth stories.”
The nursing team arranged for the first baby’s bassinet to be in the operating room when the second baby was born via C-section.(Kelsey Hatcher / University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital )
Hatcher first found out about her condition when she was 17.
Her first three children — Raelynn (6), River (4) and Rhemy (2) — were the result of “normal” pregnancies.
After 20 combined hours of labor, Hatcher gave birth to two girls — who ended up entering the world on different days. (Andrea Mabry)
For Hatcher’s latest pregnancy, it was discovered at her eight-week ultrasound that she was carrying twins in two different uteruses.
“All I could do was laugh,” Hatcher told Fox News Digital last month. “I immediately called my husband, Caleb, to tell him, as he was not at the appointment with me. He and I just laughed together.”
4 SISTERS GIVE BIRTH WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER AND NOW CELEBRATE BABIES’ FIRST HOLIDAY TOGETHER
Hatcher’s doctors were also in shock, she said — repeating how “rare and special” her case was.
Kelsey’s obstetrician, Shweta Patel, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, cared for Hatcher during her third pregnancy and the most recent “miracle” pregnancy, which Patel referred to as a “true medical surprise.”
With the addition of the twins, the Hatchers now have five children. The first three babies were born in traditional deliveries.(Andrea Mabry)
“I knew I would need additional expertise,” the doctor said in the press release. “Luckily, I was able to reach out to my UAB maternal-fetal medicine colleagues who specialize in high-risk obstetrics cases and unique pregnancies.”
Other than a few additional appointments, Hatcher’s pregnancy was routine.
“At the end of the day, it was two babies in one belly at the same time — they just had different apartments.”
“In a typical twin pregnancy, the twins share one womb, which can limit the amount of space each has, making preterm or early birth a high possibility,” said Richard O. Davis, M.D., professor in the UAB Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, in the release.
“With Kelsey’s babies, they each had their own womb, sac, placenta and umbilical cord, allowing them extra space to grow and develop,” added Davis, who co-managed Hatcher’s pregnancy.
Hatcher is pictured at one of her ultrasounds toward the end of her rare pregnancy. “With Kelsey’s babies, they each had their own womb, sac, placenta and umbilical cord, allowing them extra space to grow and develop,” said a doctor who co-managed Hatcher’s pregnancy. (Jennifer Alsabrook-Turner)
Although Hatcher had one baby in each uterus, two eggs were released that were fertilized during the same ovulation cycle — which meets the criteria of fraternal twins.
“At the end of the day, it was two babies in one belly at the same time,” Davis said in the release. “They just had different apartments.”
MOM WHO REFUSED TO GET AN ABORTION AFTER BRAIN CANCER DIAGNOSIS HAS NOW BEEN GIVEN LESS THAN A YEAR TO LIVE
The main uncertainty was how the babies would be delivered.
While C-sections may be a “more controlled delivery option” for high-risk cases like Hatcher’s, Patel noted, the doctors wanted to honor Hatcher’s wishes of having the same birth experience as she had with her other children — as long as it was safe.
C-sections can be a “more controlled delivery option” for high-risk cases like Hatcher’s, but the doctors wanted to honor Hatcher’s wishes of having the same birth experience as she had when delivering her other children — as long as it was safe.(Kelsey Hatcher / University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital)
When Hatcher didn’t go into labor on her own, she was induced at 39 weeks.
She was assigned two labor and delivery nurses to monitor each uterus and baby.
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“As my contractions began, they were not consistently together but were within a few seconds of each other,” Kelsey told UAB. “I felt each side contracting in different areas as well. I felt one consistent with the monitor that started on the left side and moved to the right.”
The baby in the right uterus, named Roxi, was delivered vaginally at 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 19, weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces.
The odds of a woman having this type of pregnancy is about one in 50 million, as an OB/GYN at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston said.(Caleb Shaver/Kelsey Hatcher)
“There was a cheer from everyone in the room when the first baby was delivered, but there was another baby left,” Patel said.
“Kelsey was essentially laboring in the left uterus while simultaneously undergoing the postpartum process in the right.”
“After such a long and crazy journey, it meant the world to see both of my girls together for the first time.”
“She was having contractions with Baby B while breastfeeding Baby A.”
When the induction process moved more slowly than the doctors anticipated, the decision was made to deliver Baby B, named Rebel, via C-section.
Rebel was born on Dec. 20 at 6:10 a.m., weighing 7 pounds, 3.5 ounces.
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The nursing team arranged for Roxi’s bassinet to be in the operating room when Rebel was born.
“After such a long and crazy journey, it meant the world to see both of my girls together for the first time,” Hatcher said.
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.
The winter season is upon us, and so is our desire for comforting foods and drinks. When it’s chilly and foggy outside, it instantly makes us want to indulge in something warm and wholesome. Be it a bowl of gajar ka halwa or a glass of kadak chai, we enjoy it all. Another popular winter delicacy is shorba. Shorba is like a desi version of soup that is prepared with veggies or meat along with spices. It is quite wholesome and helps provide warmth from within. Over the years, people have experimented with shorba in several ways, which has now resulted in several recipes. Today, you will get a wide variety of shorbas as per your personal taste. In this article, we’ll be sharing some such recipes that you must try this winter season. Also Read: Weight Loss: How To Make Gahat (Kulthi Dal) Ka Shorba To Shed Extra Kilos
Winter Recipes | Here Are 5 Shorba Recipes You Must Try During Winter:
1. Dal Palak Shorba
Made with the goodness of dal and palak (spinach), this shorba is power-packed with protein. The addition of ginger and garlic helps add a distinct flavour to it. It is extremely wholesome and ideal for those who are on a weight-loss diet. Add some fresh cream and a generous squeeze of lemon before serving hot. Click here for the complete recipe for Dal Palak Shorba.
2. Tamatar Shorba
Tomatoes find their way into almost every winter dish. Now enjoy their tangy flavour in the form of this delicious shorba. It features a blend of ripe and juicy tomatoes combined with a pool of spices and herbs. This shorba will help keep you warm and cosy on chilly nights. You can enjoy it as is or even pair it with some bread. Find the complete recipe for Tamatar Shorba here.
3. Bhutte Ka Shorba
If you’re someone who loves bhutta (corn), you’ve got to try this shorba recipe. It is prepared by mixing corn flour with milk and a mix of flavorful masalas. It also includes whole pieces of corn, which add texture to the shorba. It is super light and comforting, and it is something you should not miss trying out this winter. Want to give it a try? Click here for the complete recipe for Bhutte Ka Shorba.
4. Chicken Shorba
In our list of winter-special shorbas, how can we forget to mention the classic chicken shorba? This stellar recipe is like the desi version of chicken soup, only a lot more delicious. Being high in protein, it’ll also help keep you satiated for a long time. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and enjoy it for a wholesome dinner. Find the complete recipe for Chicken Shorba here. Also Read: Winter Immunity Diet: Have Spicy Almond Soup ‘Subz Badam Ka Shorba’ To Warm Up From Within
5. Moong Dal Shorba
In no mood to cook but still want something flavourful? Look no further than moong dal shorba. This soothing soup is bursting with flavour and will make for a healthy addition to your winter diet. Once you try it out, we are sure it’ll become your go-to recipe to enjoy during the nippy weather. Another reason to try it? It’s great for weight loss as well! Click here for the complete recipe for Moong Dal Shorba.
This winter, sip on these delicious shorbas and keep yourself warm and healthy.
About Vaishali KapilaVaishali finds comfort in eating parathas and rajma chawal but is equally enthusiastic about exploring different cuisines. When she’s not eating or baking, you can often find her curled up on the couch watching her favourite TV show – FRIENDS.
The office of U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Tuesday announced a further extension of China “Section 301” tariff exclusions on 352 Chinese imports and 77 COVID-19-related categories till May 31, 2024.
The import tariff exclusions include industrial components such as pumps and electric motors, some car parts and chemicals, bicycles and vacuum cleaners. The COVID-related exclusions include medical products like face masks, examination gloves and hand sanitizing wipes.
The exclusions were previously scheduled to expire on December 31. The extension will allow for further consideration under the statutory four-year review, Tai’s office said in a statement.
“I’ll drive; it’s 20 hours and I’ll be there for Christmas dinner,” my husband, Edwin, said, undeterred after a Canadian snowstorm grounded all flights. Imagining a fatality replacing our festivities, I insisted he come by train. Hours in, Edwin’s locomotive halted, its tracks blocked by debris. Eighteen hours of standstill later, the train reversed direction, returning to its starting point. But Edwin didn’t give up: He cabbed to the nearest airport and boarded a then-available plane. After 54 hours of travel (for a trip that would normally take two hours), Edwin smiled beside me at my family’s celebratory spread. — Laura Schep
A New View from the Shore
When I was growing up, being gay was a joke at best and a ticket to hell at worst. Add poverty, language barriers and a parent with chronic illness, and I had a story that made school counselors cry. My first love was a straight man who couldn’t love me. My second love was a gay man who didn’t love me. My third love fell in love with me after I had learned to love myself. We said “I do” on the same Texas shore I once wandered as a shame-addled kid. Thank you, Tyler, for changing my life. — Roberto López Jr.
An Ending and a Beginning
As the oldest of three, I did my best to protect my siblings, never expecting I would lose my little brother to a brief bout with cancer. When he transitioned into hospice, I temporarily relocated from San Francisco to Denver. There, my desire for an escape became overpowering, so I reactivated an old dating app. Although my profile clearly stated that I was looking for something fun and temporary, my breaking heart was the perfect conduit for letting in love. While losing my brother, I found the unexpected love of my life. — Mara Kassoff
Embracing Change
On my first post-divorce Christmas, our traditions felt essential. My children and I chose a perfect tree, hauling it home atop our minivan. Covered in sweat and sap, I muscled the tree into the stand until it was mostly straight and stable. The next year I opted for friends’ assistance, returning their kindness with beer. A year later my son was old enough to tighten the screws. And this year? My boyfriend, a Jewish man who adores Christmas, was happy to help. Though the tree tradition remains, a lot in our life has changed. I am so glad that it has. — Ashley Davis
As this exciting technology exploded in 2023, Pharm Exec was there to cover it all.
The Promise and Challenges of Generative AI in Healthcare
Pharma industry stakeholders must develop actionable roadmaps to prioritize the areas in which the use of generative artificial intelligence can create the greatest benefits.
Embracing AI: Q&A with Shalu Chadha
Accenture’s global life sciences technology lead discusses how the life sciences industry has embraced artificial intelligence.
AI and Drug ‘Re-Innovation’
The application of artificial intelligence is steadily finding a home in the pharma industry, but these tools may have unprecedented potential in a more nascent niche along the life sciences continuum: drug development.
Harnessing AI for Pharma Sales
Artificial intelligence is steadily becoming a game changer for the pharma industry, particularly in commercialization activities, such as sales and marketing—and efforts to help highly sought treatments reach the right patients.
Data, AI, and the New Era of Field Teams: Q&A with Paul Shawah, executive vice president of commercial strategy at Veeva
Setting up a field team for the future necessitates equipping it with a toolbox of cutting-edge technological advancements. These tools enable the team to swiftly acquire essential, accurate information, as collectively advocated by biopharma organizations at Veeva’s May 2023 Commercial Summit. Senior editor Fran Pollaro spoke with Paul Shawah, Veeva’s executive vice president of commercial strategy, about the roles of data, ChatGPT, and AI in introducing new medicines to the market.
Happy holidays, everyone! We are a day late on publishing my most recent story on account of the holiday season, so thank you for your patience. From all of us at Catster, we hope you had a wonderful long weekend with family, friends, and cats.
Transitioning from commuting to working at home was a welcome change, and although it has disadvantages, I get to spend more time with Olga. Before I worked remotely full-time, it irritated me when a news story featured a visit to a corporate office that allowed employees to bring their dogs. It showed happy workers who paused to rub their pups’ bellies before getting back to work on their keyboards.
I’m not opposed to the practice, and I think it’s great for dog owners, but what about the employees with felines, birds, reptiles, or rodents? They have to watch their coworkers play with their pets while they wonder if their jobs would be better if their employer allowed all species to hang out in the office.
If they have practical minds, they’ll realize that dogs, even well-behaved ones, cannot coexist peacefully with every animal. Adding cats to the office would be problematic, and once there are parrots, guinea pigs, and iguanas roaming around the cubicles, the company’s productivity levels are likely to fall.
Disrupting Olga’s Routine
This Is the First Stage of the Begging Process
Since I work at home, I no longer think about how Olga would react to an office environment or how unfair it is for a hard-working employee to be forbidden from bringing their pet rat named Ben to the office. Like me, Olga’s life changed significantly when I changed my routine.
She spends most of the day sleeping nearby when I’m working, but when I went from working part-time to full-time at home, she saw an opportunity that didn’t exist before. Dinnertime used to be after 5:00 PM and sometimes was as late as 5:30 PM for Olga, but since I’m at home all day now, she starts begging for food around 3:00 PM.
The Begging Intensifies
Standing Near My Feet and Staring Is Stage Two
Although I feed her before dawn every day, she sometimes begs me for food earlier than usual. It starts with a subtle stare when she’s sitting on the windowsill. I ignore her and concentrate on my work, but she grunts and looks excited if I make eye contact.
She doesn’t emit a meow (she saves that for later), but the grunt, which sounds like Err, shows she’ll eventually push it to the next level if I continue to ignore her. She’ll move to the floor next to my chair and remain in the same spot until I finish work and follow her into the kitchen. She stares at me constantly and only breaks her gaze when she needs to groom her claws or scratch an itch.
How I React to the Begging
Jumping in My Lap and Getting in My Face Are Parts of the Final Stage
It may be a cruel comparison in some respects, but like Glenn Close’s character in Fatal Attraction, Olga “will not be ignored.” Avoiding her glance and returning her to the floor when she jumps in my lap or on my back is all I can do when she begs for food.
Closing the door doesn’t work since she’ll scratch up the carpet or ram the door with her 10.4-pound body. She can also open the door by standing on her hind legs, grabbing the latch, and pushing forward. Although I’m used to ignoring her pleas until dinnertime, sometimes, I give in and feed her early.
Working at home with a clever cat isn’t ideal for everyone, but I enjoy it, and although she is undoubtedly irritated when I disregard her pleas for early meals, she is probably happy her waiter is always nearby.
Godrej Properties has sold inventory worth over ₹2,600 crore in its project, Godrej Aristocrat, in Gurugram, on Golf Course Extension Road — an established residential location with good infrastructural facilities. The company has sold over 600 units in the project.
In an exchange filing, the Mumbai-based real estate developer said that this is its most successful launch ever, surpassing the previous best when it had sold homes worth over ₹2,000 crore at its project, Godrej Tropical Isle in Noida, last quarter.
“Gurugram is an extremely important market for Godrej Properties. We hope to launch four new projects in Gurugram in 2024 and will endeavour to create outstanding residential communities that deliver long-term value for residents,” said Gaurav Pandey, MD & CEO, Godrej Properties.
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.
SWATCH se sprema izbaciti još jedan MoonSwatch. Posljednji ove godine, izlazi sutra kad je Mjesec pun. Posljednji sat ovogodišnje Swatch x Omega kolekcije naziva Mission to the Moon posvećena je hladnom Mjesecu, odnosno posljednjem punom mjesecu u godini. Kao i obično, bit će dostupan u odabranim fizičkim trgovinama.
U čast hladnom Mjesecu
Kazaljka za sekunde izrađena je tijekom punog mjeseca u studenom od Omege, njihovim Moonshine zlatom. Svaki sat dolazi s posebnim certifikatom koji navodi dan izrade. Osim što je izrađena od zlata, kazaljka za sekunde ima i prigodan uzorak snježnih pahulja kao posvetu hladnom Mjesecu, a ima i tajni detalj koji svijetli u mraku.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Posljednji ovogodišnji sat Swatch i Omega su najavili na Instagramu, a ljudi su u komentarima podijeljenih mišljenja: “Nadam se da je posljednji”, “Nikad nisu dostupni”, “Najbolji u ovoj kolekciji je bio Neptune Gold”, “Super su”, “Prelijepo, treba mi”.
Sat će biti dostupan sutra u 88 gradova i 97 trgovina diljem svijeta. Mnogi kupci koje zanimaju satovi iz ove kolekcije razočarani su što ni posljednji neće biti dostupan online, već isključivo u fizičkim trgovinama. “Zašto ne omogućite online kupnju?”, “I dalje su dostupni samo u fizičkim trgovinama?” neki su od komentara.
Mission to the Moon ima traku s čičkom i kućište od biokeramike, promjera 42 mm i debljine 13.25 mm. Uređaj radi uz pomoć kvarcnog mehanizma i vodootpornost od tri bara. Očekivana cijena je oko 300 američkih dolara. Više o satu možete pronaći ovdje, a trgovine u kojima će biti dostupan pronađite na popisu.
Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?
Is there a record at Santa Anita for 3-year-old colts running on the dirt that trainer Bob Baffert doesn’t hold?
Maybe, but winning the Grade 1 $300,000 Malibu Stakes isn’t one of them as he won the seven-furlong race for a record-tying sixth time on Tuesday’s opening day when Speed Boat Beach rolled to an easy 1 1/2-length win over his stablemate Hejazi.
If you haven’t heard of Speed Boat Beach, don’t be thinking Triple Crown, because the bargain $200,000 purchase will turn 4 on Jan. 1, just like every other racing thoroughbred. Hejazi was a $3.55 million purchase.
For Speed Boat Beach, ridden by Flavien Prat, it was his fourth win in seven lifetime starts. His last finish was a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, also at Santa Anita. He was the favorite Tuesday and paid $5.20 to win.
“It was a good feeling, turning for home I knew I was going to win it,” Baffert said. “I wasn’t sure which one it was going to be. I would have liked to run, one two, three. Speed Boat Beach has always shown since his first out that he was something special, hopefully he can build from this.
“Hejazi is a serious horse. He was a little bit keen [Tuesday]. We weren’t able to train last week. [Jockey] Juan [Hernandez] was telling me he couldn’t get him to relax very well, so he used him up a little bit. I see big things for him down the road.”
The remainder of the field, behind the two Baffert starters were Giant Mischief, Damon’s Mound, Raise Cain, Fort Bragg — also trained by Baffert — and Sharo Aza Tack.
Santa Anita has in recent years been criticized for its small fields, even though Saratoga gave the Arcadia track a good run for short stakes fields this year. Tuesday did not show major improvement with fields of six, five, five, seven, six and nine in the six graded stakes races.
Part of the problem with field size is that FedEx suspended horse shipping by plane on Dec. 3 until after the holidays. FanDuelTV chronicled the trips of Raise Cain and Damonn’s Mound from Kentucky to run in the Malibu. The trip, by van, took 41 ½ hours over 2,100 miles with stops in St. Louis, Oklahoma City and Barstow before finally getting to Arcadia at midnight on Dec. 19.
Horse transport by air from FedEx should resume soon.
A slightly overcast sky for the first race eventually gave way to sunshine, warming the mostly jacketed crowd announced at37,143. Last year the attendance was announced as 41,446, but it was held on a more desirable Monday.
Race-goers this year might have noticed a visual contrast — an eye-popping green turf course with fresh sod alongside a dull-colored synthetic Tapeta surface under construction that will be used for training.
Lines were long at some betting windows, but more so at the booths selling hand-carved sandwiches, a Santa Anita culinary staple. Patrons could pass the time between races thumbing through the wall calendars that are an annual giveaway item on opening day.
There were plenty of parimutuel tickets cashed. Four favorites won during the 11-race card and the highest payout on a $2 win ticket was $14.20 until the last race when a 10-1 longshot won a maiden race paying $23.00.
The first Grade 1 of the new season was the $300,000 American Oaks for 3-year-olds fillies going 1 ¼ miles on the turf. The race was scratched down to five horses and was easily won by late running Ainsette by 1 ¾ lengths. As the favorite, she paid $3.20 to win.
“Her last two races, she didn’t win, but there were circumstances,” winning trainer Leonard Powell said. “I didn’t blame her and she made amends [Tuesday]. [One of the owners] Aron Wellman and I have chosen to give her plenty of time in between races and that’s probably the key to keeping her at the top of her game.”
The last Grade 1 of the day was the female equivalent of the Malibu, the La Brea Stakes going seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies. Daddysruby, with Juan Hernandez aboard, won a photo finish over Big Pond, with the difference between first and second being less than a nose. Peter Miller was the winning trainer with a win price of $14.20.
In the Grade 2 $200,000 races, heavily favored Easter won the San Gabriel Stakes by 1 ¼ lengths for horses 3-years-old and up going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Easter, running for trainer Phil D’Amato and jockey Antonio Fresu, paid $3.40 to win. Newgrange took the five-horse 1 1/16-mile San Antonio Stakes by an effortless 2 ¼ lengths for D’Amato and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who flew in from Gulfstream to ride 10 of the 11 races Tuesday. Newgrange paid $9.60 to win.
The final Grade 2 was the Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on the turf. Watsonville was able to hold on from a charging Almendares to win by a nose, paying $11.00 to win. Mark Glatt was the winning trainer and Antonio Fresu was the jockey.
Racing resumes at Santa Anita on Friday.
Correspondent Mike Tierney contributed to this report.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has issued an advisory to all intermediaries and platforms to comply with IT rules amid growing concerns around deepfakes and misinformation powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), as per an official release issued on Tuesday, December 26. The advisory mandates that intermediaries (digital and social media platforms) communicate prohibited content, particularly those specified under Rule 3(1)(b) of the IT Rules, clearly and precisely to users.
The advisory stated: “The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has issued an advisory to all intermediaries, ensuring compliance with the existing IT rules.”
The directive specifically targetted the growing concerns around misinformation powered by AI-Deepfakes.
This advisory is the culmination of discussions held by Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar with intermediaries.
As per the advisory: “The content not permitted under the IT Rules, in particular those listed under Rule 3(1)(b) must be clearly communicated to the users in clear and precise language including through its terms of service and user agreements and the same must be expressly informed to the user at the time of first-registration and also as regular reminders, in particular, at every instance of login and while uploading/sharing information onto the platform.”
The advisory emphasises that digital intermediaries must ensure users are informed about penal provisions, including those in the IPC and the IT Act 2000. “The users must be made aware of the various penal provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860, the IT Act, 2000 and such other laws that may be attracted in case of violation of Rule 3(1)(b). In addition, the terms of service and user agreements must clearly highlight that intermediaries/platforms are under obligation to report legal violations to the law enforcement agencies under the relevant Indian laws applicable to the context,” it further added.
In addition, the advisory says that terms of service and user agreements must clearly highlight that intermediaries/platforms are under obligation to report legal violations to the law enforcement agencies under the relevant Indian laws applicable to the context.
“Rule 3(1)(b) within the due diligence section of the IT rules mandates intermediaries to communicate their rules, regulations, privacy policy, and user agreement in the user’s preferred language,” it said.
Platforms are obliged to ensure reasonable efforts to prevent users from hosting, displaying, uploading, modifying, publishing, transmitting, storing, updating, or sharing any information related to the 11 listed user harms or content prohibited on digital intermediaries.
Deepfakes refer to synthetic or doctored media that is digitally manipulated and altered to convincingly misrepresent or impersonate someone, using a form of artificial intelligence.
Recently, several ‘deepfake’ videos of leading actors had gone viral, sparking public outrage and raising concerns over the misuse of technology and tools for creating doctored content and fake narratives.
White Rann of Kutch, esteemed as a prominent tourist destination both nationally and internationally, is gearing up for a new attraction on Tuesday, December 26.
Illuminating the White Desert: Grand inauguration of light and sound show at Dhordo, Rann of Kutch (File Photo by Gujarat Tourism)
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will inaugurate a light and sound show at the white Rann watchtower at 6:30 PM.
Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here
The light and sound show set against the backdrop of the white desert will offer a spectacular experience. Additionally, the village-themed decoration will acquaint tourists with the rich history and culture of Kutch.
CM Patel and Tourism Minister Mulubhai Bera will remain present at the event. After the inaugural address, they will be attending a cultural program scheduled for the evening.
Cultural programs based on the theme “Kutchdo Khele Khalak Mein,” along with theme pavilions featuring daily cultural activities, craft stalls, a food bazaar, a creative food zone and various adventurous activities will be part of the organized event.
Notably, the state government is actively enhancing Gujarat’s tourism by developing infrastructure, roads, attractions, and other facilities. The Kutch region, particularly the Ranotsav initiated under the leadership of Chief Minister Narendra Modi has garnered global acclaim, rejuvenating the economy of Kutch.
In the year 2022-23, approximately 3.5 lakh tourists explored the mesmerizing white Rann of Kutch. As of the current year, around two lakh tourists have already visited, highlighting the growing appeal of the region.
Currently, tourists can visit the historic sites of Dholavira, Smriti, the Regional Science Center, and Bhuj in Kutch. With the development of tourism in the white Rann, new employment opportunities have emerged for locals. Kutchi embroidery and craft samples are also renowned among people in the country and abroad. The festival provides Kutchi handicraft artists with a global market to showcase and sell their artefacts.
Dhordo in Kutch has recently been honoured as one of the world’s best tourist villages. The ‘Best Tourism Village-2023’ award ceremony, conducted by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on October 19, 2023, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, selected Dhordo as the sole Indian village to receive the prestigious ‘Best Tourism Village’ award. This acknowledgement, designating Dhordo as the ‘World Best Tourism Village’ and situated amidst the White Rann of Kutch, marks another significant milestone in Gujarat’s illustrious journey of achievements.
The growing influence of the phrase is a tribute to the vivid imagination of Patrick Hamilton (Image: Getty)
Gas has all but disappeared from our lives as a method of lighting. Yet this outmoded technology, long superseded by cleaner, safer electricity, has left one remarkable legacy. For in recent years the term “gaslighting” has entered our language, deployed with ever greater frequency in psychological analysis and political debate.
It describes the process where individuals – or even institutions – can be manipulated by their abusers so that they lose their resilience and slide towards breakdown, a form of psychological trickery in which the abuser sows self-doubt and confusion.
Prince Harry has been accused of trying to “gaslight” the Royal Family with his barrage of public criticisms, while north of the Border earlier this year the SNP was said to be “gaslighting” the Scottish public over its failed pro-trans legislation.
The growing influence of the phrase is a tribute to the vivid imagination of the English writer Patrick Hamilton, whose 1938 play Gas Light, first performed 85 years ago this month at the Richmond Theatre in London, had mental disintegration as its central theme.
Today Hamilton is an almost forgotten figure, with many of his books out of print. But at his peak in the 1930s, he was one of Britain’s most successful authors, enjoying vast global sales and Hollywood acclaim.
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“It is all a strange Byronic dream. For it is not only the money – it is also the fame,” he wrote to his brother Bruce in 1929 when he first began to soar in popularity. Several of his works were turned into lucrative movies, of which the 1944 version of Gas Light, renamed Gaslight, is probably the most famous.
Set in Victorian London, it stars Ingrid Bergman as the wealthy wife of a grasping but sophisticated criminal, brilliantly played by Charles Boyer, who is determined to seize her fortune by driving her mad and sending her to an asylum.
One reason Boyer’s villain wants her out of the way is because he is convinced there is a huge hoard of her jewels hidden somewhere in their house, probably in the attic.
In a chilling image that runs through the film, Bergman’s descent into mental collapse is symbolised by the flickering of the gas jets that occurs every time Boyer secretly goes up to the vast attic at night in his desperate hunt for the prize.
It is a phenomenon caused by Boyer’s use of the attic’s lights and is made all the more sinister by the sound of his footsteps echoing through the house as he rummages under the rafters, heightening the distress of Bergman.
But in a heroic twist, she turns the tables on him in the end. Bergman’s compelling performance brought her the Academy Award for best actress that year. Yet Hamilton was an incongruous writer to have made it in Hollywood, for his books and plays are rooted in a very specific time and place in England.
Devoid of glamour, their subjects are despair, isolation, and social anxiety, often set in the downwardly mobile middle-class world of dingy hotels and faded boarding houses whose residents try to compensate for the emptiness of their lives through drink and snobbery.
With his acute ear for dialogue and his gift for characterisation, Hamilton painted a bleak portrait of contemporary urban life, with a sense of doom lurking in the background. The novelist and playwright J B Priestley, whose own fame has far out-endured Hamilton’s, called him “the novelist of innocence, appallingly vulnerable and of malevolence, coming out of some mysterious darkness of evil”.
On his death in 1962, the Times described him as a “poet of loneliness, purposelessness and frustration”. This bleakness reflected the tragedy of Hamilton’s own life, which was marked by personal chaos and ruined by alcoholism.
According to a superb biography by Nigel Jones, Hamilton was drinking at least three bottles of whisky a day from the 1940s.
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The mental afflictions that he wrote about so convincingly in Gaslight and his 1941 novel Hangover Square, about a loner driven to murder, were part of his own experience. He suffered severely from depression and in 1956 underwent experimental electro-convulsive therapy, which brought some relief but also eradicated the last broken remnants of his literary talent.
Hamilton’s tortured personality was the product of a difficult childhood, dominated by his father Bernard, a tyrannical eccentric, whose own addiction to drink was matched by his serial infidelity and delusional bombast.
Nominally a barrister, he wrote several minor books, whose failures did nothing to lessen his monstrous, pretentious self-regard.
“As a puff preliminary, you may say that it is the greatest novel ever written,” he told the publisher of his 1926 novel The Giant.
Born into wealth, Bernard Hamilton should have been able to provide his family with an affluent lifestyle and comfortable home but instead his egomaniacal irresponsibility left a trail of wreckage wherever he went.
At the age of just 21, he had inherited £100,000, the equivalent of around £7million today, but he squandered this on expensive mistresses and luxurious foreign travel.
As a result, he later had to sell his grand house in Hove, with his wife and children forced to live in the kind of seedy rented accommodation about which his son wrote so eloquently. Nothing in Bernard’s existence ever seemed noble or uplifting.
He flirted with Fascism, became a fan of Mussolini and indulged in anti-Semitic tirades in public.
In his early twenties he fell for a prostitute who went on to kill herself by leaping in front of a train at Wimbledon station when their relationship ended.
He then married Ellen Day, a London dentist’s daughter who had ambitions to be an artist and a writer. She was a far more affectionate parent than her bullying husband to Patrick and his two siblings, brother Bruce and sister Lalla, but her warmth could not hide the family’s straitened circumstances.
In fact, though he was a bright pupil who had received sporadic spells of private education, Patrick had to leave school at 15 and begin work as a shorthand typist.
Other unsatisfying, poorly paid jobs followed, two of them in the theatre as a small-part actor and an assistant manager.
But writing was his real passion, fuelled by his voracious reading and support from his mother, brother and sister. With their financial backing, his first novel, entitled Monday Morning, was published in 1923 when he was just 19.
By the end of the decade he had built up an impressive reputation through a string of well-received works. The most notable was his hit 1929 play called Rope, about two students who kill one of their colleagues as an intellectual exercise in amorality.
In 1948 this taut psychological thriller was made into a film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring James Stewart, miscast as the killers’ former professor. Success brought Hamilton riches but not happiness. He was a man in permanent turmoil on a quest to overcome his self-hatred.
Eager for a sense of political certainty, he was attracted to Marxism but, like many left-wingers, despised the traditional working-class.
Painfully shy, he avoided fashionable literary circles and the company of intellectuals, preferring to hang out in pubs as a taciturn observer, a practice that sharpened his year for dialogue but worsened his alcoholism.
“If ever a man knew the atmosphere and life and ethics of these places, it is me,” he once boasted. His introverted nature was dramatically exacerbated in 1932 when a drunken driver smashed into him on the street, leaving him with permanent facial disfigurement.
The psychological scars also ran deep. Hamilton not only became convinced of his ugliness and sank into depression, but also developed an abiding hatred of the motor car which he came to regard as a menace to civilisation.
Tellingly, several of the most sinister characters in his books are motoring enthusiasts, while Ralph Gorse, the murderous swindler at the centre of Hamilton’s final trilogy of novels written in the 1950s, is a car salesman.
Nor did Hamilton achieve contentment in his romantic life.
Unsurprisingly, given his troubled, dysfunctional upbringing, he found relationships difficult and conventional sex awkward.
His attitude towards women was said to be “an unhappy mixture of infatuation and misogyny.”
As his biographer Nigel Jones revealed, he had a taste for sadism and bondage. Like his father, he was also obsessed with prostitutes, and in his youth became besotted with a beautiful street-walker called Lily Connolly, whom he had met, inevitably, in a London pub.
The failure of his long pursuit of Lily drove him further to drink, but also served as the inspiration for his first great novel, The Midnight Bell, about a barman hopelessly in love with a cynical prostitute who is just after his savings.
Both Hamilton’s marriages ended, predictably, in failure.
The first, to Lois Martin, was undermined by sexual incompatibility and finally broken by his unreasonable behaviour, which included not just his chronic alcoholism but also turbulent affairs with other women and even bouts of stalking.
The renowned Irish actress Geraldine Fitzgerald had to move out of her flat because of Hamilton’s unwanted attentions both in person and on the telephone. His second marriage, to his former mistress, Lady Ursual Chetwynd-Talbot, a novelist who wrote under the name Laura Talbot, was doomed from its start in 1954, since Hamilton was by then almost a living wreck.
He had to dictate most of his last novel, a slim book published a year later, because of his drunkenness.
His last years, as painful as anything he produced in his novels, were spent in a flat at Sheringham on the remote Norfolk coast before he died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1962.
Tesla is cutting rates at Supercharging locations this summer, but only if you charge off-peak.
From Friday, December 22 to Sunday, January 7, if you charge between 9pm and 9am you’ll pay a 50 per cent lower rate.
The company says this is only at ‘select’ locations within its Supercharger network, which now has 450 stalls across Australia.
Tesla’s Australian Supercharger network
Tesla owners can use the Supercharger map on the in-car touchscreen to find the rates for each site, and therefore to find out which locations are participating.
The company says it expanded its Supercharger network by 65 per cent in 2023, though it has also been opening up these chargers to owners of electric vehicles (EVs) from other brands.
You can view an interactive map of Tesla’s Supercharger network, including which locations can be used by non-Tesla vehicles, by clicking here.
As the year 2024 dawns, the cryptocurrency market is witnessing a remarkable resurgence. After weathering uncertainty and volatility, the crypto landscape rebounded strongly in late 2023, ushering in what many call an “Altcoin Season.” This resurgence is not just a mere recovery but a powerful affirmation of cryptocurrencies’ enduring appeal and potential.
In this context, discerning investors seek opportunities beyond the mainstream giants like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). This article delves into the top 10 altcoins that are poised for significant growth in 2024, offering a blend of innovation, utility, and market potential.
1. Solana (SOL)
Solana, known for its high-speed transaction capabilities and scalability, has emerged as a standout performer. Experiencing a phenomenal 615.35% growth from $12.12 to $86.15, its market cap has reached a substantial $36.86 billion and crosses Ripple to enter the list of Top 5 coins per market cap.
The recovery rally in the SOL price is gaining momentum in the weekly chart and projects a high likelihood of an uptrend continuation. Its ability to handle thousands of transactions per second positions it as an ideal platform for DeFi applications. The significant market cap indicates trust and stability, offering room for exponential growth compared to larger cap coins.
Solana’s growing ecosystem and increasing adoption make it a top contender for substantial gains in 2024. Matthew Sigel and Patrick Bush, two prominent experts at VanEck, think that Ethereum might lose some of its market power to Solana. They believe this because Solana has a more straightforward plan for growing bigger without problems.
Also, they say Solana could soon become one of the top three blockchains in terms of market size, the total value locked in, and the number of people using it. This means Solana could have a really great year ahead.
2. Dogecoin (DOGE)
Initially a meme, Dogecoin has evolved into a robust cryptocurrency with a strong community. With a steady growth of 25.76% from $0.07368 to $0.09146 and a market cap of $13.02 billion, DOGE shows a balanced investment opportunity.
The rounding bottom reversal in the DOGE price teases a golden crossover in the weekly chart to certify the trend reversal for meme coin. Its increasing use cases and growing acceptance as a payment method transform it from a novelty to a potential dark horse in the altcoin race.
As of December 21st, 2023, there are 620 Dogecoin addresses loaded with at least $1 million worth of DOGE. Looking closely at the 620 lucky DOGE holders that have hit the $1 million mark, 108 of those addresses are packed with over $10 million. That’s a giant leap from last year, reflecting a growth in investors’ confidence.
The chart shows us that recently, Dogecoin had a bit of a value jump, and guess what? Almost 100 new folks were sitting on a million-dollar Doge pile compared to just a month ago.
Avalanche stands out for its scalability and efficient transaction processing. It has seen a remarkable 280.44% growth, from $11.69 to $44.90, with a market cap of $16.41 billion.
The remarkably growth visible in the weekly chart reflects a rise in demand for the AVAX token, due to the improving network strength. Further, its a testament to its position as a scalable and efficient platform in the DeFi space. With a medium market cap, it offers enough liquidity for stability yet maintains a high growth ceiling. Avalanche’s ability to process transactions rapidly and decentralized nature make it a prime candidate for significant growth.
4. Chainlink (LINK)
Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network critical for secure data feeds to smart contracts. It has shown a 141.83% growth, climbing from $5.98 to $14.40, with a market cap of $8.18 billion. Moreover, the recovery rally stays strong in the weekly chart and continues to forms a rounding bottom pattern, teasing a trend continuation in 2024.
Chainlink is surging into 2024 with a laser-focused strategy. They’re unveiling their Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) to connect blockchains like never before. They’re also introducing a new data platform to transform blockchain analytics.
On top of that, Chainlink is releasing developer tools to unleash the potential of smart contracts and decentralized apps. They’re also pioneering the tokenization of Real World Assets, making everything from real estate to art tradeable digitally.
With these initiatives, Chainlink is gearing up to participate and lead the blockchain revolution in 2024.
5. Bonk (BONK)
Bonk is quickly becoming a standout in the cryptocurrency landscape, especially within the Solana ecosystem where it reigns as the largest meme coin. Its rise to fame is fueled by its playful yet strategic DeFi approach and robust community support.
Recently listed on Coinbase, Bonk has captured the attention of investors, bolstering its position as the third-largest meme coin in the entire crypto market. This listing, alongside its presence on top exchanges like FTX and Huobi, has significantly amplified its market value.
With an astronomical growth rate of 18147.61%, jumping from $0.000000109 to $0.000020, and a market cap of $1.22 billion, Bonk showcases explosive potential. Its lower market cap and staggering growth rate highlight its potential for explosive rallies.
Rooted in Solana, Bonk benefits from its thriving ecosystem, adding to its credibility and appeal to investors seeking diverse crypto portfolios. Its affordability broadens its appeal, making it accessible to a broad audience and setting the stage for potential growth. Keep an eye on Bonk; its unique blend of meme culture and practical utility could be a brilliant addition to your investment mix in 2024.
6. XRP (Ripple)
XRP, backed by Ripple Labs, focuses on efficient cross-border payments for financial institutions. It has seen an 80.77% increase, from $0.346 to $0.62, with a substantial market cap of $33.27 billion. In the weekly chart, the cup and handle pattern present projects a bullish trend ahead in 2024 for Ripple.
Ripple is setting the stage for a transformative 2024 with a clear strategy outlined by President Monica Long. She envisions a pivotal year where crypto shifts from niche to mainstream, propelled by a compliance-first approach. Ripple’s plan centers around strict adherence to regulations, aiming to rebuild trust in the crypto sector.
The roadmap for Ripple also emphasizes strong partnerships with financial titans like Fidelity and PayPal, bridging blockchain technology with the traditional financial sector. This integration aims to enhance and streamline financial transactions, not replace existing institutions.
7. Polkadot (DOT)
Polkadot is recognized for its ability to interconnect various blockchains. With a 63.32% growth from $4.48 to $7.4 and a market cap of $9.29 billion, Polkadot offers a compelling investment case.
The falling channel breakout fuels the DOT price trend momentum to surpass the 50D EMA and signals the start of a bull run. Further, its medium market cap balances risk and potential for sharp increases. Polkadot’s unique proposition in creating a unified blockchain ecosystem makes it a futuristic investment, especially as its technology gains more traction.
8. NEAR Protocol (NEAR)
NEAR Protocol is gaining attention for its scalable, decentralized application platform. It has grown 169%, from $1.30 to $3.50, with a market cap of $3.55 billion. The bounce back in the NEAR price trend shows a massive boom and sets a bullish stage for 2024.
NEAR Protocol is gearing up for a bullish 2024, and here’s a solid reason why: Back in November, the NEAR Foundation shook hands with Polygon Labs on a groundbreaking project. They’re diving into zkWASM, which is about making blockchain transactions private without losing a beat on speed or security.
This partnership is a big deal because it combines Polygon Labs’ wizardry in zero-knowledge proofs with NEAR’s smarts in WASM, which is short for WebAssembly technology. They’re joining forces to develop a zkWASM prover that could take privacy on blockchains to the next level.
Currently, in a bullish trend, it is tipped for a breakout, making it a promising investment for those looking at emerging technologies in the blockchain space. So, keep an eye on the NEAR Protocol. With such moves, they’re not just following trends but setting them, making NEAR a network to watch in the fast-approaching 2024.
9. Fantom (FTM)
Fantom is becoming increasingly relevant in blockchain, especially in the DeFi and dApp sectors. With a 121.22% rise from $0.202 to $0.44 and a market cap of $1.24 billion, Fantom represents an attractive opportunity.
Fantom (FTM) is buzzing with potential as we zoom into 2024. It’s not just any blockchain; it’s right up there with Ethereum, especially when the market’s looking for high-reward plays. The big news? Fantom’s DeFi ecosystem is solid and liquid, suggesting its price might not fully reflect its true worth.
The official Fantom wallet, fWallet, just got a mega upgrade, making it sleeker and more powerful. And here’s the kicker: more and more developers are flocking to Fantom to launch their GameFi projects. That’s a big thumbs-up for growth!
But wait, there’s more! Fantom Foundation has launched the Sonic Labs startup accelerator. This is huge because it’s all about turbocharging innovation in Fantom’s Sonic technology. It’s a green light for Web3 founders to build something awesome.
With all these developments and the current price trends, Fantom is looking at a potential uptick. A lot depends on pulling in top-notch projects and the overall market mood, but things are looking bright for Fantom as we head into 2024. Keep an eye on it!
10. ORDI
ORDI utilizes the Bitcoin network innovatively, garnering significant interest. It has shown a 123% growth in a year, from $25.346 to $57.17, with a market cap of $1.20 billion. As a lower-cap coin, ORDI is positioned for potentially sharp increases.
The latest data from Dune Analytics reveals that the Bitcoin Ordinals Protocol has surpassed 50 million inscriptions, with fee income reaching approximately 4,597.7177 BTC, which is around $192 million. This growth indicates a burgeoning interest in Ordinals and potential growth in ORDI.
Heading into 2024, ORDI, leveraging the Bitcoin Ordinals protocol, is taking center stage in the Bitcoin universe. This innovative protocol is a game-changer, allowing for embedding unique data directly into Bitcoin transactions. It’s not just about transactions anymore; it’s about creating distinct, individualized digital assets on the Bitcoin blockchain.
The rise of ORDI and the Bitcoin Ordinals ecosystem is a fascinating development. As this technology gains traction, it’s adding more layers and complexity to the Bitcoin network, leading to increased network activity and higher transaction fees.
However, it’s not all smooth sailing. The growing popularity of Ordinals and the resulting network congestion has sparked debate among Bitcoin core developers. Some are concerned about the rising costs and the potential need to regulate the use of Ordinals.
Despite these challenges, the momentum behind ORDI and the Bitcoin Ordinals ecosystem is undeniable. As we step into 2024, they are poised to be significant players, reshaping how we think about Bitcoin and its capabilities. Keep an eye on ORDI; it’s at the forefront of an exciting shift in the crypto landscape!
Conclusion
As we enter 2024, the altcoin market is not just a speculative arena but a testament to blockchain technology’s innovative and transformative potential. Each of the altcoins listed here offers a unique proposition, from high-speed transactions and scalable platforms to unique payment solutions and interconnectivity of blockchains.
As with any investment, due diligence and a balanced portfolio approach are crucial. The crypto renaissance is here, and for the savvy investor, the opportunities are as diverse as they are promising.
Embattled edtech major Byju’s founder and chief executive, Byju Raveendran, has written a note to shareholders of the company informing them that the firm is fully compliant with Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) regulations.
In the letter addressed to the shareholders, Byju claimed they were fully compliant with the foreign exchange rules and said that a top law firm had conducted due diligence on its FEMA compliance. businessline has seen a copy of the email.
“An email from the law firm highlights the results of a comprehensive due diligence conducted on Byju’s. The email confirms that the due diligence found no FEMA violations at Byju’s,” said Raveendran in his communique to shareholders.
Also read: Byju’s last paid PF to its employees in August 2023, show EPFO data
Alleged forex violations
The communication to shareholders comes at a time when news reports suggest that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has found alleged forex violations to the tune of ₹9,000 crore by the edtech giant.
“Byju’s has maintained a cooperative stance with the ED throughout their inquiries. We have satisfactorily answered all their queries, both verbally and on record. We understand that such news can create uncertainty and concern, but we want to assure you that Byju’s continues to operate in full adherence to regulatory frameworks,” the letter added.
In April, the ED conducted searches at three premises in Bengaluru in the case involving Raveendran and his company under the provisions of FEMA. At that time, the ED asserted that it had seized various incriminating documents and digital data. The agency also revealed that the company has received foreign direct investment to the tune of approximately ₹28,000 crore during the period from 2011 to 2023.
Also read: Byju’s misses deadline to clear dues of laid-off employees, yet again
Byju’s troubles
Recently, the company had again delayed the full and final settlement of its laid-off employees. The firm had earlier shifted the payment timeline of full and final settlement for laid-off employees from September to November.
The newly-appointed CEO of Byju’s India operations, Arjun Mohan, had initiated a restructuring effort expected to impact 4,000-5,000 jobs, even as it tried to resolve the longstanding issue with Davidson Kempner, linked with covenants in its subsidiary Aakash. In November, Manipal Group chairman Ranjan Pai bought out the debt investment of the US Hedge Fund, in a ₹1,400-crore deal, which businessline had reported earlier.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is an all-you-can-play video game subscription service with exceptional value. It has evolved far beyond its Xbox-bound origins to become a subscription that delivers something for everyone who plays games, and now encompasses console and PC game downloads, access to online multiplayer services, a deal with gaming giant EA and a cloud-based service that streams games to nearly any device. It also delivers a lot of Day 1 launch games from Microsoft’s own studios.
Finding the right version of Game Pass can be confusing. Microsoft offers several versions, but because of how the features are sliced up between them, only the $15-per-month Ultimate plan, which we’ll shorten here to XGPU, with all the benefits detailed above, really makes any sense.
It’s that collection of features, for less than the cost of a 4K Netflix subscription, which earns Game Pass Ultimate an Editors’ Choice Award, especially if you have the less expensive (and occasionally discounted) Xbox Series S version of the console.
Halo Infinite is one of many big box-office games you get on Game Pass.
Microsoft
Pick the right plan
Plain old Game Pass is $10 per month, and just includes a library of games from famous to obscure, that you can download and play on Xbox One or Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. As with all these subscriptions, games enter and leave the library regularly due to licensing deals, but Microsoft staples such as Halo and Forza are usually permanent. Even when a game leaves the library, though, you can transfer your progress to another storefront like Steam — not easily, but you can do it.
If you want to play games with online multiplayer, in most cases you’ll need a separate $10 per month Xbox Live subscription to play online against other people. That’s included in the Ultimate package, so you can already see why that’s the plan Microsoft is really pushing you toward.
Note that free-to-play games, like Fortnite, don’t require an Xbox Live subscription for multiplayer.
The $10 per month Game Pass for PC plan uses a Windows-only Xbox app to download and install a subset of games from the full Game Pass library to run locally rather than stream. As these are full PC games, you’ll need a gaming laptop or desktop with a graphics card and a powerful-enough processor, plus a lot of hard drive space, to use it. Game Pass for PC also includes EA Play, a subscription that on its own costs $5 a month or $30 a year.
But the best value lies in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. For $15 per month, you get both the console and PC game libraries, EA Play’s perks and discounts, as well as Xbox Gold — $10 a month on its own — which focuses on online multiplayer games. To top it all off, you can play on phones, iPads or even a Mac by using Xbox Cloud Gaming. For anyone who enjoys both console and PC gaming, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal, especially if cloud gaming continues to become a bigger part of the mix.
Read more: Best Gaming Laptop for 2022
Game selection
Action-adventure games and shooter series like Battlefield, Destiny 2, Gears of War and Halo make up a majority of the service’s catalog of about 400 games. By our count, action/adventure games made up 30% of the titles on Game Pass, with shooters accounting for another 15%. RPGs and sports titles also had a decent showing, but horror fans and puzzle aficionados will find a smaller selection (about 5% of the library). Still, Game Pass offers access to classic platformers like Banjo Kazooie, matching and puzzle games, RPGs and unique indie games such as Twelve Minutes and Hades.
The games are sorted into categories so you can easily find games that are family-friendly, action-packed or even a last shot at games that are expiring soon from the platform. Game Pass is such a comprehensive, intuitive service — once you’ve found a title that interests you, just download the game to start playing.
Dan Ackerman/CNET
The Game Pass Ultimate difference: Breadth and depth
For its intended purpose, Microsoft has unmatched advantages over competitors for several reasons. The company has a long history in gaming — Microsoft Flight Simulator launched nearly 40 years ago and the Xbox more than 20 years ago — and it owns the DirectX graphics programming interface used by both Windows and its Xbox consoles. It has well-established game development studios and gobbles up more independent studios every year, plus it has relationships with every important game developer. And it operates a huge network of state-of-the-art data centers optimized for serving cloud applications: Xbox Cloud Gaming is as much about Azure as it is about fun.
The key here is “intended purpose,” because XGPU is only one of our two cloud-gaming Editors’ Choice Awards: The other is Nvidia GeForce Now. XGPU is great if you don’t already have a big library of games or if you want to play them on any device, making it a good choice for almost anyone. GeForce Now is great if you already have a big library of PC games and want to play them on any device at high quality and frame rates, making it a good choice for more veteran gamers.
The two complement each other more than they compete, and they require the least adaptation work for developers, ensuring fast growth in the numbers of supported games. It probably takes longer to get the licensing agreements signed than to ready a game for either service.
In contrast, most of XGPU’s competitors only address pieces of the whole picture; for instance, both Google Stadia and Amazon Luna have robust networks for streaming to multiple devices, but they have small game libraries because the games are harder to bring over.
And an annoying irony is that Sony had the biggest head start of all on cloud gaming and pretty much blew it, leaving PSNow just a nice, and relatively inexpensive, choice as a game library for the PlayStation that doesn’t even offer Sony’s newest exclusives the way XGPU does.
Xbox cloud gaming on a laptop.
Dan Ackerman/CNET
Where it falls short
As a jack-of-all-trades, XGPU doesn’t master every aspect. For instance, its cloud gaming stream is still limited to 1080p at 60fps, while Stadia can do 4K and GeForce Now 1440p at 120fps.
And there are few things more rage-inducing than settling in to play on your PC and discovering that the game won’t launch until you update Windows because the Xbox app is too enmeshed with the Microsoft Store — a major buzzkill that has frequently impelled us to move on to other, non-Game Pass games.
It offers a notable number of new games and Day 1 launches, but the library also sheds games regularly. Like many subscription services, the game (or movie or TV show) you want always seems to be on the service you don’t subscribe to.
While it’s great that EA Play is included in the subscription price for XGPU, it’s not integrated that closely. For example, on the PC you still need to install yet another launcher and family settings in XGPU don’t apply to EA Play.
The value play
When it launched, Game Pass felt a lot like Netflix in its early streaming days: an interesting idea, but a thin catalog. Now it’s the default release platform for major games from Microsoft-associated publishers such as Bethesda, and hit series like Halo and Forza.
As it evolved into the multiheaded hydra that is Game Pass Ultimate, it’s hard to rationalize even buying an Xbox without also subscribing. A 12-month subscription costs the same as three major new game releases (or even less, now that a lot of new games have jumped to $70). And more importantly, it gives gamers a chance to sample a far greater range of games from developers of all sizes, solving one of gaming’s greatest discoverability problems.
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People with treatment-resistant hypertension could benefit from a new procedure that the FDA recently approved.
The minimally invasive procedure targets nerves near the kidneys to help control high blood pressure when medications fail to do so.
Dr. Samin Sharma, an interventional cardiologist and director of the Mount Sinai Cardiovascular Clinical Institute at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York City, performed the new procedure on a patient with uncontrolled hypertension earlier this month.
REDUCING SALT INTAKE BY JUST 1 TEASPOON A DAY HAS SAME EFFECT AS BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS, STUDY FINDS
“When the device came, we said, ‘We are going to try it on you,’” Sharma told Fox News Digital.
“He said yes and was very happy.”
A team of interventional cardiologists from Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York City performed the first Symplicity™ blood pressure procedure in December 2023.(Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital)
Here’s how it works
The treatment uses a device that ablates the overstimulated sympathetic nerves near the kidneys, Sharma said.
It can help control the patient’s blood pressure for at least five years, possibly preventing life-threatening events such as heart attack, stroke, brain bleeds and kidney failure.
“Renal denervation continues to be an experimental therapy that has shown some promise as a proof of concept.”
Two devices — Medtronic’s Symplicity Spyral Renal Denervation system and Recor Medical’s Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation system — have received FDA approval for this treatment as of the end of December 2023.
The device is indicated “to reduce blood pressure as an adjunctive treatment in patients with hypertension in whom lifestyle modifications and antihypertensive medications do not adequately control blood pressure,” according to the FDA’s approval statement.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE A CONCERN WORLDWIDE, LEADING TO DEATH, STROKE, HEART ATTACK: HOW TO STOP A ‘SILENT KILLER’
The procedure is intended for individuals who do not show blockage of the kidney arteries, Sharma noted.
During the one-hour procedure, interventional cardiologists insert a thin tube into the renal artery, which sends sound waves or radiofrequency energy that targets and ablates the overactive sympathetic nerves that are connected to the kidney, Sharma told Fox News Digital.
The patient’s blood pressure after the procedure is now averaging 135/85 — the lowest it has been in many years. Mount Sinai is one of the few hospitals in the country to perform this “game-changing” procedure.(Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital)
“You kind of destroy the nerve endings,” the doctor said.
This calms the nerves’ excessive activity — which mitigates blood pressure to the brain.
Studies have shown that this ablation technique helps to lower systolic (the top number) and diastolic (the bottom number) blood pressure readings in individuals for months or even years.
WANT A MORE ACCURATE BLOOD PRESSURE READING? TRY LYING DOWN WHEN IT’S TAKEN, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS
There is most likely no negative impact on the kidneys, Sharma told Fox News Digital.
As with any procedure, however, there are some risks involved.
One potential risk is that an artery is damaged during the procedure.
“Hypertension is the most frequent modifiable risk factor for heart disease, and blood pressure control in our country is not where it needs to be,” a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“Damage can occur in about one in 500 cases,” Sharma said.
“We don’t expect this to happen, but that is a [potential] complication.”
Why results have been life-changing
On Dec. 4, Sharma and his team of doctors at Mount Sinai performed the procedure on Adit Dhawan, 44.
Dhawan, a married father who lives on Long Island, New York, spoke to Fox News Digital about the experience.
SKIPPING THE SALT CAN REDUCE HEART DISEASE RISK BY ALMOST 20%, STUDY FINDS: ‘KNOW WHAT YOU ARE CONSUMING’
Ever since he was diagnosed with high blood pressure at age 19, he’d taken several different medications over the decades, none of which helped.
Dhawan also followed a relatively healthy diet and exercised regularly.
Despite these efforts, his blood pressure has averaged 150/90-100 mm Hg since he was in his twenties, he told Fox News Digital.
A normal blood pressure reading is between 110-120/70-80 mm Hg, according to medical experts.
A normal blood pressure reading is between 110-120/70-80 mm Hg, according to medical experts.(Tobias Hase/picture alliance via Getty Images)
A few months ago, when Dhawan took the measurement at home, the result was even higher than what he typically saw.
“It was super high — 170/100. That’s when I freaked out,” he said.
When he sought Sharman’s help, the doctor told Dhawan about the new procedure — and he was eager to give it a try.
A SINGLE ALCOHOLIC DRINK PER DAY COULD RAISE BLOOD PRESSURE, SAYS STUDY
After the procedure, which Dhawan described as “not bad,” he took Tylenol for some mild soreness that lasted for about three days.
Now, just three weeks later, he is already seeing the benefits of the procedure. Dhawan is already taking far fewer blood pressure medications and is back to running and exercising, he told Fox News Digital.
“I’m really glad, because high blood pressure is a silent killer,” he said. “I’m very happy. Everything is fine. All my vitals are great.”
Based on trials and short-term follow-up, a doctor noted that the procedure seems to provide modest benefit in lowering blood pressure.(iStock)
Dhawan’s blood pressure is now averaging 135/85 — the lowest it has been in many years.
As of Dec. 2023, Mount Sinai is one of the few places in the country where this “game-changing” procedure has been performed. Other hospitals that have performed the procedure include NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University; Gates Vascular Institute in Buffalo, New York; Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles; and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.
What doctors are saying
Several physicians not involved with Dhawan’s case spoke to Fox News Digital about the new treatment for uncontrolled hypertension.
“In high-quality randomized studies, the renal denervation procedure has been shown to improve blood pressure control … in patients with difficult-to-control blood pressure and those with high blood pressure who are on one or two medications,” said Dr. Manesh R. Patel, M.D., chief of cardiology and co-director of the Duke Heart Center at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
MEDICAL RESEARCH ON CELLPHONE USE SAYS CHATTING FOR THIS AMOUNT OF TIME PER WEEK CAN RAISE BLOOD PRESSURE RISK
As Patel told Fox News Digital, he is excited that there’s now another therapy available for patients with high blood pressure.
“Hypertension is the most frequent modifiable risk factor for heart disease, and blood pressure control in our country is not where it needs to be,” the doctor told Fox News Digital.
“Therefore, having a procedure to support control, on top of medications, is an important step forward.”
Two devices — Medtronic’s Symplicity Spyral Renal Denervation system and Recor Medical’s Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation system — both received FDA approval for this treatment as of the end of December 2023.(AP Images)
When asked about concerns regarding the procedure’s potential effect on the kidneys, Patel said, “The studies done to date have shown the renal denervation procedure has been well-tolerated and there has been a low risk of causing any damage.”
Dr. Steven Potter, M.D., an experienced kidney and pancreas transplant surgeon at Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute in Washington, D.C., also commented on the newly approved procedure.
“The global costs of hypertension are enormous, and innovative treatment options could prove to hold great value,” Potter told Fox News Digital.
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“At this point, renal denervation continues to be an experimental therapy that has shown some promise as a proof of concept.”
Based on trials and short-term follow-up, Potter noted that the procedure seems to provide modest benefit in lowering blood pressure, although “the results of studies have been conflicting, with some showing significant benefit and others failing to do so.”
Hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mm Hg.(iStock)
More experience with, and research into, the procedure are needed “before its appropriate role in clinical practice is determined,” he added.
High blood pressure affects nearly half of U.S. adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Only about one out of four patients with hypertension are able to control it.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mm Hg.
In 2021, hypertension was a primary or contributing cause of 691,095 deaths in the U.S.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
New Year’s is just around the corner. While we still haven’t recovered from our Christmas spirits, our minds and hearts are ready again to party, this time to bid farewell to 2023. A heavy and full tummy can mean great things, but it can also cause major discomfort afterwards. Bloating is one such problem that every one of us suffers from after big holiday meals. It is a condition where a person feels full and satisfied due to gas. This could lead to stomach aches, tummy noises, and even farting more than usual. If you are willing to avoid this before your New Year’s celebration, then fret not. We have listed 5 ways you can stop New Year bloating.
Also Read: Feeling Bloated And Gassy? Try These 5 Superfoods For Natural Relief
Bloating is very common after heavy meals. Photo Credit: iStock
Here’s How You Can Prevent New Year’s Bloating: How To Prevent New Year Bloating
1. Slow Down A Little
Yes, it may seem like a grown-up piece of advice, but slowing things down right from the beginning can help you enjoy New Year’s way more than you could imagine. In busy times like these, we often end up eating more than our original capacity, which could lead to bloating. When it comes to mindful eating, how we eat is just as important as what we eat. Avoid eating food in a rush, on the go, or not eating at the table. When we are in a constant rush to party, our brain does not get time to tell our stomach when to stop. So, take time while eating, chew your food properly, and don’t gobble it down to prevent yourself from bloating.
2. Don’t Wait For The Party To Eat
Are you one of those types who won’t eat the entire day just to indulge at the party? Then chances are you will develop bloating soon after you start digging in. When you are hungry the whole day, you may end up eating too much or too fast. This could lead to severe discomfort and bloating after your New Year bash. Instead, make sure to eat small amounts of food throughout the day to support your digestion. Additionally, you should also watch out for foods that cause bloating like fats, excessive sugar, and sodium.
3. Know Your Triggers
A great way to avoid bloating is to know yourself. This involves what are and are not your trigger foods that may lead to discomfort after your party. At a party, we may usually find ourselves at the mercy of what the host is serving, which can mean we don’t know the ingredients of the dishes. You can ask the host about the ingredients of the dish and save yourself from the discomfort. Another way is to directly identify the foods. Some of the common bloating foods are – chickpeas, pinto beans, broccoli, beans, lentils, garlic, etc. Keeping an eye on your food intake can save you from a lot of digestive trouble afterwards.
4. Limit Alcohol
Alcoholic drinks are often considered a major part of today’s parties, but consuming them after eating heavy meals can make things worse for you. Alcohol slows down digestion, increases water retention, and ends up making you feel lethargic. This could also lead to severe discomfort, gas, and bloating. To avoid this, try reducing your alcohol intake or drinking it in between your food bites. Moreover, make sure to stay hydrated with water. Water helps you flush out toxins and prevent bloating. A simple way to do this is by making strict rules for yourself, like for every glass of alcohol, you’ll drink one glass of water.
5. Be Active
Don’t just sit down on the couch after you are done eating and drinking. Instead, engage in some light physical activity. A light walk after the New Year dinner can help stimulate digestion and reduce the chances of bloating. So, after your New Year get-together, try engaging in a physical activity session, even if it’s light, to reduce physical discomfort afterwards.
Also Read: Feel Bloated After Meals? 5 Nutritionist-Approved Drinks That May Help
One afternoon in August 2020, while staying at her parents’ house in the Hudson Valley, Jean Garnett, an editor at Little, Brown & Company, prepared to meet remotely with the author Chantal V. Johnson, whose novel “Post-traumatic” she wanted to acquire for publication.
She had to find a private place to take the call, not because she needed quiet, but because her identical twin sister Callie Garnett — the editorial director at Bloomsbury, a competing imprint — was also staying at the house and would be taking her own call with Ms. Johnson a few hours later.
Jean ended up working in her father’s office, while Callie hunkered down in a bedroom.
“I went to the bathroom while she was on the call, and I heard her being brilliant,” Jean recalled in an interview this month at a German beer hall in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood. She was sitting on a bar stool next to her sister as a publishing industry holiday party was winding down.
Callie, wearing an olive green trapper hat, smiled as her sister told the story, then delivered the punchline: “But Jean got the book.”
At the event, an annual soiree hosted by the literary agent Soumeya B. Roberts and the Grove Atlantic deputy publisher Peter Blackstock, everyone knew Callie from Jean and vice versa. But at a reading a few hours earlier, Callie said, more than one person had approached her to say, “‘I know you’re one of the twins, but I don’t know which one.’”
“That happens a lot,” Callie added.
Such is occasionally the cost of doing business when you work in the same tight-knit industry as your identical twin. Turns out, Jean said, mix-ups are “really good for networking.”
“Post-traumatic” was not the only project that enticed both Garnetts. Each chased “Enter the Aardvark,” a political satire by Jessica Anthony (Jean won); “Outlawed” by Anna North (Callie won); and “Little Rabbit” by Alyssa Songsiridej (Callie won again, and Ms. Songsiridej later earned a 5 Under 35 award from the National Book Foundation for the novel).
Jean said that when she started reading “Little Rabbit” on submission, “within like five pages, I was like, Callie is going to be all over this.”
“Sometimes we just know,” she added.
Rachel Mannheimer, an editor at The Yale Review, walked over to chat with Jean about a forthcoming essay on midlife crisis. She and Callie had both turned 40 at the beginning of the month.
The sisters are also writers, and Ms. Mannheimer is Jean’s editor at the Review. “I send all of my work to Rachel,” Jean said. She edited “There I Almost Am,” Jean’s Pushcart Prize-winning essay on coping with jealousy and comparison as a twin, published in 2021.
“Writing about the ways I’m envious of my twin was very freeing,” Jean said. “It made me more fully grasp the love and identification side of envy. Which twins are a useful symbol of.”
That same year, Callie’s first poetry collection, “Wings in Time,” appeared on The New York Times’s list of Best Poetry.
In July, Jean wrote about their relationship again in a New Yorker piece called “Giving Away My Twin,” which recounted her experience walking Callie down the aisle at her wedding.
The twins, who both live in the Hudson Valley, grew up in Park Slope. As tweens and teens, Callie said, they “did a lot of thrashing around trying to individuate.” But as they got older, she added, they realized that they “didn’t really have to force that.”
“We were enough of our own people that we could really share the things that we loved,” like writing and editing, Callie said. Jean got into publishing first and, in 2014, connected Callie with George Gibson, then the head of Bloomsbury.
“Jean is responsible for me being in publishing,” Callie said. “And for me getting my first job. I’ve been at Bloomsbury my whole career.”
To create a place where, as Jean put it, they “weren’t in competition as editors,” she started a joint Instagram account under the handle @publishingtwins in 2021. She and Callie have since used it to celebrate each other’s successes and to boost each other’s titles.
In November, Callie published Helena de Bres’s book “How to Be Multiple: The Philosophy of Twins,” which grapples with existential questions related to twinship and society’s perception of it.
Ms. de Bres, a professor at Wellesley and a twin herself, said in an interview that many identical twins end up in the same fields. (For example, the U.S. politicians Julian and Joaquin Castro; the tennis doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan; The National band members Aaron and Bryce Dessner, and the feuding Danish beer brewers Mikkel Borg Bjergso and Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergso.)
When the average person encounters a pair of twins, Ms. de Bres said, it’s easy to start thinking about “free will, or the nature of love, or what it means to be a person, what identity is.”
What Ms. de Bres did, Callie said, is explore questions like “‘which one are you?’”
“‘Who’s the smart one?’” Jean chimed in. “‘Who’s the good one?’”
“‘Are you two in love?’” Callie continued. “I loved that one. Because people really do project a weird romance between twins. I think that’s why identical twins are a little threatening to people. They have a closeness.”
Ms. de Bres’s book, Callie said, was “license to start talking about some of the stuff that we’ve thought about our whole lives.”
“My husband says about Jean, ‘She’s the least “other” other an other can be,’” she said. “There’s a threshold of otherness that we’re really close to.”
“We’re not quite ‘other’ to each other,” Jean said, reaching for a handful of fries on the bar.
“But we are other,” Callie added.
“But we are!” Jean said. “We’re not in the same body.”
“We’re right on the border of that,” Callie said, pouring some beer from their very tall, shared glass into a smaller one, “and it means we have to think about that a lot of the time, which means we end up thinking about individual agency and individuality, free will, I think, maybe more than other people do.”
Before stepping out into the cold night, this reporter asked the sisters to put their editor caps on and pitch each other’s writing.
“She memorizes her poems and performs them,” Jean said. “They are the best surreal stand-up comedy that you’ve ever seen.”
Callie considered this and added, “There’s an element of stand-up comedy to your essays, too.”
“We are both writers, but I think,” Jean said to her sister, “and correct me if I’m wrong — we both think of ourselves like collage artists. We’re interested in putting two things next to each other and seeing what happens.”
Five trends in pharmaceutical marketing from the past year.
Doctors as influencers
A recent Hootsuite social trends presentation focused on healthcare revealed that a significant majority of Gen Z use social media platforms like TikTok and LinkedIn to look up health-related information. Using a mix of medical, personal, and trendy posts—doctors on TikTok have gained millions of followers each; verified account or not. Some companies, like acne treatment Differin, utilize these doctors to answer FAQs to elevate trust and bring relatability to their product. Hootsuite also predicts that LinkedIn will become the new healthcare hub of social media.
Celebrity endorsement
Though the mask mandates have lifted, and the social distancing floor stickers have faded, COVID vaccine makers like Pfizer have turned to celebs like Martha Stewart, Michael Phelps, Travis Kelce and more to leverage their followings to encourage people to get their COVID vaccine and boosters. Other notable campaigns include Apellis’ Syforve being promoted by ‘The Fonz’ himself—Henry Winkler—and Lady Gaga taking center stage on behalf of migraine medication, Nurtec ODT.
Artificial intelligence/Generative AI
The Hootsuite presentation also noted the industry is planning to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) more across the board. Beyond the ability to edit images and gather inspiration, pharma companies are also utilizing AI for customer support activities. The good news? The main reason organizations are embracing AI is to reduce staff workload, not replace employees. Consumers have expressed that they would be wary and untrusting of content created with AI, furthering the need for the human touch on campaigns.
Weight loss
Interestingly enough Big Pharma hasn’t had to do much to make a craze over anti-obesity/appetite suppressing drugs. Jimmy Kimmel even included a joke in his monologue at the Oscars. Kimmel was onto something as many celebrities have cited the assistance of drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Jardiance as part of their weight loss journey successes—even if those medications were created for something like diabetes care. The hype has caused a significant increase in ad spend, nearly $500 million according to CNBC.1
Moving away from Twitter/X
With so much drama surrounding Twitter/X and Elon Musk, many companies have closed their wallets when it comes to ad spend on the platform. Always the more sarcastic platform, Twitter/X has become a place that has little to no rules, where any one can be verified and post whatever they please. Meta’s retort Threads hasn’t been proven popular enough to earn a vote of confidence, or significant dollars yet. Healthcare organizations have the most confidence in the ROI they’ll get from LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
Most cat owners are aware of the harmful effects that pine oil can have on cats and avoid using products that contain it. Pine-Sol is a popular multi-surface cleaner, and while it still does have “pine” in its name, most of the current formulations do not contain pine oil. Pine-Sol is safe to use in the household with cats as long as the instructions are followed cats are kept out of the area when in use. However, Pine-Sol can be dangerous for cats if ingested or if it gets on their skin. So, it’s best to keep it stored in a safe, unreachable place for cats and only use it when they’re not in the same room.
What’s Inside Pine Sol?
Pine-Sol is a multi-surface cleaner that can be used on most non-porous surfaces. It was first invented in 1929 and contained a high concentration of pine oil. The amount of pine oil in Pine-Sol has reduced over the years, and it’s no longer a main ingredient in its current formula.1 However, there are still formulations of Pine-Sol available online, so always check the ingredients of the product you are using.
Even if the Pine-Sol product you are using does not contain any pine oil, it’s still not safe to have it near your cats because it contains other chemicals that are toxic to cats. Harmful chemicals inside Pine-Sol include propyl heptyl ether, alcohol ethoxylates, and formic acid. These chemicals are powerful cleaning agents that are harmful if swallowed.
Image Credit: SARYMSAKOV ANDREY, Shutterstock
Can I Use Pine-Sol Around Cats?
Pine-Sol can be used in homes with cats as long as you follow the guidelines. According to Pine-Sol’s instructions, Pine-Sol can be used in pet areas, but it shouldn’t be used as a pet shampoo. Bottles of Pine-Sol should also be sealed securely and kept out of reach of children and pets.
If you plan to use Pine-Sol, it’s important to keep your cat away from surfaces until the Pine-Sol has dried completely. Stepping on wet Pine-Sol can irritate your cat’s paws, and your cat can end up swallowing Pine-Sol if they try to lick their paws clean.
Pine-Sol is safe after it has dried completely. If you have a fairly docile cat that doesn’t mind waiting in a different room while you use Pine-Sol, you shouldn’t run into any safety issues. However, if you have a particularly active or curious cat that won’t stay away while you clean, you may want to consider using natural, non-toxic household cleaning products.
What to Do If Your Cat Comes in Contact With Pine-Sol
Pine-Sol mostly irritates the eyes, but it can also be a skin irritant. So, if your cat steps on wet Pine-Sol, make sure to rinse their paws with gentle soap and water right away. Then, be on the lookout for any skin irritation during the next few hours. Your cat’s skin can be itchy, red, or inflamed.
If your cat ingests any Pine-Sol, make sure to contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control hotline for further instructions. Cats can display varying signs if they’re experiencing chemical poisoning. Here are some signs to look out for:
Excessive drooling
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Weakness
Increased heart rate
Increased thirst
Lethargy
Restlessness
Muscle tremors
Seizures
It’s not recommended to induce vomiting at home, as this can create further complications for your cat. Getting your cat proper veterinary care as quickly as possible will ensure that your cat gets adequate care and has the best chance for recovery.
Image Credit: Elisa Putti, Shutterstock
Conclusion
Pine-Sol can be used in pet spaces, but you must follow certain guidelines if you choose to use it. Before you use Pine-Sol, make sure to keep your cat in a separate space so that they don’t come in contact with it. Wait until surfaces have dried completely before allowing your cat back into the room. If an accident occurs and your cat ingests some Pine-Sol, make sure to get them veterinary care right away so that they get the proper treatment. If it’s particularly challenging to adhere to these guidelines, it’s best to switch to a different household cleaner that uses non-toxic ingredients.
The year 2023 is set to see record sales of luxury homes, as buyers are digging deep into their pockets to buy fully-loaded homes, the trend being seen across all well-heeled income brackets. It’s not merely the much publicised tech CXOs, the unicorn billionaires or the rarefied breed of top dollar earners; the demand for luxury is coming from all segments.
“I am seeing the buying of luxury homes is much more broad-based,” Cyrus Mody, Founder and Managing Partner of Viceroy Properties, told businessline.
Viceroy Properties, which has positioned itself as a luxury residences builder, launched its first project just prior to the pandemic and has reaped the benefits of the unprecedented demand for luxury homes over the last year or so.
Mody says the demand has received a further fillip with the positivity in the economy, the wealth created in the equity markets and that is translating into higher spending power.
Here are edited excerpts of the interview with Mody.
How do you assess the demand for housing in India in 2023 from the point of view of the luxury segment?
It has been a great year. India’s growth has been tearaway economically and a lot of that has been translated into the real estate sector, especially the luxury segment. A lot of the luxury inventory is being absorbed faster than the developers can build.
When you launched your project, were you able to foresee the kind of demand that would come in?
In hindsight, we can say that we were lucky to have launched our project before Covid. Initially, we thought the demand would drop away, but very early on we realised that flat purchasers had started understanding the value of their homes. They started enjoying the homes they lived in. People started introspecting into their lives and what they wanted out of it, not just work. They wanted a better product and lifestyle, and that translated into huge demand.
During the lockdowns and once some of the restrictions were removed, we saw the demand for larger format, better-built homes. What has happened over the last four-five months is that demand has been supplemented by positive economic sentiments, translating into higher spending power. So that is a powerful compounding effect for luxury real estate.
Where is all this demand coming from? Is it the CXOs, the unicorn billionaires? And is the wealth created in the stock markets being channelled into real estate?
I am seeing the buying of luxury homes as much more broad-based, across the spectrum of demand rather than only the super luxury ₹30 crore-plus flats. No doubt there is a good amount of that sort of inventory also being sold, but that is a shallow segment of the market. In the ₹5-15 crore range, the demand has picked up massively.
As to the stock markets, for any developing nation that goes through that cycle, one of the first sectors to really benefit is the real estate. You will want a good amount of your wealth to be from the stock markets, but you can’t live in the stock markets – you live in the home that you purchase.
What are the new trends that you are seeing in the sector?
Upgrade buyers, that’s definitely a trend – people who want to upgrade to newer, better homes. With respect to design, the industry is moving to clean aesthetics, for a more cosmopolitan look. Another major trend is that buyers are looking for homes that fit their lifestyle requirements. They don’t want to be told by the developer to join the lifestyle on offer.
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.
PREGLEDALI smo kataloge poznatih maloprodajnih trgovina u Hrvatskoj i izdvojili najbolje popuste i proizvode po dobrim cijenama. Kaufland, Lidl, Tommy, Konzum, Plodine, Eurospin, Spar i Interspar možete pronaći u svim većim mjestima u Hrvatskoj, a ispod možete vidjeti našu šoping-listu za ovaj tjedan.
Lidl
Lidlov katalog vrijedi od srijede, 27.12., do subote, 30.12., ili do prodaje zaliha, a pojedini popusti vrijede samo na odabrane datume u tom periodu. Katalog možete prolistati ovdje, a za ostvarenje pojedinih popusta potrebna vam je mobilna aplikacija Lidl Plus.
Kaufland
Kauflandov katalog vrijedi od četvrtka, 28.12., do nedjelje, 31.12., ili do prodaje zaliha, a pojedini popusti vrijede samo na odabrane datume u tom periodu. Aktualni katalog možete prolistati ovdje, a za ostvarenje pojedinih dodatnih popusta potrebna vam je Kauflandova kartica.
Plodine
Katalog Plodina vrijedi od srijede, 27.12., do nedjelje, 31.12., ili do isteka zaliha, a pojedini popusti vrijede samo na odabrane datume u tom periodu. Aktualni katalog možete prolistati ovdje.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Eurospin
Katalog Eurospina vrijedi od četvrtka, 28.12., do srijede, 3.1., ili do isteka zaliha. Aktualni katalog možete prolistati ovdje.
Tommy
Tommyjev akcijski katalog vrijedi od srijede, 27.12., do srijede, 3.1. Katalog možete prolistati ovdje.
Spar
Novi katalozi Spara i Interspara vrijede od srijede, 27.12., do utorka, 2.1., ili do prodaje zaliha za prehrambene namirnice, kozmetiku, proizvode za osobnu higijenu i sredstva za čišćenje. Pojedini popusti vrijede samo u trgovinama Spar i Interspar, ovisno o dostupnosti proizvoda na akciji u tim trgovinama. Aktualne kataloge možete prolistati ovdje.
Konzum
Konzumov katalog vrijedi od četvrtka, 14.12., do srijede, 27.12., ili do prodaje zaliha. Za pojedine popuste potrebna je MultiPlus kartica. Aktualni katalog možete prolistati ovdje. *Čim Konzum izbaci novi katalog, unijet ćemo nove popuste i ažurirati članak.
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There are no shortage of year-end lists that employ metrics — unique visitors, page views, minutes spent — to measure the most popular stories of the year.
The most enjoyable lists, however, are less quantifiable and divined instead by the writers themselves and what they have found most rewarding.
The following 26 Times staff writers and columnists, listed alphabetically, joined sports editor Iliana Limón Romero sharing to share their favorite sports stories from 2023.
As we wrap up the year 2023, let’s dive into the world of gadgets and find out the coolest ones launched by Oppo. From jaw-dropping designs to mind-blowing features, Oppo launched smartphones with several industry-first features. From Oppo Find N3 Flip to Enco Air3 Pro TWS, let’s take a stroll down the Oppo memory lane.
Oppo Find N3 Flip
Oppo Find N3 Flip is the brand’s best Flip device. It has a sleek design and features a 3.26-inch vertical cover screen that supports over 40 optimized apps for a seamless user experience. The Flexion hinge minimises creases on the foldable display and has been certified by the TÜV Rheinland for 1,00,000 folds.
The triple-camera setup, boasting a 50MP main camera, a 48MP wide-angle camera, and a 32MP telephoto camera, transforms mobile photography, with the Multi-Angle FlexForm Camera mode enabling hands-free creativity. It is priced at Rs 82,999.
Oppo Reno10 Pro+ 5G
The Oppo Reno10 Pro+ 5G features a 64MP telephoto portrait camera with 3x optical zoom and a sleek 32MP low-light front camera. It has a 120Hz 6.74-inch AMOLED display that is guarded by durable glass.
The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. The 100W SUPERVOOCTM charges the 4,700mAh battery to 50% in just 9 minutes and 100% in just 27 minutes. It offers extended OS and security update support for three and four years respectively. It is priced at Rs 54,999.
Oppo Enco Air3 Pro TWS
The Oppo Enco Air3 Pro is the world’s first bamboo fibre diaphragm for natural sound. LDAC technology, 49dB adaptive noise cancelling, and Oppo Alive audio are some other features of the TWS.
It comes with an IP55 rating and offers up to 30 hours of music on a single charge. The Oppo Enco Air3 Pro is priced at Rs 4,999.
Oppo A79 5G
The Oppo A79 5G is a sleek and durable smartphone available in Glowing Green and Mystery Black. It weighs 193 grams and is 7.99mm thick. The device has a 6.72-inch FHD+ Sunlight display, a 50MP AI camera and a 2MP portrait camera, fueled by the MediaTek 6020 SoC and ColorOS 13.
Priced at Rs 19,999, the phone boasts a 5,000mAh battery supported by 33W SUPERVOOCTM fast charging. It also has dual speakers, ultra volume mode and a 3.5mm headphone port to enhance your audio experience.
From snow-capped vistas to snug retreats, check out the enchanting charm of winter with these top dreamy hilly destinations.
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Published on Dec 26, 2023 05:34 PM IST
Winter season is here. There is always something different at this time of the year as everything turns vibrant, joyful and warm! Exploring different places with vast landscapes anywhere in India would be just wonderful for you, especially with all the excitement in the air. It’s worth it, whether it’s for the stunning views of snow-capped mountains or the thrilling Christmas/New Year party on the beach in the best of weather. Explore our carefully selected list of the top 5 amazing destinations to visit in December to help you organise your travel plans for the month. (Unsplash/Yoav Aziz)
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Published on Dec 26, 2023 05:34 PM IST
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir: Srinagar is a contemporary water world, dominated by the Jhelum River, the tree-lined Nagin Lake and Dal Lake with its winding canals. Embrace your sea legs and take a daytime or sunset cruise on one of the wooden boats known as shikaras to really immerse yourself in the local way of life. On land, explore the terraced hillsides of the 400-year-old Mughal Gardens and shop for locally made items such as embroidered shawls and hand-woven silks designed by Emperor Jehangir for his wife.(Pixabay)
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Published on Dec 26, 2023 05:34 PM IST
Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir: Gulmarg, also known as the ‘meadow of flowers’, is a snow lover’s dream come true. Situated in the centre of the Kashmir valley, Gulmarg receives abundant snowfall, making it a skier’s and snowboarder’s paradise. One of the world’s highest cable cars, the Gulmarg Gondola, offers sweeping views of the snow-capped Himalayas.(File photo)
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Published on Dec 26, 2023 05:34 PM IST
Auli, Uttarakhand: Auli’s natural beauty is abundant, with old oaks, pine trees, and apple orchards all over the place. In addition to skiing, you may take a variety of excursions across the Garhwal Himalayan ranges and take in the breathtaking vistas of the snow-covered peaks. Auli’s glistening slopes and pristine surroundings make it a well-liked skiing resort in India. Nestled amidst the Himalayan range, Auli is a well-known hill town featuring multiple ski resorts, surrounded by apple orchards, oaks, and deodars. The Nanda Devi, Mana Parvat, and Kamat Kamet mountain ranges are situated there, 2800 meters above sea level.(Unsplash)
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Published on Dec 26, 2023 05:34 PM IST
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh: The charming town of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is a pure and unspoilt tourist destination, offering a striking contrast of nature’s colour palette, where deep emerald forests give way to stark icy peaks and snow-capped mountains. Tawang takes you on an adventure that begins with travelling over zigzagging and twisting mountain passes, including Sela, one of the highest motorable roads in the world, to reach the town. Surrounded by spectacular snow-capped mountain ranges to the east, Tawang is dotted with charming Buddhist temples.(Unsplash)
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Published on Dec 26, 2023 05:34 PM IST
Kufri, Himachal Pradesh: With its amazing winter snowscapes, Kufri is a great place for adventure seekers and hill station lovers. The town receives significant snowfall from January to March. The Himalayan Nature Park, a high altitude zoo with a variety of flora and fauna, is the most popular attraction in Kufri. Travellers visit Mahasu Peak to enjoy the spectacular views of the snow-capped mountain station. Kufri’s breathtaking beauty and abundance of tourist attractions have earned it the reputation of being one of the most beautiful hill stations in the country.(HT photo)
Stanley Kubrick’s Oscar-winning Roman epic was incredibly controversial upon its release in 1960.
Kirk Douglas allowed blacklisted communist screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, one of the Hollywood Ten, to pen Spartacus without having to hide his name.
The scribe had previously been taking a clandestine approach to his work following his ostracisation from the film industry years earlier.
Nevertheless, he still managed to win two Academy Awards under other names for Roman Holiday and The Brave One.
As a result, John Wayne and the right-wing National Legion of Decency condemned the movie as “Marxist propaganda” and picketed the epic upon its release.
It was only when John F Kennedy went to see Spartacus and called it “good” did this blacklisting really end.
Despite this political loss, Wayne ended up working with Douglas on Cast a Giant Shadow and In Harm’s Way, before making 1967’s The War Wagon.
During the latter’s production, Douglas was late to set as he had been shooting a commercial to endorse Edmund G Brown, a Democrat, as Governor of California.
This enraged Wayne, a life-long conservative, who was late himself the next day as he’d been filming an advert to endorse the Republican candidate, fellow actor and future US President Ronald Reagan.
Although the two Hollywood stars had their political differences they did eventually become friends and had a mutual respect for each other.
Douglas later said in a 1971 interview: “We get along well, we never discuss politics. But he’s the first guy on the set, the hardest worker I’ve ever worked with, and I think he’s quite a character.”
The Porsche Boxster as we know it is on its last legs.
Orders for the current 718 Boxster (and its Cayman coupe cousin) will close in the middle of 2024, and its replacement will be electric. Porsche has committed to keeping petrol power alive in some form for the 911; it doesn’t appear to be bothering for the 718 twins.
It’s often made fun of for being a mid-life crisis car, or a poser’s Porsche, but the Boxster was the car that saved the brand from unprofitability in the 1990s, as bigger carmakers circled in search of a takeover.
Back then, a lot of parts were shared between the Boxster and 911 to save money, and to give the new roadster some much-needed credibility with buyers.
It’s a different story now. Not only do the pair look different, with very different model cycles, a chunk of the Boxster range in 2016 traded its sonorous six-cylinder engine for a turbocharged four-cylinder… complete with a soundtrack that’d make anyone who’s owned a WRX STI feel right at home.
Porsche isn’t letting the Boxster go quietly into the night. At the top end, it’s slotted a version of the 911 GT3 4.0-litre engine into the Spyder RS. At the bottom end, it’s created a selection of Style Edition specials like the car on test here.
There’s no doubt it’s a good looking take on the formula, but the 2.0-litre engine doesn’t necessarily make for the stylish send off the Boxster deserves.
How does the Porsche 718 fare vs its competitors?
View a detailed breakdown of the Porsche 718 against similarly sized vehicles.
To see how the 718 Boxster stacks up against its sports car rivals, use our comparison tool.
What is the Porsche 718 Boxster like on the inside?
Porsche has come a long way with its interior technology since this 718 generation debuted.
Hopping into the 718 after looking at a 911, let alone the new Cayenne, is like stepping back in time. But sometimes the old ways are good, and there’s a lot to like here.
The driving position is excellent, with enough space even for lanky drivers to get comfortable, and even so late in its life the 718 doesn’t feel particularly tired inside.
Everything you poke or prod feels high quality, and the pop-out cupholders behind a piece of trim on the passenger side of the dashboard are still a clever solution to the lack of space in most sports cars. You’ll notice the lack of USB ports relative to most new cars, though.
The pair of analogue dials and small screen in front of the driver will make anyone who’s driven an older Porsche feel right at home, and all the information you need is right there at a glance.
It’s a similar story with the central touchscreen; it’s not nearly as flashy as the unit in the new 911 or Cayenne, but it’s dead easy to use and only really wants for wireless Apple CarPlay. I liked the system when it featured in the Macan and the last 911, and I still like it here.
With the roof up, there’s plenty of headroom for tall drivers. Drop the top using the switch on the transmission tunnel (operable up to 48km/h) and you get a lot more… without too much in the way of wind noise at regular commuting speeds.
There’s a wind deflector between the seats that can be removed, but there’s no real reason to.
As for boot space? Along with room for soft bags or coats behind the seats, you get two boots in the 718.
The space up front holds 150 litres, and is perfect for soft overnight bags. The space behind the engine holds an additional 122 litres, for a combined 277 litres.
What’s under the bonnet?
Engine
2.0L four-cylinder turbo
Power
220kW (6500rpm)
Torque
380Nm (1950-4500rpm)
Transmission
7-speed dual-clutch auto
Driven Wheels
Rear-wheel drive
Weight
1365kg (kerb)
Fuel economy (claimed)
7.0L/100km
Fuel economy (as tested)
10.5L/100km
Fuel tank
64L
Octane rating
98 RON
How does the Porsche 718 Boxster drive?
The 2.0-litre engine doesn’t give you a satisfying snarl when you turn the key, instead bursting to life with gruff, boxer rumble. It’s not a particularly pleasant sound, especially when you consider how good the 4.0-litre six in the GTS is.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t really get any better when you’re on the move. It’s very quiet with the active sports exhaust in its default mode, and flicking it into loud mode doesn’t free things up nearly as much as you’d hope.
It’s also not what you’d call a particularly nice noise at any point, even when you’re flogging the car with the roof down. There’s more to a sports car than how it sounds, but it’s amazing how removing the spine-tingling way a Porsche flat six zings to redline makes the whole 718 Boxster experience feel a bit… flat.
It’s a shame, because this is still an incredibly talented sports car. The 911 will always be the Porsche, but there’s something special about the way the mid-engined Boxster and Cayman drive.
After driving so many cars with numb steering, hopping into the Boxster and feeling the thin-rimmed steering wheel tug from left-to-right in your hands with cambers in the road is a refreshing change.
There’s no rear-wheel steering here, nor active engine mounts, or adaptive dampers, or variable-ratio steering, or any of the other (incredibly effective) complications that have rolled out to make the 911 handle like a smaller, lighter car – because they just aren’t necessary.
It’s incredibly balanced, so you can barrel into a corner and make small adjustments with the throttle and steering to tidy up your line, and there’s none of the mid-engine edginess you might expect. This is a sports car that brings you along for the ride.
The engine offers plenty of punch low down in the rev range once you’ve cleared an initial hint of turbo lag, and does a solid job squeezing you back in the seat on the way round to the redline. It doesn’t really zip through the last few thousand revs like naturally-aspirated Porsches; although, the trade-off is more shove from low speeds.
In the context of hot hatches like the AMG A45 S and Audi RS3 it’s not what you’d call particularly fast, but the chassis and steering mean you’re able to focus on delicately carrying speed rather than teleporting down straights, throwing an anchor out, tiptoeing through corners, and then repeating the process.
Porsche’s dual-clutch transmissions are unmatched, and allow you to fully unlock the engine’s potential.
It’s preternaturally fast in Sport Plus, shifting down one, two, three gears so quickly and smoothly it’s genuinely remarkable, and the way it just seems to know what gear you need and when is unlike anything else out there.
The response to the metal paddles is instantaneous, and provided what you want to do isn’t going to send valves exploding out the top of the engine, the car will actually let you take control.
Ride quality is surprisingly good for a small car riding on big wheels and liquorice thin tyres. On suburban roads it does a good job keeping potholes and pimply sections out, and on bumpy back roads there’s enough compliance in it to shrug off awkward mid-corner bumps without throwing you off line.
You could genuinely daily drive the Boxster without making too many sacrifices.
What do you get?
Standard equipment on Style Edition models includes:
Black or white decorative stripe packages
Black leather seat trim with Crayon stitching
Illuminated stainless steel kick plates
Porsche crest in headrests
Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights
Porsche Dynamic Light System
Blind-spot monitoring
Reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors
Keyless entry and start
Apple CarPlay
Satellite navigation
DAB digital radio
Cruise control
Auto-dimming mirrors
Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
14-way Sports seats with memory
Heated seats
Dual-zone climate control
Light Design Package
Is the Porsche 718 Boxster safe?
The Porsche 718 line-up hasn’t been crash tested by an NCAP body, nor will it be this late in its life.
It features six airbags as standard, along with blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and parking sensors with a reversing camera.
How much does the Porsche 718 Boxster cost to run?
Porsche offers a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia, despite most luxury rivals having moved to five years of coverage.
Scheduled servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres. Porsche Australia says service pricing “varies from state to state due to different labour rates at Official Porsche Centres”.
It’s also practical in the context of selfish two-seat sports cars, has a comfortable enough interior that you could drive it every day, and is quick enough to put a smile on your face.
But the Style Edition isn’t the Boxster worth buying before it’s replaced by an electric alternative, and it’s all down to its engine.
Despite the surprising levels of practicality, a huge part of the Boxster’s appeal lies in the way it makes you feel – and it doesn’t make you feel good enough, enough of the time without the snarl of the 4.0-litre naturally aspirated engine offered in the GTS, Spyder, and Spyder RS.
If you’re trying to snag one of the last mid-engine petrol Porsche sports cars before they die out entirely in favour of swift but silent electric power, you might as well do it properly and buy the one that truly sends the format off in style.
China faces a problem familiar to dictatorships throughout history: how to strike a balance between growth-boosting innovation, which thrives in a free society, and the paranoia of an authoritarian state. Its leader, Xi Jinping, wants the country to become a hyper-advanced economy. His government is aggressively promoting the commercialisation of high technologies it likes, from electric vehicles to quantum computing.
At the same time, it is tightening the screws on those it disapproves of. In 2021 it regulated a booming online-tutoring industry into oblivion almost overnight, apparently out of fear that high tuition fees were making children’s education so expensive that Chinese were put off the idea of parenthood. On December 22nd the government took a wrench to the video-gaming industry, introducing rules to, among other things, limit how much players can spend on in-game purchases—and so how much developers can make. The market value of Tencent, one of China’s most innovative firms that also has a big gaming business, tumbled by 12%.
Nowhere is this tension clearer than in the hottest technology of 2023—artificial intelligence (AI). In many countries, command of AI is seen as both economically and strategically important. Politicians everywhere fret about machines going rogue or, more realistically, being harnessed by human mischief-makers. In Beijing the added worry is that the technology, which thrives on unlimited data and, at its current stage of development, in unregulated spaces, could prove subversive if not kept in check. It is therefore busily shoring up its “great firewall” for the AI age.
In 2000 Bill Clinton, then America’s president, likened China’s attempt to control the internet to “trying to nail Jell-O to the wall”. Today the jello seems firmly in place. Western internet services, from Facebook and Google search to Netflix are unavailable to most Chinese (apart from those willing to run the risk of using illegal “virtual private networks”). On local platforms, any undesirable content is deleted, either pre-emptively by the platforms themselves, using algorithms and armies of moderators, or afterwards, as soon as it is spotted by government censors. A tech crackdown in 2020 brought China’s powerful tech giants, such Tencent and Alibaba, to heel—and closer to the government, which has been taking small stakes in the firms, and a big interest in their day-to-day operations.
The result is a digital economy that is sanitised but nevertheless thriving. Tencent’s super-app, WeChat, which combines messaging, social media, e-commerce and payments, alone generates hundreds of billions of dollars in yearly transactions. Mr Xi now hopes to pull off a similar balancing act with AI. Once again, some foreign experts predict a jello situation. And once again, the Communist Party is building tools to prove them wrong.
The party’s efforts begin with the world’s toughest rules for Chinese equivalents of ChatGPT (which is, predictably, banned in China) and other consumer-facing “generative” AI. Since March companies have had to register with officials any algorithms that make recommendations or can influence people’s decisions. In practice, that means basically any such software aimed at consumers. In July the government issued rules requiring all AI-generated content to “uphold socialist values”—in other words, no bawdy songs, anti-party slogans or, heaven forbid, poking fun at Mr Xi. In September it published a list of 110 registered services. Only their developers and the government know all the ins and outs of the registration process and the precise criteria involved.
In October a standards committee for national information security published a list of safety guidelines requiring detailed self-assessment of the data used to train generative-AI models. One rule requires the manual testing of at least 4,000 subsets of the total training data; at least 96% of these must qualify as “acceptable”, according to a list of 31 vaguely worded safety risks. The first criterion for unacceptable content is anything that “incites subversion of state power or the overthrowing of the socialist system”. Chatbots must decline to answer 95% of queries that would elicit unacceptable content (any that do get through would, presumably, be censored ex post). They must also reject no more than 5% of harmless questions.
Anything produced by unregistered algorithms is to be blocked and its creators punished. In May a man in Gansu province was arrested after he used ChatGPT to produce text and images of a fake train crash and publish them on social media. He may have been the first Chinese to be detained for spreading AI-generated misinformation. He will not be the last.
This heavy-handed strategy has slowed the uptake of consumer-facing generative AI in the country. Ernie Bot, built by Baidu, another tech firm, was ready around the same time of ChatGPT’s launch but only released nine months later, in August—aeons given how fast the technology is evolving. It is still clumsy when it comes to expressing its devotion to the party. When asked sensitive questions about Mr Xi, it dutifully censors, offering no answer and deleting the query.
Model socialists
With more work the party may be able to make AI models into not merely good communists, but fluent ones. That would obviate the need for ex post censorship, says Luciano Floridi of Yale University. Yet the authorities seem in no rush to get there. Instead, they are promoting the technology’s business applications.
In contrast to consumer AI, enterprise AI faces few constraints on development, notes Mimi Zou of the Oxford Martin School, a research institute. As Steven Rolf of the Digital Futures at Work Research Centre, a British think-tank, explains, this has the effect of channelling capital and labour away from things like consumer chatbots and towards machine learning for business. This, the government seems to be betting, will allow China to catch up and even overtake America in AI without the hassle of dealing with potentially subversive AI-generated content.
In May the southern city of Shenzhen announced it would launch a 100bn-yuan ($14bn) AI-focused investment fund, the largest of its kind in the world. A number of city governments have launched similar investment funds. A lot of this money is going to firms such as Qi An Xin, which offers generative AI that manages data-security risks for companies. The company claims that the bot can do the work of 60 security experts, 24 hours a day. Before going public in 2020, it received big investments from state companies, like many similar startups.
For this strategy to work, the enterprise-AI firms need the right sort of raw material. Consumer chatbots use AI models trained on swathes of the public internet. Corporate applications need corporate data, a lot of which is squirrelled away inside companies. So the other plank of China’s strategy is to turn corporate data into a public good. The state does not want to own the data but—as with the other factors—to control the channels through which it flows.
To that end, the government is promoting data exchanges. These are meant to let businesses trade information, packaged into standardised products, about all areas of commercial life, from activity at individual factories to sales data at individual shops. Small firms will gain access to knowledge once reserved for the tech giants. Banks and brokers will get a real-time picture of the economy.
Chinese cities began launching data exchanges about a decade ago. Now there are around 50 around China. And they are finally gaining speed. The Shanghai Data Exchange (SDE), which was launched in 2021, has started dealing in a number of new data products. In one of its first transactions, ICBC, a bank, bought information from the energy sector. This can be used to assess companies’ power consumption and, because it reflects real levels of activity, to create alternative credit profiles for companies. SDE sells satellite-derived data on steel output in China’s heartland and environmental violations by mining companies. Another product gives real-time data on doctors, nurses and hospital beds across the country in order to help medical firms make business decisions. The SDE is also experimenting with using data as collateral for loans.
At scale, the datafication of industry could deliver a significant economic boost, says Tom Nunlist of Trivium, a consultancy in Beijing. And more data may be coming to the exchanges soon. In August the central government tasked state-owned firms with thinking about how to value their data. In the past few months teams of auditors have been trying to come up with ways to do this, with a view of adding such data to companies’ balance-sheets as intangible assets. They are meant to report back by January 1st (though the deadline looks likely to be missed, given the unprecedented nature of the task).
The government’s gamble on enterprise AI is not without problems, however. The car industry is a case in point. In 2022 about 185m vehicles on Chinese road had an internet connection, and a national plan envisages mass production of semi-autonomous cars by 2025. For that to happen, companies devising self-driving algorithms need lots of data on which to train their systems. A company called WICV is building a platform for the data that is beginning to trickle out of cars.
For now, WICV returns a car’s data to the carmaker that built it, so BYD gets data from BYDs, Nio from Nios and so on. But the plan is eventually for the data to be traded on exchanges, where it could be bought by other developers of self-driving systems. For that to happen, though, driving data must first be “desensitised”, explains Chu Wenfu, WICV’s founder, by stripping out biometric and geolocation details that could help bad actors track the movements of specific people.
The potential for such tracking spooks Chinese authorities. A big reason why they cracked down on Didi Global days after the ride-hailing firm’s initial public offering in New York in 2021 was, it later transpired, a fear that data on Didi’s 25m daily rides, including geolocation information linked to passengers, could fall into the hands of the American authorities. The Chinese government is pre-emptively mapping out vast areas of China where data collection could potentially pose a national-security threat.
Many carmakers, including Western ones such as BMW, have little choice but to team up with state-backed companies to handle driving information and ensure that local data-compliance rules are followed. Just in case, some car companies are ditching certain features, such as allowing drivers to watch live footage of inside and outside their car on their phones. Some of that footage could, after all, inadvertently capture something sensitive.
Such trade-offs between innovation and security are unlikely to be limited to cars. Other industrial and corporate data, too, will probably need desensitising before it can be traded at scale on exchanges. That will slow the development of enterprise AI, even if algorithms remain unshackled. It is a price that the party appears willing to pay for its paranoia. ■
With the altcoins market beating Bitcoin, gaming and metaverse coins are the top performers. In this report, we delve into the price analysis of four notable cryptocurrencies: SAND (Sandbox), MANA (Decentraland), GALA (Gala Games), and AXS (Axie Infinity).
While the market trend is bullish, a breakout phase in the top gaming coins can offer an excellent pullback opportunity to capture the next leap. So, here’s a list of cryptocurrencies that may trigger a fresh recovery trend in October 2023. Should you buy now?
Amid a general bullish sentiment in the crypto market, the Sandbox(Sand) price entered into a strong recovery mode in late October when the price rebounded from $0.278 support.
This rally has lifted the coin’s market value by 126% to reach the current trading price of $0.629. However, the rising SAND price renewed supply pressure by $0.68, highlighted by a long-wick rejection in the daily chart. This increased profit booking from short-term trades could trigger a minor pullback before the altcoin takes the next leap.
Should this occur, the Sand price may plunge 6% to find suitable psychological support around $6. With the history of occasional pullbacks, this potential reversal could offer another profound opportunity for new buyers.
The coin traders can use the 20-and-50-day EMA slope as dynamic support amid potential retracements.
In the last 10 months, the Decentraland (Mana) Coin has grown from the October 19th low of $0.27 to the current trading price of $0.57.
This 111% value surpassed the 50% retracement level of the prior downtrend, reflecting waning bearish momentum and a lower possibility of downtrend continuation. However, a long wick rejection attached to the daily candle reflects the MANA price is poised for another pullback to recuperate its bullish momentum.
If the potential pullback finds suitable support at the combined $0.54 and 50% FIB, the next leap could prolong the rally 20% higher to hit the $0.7 psychological level.
An upward trajectory in the boundaries of the Bollinger Band Indicator reflects the bank momentum is active.
In line with the recovery trend and the formation of a rounding bottom pattern, the prior downtrend in the Gala Coin price found a bottom at $0.01248 in the fourth week of October. The resulting rally surged the coin’s market value by 193% to challenge the pattern’s neckline resistance around $0.035.
With a newfound supply at this key barrier, GALA shows a 6.5% intraday loss and plunged to the current trading price of $0.033. If the sudden pullback shows sustainability above the last high-low count of $0.028, the bullish movement will remain intact and bolster buyers for higher recoveries.
Thus, under the influence of the chart pattern, the Gala price is likely to give a decisive breakout from the neckline resistance of $0.35. This potential breakout will signal a change in market dynamics and prepare the Gala price for a rally to $0.057.
A Moving Average Convergence Divergence Indicator in a bullish Crossover State reflects the recovery trend is intact.
Amid a bullish week in the crypto market, the Axie Infinity coin price showed sustainability above the $0.65 support region. A recent bounce from this floor surged the coin price by 72% to hit a 10-month high of $11.15.
Amid this rally, the buyers have recently breached a combined resistance of $9.6 and a 61.8% Fibonacci Retracement Level. We reclaimed more than 50% of the FIB level and started projecting that the buyers are regaining strength.
As per recent data, the AXS price trades at $1.89, with an intraday loss of 3.4%. Thus validating its sustainability above the breached levels. With sustained buying, the AXS price should rise 17.6% to reach the next significant barrier at $11.62, followed by $14.
The momentum indicator RSI above the 75% mark assures a strong recovery momentum.
Students who have pursued physics, chemistry, biology or biotechnology along with English even as an additional subject, after passing class 12 from duly recognised boards will be eligible to appear for the NEET-UG test.
In a public notice issued on Wednesday, the National Medical Commission (NMC) said the decision will be applicable even to those students whose applications were previously rejected.
The erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI), through the provisions of the Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997, including the various amendments, under Chapter-II had regulated admission and selection to the MBBS course.
It had mentioned that candidates must have undergone two years of regular or continuous study of Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology, in Class 11 and 12 with practicals, along with English, the Undergraduate Medical Education Board of the NMC said in the public notice.
The two years’ study was required to be completed from regular schools and not from open schools or as private candidates.
Further, the study of Biology and Biotechnology or any other requisite subject, could not be completed as an additional subject after passing Class 12, the notice said.
The provisions were challenged before the Delhi High Court and were quashed vide judgement dated May 11, 2018 in a case and other related matters.
This had a bearing on candidates seeking admission to graduate and primary medical courses in foreign medical institutes due to the statutory regulations in this regard i.e. eligibility for admission in an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002 and the Screening Test Regulation, 2002.
In this background, candidates were debarred from the NEET-UG Test and their applications seeking eligibility certificates were rejected.
Meanwhile, the NMC has framed the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 as notified on June 2.
Regulation 11(b) provides that candidates who have passed 10+2 or its equivalent with the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Biotechnology and English shall be eligible for appearing in NEET-UG.
“Therefore, after framing the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023, the earlier Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997, including the various amendments stand repealed prospectively,” the NMC notice said.
The NMC held detailed deliberations in a meeting held on June 14, 2023 and took into consideration the New Education Policy, which permits a great extent of flexibility in the study of various subjects in Class 12.
It “decided that the previous approach of the erstwhile Medical Council of India needs to be revisited by permitting candidates to undertake study of the requisite subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Biotechnology along with English) even as additional subjects after passing Class 12th from a duly recognised board”.
Such candidates shall be permitted to appear in the NEET-UG Test and thus will be eligible for grant of eligibility certificate, the notice stated.
The present decision shall be applicable retrospectively also on candidates whose applications for grant of eligibility certificate were rejected on the grounds contemplated in the present public notice. However, for the purpose of appearing in NEET-UG, candidates who become eligible after the date of the present public notice, shall be permitted to appear in NEET-UG-2024.
Further, court cases filed by MCI/ NMC, as before any court, in this regard shall be withdrawn and the current position with the present public notice shall be explained in all pending litigations filed by candidates, against MCI or NMC, so that the same could be disposed at the earliest.
Speaker 1: Alongside the reveal and launch of the iPhone 15 lineup, apple announced that console quality games would be coming to their pro series of phones. We’re going to look at that claim and see how it compares to the options available elsewhere. Let’s boot up Resident Evil Village on an iPhone 15 Pro Max and Nintendo Switch and an Xbox and see how they compare. It was only a matter of time before phones got powerful enough to run console quality games. During Apple’s iPhone event in early September, they announced that games like Death Stranding, Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Resident Evil [00:00:30] Village, all games already out on home consoles would also run on their new pro phone models. So that’s what we’re testing out today. We’ve loaded up Capcom’s Horror Action Game Resident Evil Village on three different platforms and played through the first hour or so to see how they stack up against one another.
Speaker 1: These platforms include the newly released iPhone 15 Pro Max, an Xbox Series S and the Nintendo Switch. It’s worth noting that the switch version of the game is actually a cloud-based game. This means the game isn’t actually [00:01:00] being run locally on the hardware but streamed over the internet. In order to play Resin Evil Village on a switch, your device must be connected online at all times. Both the iPhone 15 promax and Xbox versions will be running locally. Here we have the iPhone version of the game running. You can see the game features, touch controls if you’d like, but I decided to use a controller instead. Specifically, I’m using the backbone one controller clip, which connects to an iPhone or Android phone and gives you all the controller inputs you’d expect. I [00:01:30] love this device and I’ve used one for years. I’ll leave a link in the description if you want more information.
Speaker 1: What you’re looking at here is the game running at its default display settings. What’s really great about this version of the game is that you can fine tune your graphics much like you would on a PC game on default, the iPhone does a good job of having the game run smoothly, but it actually ends up looking the worst. Compared to the other two platforms we can see the textures are less detailed in both the surroundings and in character clothing. Ground textures are noticeably worse with less density of things like foliage and texturing. [00:02:00] When we crank everything up to the max from 1280 by seven 20 up to 27 96 by 1290, you can see the visuals improve greatly, but at a large hit to performance, character movement is so slow here that it’s pretty much unplayable outside of visuals. It’s worth addressing the platform we’re using.
Speaker 1: The phone is designed to dimm and eventually lock itself when there’s no screen interaction for a set period of time. The game doesn’t stop this like when you’re watching a movie. This meant that during some of the longer cut scenes, the game would pause itself and [00:02:30] my phone would lock when playing. Last thing worth noting is that the phone ran very hot during all of this. I can only imagine how much hotter it may have gotten when pushed above default settings. Luckily, I had the controller clip, so I didn’t actually feel much of this while gaming, but I can’t imagine playing this with touch controls and having it heat up so drastically. On top of that, it’s unsurprising that the Xbox version of the game looks the best out of the three platforms on the Series S, it displays a 1440 P signal at around 45 frames per second, [00:03:00] and while this isn’t the best possible version of the game, it is clearly the best in this comparison. Textures and lighting are the most dynamic and performance is smoother. It’s the most powerful platform we have here, so of course it would end up on top.
Speaker 1: The switch version looks a lot muddier than the Xbox. Ground and foliage Textures look compressed and less detailed. There’s also noticeable leg due to the cloud nature of the game. Even though I’m running on a wifi connection of around two 50 down and a hundred up, you can see how I’m constantly [00:03:30] fighting with the camera overshooting and not tracking smoothly with my inputs. It doesn’t help that you have this signal strength icon displayed in the top right corner at all times. I guess this is kind of similar to the notch cutout you have to live with on the iPhone. Overall, not a great way to play this game, and I don’t know why anyone would choose this option. I’ll show off a few more scenes side by side for you. Now,
Speaker 2: Time it’s you, the child’s father. See back
Speaker 1: [00:04:00] Between the three platforms. The Xbox is the clear standout with the iPhone 15 Pro coming up next and the switch coming in last place. This isn’t a surprising outcome, but it was great to see how well the phone version played outside of the heating issue. This is a totally serviceable way to play through Resident Evil Village. If a console or PC isn’t an option and when compared to the next most portable device, the Nintendo Switch, [00:04:30] it absolutely blows it out of the water. I never want to touch the switch version again, and I recommend you don’t either. But what do you think of the three options and how they compare? Let me know in the comments and thanks for watching.
It’s common for pregnant women to experience some degree of morning sickness, but a smaller subset have severe, potentially debilitating nausea and vomiting — and now a new study has pinpointed the likely source of it.
A research team led by the University of Cambridge in the U.K. found that one specific hormone — GDF15 — is the culprit behind hyperemesis gravidarum, which is a condition that causes intense morning sickness during pregnancy.
The study findings were published in the journal Nature on Dec. 13.
MARIJUANA USE AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IS LINKED TO LOW BIRTH WEIGHT, STUDY FINDS
Among 120 pregnant women who participated in the research, the half who experienced nausea and vomiting were found to have “substantially higher” levels of GDF15 than the half who had little or no morning sickness.
“We have securely established, for the first time, using well-validated immunoassays and large sample sizes, that GDF15 levels in maternal blood are significantly higher in women who report vomiting in pregnancy, or have a diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum, compared to women who report no or low levels of nausea or vomiting,” said study co-author Stephen O’Rahilly, a metabolism researcher at the University of Cambridge.
A small subset of pregnant women have severe, potentially debilitating nausea and vomiting — and now a new study has pinpointed the source.(iStock)
He shared his thoughts in an email sent to Fox News Digital.
GDF15 is produced primarily by the fetus during early pregnancy. Some women are more sensitive to the hormone, putting them at a higher risk of developing severe morning sickness.
DOES GINGER ALE REALLY CURE NAUSEA AND UPSET STOMACH? HERE’S WHAT DOCTORS AND DIETICIANS SAY
The hope is that this finding will enable more treatment options for women suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, researchers said.
“We now have a clear view of what may cause this problem and a route for both treatment and prevention,” said O’Rahilly.
One specific hormone — GDF15 — is the culprit behind hyperemesis gravidarum, according to a new study. It’s a condition that causes intense morning sickness during pregnancy.(iStock)
Women who had higher levels of GDF15 before getting pregnant were significantly less likely to develop severe sickness, the study found — only 5% of them developed the condition compared to 60% of the general population.
With this in mind, one potential remedy would be to administer the hormone to high-risk women before pregnancy to allow them to acclimate to it and prevent severe symptoms.
“Our data tentatively suggest that a doubling of pre-pregnancy GDF15 levels would reduce hyperemesis gravidarum risk by 50%,” said O’Rahilly.
Among 120 pregnant women who participated in the research, the half who experienced nausea and vomiting were found to have “substantially higher” levels of GDF15 than the half who had little or no morning sickness.(iStock)
“Metformin, a widely used drug that has been given to people with diabetes for over five years, increases GDF15 levels by two- to three-fold and is widely used in pregnancy in many countries.”
Clinical trials are currently being planned, he added.
What to know about severe morning sickness
Around 70% of women experience typical morning sickness, but only around 0.3% to 2% suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum.
The condition can be debilitating, the study authors wrote, making it difficult for pregnant women to eat, drink and participate in daily activities.
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Some signs of hyperemesis gravidarum include vomiting more than three times per day, developing severe dehydration and losing 10 pounds or more, according to the Cleveland Clinic website.
Some women may even require hospitalization to receive hydrating fluids intravenously.
The effects of hyperemesis gravidarum are usually worse during the first trimester and then taper off later in the pregnancy, experts said.(iStock)
The effects of hyperemesis gravidarum are usually worse during the first trimester and then taper off later in the pregnancy.
While GDF15 was found to increase severe sickness, the study authors noted that other factors may also influence the risk.
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“There is considerable overlap between symptomatic and asymptomatic women, so GDF15 levels alone cannot be responsible for determining who is and who is not affected, nor can it be used as a diagnostic test for hyperemesis gravidarum,” said O’Rahilly.
When it comes to an efficient kitchen, an organized fridge is where it all starts. Whether it is about saving money, planning, or reducing food waste, there is no better kitchen appliance than your freezer. You can store anything in these chilly cabinets, from soups to gravies, fruits to dry nuts, and whatnot. Each freezer is different, and technical difficulties can spoil the food despite your best efforts, but keeping some basic tips in mind can smoothen your kitchen experience while also keeping your family safe from food-borne illnesses. If you are someone who is struggling with this, read these simple tips that make your life easier.
Also Read: Why You Should Always Have Some Bread In Your Freezer
Here’s How You Can Store Food In The Freezer Correctly: 5 Correct Ways To Store Food In The Freezer
1. Set Ideal Temperature
Is the temperature of your freezer too cold? As per the U.S. Department of Energy, the ideal temperature for a freezer is 0 degrees F (-18 degrees C), so you need to set it as close to this temperature as possible. 0 degrees F is the best temperature for food safety and long-term storage. While adding a lot of room-temperature food can lower it by a few degrees for a day or two, it will gradually begin cooling again. Similarly, the ideal temperature can also be disturbed if you stuff too much food in the freezer. Cold air must be able to move freely around the refrigerated cabinet to keep the food frozen for a longer time.
2. Flash Freeze Food
Yes, we know that freezing your blueberries, strawberries, dry fruits, or leftovers can help with their shelf life, but have you been doing that correctly? If you are dumping all the fruits and leftovers in freezer Ziplock bags and putting them in the cabinet, chances are you won’t be able to pick out a single blueberry without grabbing the entire blob of the freezer-burnt fruits with it. Instead, freeze the fruits and the leftovers in a single sheet layer, allow them to freeze for 24 hours and then store them in a bag or storage containers.
3. Organise
Do you have one of those freezers that don’t come with shelves or racks? Then organising it would be better for you if you don’t like digging through a pile of food just to get scratches on your hands. One of the efficient methods for this could be labelling. Storing them in containers and labelling them with paper strips could prove beneficial for you. Grouping and separating items according to taste, use, or weight can also keep your freezer organized and clean. Still thinking why it’s important? Think of years later when you find a bag of cheese cubes under chicken nuggets which you had stored in the freezer for later. Labelling items can help you escape that guilt.
4. Freeze Small Portions
While we know that experts say it is important to keep the freezer full so that it works more efficiently, it does not mean that you fill the cabinet with whatever you can find. To create more space in your freezer, it is important to store only small portions of food in the refrigerated cabinet. One of the ways for this could be to use ideal storage bags for the same. If you are storing only a small portion of your food, avoid putting it in an oversized bag. Similarly, for sauces and gravies, allow the food to freeze flat first and then put them in a storage bag to save space or even prevent them from slipping out.
Also Read: Watch: 5 Healthy Veggies You Should Store In Your Freezer According To Experts
5. Toss Out Expired Food
Freezing food does not mean it has an infinite shelf life. One of the most important tips for having a good, organized freezer is to keep checking the foods from time to time and track their expiry date. Toss out whatever has expired. As per the U.S. government’s Food Safety website, fresh poultry can be stored in the freezer for up to nine months, fish can be stored for six to eight months, and cooked meat can be contained for two to six months. Other foods can still be safe, but their colour, texture, and flavour will start to deteriorate.
Eight policemen were injured and 38 people detained during and after an opposition protest over election results, Serbia’s police said on Monday.
Thousands gathered in the center of Belgrade on Sunday to demand the annulment of parliamentary and local elections a week ago.
The populist ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) won 46.72% of the votes in last weekend’s snap parliamentary election, according to state election commission preliminary results.
But how you dress is a statement about who you are and how you want to be perceived. And that changes as we grow up — even more, sometimes, than our bodies or dress sizes (though those, of course, change, too).
Personally, I feel like my years have been hard won, and experience is worth wearing. Which means I have said goodbye to clothes I generally associate with my youth: hemlines above my knees (especially attached to skater and rah-rah skirts), tops that show off my belly button, ruffles, slip dresses. Anything, really, that takes me sliding down a wormhole into an era when I was a much less formed person, or one that I lived through once already. That has as much to do with personal associations as it does with actual years.
It’s kind of like the family reunion problem wherein, around siblings and elder relatives, you find yourself falling back into the role you played at age 12. Wearing clothes from an earlier period, even if fashion has decided it’s time for a new generation to discover them, tends to have the same effect. (That actually may be a rule worth considering: If you wore it the first time it was a trend, you may want to avoid it the second time.)
That is why, I think, I find myself gravitating toward long skirts — ones that fall somewhere between midcalf and ankle — and wider trousers, both of which give me a sort of swishy feeling as I walk. Also, three-quarter or long sleeves. And tucking things in. Being more covered feels more practical and more elegant to me, and both of those words (along with the corollary “pulled together”) suggest values I have come to appreciate. Just as kitten heels and mules, largely by dint of their names, do not.
But that’s me. Which is the point!
When I think about women of a certain age whose style I admire, I think of women who look as if they know who they are and are comfortable telegraphing that to the world: Sigourney Weaver, Isabelle Huppert, Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett, Lauren Hutton, Michèle Lamy (Rick Owens’s very goth partner-wife-muse). That means making your own decisions about what makes you feel good, wide pants and all. Which is, really, the ultimate grown-up way to dress.
Drug companies face new hurdles in a rapidly changing marketplace. How do they finance new drug development amid the uncertainty?
How much is a prescription medicine really worth?
For patients suffering from cancer or other severe illnesses where the right drug is a matter of life or death, no price is too high. Someone with a mild case of psoriasis or acid reflux, on the other hand, might think twice before paying too much.
For the scientists and pharmaceutical researchers who develop drugs, the investors who risk money to produce them, and the various organizations and governments that pay for them, defining the real value of medicine is a lot more complex. Biopharmaceutical firms and their investors today are facing an especially daunting range of market uncertainties, regulatory headwinds, and demands from politicians and pinched consumers.
For example, with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022, pharmaceutical companies–for the first time in U.S. history–will face government controls on the pricing of popular drugs. By the end of the decade, Medicare will impose price limits on dozens of the most widely prescribed therapeutics, such as Xarelto, Jardiance, and Stelara, under the new law.
Further complicating the landscape are steeply rising costs and rapid shifts in the marketplace. Labor, raw materials, and transportation costs are spiraling. The pandemic also stressed drug development supply chains and increased the urgency to develop expensive new technologies such as cellular and gene therapy.
As a Congressional staffer, a provider consultant, and an economist who has spent decades working on challenges like these at Pfizer, I appreciate how shifting market realities have buffeted the C-suites of established pharmaceutical companies firms while payers and policymakers have grown increasingly frustrated with costs and access.
Real-world performance
What could a solution look like for the industry, patients, and payers where everyone comes out better than under the status quo, and what is stopping us from implementing such a solution?
The answer lies in taking a fresh, data-driven approach to the thorny problem of finding the right price for new medicines.At the center of this new comprehensive approach is more accurately assessing how new therapies will perform in the real world for specific groups of patients, and for all parties to agree that valuable treatments that are proven to have worked are worth the full price. Fortunately, we have the tools and expertise to make these assessments.
Today, we can quantify the risks surrounding new technologies, predict how real patients will receive new treatments, and calculate the potential financial returns with a degree of accuracy that was not possible even a decade ago. Understanding and predicting that value can pave the way for biopharmaceutical companies to accept more performance risk in the pricing paradigm and for payers to use the savings from treatments that disappoint to fund higher payments for those that do.
Those same predictive tools can help investors and leaders to estimate the relative size and characteristics of a potential market for a new drug and predict how patients with varying levels of disease will adopt a new therapy. We can use clinical trial data to forecast the best target audience. We can accurately analyze how financial risks and variables related to a drug might change under different regulatory frameworks.
An octopus with no arms
In healthcare, there’s an infinite amount of data out there. The question is: what can we do with it? You can data mine to look for patterns, and use it to create some kind of machine learning platform. But all that data is based on past conditions, and if we know anything about the pharma world, we know it is changing profoundly. Drug companies need bottom-up models that reflect real experience in the clinical marketplace.
My old boss at Pfizer, Frank D’Amelio, used to say that as chief financial officer, he was like the brain of a great octopus whose arms constantly fed him information about every branch of the company. Those data helped us set the value of medicines and the prices we charged based on the needs of customers, the company, and shareholders. Unfortunately, a lot of startups and smaller biopharma firms aren’t financial octopi. They’ve got to solve the price conundrum with a lot less resources than Pfizer. They’re an octopus with no arms, yet they are arguably the future of medicine.
If you’re the CEO of one of these smaller firms, you might try to figure out the price of a promising new gene therapy, for example. The market might expect you to guarantee the performance of your expensive product, or your competitor might be willing to do so. You have some resources, but you’ve got to use them efficiently. You desperately need some good objective advice on pricing. You want to know, for example, where your new company’s new drug fits in the pantheon of other launches.
The best real-world data
Software solutions and newer, cost-effective models can bridge that gap. Recently developed tools and models can help show you, for example, where your company’s vulnerabilities are, what your faulty financial assumptions might be, how the reimbursement environment might be in five years, or where you may need clinical data as you pursue licensing.
If you’re planning a product launch, or investing in one, you want to quantify risks and gather the best real-world data possible. Obtaining this information to understand pricing and the related math is not only important to the profit and loss picture of drug companies. It’s vital for future innovation. Revenue risks for drug producers can directly affect the development of new medicines and treatments.
Measuring the value of new medicines is hard. We have the tools to do it properly, however, in ways that save lives and resources that fuel more innovation for future generations.
Neal Masia is an Adjunct Professor of Economics and Management at Columbia University and former Chief Economist at Pfizer Inc. He is Co-Founder and CEO of EntityRisk, Inc.
You may have noticed the familiar sounds and behavioral changes in your female cat and guessed that they’re in heat. Their restlessness, excessive vocalization, and desire to go outside to find a mate may have you wondering whether cats enjoy sex and mating or if their behavior is entirely instinctual. Cats are hormonally driven to have sex in order to reproduce. There is no evidence behaviourally or otherwise to suggest that sexual activity is enjoyable for them.
Although it can take hours before the queen approaches the tom cat, the mating process usually only takes a maximum of a few minutes. However, those few minutes can feel long for an owner as they watch what looks like a fight! Keep reading as we discuss when and how cats mate.
When Do Cats Mate?
Cats can start mating once they reach sexual maturity. This usually happens from 6–9 months. Female cats go into heat every 2–3 weeks during the breeding season, which is usually January to late fall in the Northern Hemisphere. When in heat they’ll show signs of readiness to mate, be interested in the tom’s advancements, and be more likely to allow a tom to mount them.
A female cat will show signs of being in heat and being ready to mate. If they are not in heat, they cannot fall pregnant and will reject any advancement from a tom. Once a male cat reaches sexual maturity, they are able to mate at any time but will usually only ever attempt to mate with females that are in heat.
Male cats will try everything they can to get to a female cat in heat. He knows it’s the right time because he can smell her pheromones, which gives him all the information he needs. The unneutered male cat can pick up these pheromones left behind by an in-heat female from hours before and may follow the scent until he finds her, which is why many unneutered males roam.
Image Credit: Kasefoto, Shutterstock
How Do Cats Mate?
Even with all the calling and flirting, the queen usually won’t allow the tom near her until he has put in some work and courted her for several hours. Once she is willing to mate, she will bend her chest to the ground and raise her back end to the tom, exposing her genital area.
Once the tom gets the “go ahead” from the queen, he’ll mount her and bite the skin at the back of her neck. The mating process is short and brief.
Do Female Cats Enjoy Mating?
If anyone wonders if a female cat enjoys mating, they probably have never witnessed the act! While the male and female cats are mating, the queen will scream and may even fight to break free from the male’s grip. This can involve turning, rolling, clawing, and attempting to bite the tom.
A female cat will have this reaction because a tom’s penis is barbed and scrapes the inside of her vagina, which is very painful. This scraping is what stimulates ovulation and allows the female cat to fall pregnant.
Image Credit: Nathalie-Jolie,Unsplash
What Happens After Mating Has Occurred?
Once the female cat has broken free from the tom, he’ll run off. If he doesn’t, the queen will chase him away. The female cat will become agitated and roll on the ground and show signs of discomfort. This reaction lasts around 10 minutes and is likely due to the hormones and the pain she just experienced. During this time, she’ll also groom herself, focusing on her genital area.
When Can Cats Mate Again?
It doesn’t take much time for both cats to be ready to mate again after having sexual intercourse, as it can take between 5 to 30 minutes. This can be with each other or with new partners. A queen can mate up to 30 times during her estrous cycle and can mate with many different toms. One female cat can give birth to a litter of kittens who are genetically diverse because they have different fathers.
Although penetration stimulates ovulation, there is no guarantee that the queen will fall pregnant on the first try. Breeders will encourage mating to happen several times throughout the queen’s estrous cycle to increase the chances of pregnancy.
Spaying and Neutering
Contrary to what some people believe, cats don’t need to mate and will not become more aggressive if they don’t mate. Queens will show signs of being ready to mate when they’re in heat, and males will try their best to get them to reproduce. These behavioral changes can be stressful because outdoor cats will roam and sometimes get into fights. There is also the risk of unwanted pregnancies, even with indoor cats.
The only way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy is through spaying your cat. You will also reduce undesirable behavior in your tom cat by neutering them. Spaying and neutering also protect against certain diseases and cancers.
Image Credit: De Visu, Shutterstock
Conclusion
Cats don’t appear to enjoy sex. In fact, instead of experiencing enjoyment, female cats experience pain because the penis of a tom cat is barbed and scrapes the inside of her vagina. Unneutered cats will mate when the queen goes into heat, and behavioral changes will occur.
You can prevent undesirable behavior as well as the risk of pregnancy by neutering your cat.
Featured Image Credit: Sergey-Neanderthalec, Shutterstock
India’s residential real estate saw a good year in 2023, both in term of launches and demand. And the current trends indicate a good 2024 too, says Aakash Ohri, Joint Managing Director and Chief Business Officer, DLF Ltd, the country’s largest real estate player.
According to him, real estate investment or home-buying is among the top five priorities now. In an interview to businessline, he talks about the year gone by and the future outlook. Edited excerpts:
2023 was a good year for real estate. What does 2024 look like?
People are hungry for real estate; and home-buying is among the top five priorities now. It is expected to be so in 2024. There will be continued investments not just in DLF, but also across the market. The demand is expected to be strong for organised players as people continue to be wary of fly-by-night operators. Investments are coming back into real estate, and home buying is seen as a favourable asset class.
Do you foresee a price rise in 2024?
Price hikes, I think, will be micro-market, project and developer-specific. Agreed they are also linked to demand, but corrections will happen if they are not at par with buyer expectations. Buyers are ready to exercise caution if their expectations (of deliverables) do not match with the price quoted. Developers also cannot get away now quoting arbitrary prices with very discerning buyers coming in. This is a time when developers should consolidate their position, build long terms relationships, and see to it that the confidence of investors are not hampered.
Are buyers in the position to command market corrections, if necessary?
Yes, they are. Today there are self-correcting mechanisms in the market. Regulations are also on the side of the buyers, in most cases. Earlier we saw developers out-pricing themselves and buyers taking up properties, some of which hit a rough patch. But today such price quotations are summarily rejected. The buyer profile has witnessed a change, and he has increased redressal mechanism at his disposal.
And how is the buyer profile changing?
The average age of the first-time home-buyer in India is now in 30-35 years; which till before Covid was 40-45 years or so. The new buyers, some of which are the double income generation, see home-buying as a priority. They are quick to take loans, which could be as high as ₹4 – 5 crore, spread out over twenty years or so; and book premium or luxury offerings. Markets are doing well, and the economy too; and so there is good demand that is coming in from the younger generation.
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.
KAD krenu pripreme za doček Nove godine, fokus je na garderobi. Mnogi se odlučuju za svečaniji, blještavi doček, s puno šljokica, a zvijezda večeri bi trebala biti torbica. Stoga smo pregledali ponudu u trgovinama i izdvojili blještave torbice za svečane prilike, idealne za sjajan doček Nove godine.
Sve je u detaljima
Male torbice s remenom vjerojatno su najpraktičnija opcija. Ove su godine vrlo popularne torbice koje kao da se sastoje od kamenčića i ničeg drugog, a dobra vijest je što su dostupne u trgovinama različitih cjenovnih rangova.
Nešto jednostavnija, a opet blještava opcija, srebrna je torbica koja čak djeluje futuristički.
Želite ili trebate nositi više stvari? U ponudi smo pronašli i veće svjetlucave torbe u koje će stati sve što vama i osobama kojima ste okruženi može zatrebati tijekom proslave. Ove su torbe dokaz da praktičnost i elegancija nisu isključive.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Ako pak namjeravate nositi samo ono što vam je potrebno, sasvim dovoljna će vam biti clutch torbica koje su već odavno sinonim za večernji izlazak. One često dolaze s remenom, što ih čini svestranima. Vaša je odluka kako ćete ih nositi.
Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?
As the Lakers wrapped a treacherous run of schedule that had them on the road more often than not, Lakers coach Darvin Ham looked ahead to the next game — a trip home to host the Boston Celtics on Christmas afternoon.
“We get a chance to see where we are,” Ham said after the Lakers beat Oklahoma City on Saturday. “We’ve had a tough past 30 days, but we get a chance to get home, spend a day at home with our families on Christmas Eve, wake up, open up some presents and get down to the Crypto and get ready to get busy.
“You don’t have to have a Knute Rockne speech for this one.”
The Gipper scored as many points as any of the Lakers starters in the first three minutes of Monday’s game, a miserable stretch that forced the team to sprint uphill for the remainder of a game they eventually lost 126-115.
“You know, we came back a little bit lethargic, just coming off a long trip, and then the whole Christmas circumstances of the holiday or whatever, early game took us a little bit of time to get going,” Ham said. “But we had some great looks early. A couple bad turnovers, but for the most part, I mean, you go back and look at the shots we got, theirs went in and ours didn’t, but we had some really terrific looks at the rim. And our guys kept fighting.”
Boston’s 12-0 start became an 18-point lead in the first before the Lakers began to claw back.
Lakers forward Anthony Davis flashes the signature “freeze” sign after making a three-pointer against the Celtics during the second quarter Monday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
And despite being road weary and, fairly obviously, further behind in their development as a team this season, the Lakers fought.
Anthony Davis dominated, scoring a season-high 40 to go with 13 rebounds and Taurean Prince tied a season-best with five threes.
The Lakers led early in the third quarter before Boston’s toughness, talent and size took over.
Early it was Jaylen Brown in the mid-range before Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis took turns giving the Lakers problems. And all game, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White played the kind of two-way game that has them considered one of the best all-around backcourts in the NBA.
“Their lineup has been pretty, pretty much intact the entire year,” Ham said. “With us, just trying to mix and match. Some guys are more offensive dominant, some guys are more defensive dominant, but they’re trying to find that balance within the lineup. I think the circumstances of our injuries have definitely affected any type of cohesion.”
Meanwhile, the group that started for the Lakers on Monday — Davis, LeBron James, Prince, Cam Reddish and Jarred Vanderbilt — failed to give the Lakers the kind of defensive punch Ham hoped when he put the group together before the Lakers’ win against the Thunder.
James scored just 16 points on five-of-14 shooting, tumbling to the court in a heap in the first half after kneeing Brown in the back during an awkward defensive possession.
He remained in the game.
“My knee is a little sore right now and the best thing, finally, the schedule is kind of in our favor with two days before we have to play again,” James said. “So, just a freak play right there between me and Jaylen Brown.
“I’m happy I was able to walk off on my own power, but definitely a little sore right now.”
Lakers forward LeBron James grimaces in pain while lying on the court after colliding with Celtics forward Jaylen Brown during the game Monday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers play Charlotte on Thursday before two final road games to close 2023 — a stretch where the team hoped to measure itself against the best.
Instead, they’ve had to fight fatigue and frustration at nearly every step.
“We all know guys have been out. But, at the end of the day, you go in the locker room and everyone you see in there, they’re workers,” Austin Reaves said. “Intelligent guys that have played the game for a long time with the head of the snake, Bron and AD, they know the game, know what we need to do to be better.
“For us, we just got to figure out how to help them and from there, we’ll continue to get better. We’re not going to give up, obviously.”
Arahas Technologies, an entity in geospatial IT and AI, on Wednesday said it has joined hands with Californian firm QuakeLogic to launch structural health monitoring and early warning system aimed at enhancing earthquake resilience across the Indian subcontinent.
Gurugram-based Arahas Technologies provides IoT platform for real-time monitoring, tracking of structural integrity.
The company has been involved in the Amruth programme, advancing digital land record modernisation across various Indian states.
Arahas in a release said QuakeLogic provides early warning and immediate notifications during seismic incidents, a vital step that may help in damage limitation and public safety assurance.
“The collaboration prioritises easy accessibility and user experience,” it added.
The technology’s flexibility allows for its application in new and existing constructions, making it an optimal solution for varied architectural environments, the company said.
As part of EverEnviro, Arahas Technologies is supported by the Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF), a leading climate-focused fund managed by EverSource Capital with backing from significant global and national investors.
QuakeLogic delivers advanced software solutions for disaster management, aiming to mitigate human and financial losses incurred from natural catastrophes like hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes.
People thronged to witness the Kashmiri taste in Shimla at the Kashmiri food festival organised in association with the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC). Large numbers of tourists are coming to this over a weeklong festival of the Kashmir food taste which started on Friday in the Hotel Holiday Home (HHH) of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC).
Crowds flock to savour centuries-old flavours at Shimla’s Kashmiri food festival(ANI photo)
“We started it on December 22 and will continue it till the 30th. We are getting a very good response from this festival here, and people are appreciating it. We are the Kashmiri Pandit chefs of thousands of years of Kashmiri cuisine. Our cuisine is not regular; it is Kashmiri Pandit Cuisine, which is thousands of thousand years old. We have a wide range of varieties, we have a pure magic of Kashmiri spices. We don’t use onion and garlic. I am thankful to the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) who has given us an opportunity,” Ashwani Sadhu, Chef and organizer of the Kashmiri food festival said.
Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here
The locals and tourists are rushing to this food festival ahead of the Christmas and New Year season.”Yakni beans the lotus stem, we have also brought the nadru, the special saag has been airlifted here, we have Chaman and many other vegetarian dishes. Non-vegetarians have Rogan Josh and Yakni Gostaba and we have a special bread called Rot bread which is being served here. Tourists are coming in large numbers. People are coming again and again and are recommending it to others. We are promoting the very rich traditional food without changing the delicacy; we have also brought 100-year-old utensils here,” Sadhu added.
The tourists are happy to be here to cherish the beauty of the Kashmiri Cuisine. “We have heard about it. I have tasted wazwan and it is authentic, the experience is perfect, and it is nicely cooked. Everybody must come here, the north Indians would like it the most and others would also like It,” Kavita, a tourist from Delhi said. The tourists are enjoying the music along with the traditional food of Kashmir here in Shimla.
“We came three days back, and we had a very good experience of Kashmiri mutton. We tried other dishes too and we found them better than what we get in Delhi,” Anil Khanna, a tourist from Delhi said. “I like Jagjit and Gulam Ali, we have listened to the music and Gazals. We are happy and carry hospitality with a message of integration. We will tell everyone to come to this place,” he added. The locals and tourists were waiting for their turn to come for the food as the restaurant was full to its capacity on Saturday night.
This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
Just when you’ve sorted your ‘gassed’ from ‘gaslighting’, along comes a new set of vocabulary to baffle. ADAM JACOT DE BOINOD reveals the new words from this year…
Now while we don’t publish as many opinion pieces as we do car news or reviews here at CarExpert, this year we published many that got the attention of you, our loyal readers.
Our opinion pieces are just that, opinion, but we open up the floor to you to share your views. On that note, let us know in the comments what your favourite op-eds were this year.
The car that killed Holden in Australia
“The story of Holden’s precipitous fall from being the number one brand to disappearing entirely is a long and tortuous one,” said William Stopford.
“There are many reasons why it lost its spot at the top, but one car encapsulates them more than most: the HoldenCaptiva, or the Craptiva as it’s derisively known.”
MORE: The car that killed Holden in Australia
The utes the CarExpert team would buy
Australians can’t get enough of utes.
Whether you call them utes, pickups or bakkies, you can’t ignore just how common they’ve become. No longer simply workhorses, these vehicles have become popular family vehicles in Australia – to the delight of some, and to the chagrin of others.
The members of the CarExpert team have shared what utes they would buy… even if we’re not all ute folk.
MORE: The utes the CarExpert team would buy
Has Subaru lost the plot with its electric car?
“Remember back in the late 1990s and early 2000s when Subaru was a brand many desired to own?” asked Alborz Fallah.
“Remember when the Japanese brand sold cars that genuinely turned heads and excited not only car people but the average consumer alike?
“As a former Subaru WRX owner, I can attest to the pull the brand had back 15 years ago, when it offered affordable cars across its range that were not only best in class but also highly desirable.
“But over the last few generations, it has seemingly done everything it can to become as generic as possible and now with the pricing of its new electric car, it appears the brand has completely lost the plot.”
MORE: Has Subaru lost the plot with its electric car?
What the CarExpert team would buy for the price of a new Ford Ranger
Australians love the Ford Ranger, but there’s a lot of other vehicles you can buy for the price of one.
In this op-ed, we looked at just what vehicles we would put our money on instead.
MORE: What the CarExpert team would buy for the price of a new Ford Ranger
It’s time for Australia to celebrate the unexceptional cars of its past
“I’ve been to plenty of lovely, welcoming car shows – Brisbane’s regular All-Japanese Day at Banyo is one of them – but others have given me the vibe some cars are more welcome than others,” said William Stopford.
“Imagine pulling up to an American car show brimming with ’65 Mustangs in a Chrysler Neon, for example, or a JDM car park meet packed with stanced Skylines in a Nissan Prairie.
“I can only imagine organising an event like The Festival of the Unexceptional is hard work, particularly finding a suitable venue. But I also reckon it’s high time we have a show like this in Australia, and I’d love to see it happen.”
MORE: It’s time for Australia to celebrate the unexceptional cars of its past
In 2023, the crypto mining witnessed crucial regulations, macro shifts, and robust strategies for the anticipated 2024 Bitcoin halving. This report presents an in-depth analysis of the year’s market trends, miner behavior, and pivotal on-chain indicators. Amidst regulatory changes and mining technologies, we explore how miners went through the volatile market, adapted to energy efficiencies, and responded to profitability challenges.
The upcoming Bitcoin halving, a critical event with historical market impacts, looms large as miners strategize for 2024. Through data-driven insights, this report aims to offer a snapshot of the crypto mining sector in 2023.
Market Sentiment And Miners’ Behavior
During the bear market’s peak in late 2022, crypto mining was in a dire state. Miners were struggling as profits vanished and equity values plummeted. Twitter polls indicated less than half of bitcoin miners would survive, a prediction seemingly validated when Core Scientific filed for bankruptcy, marking a significant industry downturn.
However, this period attracted opportunists. Binance began lending to struggling firms, while Jihan Wu’s Bitdeer created a $250 million fund for distressed assets. With bitcoin’s rebound above $20,000 in early 2023 and the rising ETF hope fuelling a surge toward $45K, miners are pushing the bitcoin hashrate to new highs.
Reflecting this recovery, mining companies saw substantial gains year to date in market cap: Hive Blockchain (+273%), Riot (+547%), Canaan (+53%), Bit Digital (+615%), and Marathon (+1388%).
Bitcoin Mining Profitability Touches New High
This year marked a significant uplift in profitability for Bitcoin miners, with mining revenues hitting the highest point of 2023. The hashprice, a key metric for valuing miners’ computational power, climbed to $133.6 per petahash (PH) per day, a notable rise from the recent low of $60/PH/day.
This increase means that for every petahash of mining capacity, miners can now anticipate daily revenues of $133. To contextualize, 1 petahash equates to about 10 standard Bitcoin mining machines. Therefore, a single typical mining ASIC, such as the S19j Pro, is now generating approximately $13.3 per day at the current hashprice.
Putting technical terms aside, the recent boost in Bitcoin mining revenue is not just because of the slight uptick in Bitcoin’s price, which rose about 5% over the last week. More significantly, it’s due to a considerable increase in Bitcoin transaction fees as its value peaked at 38.
Mining Difficulty Reaches All-time High
With the rising profitability, the mining difficulty has also touched a new high. The mining difficulty of Bitcoin reached an all-time high at block height 822,528. This significant jump of 7% is the largest increase witnessed in nine months, dating back to March 23. With this rise, the process of discovering block rewards has become more challenging than ever before, as the difficulty level hit a record-breaking 72.01 trillion.
With the difficulty level now set at 72 trillion, Bitcoin miners are faced with the challenge of producing a hash value below this mark to successfully mine a new block. Following the recent 7% increase in difficulty, the next adjustment is expected to occur around January, 2024.
With the rise in mining difficulty, the network’s overall computational power, or hashrate, has also soared to new levels. As of December 25, 2023, the Bitcoin network reached a new peak. According to data from Luxor’s hashrateindex.com, the seven-day simple moving average (SMA) of Bitcoin’s hashrate has reached 545 exahashes per second (EH/s), setting a new all-time high.
This increase in hashrate follows the notable growth in Bitcoin mining activities. During 2023, the top three manufacturers specializing in application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) introduced their advanced next-generation mining rigs. Mining groups have rapidly integrated these robust machines into their infrastructure, greatly enhancing efficiency, especially in terms of joules per terahash.
Miners’ Activities Helped Bitcoin To Touch $45K
In 2023, Bitcoin miners saw their average daily income from transaction fees reach nearly $2 million, representing an impressive 400% increase compared to the previous year.
This notable increase in income highlights the rising demand and utilization of the Bitcoin network and significantly boosts the profitability of mining activities.
The increased earnings for miners are important in plunging the tendency to sell Bitcoin. With higher profits, miners might be less compelled to sell their newly created coins instantly to offset operational expenses. This decrease in selling pressure helps create a more equilibrium state between supply and demand in the market.
Such a scenario has had significant implications for Bitcoin’s price in 2023. As miners retain a greater portion of their newly minted coins, the reduced supply available in the market may set the stage for potential price increases.
With miners selling less and continuous demand, the conditions are favorable for further growth in Bitcoin’s price.
Miners Ahead Of Next Halving
As the Bitcoin halving in April 2024 nears, miners are intensively preparing by studying past halvings and market reactions. The halving will cut block rewards from 6.25 to 3.125 bitcoins, doubling mining costs per bitcoin. Miners are mitigating this by adopting more efficient machines and optimizing energy use, building cash reserves, and hedging market risks.
Key strategies include upgrading to efficient hardware. Marathon Digital acquired 78,000 Antminer S19 XPs, boosting their hash rate to 23 EH/s by mid-2023. CleanSpark’s 45,000 Antminer S19 XPs will add 6.3 EH/s, targeting 16 EH/s by year-end. Riot Platforms purchased 33,280 MicroBT miners, increasing capacity to 20.1 EH/s in 2024.
Energy cost is crucial. Miners aim for cheap, sustainable energy and flexible contracts to adjust usage as prices fluctuate. CleanSpark is automating operations for optimal energy use in Georgia. Texas miners like Riot Platforms are utilizing energy strategies in the ERCOT market to increase revenue, earning millions through power sales and demand response programs.
Conclusion
In 2023, the crypto mining sector saw major developments ahead of the 2024 Bitcoin halving, including regulatory changes and strategic moves. Miners rebounded from the previous year’s downturn, investing in efficient technologies and boosting profitability. This led to a higher mining difficulty and network hashrate. Miners’ increased earnings helped balance Bitcoin’s supply-demand dynamics, positively impacting its price.
While the current data indicates a bullish sentiment and behavior among miners, there is an anticipation of a significant change as the halving event approaches. Additionally, the reserves of miners for both Litecoin and Bitcoin have been decreasing in recent months, coinciding with the recovery of the crypto market. This trend has led to increased selling among miners.
We may observe an uptick in miners selling their holdings during market price rallies, which could provide the necessary selling pressure for those holding short positions.
Ashoka University has entered into a partnership with Carl Zeiss India (ZEISS Group) to establish a ‘Core Imaging Facility’.
Under this partnership, the company will provide the university with cutting-edge microscopy technology, including high resolution, super resolution, high content microscopes.
The facility will serve researchers, students and collaborators in fields such as cell biology, biophysics, soft matter, and structural biology. It will be housed at the university’s campus in Sonepat.
The MoU was signed between the university and the Research Microscopy Solutions (RMS) division of ZEISS. The company is part of Carl Zeiss AG, a German manufacturer founded in 1846, which is a global leader in optical systems and optoelectronics.
Under the agreement, ZEISS will station expert system operators at the facility to assist researchers in adequately utilising the equipment during their scientific explorations. Furthermore, the two partners will work together to create awareness and provide opportunities to the research community through the facility. This includes periodic microscopy courses, conferences, and workshops for STEM students.
Also read — NEET-UG test: National Medical Commission modifies eligibility criteria
Amarjeet Singh Tak, Head of RMS Division for India and Neighbouring Countries, said, “We believe that by combining our expertise with the academic excellence of Ashoka University, we can create a platform that fosters groundbreaking discoveries and sets new standards in scientific exploration”.
“The Core Imaging Facility by ZEISS at Ashoka University will not only showcase ZEISS’s cutting-edge technology but also serve as a testament to our enduring heritage in microscopy solutions,” he added.
Black Friday is no longer a single-day or even one-week event, and there are plenty of early deals rolling in at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. Dell is jumping in on the action, and if you’re hoping to snag a next-gen gaming console this year, it just got a lot more affordable.
This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.
It’s rare to find discounts on the Xbox Series X, but right now Dell has slashed the price by $50, bringing the cost back down to an all-time low of $450. Plus, in addition to this full-size Microsoft gaming system, you’ll also get a $75 gift card that you can use at Dell on a future purchase. With so many computer and gaming peripherals, smart home devices and other tech available, this is an excellent deal. There’s no set expiration for this offer, so we’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.
The Xbox Series X is the most powerful console in Microsoft’s lineup. Though similar in both name and specs to the cheaper Xbox Series S, the flagship Series X offers 4K gaming, faster performance and more built-in storage. It’s also got a disc drive, which means it’s useful for people who want to play both physical and digital versions of games or use the device to play Blu-rays.
And if you’re looking to snag some other accessories for your Xbox gaming setup, you can check out our full roundup of the best Xbox deals for great bargains on headsets, controllers, storage drives and more. And if you want access to the massive library of games that comes with a Game Pass Ultimate membership, you can check out our roundup of the best subscription deals available to help you get signed up for less.
Returning home for the holidays can sometimes be stressful.
For some people, being around family members that they only see once a year or with whom they don’t have the strongest relationship can be anxiety-inducing.
How can home-goers ensure their holidays aren’t bogged down by family stress?
HOW TO HANDLE COMBATIVE RELATIVES DURING THE HOLIDAYS: ‘WELCOME TO ATTEND,’ WITH CONDITIONS
Licensed medical family therapist Jeff Yoo at Moment of Clarity Mental Health Center in Orange County, California, shared advice in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“In my opinion, the holidays present a mixture of excitement and stress, [so] a little stress is natural,” he said. “For some, the upcoming festivities bring back memories or reflections on past strained relationships.”
Some people may experience “distress” at being expected to show up for holiday gatherings regardless of their feelings, one family therapist noted.(iStock)
“The distress of being expected to show up regardless of your feelings and in what may be a sense of duty or misplaced loyalty could be too much for some,” Yoo also said.
The expert listed a variety of elements that can “compromise our feelings” when we meet up with family members. These elements can include childhood trauma, unresolved conflicts and hurtful discussions.
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Differences in people’s financial ability to give or exchange gifts can also add strain, he said.
Regardless of the origin of the stress, Yoo shared five tips for reducing family-related anxiety around holiday time.
1. Plan ahead
Planning ahead is “absolutely the key to making sure you create your own place at the table” for the holidays, Yoo said.
People should shift their potentially negative thoughts about getting together with family, said one expert. “Change negative thinking to positive thinking,” he said.(iStock)
“If you are invited to more than one gathering, make it clear that you have another place to go and make each one short,” he suggested.
“If you are a non-drinker, declare a sober holiday or bring your own beverage.”
“Choose to not battle on this day and walk away from those who rattle you.”
The therapist advised individuals to change their mindset as they head into each event.
“Be on time and show up with a pleasant attitude,” he said. “Do not preconceive how the day will go; change negative thinking to positive thinking.”
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“Choose to not battle on this day and walk away from those who rattle you,” Yoo added.
Mia Rosenberg, a psychotherapist and owner at Upsider Therapy in New York, told Fox News Digital that while avoiding hot-topic conversations may be difficult, it’s important to set boundaries.
“Do not preconceive how the day will go,” one therapist suggested.(iStock)
“If and when hot topics come up, you can set a boundary by saying something like, ‘Let’s not get into XYZ, it can be controversial and we’re all having a good time. Why don’t we talk about ABC instead?’”
2. Be prepared
To ensure a punctual arrival, Yoo said people should give themselves plenty of time to get ready, while factoring in gift wrapping, food preparations and travel time.
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In cases where there is known tension between family members, it may be wise to have a separate conversation ahead of your arrival, according to Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and author of “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do,” who is based in Marathon, Florida.
To ensure a punctual arrival, people should give themselves plenty of time to get ready, while factoring in gift wrapping, food preparations and travel time.(iStock)
“If there’s a relative who often starts tiffs, it may be helpful to have a conversation with this person about your expectations,” she told Fox News Digital.
3. Be open about budgets
Even though finances can be a difficult topic of conversation, people should talk with loved ones about any financial struggles if there is stress about gift-giving, said Yoo.
“Most people will be happier to spend time with you and yours than to receive gifts,” he said.
Simplify gift-giving by picking names and gifting to just one person in the family, suggested one expert.(iStock)
One idea is to create handmade gifts that “come from the heart instead of the pocket.”
4. Simplify holiday pressures
It’s vital to simplify expectations on spending, giving and even eating excessively during the holidays, said Yoo.
“In order to make the best of gatherings, you could try to simplify gift-giving by picking names — one person, one gift — to limit the cost,” he said.
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“I love the concept of fewer gifts, with deeper thought and consideration for each gift presented, making them personalized.”
This “also keeps the meaning of giving in the forefront,” Yoo said.
“In order to make the best of gatherings, you could try to simplify gift-giving by picking names — one person, one gift — to limit the cost,” said one expert.(iStock)
Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and executive performance coach with practices in Manhattan and Washington, D.C., also shared his advice with Fox News Digital, advising people not to “buy into the belief that you have a ‘perfect family’ or that the holiday will be perfect.”
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“By adjusting your expectations, you’ll be less likely to be disappointed and stressed should something not go according to plan — and you’ll also take the pressure off yourself,” he said.
5. Plan fun family activities
Incorporating fun and family-friendly activities into the holiday agenda could help people blow off some steam, said Yoo.
He suggested planning all-in family games like a scavenger hunt or table and card games.
Planning fun activities for the whole family could help people blow off steam, said one therapist.(iStock)
“Set up teams like children vs. adults,” he said. “Make the best of your time spent with others.”
Remember the importance of spending time with family over giving gifts, said Yoo.
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“Time is much more precious than anything else we could give to each other,” he said.
Erica Lamberg contributed reporting.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital.
Indian breads include a variety of flatbreads, each unique in their own way. One popular variety is the classic kulcha. Known for its soft and fluffy texture, they are always a delight to indulge in. The best part is that they can be paired with a variety of different dishes. While plain kulcha tastes good as is, there’s no harm in making it more indulgent, right? As we are approaching the weekend, it’s the perfect time to satisfy your foodie cravings, and this time, with stuffed kulcha. Enjoy lip-smacking stuffed kulchas from Mithaas and also earn exciting rewards as you savour them. How? If you use the NDTV Big Bonus App, you will receive gift coupons on your purchases and up to 10% in rewards on the app. Download the NDTV Big Bonus App from the App Store or Google Play, register on the app, and link your bank cards to earn these rewards. Don’t worry; linking your credit and debit cards to the app is completely secure, so make the most of your order while earning. Also Read: Treat Yourself To Delectable Paneer Curries And Earn Rewards With NDTV Big Bonus App
Here Are 4 Lip-Smacking Stuffed Kulchas You Must Try This Weekend:
1. Aloo Stuffed Kulcha
If you’re an aloo lover, you’re going to love this aloo-stuffed kulcha. It consists of a masaledaar aloo filling that will leave you craving for more. Brush the kulcha with a generous amount of butter and enjoy with a bowl of spicy chole.
2. Pyaaz Stuffed Kulcha
Want to enjoy a stuffed kulcha but still want to keep things simple? Look no further than pyaaz-stuffed kulcha. This kulcha is super light yet wholesome and packed with flavour. You can enjoy this kulcha for your next lunch or dinner meal.
3. Paneer Stuffed Kulcha
Paneer has the power to make any dish taste better. And this paneer-stuffed kulcha is no exception. Just as you take the first bite, the crispy outlet layer reveals the softness inside. Serve this kulcha at your next get-together, and it is sure to impress your guests.
4. Aloo Pyaaz Stuffed Kulcha
This kulcha offers the best of both worlds: aloo and pyaaz stuffed in one. It is a kulcha that’ll make you instantly fall in love with it. Pair it with yogurt and any achaar of your choice to fully savour its taste. It’s just perfect to enjoy for a weekend brunch. Also Read: With NDTV Big Bonus App, You Can Now Have Delicious Uttapams For Breakfast And Earn Rewards Too
Satisfy your weekend cravings with these yummy stuffed kulchas. Hurry up and download the NDTV Big Bonus App from the App Store or Google Play, register on the app, and link your bank cards to collect up to 10% in rewards and discount coupons while you shop after spending a minimum amount. Once you link your cards to the app, you will increase your vINR balance whenever you use the same cards. The rewards you get with the NDTV Big Bonus are over and above any amount you receive from any credit card or bank rewards program. This vINR balance can be used to shop at any of the brands listed on the app.
Disclaimer: NDTV Is A Media Partner Providing Certain Promotional Services To Enigmatic Smile India Rewards Private Limited For Its Application.
About Vaishali KapilaVaishali finds comfort in eating parathas and rajma chawal but is equally enthusiastic about exploring different cuisines. When she’s not eating or baking, you can often find her curled up on the couch watching her favourite TV show – FRIENDS.
China will continue to work with all parties to enhance coordination and galvanize more responsible and meaningful action in the UN Security Council for an early cessation of hostilities in Gaza, the implementation of the two-state solution and peace and stability in the Middle East, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday.
She made the remarks while commenting on Resolution 2720, which was passed by the UN Security Council with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions last Friday, calling for urgent action to expand humanitarian assistance to Gaza and create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.
Mao said China voted in favor of Resolution 2720, the second resolution adopted by the Security Council since the start of the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
However, she noted that the resolution does not quite meet international expectations and has gaps that need to be filled.
She said as the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict has killed and injured tens of thousands of civilians and the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, China has urged for the resolution to be implemented effectively, humanitarian assistance to be expanded and a monitoring mechanism to be established as soon as possible.
Realizing a ceasefire remains the absolute priority and prerequisite for everything else, Mao said.
(With input from Xinhua)
(Cover: Palestinians inspect the rubble of destroyed buildings after heavy Israeli bombardment of the Al-Maghazi camp in central Gaza, December 25, 2023. /CFP)
The Covid-19 public health emergency officially expired in the United States in May, and it seemed the celebrations were nonstop.
Night after night, a cohort of shiny and (and often deep-pocketed) city dwellers escaped into lavish, invite-only parties, galas and benefits that gleamed like 2019. These elaborate fever dreams were made all the more feverish and dreamy by looks often spun from the runways: fire-engine reds, overblown silhouettes, yards of tulle and a grab bag of bijoux.
Whether at a Fashion Week party at Gracie Mansion or a benefit for Elmhurst Hospital at the American Museum of Natural History, guests swanned around in looks so surreal that they transported us somewhere beyond the pings of the push notifications that typically mark our time.
Below are some of the looks and themes that made us smile or smirk or take a second look. They all provided a bit of glimmering levity to the year.
High Volume
Guests couldn’t swing a coupe, it seemed, without bumping into another partygoer’s oversize skirt, sleeve or coat. Call it an extension of Covid comfort dressing: Exaggerated silhouettes in touchable materials made for larger-than-life entrances (and, undoubtedly, tricky rides home).
Seeing Red
Perhaps as a reaction to last year’s ubiquitous electric lime, perhaps as a reflection of the fall 2023 runways, blaring reds seemed to be everywhere — including on the equally omnipresent Mayor Eric Adams.
Gloves On
With plastic gloves and groceries sprayed with Lysol now marking a certain moment in time, statement-making gloves made with rich satins, supple leather and even sheer fabric signified retro chic rather than contagion.
Knockout Jewelry
Nothing says Surrealism like slinging a sparkly cartoon face around your neck, or adorning your brows with bejeweled paper clips, or having two unblinking Schiaparelli eyes dangle from your earlobes. Needless to say, we couldn’t look away.
Top Tiers
A shorthand for sugarplum fantasy, tiers of tulle and flouncy ruffles graced benefits across the city, turning venues like Cipriani into something like Cinderella’s castle. At the very least, it was a sweet nod to innocence.
Defying Category
And then there are those whose looks evaded neat description but demanded tribute. What to do with a rainbow balaclava inspired by the film “Monsters, Inc.,” or a metallic get-up meant to resemble a “bureaucratic office wizard,” in actor Julio Torres’s telling? We raise a glass.
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Starting out with limited pharma business knowledge, how the lessons learned and realizations made helped to forge a destined—and globe-spanning—leadership path for Christophe Bourdon, where today, as CEO of LEO Pharma, he is tasked with steering the longtime company’s return to profitability.
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Chronicling Davidek Herron’s career crossover from playing professional basketball to leading Roche’s digital transformation and scale-up efforts—and the team lessons learned along the way.
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Christi Shaw, this year’s Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) Woman of the Year, stays true to her beliefs—and life mission—of helping others.
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Crossing the Brain Barrier
COMPASS Pathways’ CEO, Kabir Nath, has a clear vision for psychedelics—and is leading the way with the company’s focus on psilocybin and efforts to separate the science from the hype.
A Fierce Focus On Unmet Need
From public defender to spearheading the adoption of innovative drugs, Wendy Short Bartie, senior VP and general manager for the hematology and cell therapy division at Bristol Myers Squibb, has remained a steadfast patient advocate—working to fulfill unmet medical needs and bring treatments to as many people as possible.
A New Era of Ethical Leadership
Lisa LeCointe-Cephas, SVP, chief ethics and compliance officer and office of general counsel, human health, Merck, uses her unique style of leadership—stop, drop, and roll—while elevating voices that need to be heard.
A Blueprint for Balance
Stephen Rivera, vice president, global technical accounting advisory services and policy, Johnson & Johnson, capitalizes on his lively personality—and a courageous career journey—to bring people together to shape the future of biopharma.
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Lisa Conte, founder, president, and CEO of Jaguar Health, discusses how a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro would vault her to her true career calling—and spark a decades-long quest to accelerate breakthroughs in plant-based pharmaceuticals and supportive care.
Whether you’re a die hard fan of the festive season, or a festive fan of Die Hard like me, (which absolutely counts as a Christmas film, by the way), our cats can get into all sorts of mischief at this time of year. Even if you – or they – do not observe this particular holiday, there are plenty of ways they can find themselves on the wrong end of a piece of tinsel, or lapping up a puddle of spilt eggnog. Any of the dangers below could land you in the emergency vets over the holiday period, so before you let the good times roll, take a look around your home and make sure you keep these items out of the reach of your curious cat. So in the spirit of cheesy Christmas carols, I give you: The 12 Dangers of Christmas.
🎵 On the 12th Day of Christmas, My Feline Tried to Eat… 🎶
12. Tasty Chocolates
As we all probably know, chocolate is actually toxic to pets, and that includes our cats. Packed full of theobromine and caffeine, this delicious sweet can cause dangerous elevations in heart rate, low blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures. The darker the chocolate, the worse the effects.
11. Mince pies
Depending on the recipe being used, fruit mince pies are made with a number of ingredients, with sultanas and currants at the top of the list. Grapes, in any form, are highly toxic to cats (and dogs), and can result in kidney failure.
10. Christmas lilies
There are two types of lilies that might be around during the holiday season, true lilies, which are extremely toxic to cats, and the Christmas lily, which is not technically a lily. Amaryllis is a lily-like flower that is a popular decorative plant which can cause a life-threatening drop in blood pressure if cats eat the flower, leaves or stem, with the bulb of this plant being its most toxic part.
Every part of the traditional lily is highly toxic to cats, with most poisonings resulting from cats licking pollen that has brushed against their fur.
9. Fairy lights
Image credit: nadtochiy, Shutterstock
Take an enticing wire and make it sparkly and bright; you’ve got a tempting toy for many playful felines. Electric shocks are a possibility if your curious cat decides to chew through the wire, but ingestion of the plastic and wires is probably the biggest worry.
8. Holly berries
These attractive red berries might look tasty, but they are actually toxic to cats, dogs, and humans. Fortunately the effects are not usually life threatening, but if your cat eats them, they can suffer with severe gastrointestinal upset including vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and pain.
7. Serves of Stuffing
Most stuffing contains garlic and onions, both of which are toxic to cats. They cause a severe anemia by damaging the red blood cells, which can take several days to become apparent.
6. Cups of Eggnog
Although this delicious holiday beverage is not as dangerous as some of the other items on our list, with ingredients like condensed milk, sugar, cream, nutmeg, cinnamon and brandy, this is not something that should end up in a cat’s saucer.
5. Types of Meat
Obviously cats eat meat, and meat is good for cats. However, the meat we enjoy in the holiday season is generally not prepared with the feline gastrointestinal system in mind. The high levels of fat, oil, and grease are a recipe for a major digestive disaster, and the gravy, stuffing and seasonings can be even more dangerous. Plain cooked meats are safe for your kitty, but keep the basted turkey and cured ham off their plate.
4. Poinsettia leaves
Image credit: Ray_Shrewsberry, Pixabay
This beautiful plant with its bright red and green foliage is a firm festive favorite, and a great gift for the person who has everything! The milky sap is the primary problem, but the good news is that serious toxicity is quite rare. The most common complaints are skin irritation, drooling, and mouth pain, but some cats can end up with vomiting and diarrhea if they overindulge.
3. Christmas Puddings
Much like our fruit mince pies, sultanas and currants abound in Christmas cakes and puddings, so be sure to keep them out of reach.
2. Mistletoe
This unassuming little plant might put a smile on your face and a kiss on your lips, but you’d better be sure to keep it up high where it belongs. Cats that munch on mistletoe can experience vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, even death, so if you’re hanging it from the ceiling, make sure it’s somewhere your curious cat can’t reach.
1. Baubles and strands of Tinsel
Cats don’t often end up at the vets for eating foreign objects, but the big exceptions are things like string, wool, cotton thread, or fishing line. And tinsel is just fancy looking string! They chase it, play with it, and occasionally chew and swallow it. These linear foreign bodies can get stuck in the intestines, causing them to bunch up and become obstructed, which is very dangerous. Cats and glass baubles don’t mix. Notorious for playing with hanging ornaments, they can knock these fragile decorations off the tree, leaving shards of glass that can cut into their paws. If they manage to pull them down without breaking them, the bauble could shatter in their mouths if they are playing and chewing.
Now I don’t want you to start worrying that death and disaster is lurking around every corner this holiday season, but it’s always good to be aware of what problems could arise if your feline friend decides to climb your Christmas tree, help themselves to some holiday lunch, or munch on your festive floral arrangements. There are lots of ways to make things a bit safer for our cats this Christmas, but just in case, be sure to check the holiday arrangements of your veterinary practice, and keep the number of a Pet Poisons Hotline close by.
From my family to yours, have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyful Winter Solstice, or just enjoy spending time with loved ones over the holiday season. May your days be furry and bright.
The real estate sector is set to see record housing sales of over 7 lakh units and on the commercial side, office absorption is expected at over 58 million sq ft, much higher than expected.
businessline caught up with Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director of Knight Frank India to understand the trends in the residential and commercial segments and the outlook in the new year.
Here are excerpts from the interview.
When you look back at this year, what is the overwhelming trend that you have seen compared with previous years?
2023 has been a year of many dramatic shifts and a tumultuous year in terms of interest rate hikes. The debate on whether to implement work from office or let employees continue to work from home has been doing the rounds. From 2012 onwards, the residential sector was on a complete decline till 2020, and while structural reforms were made by the government in this segment, the demand just didn’t pick up, more specifically amongst the youngsters. They were happy leasing apartments rather than buying. The businesses were also under severe stress and pressure.
Then the pandemic happened; we saw a major shift in the buyer’s perception towards owning a home. Of course, it was also aided by decadal low interest rates (during the pandemic time). The buyer perception change that took place in 2020 has continued and all the runway that had been built up with pent-up demand in the time from 2012 to 2020, has now erupted. There is continuous buying, regardless of the interest rate increases over the last two years after the high levels of inflation.
Despite the fact that interest rates increased by about 250 basis points which lead to 200 basis points increase in the housing rates, the demand for housing has continued to rise. That’s the real positive that I see in this sector, and this is throughout the country.
How would you account for the buying frenzy if we can call it that?
We have a huge pent up demand for over a decade in which we had postponed buying decisions for various reasons, and that’s going to affect people. If you look at it, they have substantial runway to growth at this point of time, when they’ve been in a mature market for a long time and ours has been a fairly declining market. You may have noticed that within the residential sector also. If one dices and deciphers a number, we will see that the sectors which are less likely to be affected by high level interest changes, which are the mid-income and premium, have done far better than the affordable. The game is very different from what was happening in the period from 2012 to 2020, when the majority of the residential purchases were in the affordable sector.
Another thing that we are seeing, is that many of the many of the real estate players, who were not there for last so many years, slowly they’re emerging, encouraged by the sales. Do you fear that some kind of bubble may be created?
I hope not. I think there’s been a substantial amount of consolidation over the last 10-12 years. There are mature players in the market today and I do hope that the supply and demand keep track of themselves. If there is, again like what happened prior to 2012, and there is unreal expansion regardless of the demand, then you could have a situation with a bubble coming in. But at this point of time it’s too early in the growth story. It’s just been over a year really.
You spoke of consolidation. The last two years, we saw a lot of joint developments and JVs. And now we see the reverse is happening. The top listed players don’t want to get into JVs because they feel that the partner with whom they are aligning and whose projects are stuck may not be viable. How do you see that trend?
They (top players) are far more confident of placing bets on purchase of property, and thereby doing it themselves. There’s a lot of confidence in the market today by the developers to go ahead and build and construct the project. During the time when the markets were slightly depressed and declining, they preferred to restrict the investments perhaps only to such construction, sharing risks and profits. But today they are far more confident and bullish in doing the development themselves. And with all the regulations, many developers prefer to have no other baggage and do the development themselves.
Developers have been raising prices. How do you see the price outlook and what is a sustainable level of price growth?
I wouldn’t give any outlook on the growth. But I think last year, we perhaps may have had an overall 8-10 per cent increase in prices. And as long as the growth in prices remain in line with what the income appreciation is, I think it’s sustainable to that extent. It really depends on how the GDP grows, and how the income levels grow. Knight Frank comes out with an affordability index.
The affordability has improved substantially, since 2010 right up to 2021. In Mumbai, our affordability ratio, which is a ratio between the EMI versus the income levels, was close to 93 per cent; the affordability has improved substantially and grown up by 53-54 per cent, while in all the other cities, the affordability has improved to amounts less than 30 per cent. So, if the affordability index still remains below 40 per cent in many of the cities, it is still all right. But if it’s suddenly shooting up there, then there are signs to worry.
On the commercial side, how do you see the demand and supply playing out? There are so many conflicting reports as to how much of office absorption we’ll see this year.
We have always been bullish on the office market. We feel that the office segment is a great segment to be in, especially in a country like India. Unlike the rest of the world, in India the return to office was very strong. Barring some sectors which had problems, most of the India-facing businesses saw return to work at a much higher percentage than many of the other western economies.
We have a strong economic growth, strong return to office, as well as strong levels of employment, and the requirement of space was strong. In addition, a large number of global capabilities centres started coming to the country. I reckon they’re close to 2,000 odd GCCs in the country today. We reckon that this year, we might just about equal if not surpass the highs of 2019.
Do you think that office landlords should now focus more on Indian companies rather than relying too much on MNCs?
I think India facing businesses is as important today as foreign companies. And foreign companies have been with us for a long time anyway. So whether it is tech or multinationals or India facing, it’s a good combination of all. I think it’s a nice balance to have.
Do you do expect a lot of PE investments to come into the office sector?
Office segment has always been a favourite segment for PE investors, and they’ll continue to put money in if they feel that the long-term macro trends are positive. PE investors were a little sceptical about what was happening in the office segment, work from home or from office. People were perhaps more mindful about the investments. In India I would say 50 to 60 per cent of the PE investments coming into India would be in the office segment.
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.
GOTOVO svi ponekad vole mirisati zavodljivo, privlačno, jednom riječju – seksi. Najseksi parfemi imaju niz mješavina mirisa, a njihova jedinstvena kombinacija nota je opojna. Note mogu biti mošusne, gurmanske ili cvjetne, a za koje stručnjaci kažu da su dizajnirane s namjerom da nas čine privlačnima.
“Mirisi koji pripadaju obitelji mirisa Narcotics, zbog svog aspekta koji izaziva ovisnost, najseksepilniji su”, kaže osnivač Kilian Parisa, Kilian Hennessy, za Harper’s Bazaar. “Jer u konačnici, kada je u pitanju zavođenje, želite nositi miris koji je opojan za vašeg partnera.”
Iako ono što smatramo najprivlačnijim mirisnim notama može biti subjektivno, nacionalna direktorica ljepote Nordstroma Autumne West kaže da većina kupaca gravitira prema zemljanim, drvenastim mirisima za vrhunski seksepil.
“Smatram da, kada većina ljudi opisuje miris za koji misle da je ‘seksi’, to je gotovo uvijek onaj s natruhama vanilije pomiješane s nečim drvenastim, začinskim ili ponekad ružom”, objašnjava ona.
Slojevanje mirisa
Stručnjaci također predlažu slojevanje mirisa kako bi se produljio vijek trajanja onog koji nosite dok stvarate potpuno novo mirisno iskustvo. Prema osnivačici Bond No. 9 Laurice Rahmé, “note ambera, pačulija i vanilije dobru su za slojevanje i traju satima”.
Ona također dodaje da su cvjetni mirisi među najprodavanijim mirisima njezine marke, posebno oko 14. veljače. “Za Valentinovo prodajemo mnogo mirisa s ružama, poput Nolite i Gold Coasta”, objašnjava Rahmé.
No koju god kombinaciju odabrali, u konačnici se slojevanje temelji na onome u čemu se osjećate najbolje. “Slojevanje mirisa svodi se na osobne preferencije. Kod mirisa nema pravila, ali mora funkcionirati za pojedinca i pružiti mu osjećaj zadovoljstva”, kaže Hennessy.
“Slojevanje proizvoda iz iste linije učinkovit je način da miris bude postojan”, West se slaže, napominjući da je ova vrsta prilagodbe mirisa također jednostavan način da se prepoznatljivi miris podigne nekoliko stupnjeva više za posebne prilike.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
West savjetuje da počnete mirisnim losionom ili kremom, a završite pratećim parfemom ili toaletnom vodom.
Najseksi mirisi
Harper’s Bazaar izdvojio je nekoliko mirisa koje profesionalci, ali i njihovi urednici, smatraju najseksi mirisima svih vremena. Možete ih vidjeti ispod.
My Way Eau de Parfum, Armani
Jedan od najseksi mirisa na njihovoj listi je i Armanijev My Way. On uključuje vaniliju i bergamot, ali njegova slatkoća cvijeta naranče daje mu slatkastu sočnost. “Prozračan je, mekan kao latica i nije prenapadan, ali poseban”, piše Harper’s Bazzar.
Donna Born In Roma Intense Eau de Parfum, Valentino
Valentinova parfemska voda Donna Born In Roma Intense toliko je popularna da je često rasprodana u parfumerijama. Cvjetno-jantarni miris otkriva tamniju stranu tradicionalnih cvjetnih mirisa, s notama jasmina i vanilije.
Mon Paris Eau de Parfum, YSL
YLS-ov miris ima note bobičastog voća i cvijeća, ali sadrži i mošus. Odličan je za izlazak, ali i kao dnevni parfem.
Thé Vanille Eau de Parfum, Nette
Note kardamoma, cvijeta magnolije i vanilije spajaju se kako bi stvorile toplu mješavinu koja miriše poput vaše kože, ali bolje.
Santal 33 Eau de Parfum, Le Labo
Senzualan i topao, ali nenametljiv. On je drveni aromatični miris za žene i muškarce.
Herod Eau de Parfum, Parfums de Marly
Herod s notama zrna tonke i cimeta pruža tajanstveniji pogled na parfeme vanilije. Njegova mješavina nota poput lista duhana i tamjana dodaje dubinu i laganu pikantnost njegovom toplom, mošusnom završetku.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Pour Homme Eau de Toilette, Dolce & Gabbana
Mješavina citrusa, bergamota i lavande prošarana je sandalovinom što daje ovom mirisu senzualnost.
Aventus, Creed
Senzualna, odvažna i suvremena, ova bogata i legendarna parfemska voda spaja primamljive voćne note jabuke, crnog ribiza, ružičastog papra i bergamota s komplementarnim svježim i voćnim srcem jasmina, ananasa i pačulija.
Replica Jazz Club, Maison Margiela Paris
Miris Jazz Cluba Maison Margiela je poput buketa vrhunskih cigara u mješavini lista duhana i ružičastog papra. Opojna toaletna voda rekreira izuzetne i bogate arome koktela s notama zrna vanilije i absoluta ruma.
Orphéon Eau de Parfum, Diptyque
Ovaj miris inspiriran je živahnim noćnim životom pariške četvrti Saint Germain 60-ih. Ima drvenaste note poput cedra i pačulija, a toplinu mu daju zrna tonke. Završava suptilnom notom jasmina.
Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum, Chanel
Ženstveni miris iznenađujuće svježine. Note naranče, jasmina i ruže te pačulija i vetivera idealne su za ležeran svakodnevni seksi miris.
Eau de Parfum, Fenty
Topli cvjetni miris koji u sebi ima note magnolije, mošusa, mandarine i bugarske ruže. Idealan miris za spojeve.
Love Don’t Be Shy, Kilian Paris
“Ovaj miris je jedan od prvih mirisa koje sam kreirao dok sam lansirao Kilian Paris prije 15 godina, i danas je još uvijek jedan od mojih apsolutno najprodavanijih. Postoji razlog zašto je Love, Don’t Be Shy potpuno neodoljiv: to je ukusan gurmanski san.
Bijeli sljez, vanilija i cvijet naranče kombiniraju se kako bi stvorili miris koji podsjeća na rajski desert. Stvarno sam želio da parfem učini da onaj tko ga nosi miriše na nešto što jednostavno želite zagristi”, rekao je Kilian Hennessy.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
J’Adore Eau de Parfum, Dior
J’adore je poput buketa cvijeća iz cijelog svijeta. Esencija ylang-ylanga sa svojim cvjetnim i voćnim notama i esencijama damaščanske ruže iz Turske stapaju se s rijetkim duom jasmina Grandifloruma iz Grassea i indijskog jasmina sambaca, s voćnom senzualnošću.
Mojave Ghost Eau de Parfum, Byredo
Njegove drvenaste i cvjetne note ambrete, magnolije, cedrovine i ljubičice duboko su opojne i savršene su za nošenje tijekom cijele godine.
Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum Spray, Tom Ford
Topao i pikantan miris, posebno idealan tijekom zimskih mjeseci.
Amber Musk Eau de Parfum, Aerin
“Ugodan je, jednostavan, lagan i nije prenapadan. Miriše na maženje s nekim koga voliš”, opisala ga je direktorica ljepote u Harper’s Bazaaru, Jenna Rosenstein.
Marque-Page Eau de Parfum, Ormaie
Miris svoju inspiraciju crpi iz kožnog bookmarka koji je otac osnivača nosio sa sobom na putovanje. Sadrži snažne orijentalne note – kožu, oud, tamjan i začine – s delikatnošću perunike.
Near the end of the 1999 movie “Runaway Bride,” Julia Roberts, hops on the back of a FedEx truck fleeing yet another potential marriage.
Those in attendance are dumbfounded but not surprised. The character played by Rita Wilson, the potential groom’s ex-wife, asks her husband, and the groom’s editor, played by Hector Elizondo: “Where is she going?”
Elizondo responds: “I don’t know, but she’ll be there by 10:30 tomorrow.”
If only it were that simple today.
FedEx is now the only major air carrier that moves horses, but that takes a back seat to moving parcels come December. It suspended transporting horses from Dec. 3 through Christmas.
This is important because Santa Anita opens its signature meet Tuesday with three Grade 1 and three Grade 2 stakes races. A trainer who wants to ship in for a big race is not likely to want to move their horse three weeks early, which would have been the case with FedEx.
Of the 89 horses currently entered, only five are what would be considered traditional shippers, two for Brad Cox and one from Rodolphe Brisset, Ben Colebrook and Michelle Lovell. All are primarily located in Kentucky and Louisiana.
Until 2021, Tex Sutton was the main air transport company for horses, but it lost its lease on a jet and the racing industry has been scrambling since.
“I think it’s a problem throughout the country, not just a California problem,” said Craig Fravel, executive vice chair of racing and gaming for the Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita. “There are significant challenges because there just isn’t an infrastructure of moving horses around. It’s something as an industry to figure out and a way to overcome it.
“When Tex Sutton went away, it removed a nice industry asset that is dedicated in many ways to what we do. It’s so expensive to move horses around it does force you to depend a little more on your native population.”
Looking for a solution from within the industry is not likely to instill a lot of confidence in the public. After all, it still hasn’t figured out how to prevent running simulcast races at the same time, even when the tracks are owned by the same company.
Shipping isn’t as big of a problem on the East Coast because so many tracks are clustered in the northeast and horses can be vanned. California is often referred to as an “island” because it is so far away from most other comparable racing.
Shipping a horse by plane is not an inexpensive proposition. It’s a hugely varying scale based on how far you are going and how many horses you are shipping. But figure a horse coming from the East Coast to Santa Anita is going to cost in the $3,000 to $4,000 range, and that’s just one way.
Opening day at Santa Anita is one of the three biggest days of the six-month season, along with the Santa Anita Handicap in March and Santa Anita Derby in April . Tuesday’s 11-race card starts at 11 a.m.
Jockey Juan Hernandez rides Speed Boat Beach at Santa Anita in October 2022.
(Horsephotos / Getty Images)
This year’s opener does not have the sizzle of the last two years. In 2022, there was the return of Taiba, making an outside bid for 3-year-old horse of the year, and the debut of Frankie Dettori to the Santa Anita jockey colony in what was billed as his last year. He changed his mind and will be back Tuesday.
In 2021, it was about seeing Flightline, said by some as the best horse since Secretariat, making his third start while winning the Malibu Stakes by 11 ½ lengths.
This year, not so interesting.
Four of the six stakes are for 3-year-olds in their last race at that age before all horses turn a year older on Jan. 1. So, what happened to this year’s 3-year-old crop? Mage, winner of the Kentucky Derby, retired. Arcangelo, winner of the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes, retired. National Treasure, winner of the Preakness Stakes, was nominated to the Malibu Stakes and San Antonio Stakes (open to older horses) but wasn’t entered in either race.
The seven-furlong Grade 1 $300,000 Malibu Stakes is perhaps the most interesting race with three Bob Baffert-trained entries, Speed Boat Beach (5-2 morning line favorite), Fort Bragg (3-1) and Hejazi (3-1), a $3.55 million purchase. The female equivalent of the Malibu is the La Brea Stakes, which also is evenly matched with Clearly Unhinged (3-1) as the favorite for Michael McCarthy.
The other Grade 1 is the American Oaks, 1 1/4 miles on the turf for 3-year-old fillies. Anisette is the 8-5 favorite for Leonard Powell.
The Grade 2 races are: the San Gabriel Stakes, for 3-year-old and up going 1 1/8 miles on the turf; the San Antonio Stakes for horses going 1 1/16 miles; and the Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on the turf.
Infinix Smart 8HD Infinix was recently launched at Rs 5,669. It is one of the few devices that is loaded with several features despite being an entry-level device. It also comes with a magic ring, which has a lot of scope for improvement. Here’s a quick review of the device.
Infinix Smart 8HD review: Design
It has a timber texture finish at the back with the camera island having a ring flash and a colour-matched frame which looks sophisticated.
Infinix Smart 8HD review: Display
The smartphone has a 6.6-inch HD+ display with 500 nits peak brightness, just sufficient to use the device outdoors. Considering the price, the display is respectable. It also has a magic ring that displays information like background calls, charging and other details.
Infinix Smart 8HD review: Performance
The Infinix Smart 8HD is powered by Unisoc T606 SoC. paired with 3GB of RAM and 64GB UFS 2.2 internal storage. The smartphone can run a few apps simultaneously but not many.
Infinix Smart 8HD review: Software
The smartphone boots on custom XOS skin atop Android 13 Go out of the box. The UI is good but the smartphone does come with bloatware.
Infinix Smart 8HD review: Battery and Charging
The smartphone has a 5,000mAh battery and supports 10W charging. Charging is quite slow and it will take around 4 hours to completely charge the device, which is a lot of time. But you cannot complain much at this price.
Infinix Smart 8HD review: Camera
The Infinix Smart 8HD comes with a 13MP dual AI camera setup with a quad-LED ring flash. For selfies, it has an 8MP selfie camera with LED flash. The smartphone can click decent images in daylight. Don’t expect much from low-light photos.
Infinix Smart 8HD review: Verdict
At this budget, it is one of the best options available in the market. However, an 18W charging would have made it a much better device.
Ancient literature will tell you that the term Suvarnadvipa (Golden Peninsula) mentioned in the Ramayana might be a reference to the Malay Peninsula. Vayu Purana also mentions a place named Malaydvipa which probably referred to Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. One can argue for and against these references but no one ever doubts the popularity of Malaysia as a popular holiday destination for Indians. From delicious culinary delights, captivating culture, and breathtaking nature and scenic spots set against a vibrant metropolitan vibe, Malaysia has it all. Not only is Malaysia not so far away, it is affordable and can easily fit a ₹1 lakh budget.
Malaysia offers a vibrant blend of culture, modernity, and stunning landscapes. (Pixabay)
Here is a quick look at what to see/do/eat/buy/shop in Malaysia. If you are not sure about your itinerary, go to www.malaysia.travel/travel-ideas, the official website of Malaysia Tourism, for interesting itineraries.
Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here
Important cities: Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Georgetown, Langkawi, Johor Bahru, Malacca, Alor Setar, Ipoh, Genting.
Must-see/do: Meet the orangutans in Malaysian Borneo, Visit the Petronas Twin Towers, Visit the historic city of Georgetown, Explore Langkawi, Climb Mount Kinabalu, Hike one of the Cameron Highlands Trails, Trek through Taman Negara National Park & Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, Visit Porta De Santiago (A Famosa) and Dharmikarama Burmese Temple, See Proboscis monkeys inBako. Do food trails.
Must-eat:
• Mee goreng mamak: Yellow noodles with beef or chicken, shrimp, veggies and eggs
• Apam balik: Pancake-style snack
• Nasi kerabu: Blue rice
• Ayam percik: Chicken with percik sauce
• Roti John: Sandwiches made with grilled minced meat and egg in the middle of slim bread
• Laska: Spicy-sour fish broth
• Cendawan goreng: Fried mushrooms
• Lemang: Rice mixed with coconut milk and cooked in bamboo
• Tepung pelita: Malay-style pastry
• Roti Canai: Flatbread dish
• Ramly Burger: An iconic Malaysian street food
• Satay or Sate: Barbecued meat
• Lok-Lok: A fusion of sate and hot pot
What to buy: Batik fabric, wall hanging, Pewter goods, handwoven craft, Malaysian dodol, Songket fabric, Pia Kumbu fabric, Kerongsang (brooch), Labu Saying (gourd-shaped clay jar), Nyonya beaded slippers.
Where to buy: Petaling Street Market (Chinatown), Little Indian Arcade, Pavilion, Berjaya Times Square, & Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu Handicraft Marketin Sabah, Kuching Main Bazaar in Sarawak, Langkawi Night Markets, Sabai-Sabai Market in Penang, Suria KLCC, Cameron Highland.
Packages:
• Escape to Kuala Lumpur (4 nights, 5 days). Cost: ₹42,000+ (including flight). Book on: makemytrip.com
• Budget Special Kuala Lumpur Trip (4 nights, 5 days). Cost: ₹36,000+ (including flight). Book on: makemytrip.com
• Romantic Langkawi (4 nights, 5 days). Cost: ₹79,000+ (including flight). Book on: makemytrip.com
• Astonishing Malaysia (3 nights, 4 days). Cost: ₹24,000+ (excluding flight). Book on: thomascook.in
• Exciting Malaysia (5 nights, 6 days). Cost: ₹27,000+ (excluding flight). Book on: thomascook.in
• Genting Dream Cruise Penang (3 nights, 4 days). Cost: ₹26,000+ (excluding flight). Book on: sotc.in
Return Flight (Economy): Delhi-Kuala Lumpur-Delhi return flight starts at ₹24,000+. Return flight from Bengaluru starts at ₹20,000+; ₹16,000+ from Kolkata.
Visa: From December 1, 2023, Indian nationals have been granted visa-free entry to Malaysia for a duration of up to 30 days.
Good to know:
Currency: 1 Malaysian Ringgit = INR 17.98
Language: The official and national language in Malaysia is Malay or Bahasa Malaysia. English is widely spoken.
Local transport: Public transport like metro trains and buses are cheaper than taxis. Do take advantage of the Go KL City Bus, a bus service plying Kuala Lumpur’s downtown hotspots, completely free of charge. From Kuala Lumpur, RapidKL and KTM Komuter connect Kuala Lumpur with all major suburbs and states, respectively. Within Kuala Lumpur itself, the KL Monorail runs through the city centre.
KL Sentral is a modern transportation hub serving many trains – KTM Komuter, LRT, MRT, KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit – as well as local buses including those to Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Use MyRapidKL buses for inter-city and inter-state travels.
If you prefer to avoid the road, catch a ride aboard one of the KTM Trains .
Wi-fi: Most luxury hotels have free wifi.
Security tips:
• Like most cities, be careful of your surroundings.
• Obey the local laws and regulations.
• Don’t keep all your money and travel documents in one wallet or bag. Separate cash, traveller’s cheques, credit cards and other valuable documents.
• Don’t carry large sums of cash in public places.
• On roads or footpaths, be aware of any movement behind you and, where possible walk towards traffic.
• Don’t leave your bags, suitcases and other belongings unattended, even for a moment.
• If you are heading to the beach, keep your valuables in a safe locker.
• In cafes and restaurants, don’t hang bags on the backs of chairs. Keep them on your shoulder or lap or between your feet on the ground.
• Ensure all credit/debit card transactions are done in front of you.
After five seasons, the hit British sitcom Ghosts concludes with a Christmas Special on BBC One at 7:45pm tonight.
Charlotte Ritchie stars as Alison Cooper in the much-loved show, but did you know she was once in a Harry Potter movie?
Back in 2005, she had a cameo with Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint in the fourth movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Just 14 at the time of filming, she was an uncredited extra playing Slytherin Girl III in the official clip below.
The scene in question was when the Death Eater Barty Crouch Jr was disguised as Mad Eye Moody, teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts.
In the clip, Moody introduces the fourth-year Hogwarts pupils to the three unforgivable curses by inflicting them on a spider.
Reflecting on her Harry Potter cameo earlier this year, Ritchie told The Independent: “I met someone on a set recently who must’ve quickly Googled me because they said, ‘I love your work in Harry Potter!’ And I was like, ‘Did you? Thank you very much!’”
Ritchie can also be seen on the big screen this Christmas in Wonka.
She plays Barbara in the film written by fellow Ghosts actor Simon Farnaby, who plays Julian the 1990s sexually deviant Tory MP ghost. He also has an acting role in the Warner Bros movie as a zookeeper called Basil
Additionally, Mathew Baynton, who plays the Regency poet ghost in the sitcom, portrays corrupt chocolatier Felix Ficklegruber in the film.
The current-generation Mazda BT-50 has been on sale locally for three years now; that’s long enough to see the dual-cab ute segment move on.
WATCH: Paul’s video review of the BT-50 LE
Based on the Isuzu D-Max, the BT-50 is pitched as a slightly more plush lifestyle-oriented ute. Despite this it doesn’t compromise on any key ute attributes such as towing and payload.
On test here is the BT-50 SP, which is second from the top of the range. Our vehicle came with the recently introduced SP Pro package.
This $7668 optional package adds special 18-inch alloy wheels, Nitrocharger suspension with a 40mm lift, Lightforce LED light bar, and SP Pro decals.
Is this the ultimate BT-50? Read along to find out.
How does the Mazda BT-50 fare vs its competitors?
View a detailed breakdown of the Mazda BT-50 against similarly sized vehicles.
The SP Pro enhancement pack costs an additional $7668 and adds the following:
18-inch alloy wheels
Nitrocharger suspension upgrade kit (40mm lift)
Lightforce LED light bar
SP Pro decals
To see how the BT-50 compares to its rivals, line it up side-by-side with any car you want using our comparison tool.
What is the Mazda BT-50 like on the inside?
Hopping into the Mazda BT-50 SP with the optional SP Pro package is a little more difficult than the regular model, mostly due to the 40mm lift its Nitrocharger suspension upgrade kit brings.
There are thankfully side steps and grab handles to make getting in and out a bit easier. Regardless, I found I needed two scoots in order to get comfortable in the driver’s seat.
Speaking of the driver’s seat, the BT-50 SP comes with really cool-looking seats that are finished in black and brown synthetic leather. They look a lot more flash than the typical all-black seats in a large number of its rivals.
The driver’s seat has eight ways of electric adjustability, as well as adjustable lumbar support. My favourite part of the driver’s seat was its decent level of thigh support.
Ahead of the driver is a steering wheel that’s wrapped in buttery soft leather. It’s a lot of smoother than quite a number of its ute competitors. All the buttons on the steering wheel have a tactile click, adding to the feeling of quality.
Behind the steering wheel are a set of traditional analogue dials and a small 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster which tells you all you need to know.
You can get lost quite easily in the trip meter’s settings, as it feels like there’s an option for everything. It’s nice to have configurability but surely there’s only so much you can do with a 4.2-inch screen.
The 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard on almost all BT-50 variants, and also features on the related Isuzu D-Max and MU-X.
The screen itself is good to look at with its matte finish, but picks up fingerprints and reflections like nothing else. The native user interface is also really dark for the most part, which amplifies these imperfections.
It doesn’t appear to have very much processing power, which means it takes a while to turn on upon startup and also when loading new pages.
One of the most frustrating waits is for smartphone mirroring to start up. The BT-50 SP comes with wireless and wired Apple CarPlay. Android Auto on the other hand is only available in wired form.
I experienced a number of wireless Apple CarPlay dropouts. When this happens it feels like an eternity passes before it reconnects, relative to other systems. I spent the majority of this time prodding the touchscreen to no avail.
There’s no wireless phone charger, which means you need to be careful (when connected to wireless Apple CarPlay) that you don’t run out of battery. There is a generous space to store you phone ahead of the gear selector though.
Like the seats, the dashboard has a brown and black two-tone finish. It’s largely covered in a soft, padded leather-looking material. It’s quite plush; although, you don’t have to look far to find harder-wearing plastics.
On the centre console there’s a fair bit of piano black, which gets scratched really easily, and can get smudgy gross after just a week.
The cupholders in the centre console are two different shapes – and so deep a coffee cup gets swallowed completely. There are no ‘teeth’ in them to hold bottles securely.
Moving to the second row, it’s not perfect for adults on long trips but kids will be fine. At a leggy 182cm, my knees rested firmly against the seat in front, and I had just enough headroom. All the main touch points in the second row are still soft and spongey; though, it’s easier to find harder plastics.
Second-row amenities include a handy hook on the backrest of the front passenger’s seat, air vents, and a USB port. There are a number of grab handles to assist in getting in and out.
The tub on the BT-50 SP measures in at 1571mm long, 1530mm wide, and 490mm tall. Between the arches is 1120mm. There’s a spray-in tubliner, a manual tonneau cover and gloss black sail plane sports bar as standard.
The tailgate itself is extremely heavy as it’s not assisted by any kind of strut or torsion bar as standard. It’s also not part of central locking, which means when you lock the ute you need to manually lock the tailgate.
If you didn’t know the tailgate wasn’t included in the central locking and you left something of value in the tub, it could get stolen very easily. As it turns out, this is quite common in the dual-cab segment.
What’s under the bonnet?
Mazda BT-50 SP
Engine
3.0-litre 4cyl turbo-diesel
Power
140kW
Torque
450Nm
Transmission
6-speed automatic
Driven Wheels
Part-time four-wheel drive
Weight
2208kg (kerb)
Fuel economy (claimed)
8.0 litres per 100km
Fuel economy (as tested)
9.2 litres per 100km
Fuel tank
76 litres
Braked towing capacity
3500kg
Unbraked towing capacity
750kg
Payload
892kg
Gross vehicle mass (GVM)
3100kg
Gross combination mass (GCM)
6000kg
To see how the BT-50 compares to its rivals, line it up side-by-side with any car you want using our comparison tool.
How does the Mazda BT-50 drive?
Starting up the BT-50 SP you’re greeted with a diesel engine clatter that’s instantly recognisable and teleports me back to being on the farm.
The idle can be loud and gruff before the engine warms up to its proper operating temperature, which is common among work-oriented dual-cab utes.
When the ute is completely unladen the engine feels quite strong. From 0-30km/h it’s pretty quick and you’ll be keep up with the majority of city traffic from the lights.
This sense of speed doesn’t last long though, as from 30km/h and above the engine has to work a lot harder to pick up momentum. If you really push it the engine gets quite loud and revs hard, which can be grating but is common with a number four-cylinder turbo-diesel utes.
I found the Aisin-sourced six-speed automatic in the BT-50 to be quite slick under light loads. There’s no need to push the engine as peak torque comes on tap from 1600rpm.
The steering in the BT-50 is light in low-speed scenarios and makes you feel like you’re driving something a lot smaller than it is. Despite this you still have to twirl the steering wheel a fair bit to get the ute to change directions.
There’s also no getting around how large the BT-50 is, which can make it a bit of a pain to park. There are front and rear parking sensors, as well as a reversing camera which has adequate picture quality.
Around town the BT-50 SP’s ute roots shine through. It gets a bit of a rock happening when shifting from reverse to drive, or when going over sharp bumps.
Speaking of harsh bumps, the Nitrocharger suspension upgrade that forms part of the optional SP Pro package equipped to our tester, did in fact iron out a fair bit of the harshness I’ve experienced in other BT-50s.
Despite this it’s still a little rough when going over speed bumps, especially at the rear. That’s one downside of leaf suspension, which is geared more towards load carrying than on-road comfort.
The Nitrocharger suspension kit brings a 40mm suspension lift, as well as a 12mm track increase.
Dialling up the speed in the BT-50 SP takes a bit of work. You’ll find the revs tend to hang between 2500 and 3000rpm during these times.
You feel a lot of the metropolitan road bumps at higher speeds and it can get a little unsettled at points. This would likely sort itself out with a bit of weight in the tub.
Once you get out on the highway or freeway the BT-50 SP with the SP Pro package comes into its element. The transmission clicks into top gear and the engine finds a nice groove at around 1500rpm.
Despite being able to cruise along at 100-110km/h on the freeway it doesn’t really feel like the ute has anything more to give. This means you’ll really need to plan your overtakes so you don’t get caught out.
On the safety front, the BT-50’s adaptive cruise control system mostly works as intended. It’s very easy to activate via the steering wheel controls and can be clearly seen on the small digital instrument cluster.
It reacts to other cars quite naturally and appropriately; if another car pulls in ahead of you it doesn’t instantly slam on the brakes and instead allows it to pull away gradually.
The lane-centring system can be a little annoying as it bounces the ute around the lane and gets confused easily when the lane markings fade. It’s best suited for clearly marked highways and freeways.
You can also switch all of the lane-keeping and lane-centring functions off very easily with buttons on the steering wheel.
The last thing I’ll mention in this section is the LED headlights in this vehicle are great. This is helped by the Lightforce LED light bar that’s cleverly installed behind the grille.
The only thing that lets this ute down in the lighting department are that the front fog lights are halogen. This looks really strange when compared to all the other LED units.
What do you get?
BT-50 XS + XT highlights:
7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wired Android Auto
Wireless Apple CarPlay
DAB+ digital radio
4.2-inch instrument cluster screen
Cloth upholstery
Carpeted floors
Air-conditioning
Power windows
Cruise control (manual models) or adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go (automatic models)
Reversing camera
LED headlights
Rain-sensing wipers
Automatic headlights
Automatic high-beam
17-inch wheels (alloy on XT)
BT-50 XTR gains:
9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Satellite navigation
Dual-zone climate control
Rear air vents
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
Auto-dimming interior mirror
Rear seat centre armrest
Power-folding exterior mirrors
Keyless entry and start
Tyre pressure monitoring (NEW)
LED headlights with auto levelling
LED front fog lights and daytime running lights
Side steps
18-inch alloy wheels
BT-50 LE gains:
Single hooped polished alloy bull bar
Polished sports bar with integrated brake light
Heavy-duty tub liner
BT-50 GT gains:
Brown leather upholstery
Eight-way power driver’s seat
Heated front seats
Remote engine start (automatic only)
Front parking sensors
Heated chrome exterior mirrors
BT-50 SP adds:
Dark grey roof rails
Black grille
Glossy black exterior mirrors
Gloss black door handles
Black 18-inch alloy wheels
Dark grey side steps
‘Driftwood’ leather and black synthetic suede trim
Manually-operated black roller tonneau cover
Tub liner
Gloss black sail-plane sport bar
Front bumper lower decoration trim
Gloss black wheel flares
The $7668 SP Pro enhancement pack adds:
18-inch alloy wheels
Nitrocharger suspension upgrade kit (40mm lift)
Lightforce LED light bar
SP Pro decals
Is the Mazda BT-50 safe?
The Mazda BT-50 wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating with a 2022 date stamp, based on tests conducted on the related Isuzu D-Max. This rating applies to all variants bar the BT-50 Thunder.
Isuzu D-Max crash test
The utes were reassessed despite having already received five-star ratings in 2020, as the D-Max and BT-50 received a design change to the driver’s knee airbag and instrument panel.
The BT-50 received scores of 86 per cent for adult occupant protection, 89 per cent for child occupant protection, 67 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 84 per cent for safety assist.
It’s worth noting the BT-50’s unique front end, compared to its Isuzu twin, garnered a slightly weaker pedestrian protection score (from 69 per cent).
All Mazda BT-50 models come standard with the following safety features:
Autonomous emergency braking
Blind-spot monitoring
Lane departure warning
Rear cross-traffic alert
Turn assist
Driver attention monitoring
Front, front-side and curtain airbags
Driver’s knee airbag
Front-centre airbag
Traffic sign recognition
Automatic models also feature lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.
How much does the Mazda BT-50 cost to run?
The Mazda BT-50 is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with roadside assistance for the same period.
Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. The first five services with the BT-50 SP are capped at $449, $416, $713, $531 and $334, respectively. This equals $2443 over a period of five years.
If you purchase the SP Pro accessory pack as part of the new BT-50 SP and have it installed prior to delivery it’s covered by the same five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty as the ute itself. If it’s fitted after delivery it’s covered by a two-year warranty.
CarExpert’s Take on the Mazda BT-50
The current Mazda BT-50 is getting a little long in tooth now, but it still forms a strong alternative to the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.
In almost top-spec BT-50 SP trim on test here, the ute looks quite SUV-like inside and out, has some soft interior touches, and has the ability to be used as a work ute or as a lifestyle vehicle.
Despite this the ute is still rather expensive for what it offers. This is before you add the near-$8000 SP Pro pack fitted to this vehicle, which brings the total asking price to over $76,000 before on-roads.
Sure, the price tag for the SP Pro pack is the fitted price and is covered with the full five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty if included as part of the ute purchase, but it only includes an upgraded suspension kit, LED light bar, special 18-inch alloy wheels and decals.
Also, if you don’t want a certain part of the SP Pro pack you’d have to purchase each accessory separately.
I’d argue if you really love the look of the Mazda BT-50 SP with the SP Pro pack and are willing to pay more than the asking price of a Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6, then go for it!
If you don’t; however, and are still wanting a BT-50 I’d steer you towards the more conservatively styled GT variant if you intend to use the ute as a lifestyle vehicle, or the mid-spec XTR if you don’t want all the bells and whistles.
One crypto presale that is particularly exciting in the market at the moment is Sparklo. There is growing consensus among analysts that Sparklo could rally by 1,500% or more within the year.
Sparklo wants to leverage the power of blockchain technology to change how investors buy precious metals such as gold and silver. Unlike the current system that is full of bureaucracy, Sparklo wants to fractionize precious metals using NFTs. This means anyone can buy a piece of an NFT backed by gold, silver, or other precious metal and trade it in the P2P market. Even better, anyone who buys the whole NFT can take physical ownership of the underlying precious metals.
Sparklo is also drawing much interest from investors because it is secure. The Sparklo smart contract is audited by InterFi Network and found to be free of bugs. At the same time, Sparklo is protected from a potential rug pull by a 100-year hold on liquidity, further making the presale attractive to investors.
The best part is that Sparklo’s price has shown positive price action all the presale. In the first stage of the presale, the price went up from $0.015 to $0.017. In stage two of the presale, the price has gone up to $0.0022. We think Sparklo is potentially the best investment of 2024!
Binance Coin (BNB) in the green as court denies SEC request
Binance Coin (BNB) is currently in the green, driven by news that the court has denied the SEC’s request to freeze Binance US accounts. In a tweet, Binance US stated that, instead, the courts directed that they reach an out-of-court decision with the SEC. This news has reinvigorated Binance Coin (BNB), which had taken a hit out of fears that the SEC’s move could crash it.
Binance Coin (BNB) is currently up by 15%, and analysts expect it to recover some of the lost ground in the short term. However, no analyst expects Binance Coin (BNB) to do a 100x rally in the short term. Binance Coin (BNB) is simply too big for such returns. Instead, analysts believe such gains will come from Sparklo (SPRK), which has no room for expansion once exchanges start listing and market awareness grows.
Polygon (MATIC) bullish as it looks to upgradable smart contract
Polygon (MATIC) is currently in the green, driven by news of a proposal to introduce upgradable smart contracts. While it is just a proposal, such a move could help improve the Polygon (MATIC) scale. Polygon (MATIC) is one of the largest Ethereum layer-2 networks. By making Polygon (MATIC) upgradable, its dominance could go up, further adding to its potential value growth going into the future.
However, even with these prospects, Polygon (MATIC) is still no match for the likes of Sparklo in terms of potential growth. Sparklo’s potential comes from the fact that unlike Polygon (MATIC), it still has a tiny market cap, which means a slight increase in liquidity could lead to an upshoot in the price.
Find out more about the presale with the links below;
Edtech major BYJU’S has elevated Jiny Thattil as its Chief Technology Officer when the firm is battling troubles on various fronts.
Thattil’s appointment came after the departure of Anil Goel, who left the company after three years as CTO. Thattil was previously serving as Senior Vice President of Engineering at Byju’s.
Also read: Fully compliant with FEMA rule, Byju’s informs shareholders
Thattil joined Byju’s in 2020, spearheading engineering at the startup before moving to another senior role at Epic, which Byju’s acquired earlier. Prior to joining BYJU’S, Thattil had stints at Amazon, InMobi, and Happay.
According to BYJU’S, Thattil has contributed to the post-acquisition integration of various company subsidiaries. This transition is part of BYJU’S ongoing strategic restructuring and reorientation of its leadership team to enhance operational efficiency further, the company added.
“We are delighted to promote Jiny Thattil as the CTO of BYJU’S. His extensive experience and leadership skills make him the ideal candidate for this crucial role as we continue to rebuild for greater efficiency and sustainability. We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Anil Goel, the outgoing CTO, for his exemplary work and dedication to driving technological innovation at BYJU’S,” Said Arjun Mohan, the India CEO of BYJU’S.
Troubles brewing
This development follows fresh troubles for BYJU’S as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) confirmed sending a show cause notice to edtech company Think and Learn Private Limited and Byju Raveendran in the FEMA violation case to the tune of ₹9,362.35 crore.
The company and its founder, Byju Raveendran, have contravened the provisions of FEMA by failing to submit documents of imports, realise proceeds of exports made outside India, and so on, said ED.
Also read: Byju’s last paid PF to its employees in August 2023, show EPFO data
The edtech major has recently laid off thousands of jobs and clubbed some businesses. businessline reported that it has delayed full and final settlements of laid-off employees yet again.
Byju’s has put upskilling platform Great Learning and book reading platform Epic, up for sale, which would yield the company about $1 billion, reported Businessline.
The company has resolved its issue with Davidson Kempner, linked with covenants on BYJU’S subsidiary Aakash. Earlier in November, Manipal Group chairman Ranjan Pai bought out the debt investment by the US Hedge Fund in a Rs 1,400-crore deal, reported Businessline.
In March, BYJU’S raised $800 million in a funding round, at a $22 billion valuation, becoming India’s most-valued startup.
Fighting games are all the buzz in 2023 with the release of Street Fighter 6, Mortal Kombat 1 and the upcoming Tekken 8 early next year. And just as fighting games flood the market, so do new controllers.
Unlike most other genres, fighting games have spawned a niche industry of controller-makers that produce arcade sticks reminiscent of the old-school arcades. New designs have entered the market as well, like leverless controllers, known as Hit Box-style, consisting of only buttons. Gamers looking to step up their prowess with the newest fighting games should consider the bevy of options available that may up their game. But with controllers costing anywhere from $100 to $400, it’s important to find the right box to fit your style.
What are the different fighting game controller options out there?
There are three main options available for fighting games: game pads, fight sticks and leverless controllers. The game pad is the best known of the three, and includes the standard PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X controllers, as well as the separately sold Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. These pads come with a D-pad, two analog sticks, four face buttons, two shoulder buttons and two triggers. There are also fight pads, consisting of just buttons and a D-pad.
Fight sticks will be a familiar sight for anyone who spent some time in the arcades during their heyday. These controllers typically come in a rectangular box with eight face buttons and a joystick. There are some additional buttons on the top or side of the box related to the other button found on a game pad.
Then the third and newer options are called leverless sticks, or Hit Box-style controllers. It’s named after the company Hit Box, the first to patent the design. These controllers are similar to fight sticks in button setup, but instead of a joystick, have four more buttons that correspond to the up, down, left and right directions.
While Hit Box was the originator of this style of controller back in 2010, other companies have popped up offering their own spin on the style, such as Junkfood Arcades with its thin $265 Snack Box Micro. Other Hit Box-style controllers include the $400 Victrix Pro FS and $300 Razer Kitsune. The only officially licensed Hit Box-style controllers, according to Hit Box, come from Paradise Arcade. In terms of functionality, however, all these controllers perform adequately. But in Hit Box’s telling, controllers that go through its licensing program will meet a certain level of quality.
“With licensing our IP, we are not only able to officially endorse and collaborate with other high quality manufacturers, but also to help ensure that every player’s first experience on a leverless controller is a positive one,” said Dustin Huffer, president and co-founder of Hit Box.
This is in contrast to the Razer Kitsune, a leverless controller that is officially licensed by PlayStation, but isn’t a part of the Hit Box licensing program.
“Kitsune is a wholly Razer developed and manufactured product without using any parts, materials, or ID from competitors,” said Will Powers, PR lead at Razer.
Junkfood Custom Arcade’s director of operations Greg Lancette said the Snackbox Micro is made and patented differently from the Hit Box and that it has no ties to the company Hit Box. Victrix expressed similar sentiments regarding its Pro FS-12.
“We have a portfolio of patents covering our products, some of which are applicable to the Victrix Pro FS-12,” said Trevor Lehl, director of product development at Victrix. “We analyze and scrutinize the strength of our IP in collaboration with a world renowned, industry leading legal firm, specializing in intellectual property.”
Lehl said that Victrix is well informed “on the protectability and validity of our competitor’s IP claims” and that unlike the Hit Box, the Pro FS-12 is an officially licensed PlayStation product.
And official licensing by PlayStation and Xbox might become a bigger issue in the future. Many fighting game controllers haven’t been officially licensed through PlayStation and Xbox in the past. Up until now, it hasn’t been a problem. But recently, Microsoft announced that it would be banning unauthorized third-party accessories later this month. This has led to some backlash from fighting games players and disabled gamers who may have to look towards other controllers so that they can continue to play.
Hit Box’s licensing program relates to the button layout itself. Huffer praised Hit Box’s partnership with Paradise Arcade on the Mpress Nano and says others would make great candidates for its licensing program, but didn’t answer rebuttals from other manufacturers regarding their potential IP infringement.
Sony and Microsoft didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment.
Why you should buy a fight stick controller
Arcades may be all but gone in the US, but the fight stick remains a staple in fighting games. Street Fighter 2, released in 1991, set the precedent for controls that almost every fighting game has followed with its one joystick and six-button layout.
Longtime fighting games fans laud the feel of using a fight stick. Being able to execute moves with a quick twist of the wrist is satisfying and, some argue, the most fun way to play.
To start, the joystick provides a sturdier input as you have to use your entire wrist to pull off a move. Then you have eight buttons available allowing the usage of multiple fingers at the same time, which is imperative to pull off certain moves.
Another advantage that may not be noticeable immediately is the solid base the fight sticks can provide. They can provide more space to rest your arms and add stability while playing.
Why you should choose a Hit Box-style controller
There’s nothing more frustrating than missing an input and screwing up your combo in the middle of an intense fight. Traditional fight sticks, which use an analogue joystick, allow the chance for human error. Missing the corner on an octagonal gate could mean dropping a combo and losing a fight entirely.
Hit Box-style controllers greatly reduce that chance of missing the corner by remapping the joystick as buttons. Because movement is assigned to these buttons, just like the arrow keys on your keyboard, as long as you push the buttons in the correct sequence, you’ll execute your move with greater consistency.
Junkfood Custom Arcades Snack Box Micro
CNET
One of the hardest moves to learn on a fight stick for beginners is the Z directional input. This requires shifting the joystick to the right, then to the bottom, then to the bottom-right corner, creating a Z pattern. Beginners can sometimes overextend, hitting the bottom-left corner instead of straight down, ruining their input.
A Hit Box-style controller makes this a quick three-button sequence. Right, down and right again. Try hitting the right, down and right buttons in sequence on your keyboard. Pretty easy, right?
While some in the fighting game community bemoan the increased popularity of Hit Box-style controllers, there’s no denying that it increases input consistency. That’s why legendary Street Fighter players like Daigo Umehara and Hajime “Tokido” Taniguchi have switched to the Hit Box. Even though both have been playing competitively for over two decades, mainly on a traditional stick, the advantages of Hit Box were too great to ignore. It even forced Capcom to make a rule change so that traditional stick players and Hit Box players were on a more even footing.
Why you should stick with a game pad
For console gamers, almost all of their time gaming will be with the controller they get included with their system. These bundled controllers tend to be both the best designed and highest quality game pads for their respective system. Thanks to that quality, these game pads are becoming more predominant in the fighting game scene as younger competitors who spend hardly any time in the arcades have grown accustomed to these controllers.
On paper, however, game pads don’t stack up to the fight stick or leverless stick. The smaller number of face buttons, the requirement to use the shoulder and trigger buttons that require the usage of both hands and having to use the controller D-pad for all of the movement inputs seemingly make controllers a worse option, but they do have some advantages.
There are a few move inputs that can be easier to pull off on a game pad. The main one is the 360 degrees move, which is a motion needed for certain characters such as Zangief in the Street Fighter series. Another input that works a little better on a D-pad is the double-tap forward or back because, again, it’s a bit more precise.
A surprising advantage of the game pad is its lack of buttons. For example, the Mortal Kombat series uses four attack buttons instead of six found in other fighting games. There is still a block, throw and other buttons used in the game, but having the four primary buttons easily accessible to your thumb makes it the preferred choice for Mortal Kombat tournament players.
Arguably the biggest strength of a game pad is familiarity. For some people, this is the only controller they’ve used for their whole life. Their muscle memory is ingrained in these game pads. Why bother changing to a new stick and learn a completely different way to control a game when you’re perfectly comfortable with what you already have in a controller?
For more gaming accessories deep dives, check out our picks for the best PC gaming headsets, best gaming chairs and our 2023 gaming holiday gift guide.
If you received medical care any time this year, there’s a good chance you had a close encounter with artificial intelligence.
Widely regarded as the breakout year for AI, 2023 ushered in a whole crop of new and improved tech tools, many of which have impacted the health and wellness space.
“2023 has been a landmark year for AI in health care, witnessing groundbreaking advancements that have reshaped medical practices and paved the way for a future where health care is more personalized, efficient and accessible,” Dr. Harvey Castro, a Dallas, Texas-based board-certified emergency medicine physician and national speaker on AI in health care, told Fox News Digital.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
Castro and other AI experts weighed in on some of the year’s most important advancements for doctors and patients.
Below are six of the top innovations they cited.
The year 2023 ushered in a whole crop of new and improved AI tools, many of which have impacted the health and wellness space.(iStock)
1. ChatGPT and other generative AI
Despite the lack of a formal regulatory framework governing its use, generative AI is being widely tested by medical professionals, noted Dr. Tinglong Dai, professor of operations management and business analytics at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School in Baltimore, Maryland.
NEW RESEARCH SHOWS CHATGPT SHARED INACCURATE INFORMATION REGARDING DRUG USE
“ChatGPT remains the best-known and most widely used generative AI tool among health care professionals in various activities aimed at reducing documentation burden and allowing clinicians to focus on their core activities,” Dai told Fox News Digital.
“Johns Hopkins University has several ongoing research projects investigating the potential of using generative AI to reduce clinician burnout as a result of electronic medical records,” he noted.
Released by OpenAI in Nov. 2022, ChatGPT exploded onto the health scene in 2023.
Released by OpenAI in Nov. 2022, ChatGPT exploded onto the health scene in 2023. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The large language model affects everything from how patients get medical advice to how physicians communicate and keep records.
“ChatGPT has revolutionized health care communication by providing tools for personalized treatment plans and remote patient engagement,” said Castro.
“For instance, it has been used to create interactive patient education materials, enhancing understanding and compliance.”
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HELPS DOCTORS PREDICT PATIENTS’ RISK OF DYING, STUDY FINDS: ‘SENSE OF URGENCY’
The AI chatbot has also sparked some skepticism, however, as its responses have sometimes been found lacking in accuracy and thoroughness.
“Human oversight remains indispensable, ensuring that AI tools like ChatGPT are used as supplements rather than replacements for professional medical judgment,” Castro added.
2. Disease detection through retinal images
In September of this year, researchers from the University College London team announced a “groundbreaking” AI model for disease detection using retinal images; the results were published in the journal Nature.
In September 2023, researchers from the University College London announced a “groundbreaking” AI model for disease detection using retinal images.(iStock)
“This model, developed through self-supervised learning on 1.6 million unlabeled retinal images, excels in diagnosing and predicting both eye diseases and systemic disorders such as heart failure and myocardial infarction,” Dai told Fox News Digital.
The model, called RETFound, marks a “significant advance in medical AI, providing a more efficient approach to disease detection through a foundation model,” Dai added.
3. Improvements to medical productivity
In another AI discovery, a U.S.-U.K.-Bangladesh study provided the first real-world evidence that autonomous AI can improve medical productivity, Dai noted.
The study, published in the Nature Group’s npj Digital Medicine, showed a 40% increase in clinical productivity in diagnosing retinal disease in patients with diabetes.
MAYO CLINIC SEES AI AS ‘TRANSFORMATIVE FORCE’ IN HEALTH CARE, APPOINTS DR. BHAVIK PATEL AS CHIEF AI OFFICER
This was achieved using an FDA-cleared AI device to screen the patients as they entered the hospital.
“The AI device allows clinicians to focus on the most complex patients,” Dai said. “When adjusted for complexity, there is a 265% increase in productivity.”
4. Medical imaging and education
DALL-E 3 is an AI-based image generation model that was originally launched by OpenAI in January 2021.
As OpenAI describes it, “DALL-E 3 takes a text prompt as an input and generates a new image as an output.”
Advancements in AI-driven medical imaging, such as improved MRI technology, have led to faster scanning times, enhanced image resolution and reduced radiation exposure, an expert said.(iStock)
In the health arena, Castro pointed out that DALL-E3 cancreate accurate medical illustrations from textual descriptions.
“This has been instrumental in medical education, providing visual aids for complex medical conditions and procedures,” he told Fox News Digital.
There have also been advancements in AI-driven medical imaging, such as improved MRI technology, which have led to faster scanning times, enhanced image resolution and reduced radiation exposure, significantly improving diagnostic accuracy, Castro added.
5. Accelerated cancer research
Andre Esteva, CEO and co-founder of ArteraAI, a precision medicine company in California, described cancer research as “fertile ground for AI.”
“We’re using it to find hidden patterns in data, personalize treatment decision-making and help predict treatment benefit,” he told Fox News Digital.
NEW AI-GENERATED COVID DRUG ENTERS PHASE I CLINICAL TRIALS: ‘EFFECTIVE AGAINST ALL VARIANTS’
AI is helping to speed up clinical trials and opening doors to new possibilities in health care, Esteva noted.
“Imagine AI designing cancer treatments tailored to your unique genome — the possibilities are limitless.”
6. AI medical devices
AI-based medical devices continue to be strong, noted Dai of Johns Hopkins.
As of July 2023, 692 AI devices were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use, a 33% increase from 2022.
“The clinicians who embrace these technologies will very likely replace the clinicians who don’t.”
“Approved devices now cover 19 specialties, although radiology remains the largest specialty, accounting for approximately three-quarters of approved devices,” Dai told Fox News Digital.
An AI report from the New England Journal of Medicine also highlighted the real-world use of these devices, showing their rapid growth.
‘A blockbuster year’
Matt Mohebbi, head of AI and research at Brightside Health in New York, described 2023 as a “blockbuster year” for fundamental research in large language models for health care.
The AI advancements of 2023 represent a “significant leap forward in integrating AI into health care,” an expert told Fox News Digital.(iStock)
“Some of the biggest companies are competing with each other to produce state-of-the-art performance in medical benchmarks,” he told Fox News Digital.
“While patients won’t be able to see the benefits of these findings in the doctor’s office today, it is quite telling for what’s in store,” Mohebbi went on. “The clinicians who embrace these technologies will very likely replace the clinicians who don’t.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The AI advancements of 2023 represent a “significant leap forward in integrating AI into health care,” Castro told Fox News Digital.
“These innovations promise a future where health care is more personalized, efficient and accessible, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and a transformed health care landscape.”
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.
Thankfully, cooking is no more a chef’s job. It’s a survival technique. Now if you are new to this, starting from the basics is extremely important to ace this. After all, cooking is edible art, right? It is a common beginner’s mistake that you should know every skill to become a great chef. Well, you do, eventually, but acquainting yourself with basic techniques is the most important step to becoming a good chef. If you relate to this or are looking for a way to revise your cooking knowledge, then fret not. We have combined a list of five cooking techniques every budding chef should know.
Also Read: Indian Cooking Tips: 7 Traditional Cooking Techniques Used In Indian Cuisine
Photo Credit: iStock
Here Are 5 Cooking Techniques Every Budding Chef Should Know
1. Sauteing
You must have come across this word while reading “sauteed vegetables” on a menu or a food recipe website. Sauteing refers to a cooking method that involves cooking proteins or vegetables on high heat. The best thing about sauteing is that it uses a minimal amount of oil so the results are absolutely delicious. Once the oil starts to shimmer, add your ingredients and stir it. The heat cooks the food quickly while retaining and sealing its natural flavours. It would give your dish a caramelized exterior. Sauteing is perfect when you are short on time but want something healthy and flavourful at the same time, a technique every budding chef should know!
2. Knife Skills
Knife skills are one of the most important skills a budding chef should have. Knowing how to handle a knife and mastering the basic cutting techniques can go a long way for you. Whether it’s chopping, dicing, slicing or mincing, it all starts with a knife. Learning proper knife skills can make your time in the kitchen feel like a breeze. At the same time, you should also learn how to hone your knife and sharpen it at the time to ace the perfect cut. Perfecting your knife skills will make your dishes cook more evenly and consistently develop flavours. So, if you are a budding chef, learning knife skills should be your number one priority.
3. Roasting
Every individual who loves Roasted Chicken is familiar with the term roasting. Roasting is a cooking technique that involves cooking food at a high temperature in your oven. This method uses the heat in the air inside of the oven to cook meats, vegetables or fruits thoroughly without burning and drying them out. This gives the dish an incredible flavour and the perfect amount of moisture. All you have to do is put your dish on a baking sheet, dab some oil, along with salt, pepper, and any other seasoning of your choice, and toss it into the oven. The high heat from the oven will create crispy exteriors and flavourful, tender interiors. Learn how to roast and make the best use of large-cut meats or tender poultry.
Photo Credit: iStock
4. Braising
If you want your dish, especially large cut meats, to retain moisture, then Braising should be on your list of cooking techniques. This technique involves a slow-cooking method that starts with searing your vegetable or meat in a pan until the ingredients become soft or tender. This will give your dish a rich, caramelised exterior and an aroma like no other. You then add wine, broth, or sauces to enhance its flavour. Although the process takes quite some time, the results are marvellous. The meat cuts from tougher or older animals may not always be cooked properly, resulting in chewy bites. Braising on the other hand lets the meat cook properly on a simmer so that every pull is tender and tasty.
5. Grilling
One of the most popular methods of cooking, Grilling brings out the best flavour in any dish. It is a basic cooking technique that every budding chef should know. All you have to do is preheat your grill to medium heat, dab some oil on the grates to prevent it from sticking and place your marinated meats/veggies on the grill. Flip them occasionally so that it cooks evenly. You can also keep glazing them with the marination from time to make them juicer. As the food cooks, it develops grill marks and a smoky taste. The result is mouthwatering dishes that are juicy and charred to perfection. If you are a budding chef, learning how to grill can do wonders for your food.
Also Read: Indian Cooking Technique: 5 Regional Ways To Add Tadka To Your Meal
During the lockdown days of the pandemic in early 2020, Aaron Rose found himself sifting through old papers in his home in Hollywood. “I can’t let anything go. I’m a hoarder. That’s why there were 200 poems from 1989 sitting in a box,” he said with a laugh.
Mr. Rose, 54, has held many jobs. When people ask him to pick a lane, he’ll say he is a “polymath,” which he knows is a cop-out. Fine, then: “Artist encompasses all of it.”
For 10 years from 1992 to 2002, he ran Alleged Gallery, the influential Lower East Side space where people like Chloë Sevigny and Chan Marshall hung out and a generation of artists like Mike Mills, Shepard Fairey, Tom Sachs, and Mark Gonzales got their start. He’s also a filmmaker known for the 2008 documentary “Beautiful Losers” about the Mission School art scene of the 1990s and “Portraits of Braddock,” which followed Senator John Fetterman when he served as mayor. Sometimes he paints, too.
And now, Mr. Rose is officially a poet, this month publishing “Blackout Poems”: a slim, pocket-size book he wrote from age 19 to his early 20s, scrawling his work on cocktail napkins, inside matchbooks, over shopping bags. Many were written at long-closed, indie spots known to attract those same “beautiful losers” he showcased: Mars Bar, Horseshoe Bar. The cover is a snapshot taken of Mr. Rose with a vicious shiner, the result of a bar fight at Max Fish on Ludlow Street, which happened to be a few doors down from his gallery.
Mr. Rose grew up in Calabasas, Calif., long before the Kardashians and Jenners made it globally recognizable. He played guitar in an acoustic punk band called Cat Furniture, and he dedicated “Blackout Poems” to the group’s late singer, Paco Bliss. When the band broke up in 1989, Mr. Rose moved to New York City. “The second I saw St. Mark’s Place — I mean, it was crazy. I was just like, I’m home,” he said.
He didn’t yet have many friends, so he spent his time drinking in bars, meeting people in Tompkins Square Park and doing drugs. (“I was never really a proper junkie,” he noted.) For his first three years in the city, his life followed a loose but meandering pattern. “I would meet a girl, be in a relationship for a little while, move in with her. Then we’d break up, and then I’d be homeless for a little while, really just bouncing around,” he said. “These works in this book are very much a result of that.”
The poems do include many lovelorn references. “Hearts not broken/ but bruised:/ tried to cash my soul in/ But the window refused,” he writes in “Angels (2 a.m.).” There are numerous allusions to California, drugs, sex, violence.
Mr. Rose struggles to name a favorite. “I love them and it’s really nice to get them out, but I’m also completely and totally embarrassed by every single one of them,” he said.
The $12 book is more like a zine, made with a young generation in mind. “I see a lot of very accomplished poets putting their work out, but I don’t see a lot of published poems that are from a different phase of a writer’s life.”
If he were to publish poetry he wrote now, he thinks it might be technically better, but perhaps less honest.
Mr. Rose’s poetry output slowed down by 1992, when he opened Alleged Gallery on Ludlow Street (now the home of a Van Leeuwen ice cream parlor). The art shows he threw were like parties, and attracted a community at the intersection of punk, hip-hop, skateboarding and high fashion: members of Beastie Boys and Sonic Youth, the director Harmony Korine and Ms. Sevigny, his then-girlfriend. Mr. Rose dated Tatiana von Furstenberg, the daughter of the designer Diane von Furstenberg.
“Barry McGee, I knew him as a graffiti writer Twist — we knew each other through that world before he was even, I think, really considering fine art,” Mr. Rose said. Artists from the gallery were beginning to take off.
By 2001, Alleged had moved to the Meatpacking District and rent was $10,000 per month, Mr. Rose remembered. “Jeffrey Deitch stole my four biggest artists. Which he’s since apologized for — we’re good friends and we’ve worked together a lot, so it’s fine,” he continued. “But people had started moving on to bigger galleries, and I couldn’t sustain the same kind of support. I couldn’t match those kinds of galleries.”
Alleged had plenty of cultural impact but was not making money. A friend in Los Angeles told Mr. Rose about a space available on Chung King Road, a burgeoning area of young galleries near downtown. And rent on an available space was $400.
He arrived back in L.A. on Sept. 9, 2001. “I moved back into my childhood bedroom,” he said.
The Annex, his L.A. gallery and bookstore, suffered from a lack of foot traffic and lasted just a year.
In 2002, he was approached to curate a museum show at the Contemporary Art Center in Cincinnati featuring artists from his world. The result, which opened two years later, called “Beautiful Losers,” included work from Mr. Fairey, Mr. McGee, Mr. Mills, Mr. Gonzales, Clare Rojas, Margaret Kilgallen, and Ryan McGinness, and toured the world.
Despite publishing a book of poems from the era, Mr. Rose doesn’t dwell in 1990s nostalgia, even if a lot of his young fans are attracted to that time.
“The Instagram and the TikTok era has been really inspiring,” he said. “Gen Z people are so bold in what they’re willing to just slap on their profile with actually no experience. At first I was annoyed by that. I’m like, I’ve been working 25 years to call myself that. And then I was like, well, that’s kind of great.”
Pivotal trial findings show favorable clinical safety and efficacy data for mRNA-1345 in lowering the incidence of respiratory syncytial virus-associated lower respiratory tract disease.
The results of a pivotal Phase III trial show favorable clinical safety and efficacy data for Moderna’s investigational respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine mRNA-1345. In findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine, a single dose of the vaccine produced lower incidence of RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) as well as RSV-associated acute respiratory disease compared with placebo in those aged 60 years and older.1
mRNA-1345 consists of a single mRNA sequence encoding for a stabilized prefusion F glycoprotein and uses the same lipid nanoparticles as the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. In July, Moderna filed marketing authorization submissions for mRNA-1345 for the prevention of RSV-associated LRTD and acute respiratory disease in adults aged 60 years and older.2
The company submitted the applications for the vaccine with the European Medicines Agency, Swissmedic in Switzerland, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia. It also initiated the rolling submission process for a biologics license application to the FDA for the licensure of the vaccine. In January 2023, the FDA awarded mRNA-1345 with breakthrough therapy designation to prevent RSV-LRTD in adults aged 60 years or older. The novel vaccine was previously granted fast track designation in 2021.
The ongoing, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase II–III trial randomly assigned on a 1:1 basis adults aged 60 years or older to receive one dose of 50 μg mRNA-1345 (17,793 patients) or placebo (17,748 patients). The trial’s primary efficacy endpoints were prevention of RSV-associated LRTD with at least two signs or symptoms and with at least three signs or symptoms. The secondary efficacy endpoint was prevention of RSV-associated acute respiratory disease.
The results showed that a single dose of mRNA-1345 produced 83.7% efficacy against RSV-associated LRTD with at least two signs or symptoms, 82.4% efficacy against RSV-associated LRTD with at least three signs or symptoms, and 68.4% against RSV-associated acute respiratory disease. Researchers observed protection against RSV subtypes A and B, with consistent findings across subgroups defined by age and coexisting conditions.
The mRNA-1345 patient cohort showed a higher incidence of solicited local adverse events (AEs) at 58.7% compared to 16.2% in the placebo cohort. Systemic AEs were 47.7% in the investigational cohort compared to 32.9% with placebo, but were deemed mild to moderate and were temporary. Serious AEs were reported in 2.8% of the participants in each trial group.
An accompanying editorial published in The New England Journal of Medicine noted the importance of an effective preventative option against RSV globally.
“The burden of RSV disease in older adults in the United States and worldwide is substantial, and multiple RSV vaccines will provide an important intervention in this age group,” the study authors wrote.3 “However, the effects of RSV infection are most profound in infants, with at least 100,000 potentially preventable deaths each year, 97% of which occur in low- and middle-income countries. The vaccination of pregnant persons with RSV vaccines can protect their young infants by means of the placental transfer of antibodies.”
References
1. Wilson E, et al. Efficacy and Safety of an mRNA-Based RSV PreF Vaccine in Older Adults. Journal Article. 2023. New England Journal of Medicine. PG – 2233-2244. VI – 389 IP – 24 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2307079. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2307079. December 14, 2023 389(24):2233. Accessed December 18, 2023.
3. Cohn, A. Hall, A. Continued Progress in the Development of Safe and Effective RSV Immunizations. Journal Article. 2023. New England Journal of Medicine. PG – 2289-2290. VI -389. IP – 24. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMe2311862. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2311862. December 14, 2023 389(24):2289. Accessed December 18, 2023.
Humans have used essential oils for eons—as long ago as 4500 B.C. in Ancient Egypt, where they were used in ointments and cosmetics.
Today, essential oils are used as part of aromatherapy and to help with minor health conditions. But there are questions regarding the safety of using essential oils like patchouli around our cats.
While patchouli oil is not considered highly toxic, there is still a considerable risk of using it on or near pets, particularly cats.
In this article, we dig deep into everything essential oils, but with a focus on patchouli and whether it is safe for our cherished felines.
A Little About Essential Oils
Essential oils are obtained through a distillation method by steam and/or water or by cold pressing. The process of squeezing out the “essence” of the plant gives us the natural smell (and flavor, though these oils are not meant to be ingested).
They are used in various ways, such as in perfumes and other items meant to emit a scent, like candles and soaps. They have also been used to induce a mood, such as lavender helping to create a calm space, or to rub into the skin to help treat skin conditions.
There is controversy surrounding the effectiveness of essential oils, particularly with health conditions. But the scent does seem to have a mental benefit for some people.
Image Credit: Nikolaeva-Galina, Shutterstock
A Little About Patchouli
Patchouli is a kind of aromatic herb, and it’s from the plant that the essential oil is derived from. Once you’ve had a whiff of patchouli, there’s no mistaking it! It’s described as spicy, sweet, and woodsy and is commonly used in cosmetics, perfumes, and incense.
It’s said that patchouli can treat skin conditions like acne and dry skin and helps relieve stress and depression. Patchouli has also been used as an antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticide, as well as to control appetite.
The Issue of Essential Oils and Cats
Essential oils and cats don’t mix! Essential oils can be absorbed quite quickly via the skin and orally and through inhalation. They are then metabolized by the liver. But cats don’t have an enzyme in their liver that helps metabolize and eliminate specific toxins like essential oils.
Certain essential oils, including patchouli, contain phenols and phenolic compounds, which cats are also susceptible to. So, if a cat inhales, ingests, or has essential oils put on their skin, their body cannot process it, and it can prove fatal. This is particularly true if the essential oil is at its most concentrated, at 100%.
The essential oils that are the most dangerous to cats are:
Wintergreen
Sweet birch
Citrus (d-limonene)
Pine
Ylang Ylang
Peppermint
Cinnamon
Pennyroyal
Clove
Eucalyptus
Tea tree
While patchouli is not on this list, it does contain phenol compounds and will likely make your cat quite sick.
Image Credit: silviarita,Pixabay
Signs of Essential Oil Poisoning
The signs of essential oil poisoning entirely depend on the type of oil and what kind of exposure occurs. They can include:
Drooling
Vomiting
Tremors
Wobbliness
Respiratory distress
Low heart rate
Low body temperature
Liver failure
If your cat was exposed to any essential oils and exhibits any of these signs, take them immediately to your vet or closest emergency clinic!
Signs that your cat inhaled essential oils are:
Labored breathing
Fast breathing
Panting
Coughing
Wheezing
If your cat looks like they are about to throw up a hairball but doesn’t, this merits an immediate vet visit!
Protecting Your Cat
If you use patchouli essential oil in the home or any other oils, you’ll need to put them in a safe place that your cat can’t access. If they are adept at opening cupboards and jumping to high and hard-to-reach areas, you’ll want to thoroughly cat proof the hiding place. You might also want to seal the patchouli oil in a resealable plastic bag, especially if you can smell it without even opening the bottle.
When using the patchouli, make sure you only spray it or light the incense when your cat is out of the room, and don’t let them back in until the potency has faded. Don’t use essential oil reed diffusers in rooms that cats have access to. Diluted essential oils are better because the more concentrated the oil is, the more dangerous it is for your cat.
Never spray essential oils on or near your cat. Beyond the inhalation problem, if any of it falls on your cat’s fur, it can be absorbed through the skin, and your cat will also ingest it through grooming. This includes washing your hands before petting your cat if you’ve put on lotion scented with essential oil. It’s likely quite diluted, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Image Credit: Madeleine Steinbach, Shutterstock
Conclusion
Patchouli essential oil is not thought to be as toxic as some other essential oils, but it does contain phenols, which can pose a danger to your cat. It’s dangerous if your cat breathes it in or if it’s put on their skin and fur.
So, while using essential oils can prove to be of benefit for us, particularly if you’re in love with a scent, they’re not safe for use around cats.
Play it safe, and only use patchouli when your cat isn’t in the room, and ensure that it’s quite diluted. If you’re still worried, you probably shouldn’t use it at all.
The much-awaited amendments in the SEZ regulations, while a positive development for the commercial real estate sector, are unlikely to have any immediate impact on SEZ occupancies and on office rents, which are likely to take some time to go up.
Last week the government issued a notification allowing floor-wise denotification of SEZ spaces into non-SEZ use within information technology and IT-enabled services SEZ parks. It was hailed as a positive move by office and commercial space owners including Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) sitting on considerable SEZ inventory.
Office demand continues to be subdued especially among the IT/ITES segment and a recent report by CREDAI-CRE Matrix forecast office absorption in 2023 at around 55-57 million square feet, much lower compared to 70 msf last year. With demand for housing continuing unabated residential development is proving to be more attractive compared to office development.
The higher vacancies mean lower room for rental growth making office unattractive for developers, especially with residential prices rising every quarter.
Compared to 20-100 per cent increase in prices across cities from pre-Covid times, office rents have been fairly stagnant due to the higher vacancies.
SEZ vacancies
The total SEZ stock across the top six cities – Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune – is 173 msf and the pan-India vacancy is at around 19 per cent, according to data from Colliers.
Hyderabad has the highest vacancy at 29 per cent, followed by Mumbai at 24 per cent. Bengaluru has the least vacancy at 12 per cent followed by Pune at 18 per cent.
The IT and ITES SEZs comprise about one-third of the total office stock. The headwinds that the sector is battling and a slowdown in the major economies leading to delays in decision-making on taking up real estate space are challenges for the sector.
Among office landlords, builder DLF Ltd and two REITs, Mindspace Business Parks REIT and Embassy Office Parks REIT have SEZ space ranging from 46-58 per cent of their portfolio, according to a note by Jefferies, higher than the pan-India average. The brokerage firm said that the large office owners could benefit the most from the changes in SEZ rules.
“There will be better utilisation of SEZ spaces now, than prior to the notification,” countered Vivek Rathi, head of research at Knight Frank India.
Rathi pointed out that with the denotification, restrictions on such spaces had been removed for other occupiers. “They’ll also become eligible for such spaces now,” he added.
Stagnant office rents
The high vacancies and low demand have kept office rents stable, a disincentive for builders to develop office spaces.
In 2021 and 2022 several frontline builders, enthused by the unprecedented demand for housing and the scope to raise prices, had said that they would be focusing on building residences since that was where they were getting all their cashflows. Even now bulk of the real estate developers’ resources are directed toward the residential segment.
Though fresh stock of high quality office space is yet to come into the market, the existing vacancies are high enough to keep rents low. Jefferies said that the SEZ notification is unlikely to create new demand.
Rathi said that SEZ spaces were of very high quality and due to the sunset clause in 2020 and removal of direct tax benefits such spaces have started going at a discount to the non-SEZ areas. This could make them more attractive for prospective occupiers.
For instance, the rents at DLF Cyber City SEZ are at a 30 per cent discount to non-SEZ rents in the vicinity, according to Jefferies.
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.
STIŽU uzbudljive vijesti za zaljubljenike u tenisice jer je KITH najavio povratak popularnih KITH x Clarks x adidas Samba tenisica. Ovo posebno izdanje, u sklopu proslave KITHmas 2023., s nestrpljenjem su iščekivali obožavatelji ove trostruke suradnje.
Dostupne u bojama Collegiate Green i Core Black
Izvorno lansirane u proljeće, tenisice iz KITH x Clarks x adidas suradnje predstavile su Samba model s platformom u predivnoj bež boji.
Najnovija verzija KITH x Clarks x adidas Samba cipela trebala bi biti glavna zvijezda KITHmas 2023. KITH-ov godišnji događaj poznat je po ekskluzivnim i inovativnim proizvodima, od jedinstvenih dodataka do značajnih suradnji.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
No KITH x Clarks x adidas Samba su one koje će zasigurno privući svu pažnju. Ove tenisice, predstavljene prvi put u prosincu 2023., nastavak su dugogodišnje suradnje s Ronniejem Fiegom. Poznate kao 8th Street Samba, tenisice će biti dostupne u bojama Collegiate Green i Core Black.
Za nabavu ovih visoko traženih tenisica, entuzijasti moraju sudjelovati u izvlačenju putem KITH aplikacije. Izvlačenje završava 24. prosinca, a tenisice će biti puštene u prodaju u 11 sati EST 25. prosinca na KITH web trgovini.
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Apple has confirmed that it will permanently close its Infinite Loop retail store in Cupertino, US on January 20.
According to MacRumors, citing sources, the tech giant will be offering all employees at the store the opportunity to continue working with the company, with some employees being able to relocate to nearby stores, including the Apple Park Visitor Center and Apple Valley Fair.
Infinite Loop served as Apple’s headquarters from the mid-1990s until 2017, when its current headquarters opened in Apple Park.
“After many years of serving customers at our stores in the Bay Area, we plan to close our store at Infinite Loop,” an Apple spokesperson was quoted as saying.
“All of our valued team members will have the opportunity to continue their roles with Apple. We look forward to welcoming our customers at our nearby Apple Park Visitor Center and other locations, on Apple.com, and the Apple Store app,” it added.
Moreover, the tech giant is also permanently closing its Royal Hawaiian store in Honolulu on January 20.
Apple stated that it remains committed to “providing an excellent experience for our customers,” and that it has built new stores in the US, China, India, South Korea, and the UK this year, as well as expanded its online store to Chile and Vietnam, the report mentioned.
The offices at the Infinite Loop campus will continue to be used by Apple’s corporate employees, with only the store closing, the report added.
Meanwhile, Apple has pulled its latest flagship smartwatches, the Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2, from the company’s online store in the US due to a forthcoming import ban imposed by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) over a patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo.
With the mighty, monied, famous and the glamorous flying in and out of Maldives pretty frequently, Maldives has acquired the epithet of a glam-destination. That it certainly is but the archipelagic floating in the Indian Ocean is also doable within the ₹1 lakh budget. All you have to do is pick wisely to discover the joys of the tropical paradise comprising 1,192 coral islands.
Maldives is doable within the ₹1 lakh budget. Know more inside. (Pexels )
Here’s a quick must/see/do/eat/buy guide to Maldives. (Also Read | Year-end travel: Have ₹1 lakh? Check out Indonesia)
Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here
Must-see/do:
Malé is one of the world’s smallest capital cities at just 2.2 square miles. Must see Republic Square, The National Museum, Sultan Park, Male Fish Market, Hukuru Miskiiy, also known as the ‘Old Friday Mosque’ that dates back to 1656 and is the oldest mosque in the country.
Go Scuba diving and snorkelling. Do not venture out alone, go with an instructor. Check his/her license before signing up. Dive to the Maldives Victory that sank in 1981 after hitting a reef.
Go dolphin spotting or do a submarine tour
Sandbank snorkelling and sunset cruise, Dhoni boat cruise,
Opt for a spa day. Try the underwater spa in the Huvafen Fushi resort.
Most resorts offer several activity options including water sports, parasailing, even lessons in how to protect coral reefs.
Must-eat:
• Garudhiya: Fish soup
• Kukulhu riha: Braised chicken in a coconut-based sauce
• Masi huni: Classic Maldivian breakfast of finely shredded smoked tuna, grated coconut, lemon and chilli.
• Handulu bondibai: Rice pudding
• Kulhi boakibaa: Maldivian version of tapas (small eats)
• Fihuna Mas: Whole grilled fish
• Bajiya: Maldivian version of the samosa
What to buy: Traditional Maldivian souvenirs, decor items made out of coconut shells, sarongs, Thundu Kunaa(Maldivian mats), jewellery, lacquer products, wicker mats, dried fish.
Where to buy: Majeedhee Magu, Male International Airport, Male Local Market, STO Trade Centre, Centro Mall, Chaandhanee Magu, Oevaali Art Shop. Most resorts have the stores within their premises.
Packages:
• Arena Beach Maafushi Hotel Package (3 nights/4 days): Cost: ₹88,000+ (including return flight). Book on: makemytrip.com
• Memorable Maldives Holiday (3 nights/4 days): Cost: ₹91,000+ (including return flight). Book on: makemytrip.com
• Kaani Palm Beach Vacation (4 nights/5 days): Cost: ₹80,000+ (including return flight). Book on: makemytrip.com
• Maldives Alimatha Aquatic Resort (4 nights/5 days): Cost: ₹76,000+ (excluding return flight). Book on: thomascook.in
• The Hive Beach Hotel Package: (4 nights/5 days): Cost: ₹57,000+ (including return flight). Book on: expedia.co.in
• Summer Beach Maldives Package: (4 nights/5 days): Cost: ₹38,000+ (including return flight). Book on: Expedia.co.in
Return Flight (Economy): Mumbai-Male-Mumbai direct return flight starts at ₹17,000+. Delhi-Male-Delhi direct return flight starts at ₹20,000+.
Visa: Indian nationals will be issued a free on arrival visa for 90 days from the date of entry. However, if you want to extend the duration of the tourist visa by another 60 days, you’ll have to pay INR 3,045.
Good to know:
Currency: 1 Maldivian Rufiyaa = INR 5.43
Language: The official and common language of Maldives is Dhivehi or Maldivian. Everyone in the tourism/hospitality sector speaks English.
Local transport: MTCC’s Comprehensive Transport Network connects a large part of the dispersed islands in the country and offers a transport system between the islands. It provides bus service to Greater Male, Addu City, Fuvamulah City, L. Isdhoo/Kalaidhoo and L. Gan/Fonadhoo.
Once you arrive at Velana International Airport (MLE), you will have to take a ferry, a seaplane, a speedboat or some combination of the three to reach your final destination. Most hotels provide this service, check whether transfer is in included in the room tariff.
You can hire a yacht – it is expensive, though.
Use a seaplane to transfer from one island to another. For an island hop by air, compare the rates of Trans Maldivian Airways and Atoll Transfer.
Ferry and speedboats are also an option.
You can walk through Male which runs only for 2.2 miles. But if you have luggage, you can hail a taxi – they usually charge extra for luggage.
Wi-fi: Almost all resorts have free wi-fi.
Security/safety tips:
• Maldives is an Islamic republic, it is illegal to publicly observe a religion other than Islam.
• If you are in Maldives during the month of Ramadan, do not eat, drink or smoke in public in the daytime, outside of holiday resorts.
• Carrying/consuming drugs/narcotics is strictly prohibited.
• Do not bring pork into the country.
• Crime levels are low within the resorts but be careful of your belongings on beaches.
• In Male, avoid empty roads when on foot, particularly after dark.
• Alcoholic drinks are only available on resort islands. Do not take any alcohol out of your resort.
• It is illegal to take tortoise-shell jewellery or ornaments, or pieces of coral out of Maldives.
• Flash flooding can affect low-lying islands during periods of heavy rain. Follow the advice of the local authorities.
• Public displays of affection beyond simple hand-holding are frowned upon.
David Tennant and Cush Jumbo’s glorious interpretations of Macbeth and his wife should be the headline grabbers but it is director Max Webster whose ground-breaking production of The Bard’s great Scottish tragedy might have just changed theatre forever. It certainly blew every other Shakespeare adaptation I’ve seen this year out of the cauldron.
Staring at a plain glass bowl on a white raised stage backed by a glass-panelled gallery as we enter, we are instructed to don the headphones wired into every seat for the entire show. So far, so gimmicky, as purists like Mark Rylance rail against miked-up actors, arguing that the unaugmented human voice is at the very heart of live theatre.
However, as the lights dimmed and winds moaned through me, bearing eldritch voices tantalising Macbeth and Banquo with those terrible promises of future glory, I was swept away within the opening seconds and never looked back.
Radically, those meddling witches don’t even appear in the opening scene, yet invade our minds, as maddening and elusive for us as for the Thane of Glamis and his best friend. The binaural technology bounces sounds from ear to ear but also around us.
As well as immersing us completely, it adds a new horrifying dimension. The succession of later gruesome murders happen largely off-stage, yet we hear every horrific scream, gasp and gurgle as if inches away. Our imaginations are engaged, our spines are tingled.
Shakespeare’s most psychological drama was inspired by witnessing broken men returning from wars in Ireland. The play explores the price paid by victors and victims, especially when ambition outstrips morality. Rooted in the mental and emotional turmoil of Macbeth and his wife, the new technology allows them to mutter their darkest thoughts in feverish whispers.
No need to declaim. They are inside our heads and we are inside theirs. Pure genius.
Tennant brings his trademark exuberance, underscored with coiled menace and defiant refusal of remorse. Jumbo delivers an iron will that visibly, movingly corrodes and shatters as guilt consumes her. In the intimate confines of the Donmar we can see it all her eyes. Alone of the cast dressed in white, she flares like the candle she holds in her final scene and then ultimately flickers out.
Among numerous highlights, I loved the bold handling of Banquo’s ghost and the second encounter with the witches is reinvented as a writhing mass of multiple red-lit bodies, cloaked in smoke, each crying a line of pitiless prophecy. They are the massed voices of the fates, of everything that we fear is lurking and watching just out of sight.
The uniformly excellent supporting cast often line up behind the glass wreathed in shadows, clad in black and grey modern knitwear and monochrome kilts. They seem to be floating heads, delivering their lines but often resembling impassive, otherworldly judges witnessing human folly unfold below.
Four of them also provide achingly beautiful Celtic melodies and vocals as movement, music, lighting, soundscapes and costumes combine throughout to utterly immerse us.
This extraordinary experience is almost two hours with no interval but as Burnham Wood spectacularly appeared I couldn’t believe it was ending. I felt like I was waking from a dream.
2023 is coming to a close and it’s time to start reflecting on the year that has passed.
The CarExpert editorial team have driven countless new cars during this year, ranging from small city hatchbacks to large pickups.
The following are what each member of the team deem the best car they drove during 2023.
Anthony Crawford: Honda Civic Type R
While we are all so lucky these days to have so many affordable performance cars to choose from, including the Hyundai i20 N, i30 Sedan N and hatch, GR Corolla and Yaris, and Subaru BRZ, the standout of 2023 was the Honda Civic Type R.
There are so many reasons including its more resolved design, its exemplary chassis and engineering, as well as its incomparable driver feedback it delivers on road or track. It’s utterly superb in either Championship White or even Sonic Grey Pearlescent.
I think I summed it up better in my launch review verdict:
“The Civic Type R is an attainable engineering triumph and a far greater achievement that the sum of all its incremental revisions. How they will ever better this thing, I have no idea.”
MORE: Buy a Honda Civic
Honourable mentions:
Aston Martin DB12
At the other end of the scale, it’s simply impossible to separate any of the cars above as they’re all winners but in slightly different ways.
The Aston Martin DB12 will go down in history as one of the greatest grand tourers ever to come out of the UK, period.
Its drop-dead gorgeous design is as much art as it is handcrafted form, while its ride and handling skills are up there with the very best supercars.
Ferrari 296 GTB
The Ferrari 296 GTB/GTS is without doubt one the best models ever to roll out of the Maranello factory.
Its V6 hybrid powertrain should in no way be considered a step back on the previous V8 turbo models, rather it’s a step up in terms of performance, ride and handling.
It’s also another stunningly beautiful car from Flavio Manzoni design team and wickedly quick whenever you give it the beans. The handling is off the charts as is the driver feedback.
McLaren 750S
The McLaren 750S makes the previously incomparable 720S somehow feel inferior. On track, at the international launch at the Estoril circuit in Portugal, every journalist got out of the car utterly speechless.
Not just for the car’s insanely fast acceleration out of a corner, or the late breaking at 280km/h down the main straightaway, or even the neurone-firing feedback from the pedals and steering wheel.
It was as much about the insane levels of science and engineering that also allows the latest McLaren to drive on age-old cobblestones with a level of subtleness equal to that of a Bentley Continental. And that’s what it can do right out of the box.
Paul Maric: BMW M3 Touring
I know it’s not exactly the most logical car in the world – neither the most attainable or purposeful, but the BMW M3 Touring.
I love that it exists in 2023 and that BMW still has its enthusiast pulse racing. Say what you will about BMW’s design strategy but it’s a car I thoroughly enjoyed for everything that it was.
MORE: Buy a BMW M3
Scott Collie: Honda Civic Type R
I’ve been lucky enough to drive some pretty special cars this year, but the Honda Civic Type R is the one that sticks out.
It’s expensive for a Honda hatchback, but the range of things it can do for the price is remarkable. Our launch review showed you could drive it every day thanks to its supple ride and practical interior, and it’ll demolish a back road like few cars this side of a Porsche 911.
On track, it offers close to the perfect blend of approachability and capability. It flatters from the second you leave pit lane, and pushing harder just reveals more and more capability.
There’s more than just a hint of Porsche GT about the way all the controls feel, which is about the highest compliment you can give a car.
MORE: Buy a Honda Civic
Jade Credentino: Hyundai Sonata
I don’t think I’ve ever sat in a car and instantly thought, “Yes, I can see myself buying one of these”.
It ticked a lot of boxes for the lifestyle I live but is big enough so that when “I get older” it can grow with me.
Although it’s a little more than what I’d like to pay for the sedan, I am still impressed by the kit and the value.
MORE: Buy a Hyundai Sonata
Jack Quick: Mazda CX-30 G20 Pure manual
It has now unfortunately been discontinued, but I grew really fond of the Mazda CX-30 with its sweet-shifting six-speed manual transmission.
We had a red Mazda CX-30 G20 Pure manual for a couple of weeks and I got to spend a fair bit of time with it. Jade also learnt to drive a manual in it.
I’ve driven plenty of cars, trucks and tractors with many different varieties of manual transmissions, but the CX-30’s manual is one of the best I’ve experienced to date.
I love how short the throw is between gears, how precise it is, as well as how stubby the actual manual shifter is. It’s also wild to me that it has engine idle stop/start, as well as an auto-hold function.
Sure you can still get a manual transmission in the MX-5 roadster, but you can’t get one in a more passenger-friendly Mazda SUV anymore in Australia.
MORE: Buy a Mazda CX-30
William Stopford: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
I’ve driven plenty of competent, competitive electric vehicles (EVs) this year but none have stirred me quite as much as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
The dynamics of Hyundai’s petrol N cars can already be tailored extensively to your tastes, and this electric N takes it to the next level.
Want to send 100 per cent of torque to the rear? Press a button. Make it sound like an i30 N? There’s a button for that. You want to firm up the suspension, add weight to the steering, add simulated gearshifts? Press, press and press.
You might think the idea of fake engine sounds and simulated gearshifts in an EV is absurd gimmickry. But ultimately, if I’m going to be shuffled from a petrol-powered car to an EV, I want something that will offer some level of engagement.
People who say “the best part of an EV is how quiet and smooth it is!” are missing the point of the Ioniq 5 N entirely.
MORE: Buy a Hyundai Ioniq 5
James Wong: Honda Civic Type R
I think the car that left the biggest mark on me was the new Honda Civic Type R.
The past iteration left me quite cold as while it was very capable at tearing up a B-road or a race track, it lacked the character and cohesion that I personally prefer in performance cars. This new generation hits different.
Not that I’ve driven a Porsche 911 GT3 on track – or at all – but this is what I imagine a more attainable version of that formula feels like based on the recounts from colleagues. It truly is the best driver’s car under $100,000.
Honda has been steadily getting its mojo back with its latest range of products, and nothing says it quite as well as this Type R. It’s really, really hard to fault.
The battle between Ethereum (ETH) and Cardano (ADA) continues as the two projects angle for long-term dominance in the smart contracts market. While Ethereum (ETH) already has a clear lead in this space, Cardano (ADA) is catching up in adoption.
Despite the growing adoption of Ethereum (ETH) and Cardano (ADA), as investments, there are better alternatives. For instance, Sparklo, still in presale, has a tiny market cap compared to Ethereum (ETH) and Cardano (ADA). This has led many analysts to predict that Sparklo is headed for a 1,500% rally within the year.
Sparklo’s (SPRK) unique case gives it massive growth potential
Sparklo wants to make it possible for anyone, regardless of where they are or how little money they have to invest in precious metals. Through NFTs, Sparklo wants to fractionize gold and other precious metals. The best part is that the NFTs will be backed by actual precious metals, which means the NFTs can be converted into physical precious metals.
The Sparklo team has also invested heavily in the aspect of security. For instance, Sparklo is being built with a 100-year liquidity lockup. This is meant to prevent a rug pull. Sparklo’s smart contract is also clean from exploitable vulnerabilities after a thorough audit by InterFi Network.
So far, the market response to Sparklo has been impressive, as evident in its upward price adjustments since stage one of the presale. Back in stage one of the presale, Sparklo traded at $0.015. In stage five of the presale, Sparklo’s price is $0.022, and analysts are optimistic about the future as the price is likely to launch around $0.077
Ethereum (ETH) gets security boost but investors focus elsewhere
Ethereum (ETH) has got a new client node called Reth. The new node increases the security of the Ethereum (ETH) network by introducing diversity in the network. However, the announcement has yet to impact the price. Like other altcoins, Bitcoin’s price action is the key driver of Ethereum (ETH) at the moment.
It indicates that investors are increasingly diversifying into newer cryptos with better ROI potential.
Cardano (ADA) addresses increase but no increase in buying volumes
Cardano (ADA) has experienced a surge in adoption throughout December.. Data shows that Cardano (ADA) has been adding an average of 2400 new wallets daily throughout the month. However, despite the growing adoption, Cardano (ADA) is yet to show any significant price increase compared to most altcoins.
Analysts believe investors are scouting for cryptos that can offer the most ROI. With another crypto rally potentially underway, investors want to make the most of their money. This explains why pre-sales like Sparklo have more momentum than Cardano (ADA). We recommend checking out the Sparklo presale link below to buy into what’s considered the next biggest thing in crypto
Find out more about the Sparklo presale with the links below;
Prosus, the Dutch-listed arm of South African technology investor Naspers, has marked down the value of its stake in Byju’s, resulting in a company valuation of less than $3 billion.
This marks the second time in a year that the tech investor has downgraded Byju’s valuation. In March, Prosus valued Byju’s at $5.1 billion. It holds nearly 10 per cent stake in the troubled ed-tech firm.
Byju’s was last officially valued at over $22 billion in October 2022, when it completed a $250 million funding round.
Earlier in July, Prosus’ representative on Byju’s board, Russell Dreisenstock, stepped down from the ed-tech company, along with Dreisenstock, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s Vivian Wu, and Peak XV Partners’ (Sequoia Capital India’s) GV Ravishankar citing poor reporting and governance structures as reasons behind the exit.
The series of board exits came at a time when the company had come under fire for a host of issues, including delayed financial results, and the resignation of its auditor, Deloitte.
This comes at a time when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dragged the embattled ed-tech to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The case pertains to the dispute around the sponsorship rights of the Indian cricket team’s jerseys.
Meanwhile, Byju’s is facing fresh trouble as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) confirmed sending a show cause notice to the ed-tech company Think and Learn Private Limited and Byju Raveendran in the FEMA violation case.
The Bengaluru-based company has laid off thousands of employees and shifted the date of full and final payment from September to November.
Earlier this month, Manipal Group chairman Ranjan Pai bought out the debt investment by the US Hedge Fund David Kempner, in a ₹1,400-crore deal.
It has also submitted a proposal to its lenders to fully repay its $1.2 billion term loan B in the next six months. Byju’s aims to achieve this by making an initial payment of $300 million within the next three months.
As part of its efforts to secure the necessary funds for loan repayment, the company has put upskilling platform Great Learning and book reading platform Epic, up for sale, which would yield the company about $1 billion.
Speaker 1: Sony is reentering the handheld gaming space with the new PlayStation portal remote player. It’s a streaming handheld that needs to be connected to a PSS five at all times. I’ve had the portal for a couple days now, so I’m going to tell you what you need to know how to use it and see if it can fit into your gaming setup. Unlike Sony’s gaming handhelds of the past, the PlayStation Portable and the PS vta, the portal is strictly a remote play device. It acts as a second screen mirroring the output from a PlayStation five. This makes it a companion [00:00:30] or accessory to the PSS five, not a dedicated platform on its own. If you don’t have a PSS five, the portal will not work. This handheld is meant to be used when your main TV isn’t available or you want to play your PS five games in a different room like laying down in bed.
Speaker 1: As such, there is no internal storage or SD card slot like you’d find on a Nintendo Switch or Steam deck. Along the top, you’ll find a power button and two volume buttons on the opposite side. On the back you’ll find a 3.5 millimeter headphone [00:01:00] jack and A-U-S-B-C port for charging. Next to the power button is the PlayStation link button. This is used to connect the portal with Sony’s Pulse series of headphones such as the Explore earbuds. I have here. Stay tuned for my hands on video about these coming soon. The PlayStation Link technology is designed to help reduce audio latency when streaming your games to the handheld. However, it’s a bit disappointing that the portal doesn’t support any other Bluetooth headphones, especially when this feature is common among other portable game [00:01:30] consoles. The controller inputs on either side look and feel almost identical to the standard dual sense controller that comes packaged with the PS five.
Speaker 1: The only differences are that the analog sticks on the portal are slightly smaller, and the touch pad that sits in the middle of the dual sense has now been incorporated into the touch screen. When using the screen, a glowing rectangle will illuminate near where your thumbs sit so you can access any touch pad inputs from either side. The portal also features a microphone on the bottom, internal gyroscope [00:02:00] enhanced rumble, and haptic triggers all features you’d expect from the dual sense. The screen looks great, text is sharp and apart from some dips and quality when first connecting looks almost like I was playing games locally, it’s a little disappointing not to see the higher contrast ratio of an OLED panel, especially since more devices are moving towards that. The PlayStation portal has an eight inch LCD screen that can output a 10 80 P signal at 60 frames per second.
Speaker 1: The portal measures 12 inches across and is just under five inches in height [00:02:30] while weighing 529 grams. This puts it just above the Nintendo Switch, ole in both size and weight while measuring about the same size, but weighing less than a steam deck, all while having a larger screen than both of them. When using the device, you’ll wake it from sleep, then unlock it by pressing the PlayStation button near the top left corner of the screen. From there, it will automatically send out a signal. Looking for your PSS five. Your PS five will need a couple options turned on to allow remote play in settings, go to system, [00:03:00] then remote play, and then toggle on enable remote play. This will allow you to wake your console using just the portal, but remember, you’re basically controlling your PSS five from a different location, so you’ll need to still turn it off or put it back into rest mode.
Speaker 1: When you’re done, simply shutting down the portal will leave your home console turned on. Depending on how close you are to the PS five, we’ll determine how long it takes to find the console and wake it from rest mode. You can also do this from outside your home network. Here we are outside with the portal and [00:03:30] I am connected to the PSS five I have back home. It did take kind a while to connect, but once they found each other, it’s pretty stable. It’s running pretty much the same as it would if I was on the same wifi network. The portal is tethered to my phone right now and that’s how I’m connecting to my PS five and it’s running really nicely. Keep in mind, this device is not designed to be played outside. There are no cases, there are no screen protectors, so putting it in a bag, you could damage your screen.
Speaker 1: It’s really designed to [00:04:00] be at home. Also, the screen doesn’t get terribly bright, so even though I can see it fine in the shade here, it doesn’t look great when under direct sunlight. Playing games on the portal is really nice and when using an ideal connection feels just like the real thing. With the PSS five wired to my router and the network speeds I have, it just feels like using a portable PlayStation most of the time. Of course, this is going to vary depending on what internet you have access to. Even with my great internet, it wasn’t perfect and it still have leg [00:04:30] in the video and visual artifacts. On the rare occasion, this didn’t bug me when playing single-player titles like Spider-Man two, but I’d be cautious about taking this online for any multiplayer sessions where losing signal at all would be annoying. PlayStation’s website states a required broadband internet wifi with at least five megabits per second for use while recommending a connection of at least 15 megabits per second.
Speaker 1: For comparison’s sake, Xbox Game Passes Cloud streaming service recommends [00:05:00] 10 to 20 megabits per second. At any point during use, you can swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to access some quick controls. These include disconnecting from the PSS five. Remember, this won’t turn your console off A PlayStation Link panel that will show you when headphones are connected and how much battery life is left. Brightness controls a toggle for airplane mode and a settings menu. In here, you can adjust things like your network vibration intensity and more. I haven’t used the portal long enough to give a full rundown on battery life, [00:05:30] but back when I did my hands-on demo a couple months ago, the PlayStation rep said they were targeting something similar to the dual sense, which would put it around seven to nine hours from my brief time with it.
Speaker 1: That seems accurate. I can’t talk about PlayStation’s remote play without mentioning that this isn’t a new feature. Players can access this on PCs and phones and they compare a dual sense to that device to get all of the special controller features. I can see C Net’s YouTube backend, so I know you’re probably watching this on a phone [00:06:00] and since you need a PSS five to use the portal, you definitely already have a dual sense lying around somewhere. There’s also chiaki, which is an open source program for Steam Deck users to remotely play their PS fives. The one area that the portal has them beat is that since it’s a dedicated PSS five streaming device, it can connect and quickly get you remotely gaming. Other than that, the portal is very similar to using remote play on one of these other devices, which brings us to the price.
Speaker 1: The PlayStation portal is $200, which is actually cheaper than what I expected [00:06:30] from Sony. However, it’s a bit pricey considering I could already remote play using my phone or Steam deck and get most of the same experience. My favorite parts of the portal are how nice that screen looks, the excellent input latency and how every feature of the PSS Five’s controller, such as the enhanced Rumble and haptic triggers are present here. What I don’t like is that I already can get most of these features just by pairing that controller to my phone, tablet, pc, et cetera, and all of those devices can connect to any Bluetooth [00:07:00] headphones. And last but not least, it makes me wish I could take these console quality games offline, like with a Nintendo Switch or Steam deck. This would give it a very compelling push into the portable gaming space.
Speaker 1: The portal is an accessory to the PlayStation five, but it makes me dream of a future with a dedicated portable platform. If you’re someone who has to share their TV with roommates or family members, or you wish you could play games in bed easily, then you will find value in the portal. But I urge you to look into some of the other remote play options if the $200 [00:07:30] price tag is an issue, the PlayStation Portal remote player comes out on November 15th. Now I want to hear from you. Do you see a use case for this in your life? Let me know in the comments and thanks for watching.
2023 was another turbulent year, marked by political dysfunction at home and two major world conflicts. America’s Newsroom anchor Bill Hemmer looks back at the top headlines of the past 12 months.
With an eye toward starting off 2024 with the healthiest possible mindset, a psychotherapist is sharing the mental health trends that she expects will be prevalent in the New Year.
Nicholette Leanza, a psychotherapist at LifeStance Health in Ohio, has experience working with children, adolescents and adults in a variety of treatment settings.
She also hosts the “Convos from the Couch” podcast, in which she speaks with industry thought leaders.
FEELING BLUE THIS CHRISTMAS? HERE ARE WAYS TO KEEP SPIRITS BRIGHT FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Based on her treatment experience and expert conversations, below are the nine trends that Leanza envisions for 2024 — and ways that all can achieve better mental health in the year ahead
1. Blurred lines between therapists and mental health coaches
As the number of non-licensed “mental health coaches” continues to grow, Leanza stressed the need for people to seek out credentialed therapists.
A psychotherapist (not pictured) shares the mental health trends that she expects will be prevalent in the new year.(iStock)
While the non-licensed coaches can help provide coping skills and mindfulness tools, she warned that they should not be seen as a replacement for clinicians with training and licensure.
“There is a difference between therapy and skill-building — so people will need to have a clear understanding of the appropriate role that both types of professionals play when it comes to mental health support and guidance,” she told Fox News Digital.
2. Spike in community-specific mental health groups
“As people navigate an increasingly disconnected world and start to be more open about mental health struggles, we’ll see an increasing number of community and condition-specific groups come together — both over social media and in the workplace,” Leanza predicted.
The therapist based in Ohio expects more community-oriented support groups to emerge in 2024.(iStock)
“Whether this involves finding solidarity and comfort in similar conditions from depression to OCD to ADHD, or struggles faced by specific cultural identities, people will be naturally drawn together to build ecosystems and resources for specialized advice and guidance,” she said.
3. Music as relaxation therapy
The year 2023 marked one of the strongest years for fans’ loyalty to specific artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Harry Styles, Leanza pointed out.
HOLIDAY GRIEF CAN BE HANDLED IN THESE 9 WAYS, ACCORDING TO MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS
“Traditionally, soothing and ambient noise has been used as a go-to source for relaxation, but as artist obsessions deepen, we’re seeing people leveraging their favorite musicians as a way to relieve anxiety,” she said.
In the New Year, the therapist expects people to continue turning to music as a form of therapy to lift them up and down through different emotions, moods and life cycles.
4. Culture of rapid weight loss
As weight-loss medications continue to become more popular and accessible, Leanza expects that people will start coming to terms with the emotional impact of significant weight loss.
Instead of the annual trend of “Dry January,” Leanza expects that we’ll see a shift away from an “all or nothing” mindset when it comes to alcohol. (iStock)
“We’re going to see a ‘catching up’ of sorts, between the physical and psychological aspects of weight loss, and a shifting of mindset that will focus on how you feel on the inside, despite how you look on the outside,” she told Fox News Digital.
“People are going to need to reflect within and focus on building strong body perception now more than ever.”
5. Moderation and long-term sober living
Instead of the annual trend of “Dry January,” Leanza expects to see a shift away from an “all or nothing” mindset when it comes to alcohol.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS? HERE’S HOW TO AVOID STRESS AROUND FAMILY MEMBERS, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS
“Rather than going cold turkey for one month a year, I expect to see more people focus on being ‘sober-curious’ year round, and being increasingly mindful about their alcohol intake as they work to build a more sustainable healthy lifestyle,” she told Fox News Digital.
6. Mental health at work
Leanza foresees a growing trend of people prioritizing their mental health over work — something largely led by Gen Z.
This might include using sick days to deal with bouts of anxiety, taking time off between jobs to focus on mental health or taking a leave for intensive outpatient programs, she said.
In the New Year, the therapist expects people to continue turning to music as a form of therapy to lift them up and down through different emotions, moods and life cycles.(iStock)
“This is shifting the way we think about work-life balance and communication in the workplace,” said Leanza.
“I see young people being significantly more open and transparent about discussing mental health at work, particularly as hybrid and virtual office settings have blurred the lines between work and life, with Zoom meetings sometimes even shifting into personal venting sessions to replace water cooler talk,” she said.
THREE ADVENT FOOD TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HELP THE FAITHFUL ‘CELEBRATE AS A COMMUNITY’
In 2024, the therapist also expects more companies to start offering mental health support and resources to their employees.
7. Discernment of mental health content on social media
In 2023, there was an “explosion” of TikTok self-diagnoses around mental health issues — and the therapist sounded a warning on this.
“It’s gone beyond mainstream and almost became a point of pride, especially for Gen Z,” she told Fox News Digital.
In 2024, Leanza anticipates that people will take a more “discerning eye” toward the mental health content they consume on social media.(iStock)
In 2024, Leanza anticipates that people will take a more “discerning eye” toward the mental health content they consume on social media.
“I think they will hold it to a higher standard, relying on licensed mental health professionals to diagnose and counsel them rather than looking to influencers,” she predicted.
8. Higher demand for in-person therapy
“Gen Z is coming of age at a time when mental health awareness is at an all-time high,” Leanza told Fox News Digital.
Although that age group has grown up in a digital world, she said they also crave face-to-face interaction, especially when it comes to their mental health.
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“While it depends on patients and their specific diagnosis, for many younger clients, it’s their first time seeing a therapist,” she said.
“Having sessions in-person can help them build a relationship with their therapist and create a more comfortable environment for them to open up.”
9. More holistic New Year’s resolutions
While physical movement has benefits for overall health, Leanza said it shouldn’t be used as a replacement for therapy.
“Having sessions in-person can help them build a relationship with their therapist and create a more comfortable environment for them to open up,” the therapist said of Gen Z individuals.(iStock)
“Going for a run can help release endorphins and alleviate anxiety in the moment, but it’s still critical to properly address deeper issues and trauma with a licensed professional rather than relying on exercise as a band-aid,” she told Fox News Digital.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“As we look toward the New Year and setting resolutions, I anticipate seeing an increase in people committing to therapy — rather than just the gym — as they deepen their understanding of this and recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health.”
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.
Christmas is here and nothing screams holiday cheer more than sweet treats. But you know what would act as the cherry on the cake? Customised Christmas snacks for your guests. Granting your wish, chef Nehal Karkera has just the right recipe for Christmas parties. He dropped a video of an amazing dip on Instagram. Wondering what is so special about this dip? It is not only one of the easiest recipes out there, but also looks like a mini Christmas tree. Now, that’s the perfect snack to serve your friends this festive season.
The clip begins with the chef whipping some cream cheese for a couple of minutes. This way it becomes a little bit airy and smooth in texture. To enhance the flavours, he adds chopped parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, chilli flakes, crushed black pepper and some lemon zest. After mixing it all properly, chef Nehal adds it to a piping bag and lets it freeze for some time. Once it has taken the proper cone shape, he takes the frozen cream cheese out and decorates it with some sliced green olives, black olives, roasted bell peppers, sundried tomatoes, rosemary leaves, and chopped parsley. Voila! Your dip is ready. He served it with salty biscuits and salami. By the way, we are already convinced by his caption, “Diet start karte hai from January, till then enjoy.” Also Read: Forgot To Prepare Plum Cake? 7 Last-Minute Christmas Cake Recipes Under 1 Hour
The recipe was a hit. Several social media users reacted in the comments section with red hearts and fire emoticons.
A user commented, “Looks soo good. Which cream cheese did you use?”
The presentation was a big hit. “Favourite kind of Christmas tree” was the common sentiment.
“Looks sooo magical,” read another comment.
The recipe certainly inspired a few to try recreating it at home. A user said, “Excellent, I have to try this.”
“That looks yummy,” wrote another.
Also Read: All About Pesto Sauce – The Origin Story, Pesto Sauce Variations And How To Use
Congolese police officers block a door after voters forced their way into a voting station in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, December 20, 2023. /CFP
Congolese police officers block a door after voters forced their way into a voting station in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, December 20, 2023. /CFP
Vote counting continues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after episodes of irregularity were reported in the general elections held on December 20.
As the country awaits the announcement of the first preliminary results later the day amid visible tensions, Moise Katumbi, one of the main opposition candidates in the presidential race, said on Saturday that the elections on December 20 should be “annulled” because of “massive fraud.”
Episodes of irregularity
Some 44 million voters in the DRC go to the polls Wednesday to elect a new president, members of the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies, as well as municipal councilors, with delays in deployment of voting materials and reports of sporadic violence at some polling stations.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), the electoral body, extended the polling until December 21, admitting that some polling stations failed to open due to logistics problems that led to the massive polling delay across the country.
A voter casts her ballot in Kinshasa, December 20, 2023. /CFP
A voter casts her ballot in Kinshasa, December 20, 2023. /CFP
According to local media, polling still continued on Sunday in some parts of the country, where polling stations suffered from major delays in voting materials.
“Faced with this unacceptable situation, we call for the immediate annulment of these chaotic elections, marred by massive fraud as documented by all stakeholders,” read a statement by Katumbi, a major challenger to the outgoing President Felix Tshisekedi, who is seeking reelection.
According to preliminary results announced late Friday by CENI, Tshisekedi leads in diaspora vote tallies in South Africa, Belgium, Canada, the United States and France, with Katumbi standing in second place in general.
Other presidential candidates also contested the episodes of irregularity during the voting process, as the extension of polling goes against the electoral law and the Constitution.
The “irregularities sufficiently attest that on December 20, 2023, it was a sham election, organized in violation of the fundamental right of the Congolese people,” according to a statement of five presidential candidates on Saturday, including Martin Fayulu, Denis Mukwege, two main challengers in the race.
Full provisional election results are expected on December 31, as CENI would publish daily updates starting on Sunday.
A broken voting machine at a polling station after people were barred from voting in Bunia, capital of the eastern province of Ituri, December 20, 2023. /CFP
A broken voting machine at a polling station after people were barred from voting in Bunia, capital of the eastern province of Ituri, December 20, 2023. /CFP
Visible tensions
Visible tensions have been running high since the beginning of the polling on December 20, like the previous ones. In 2018, Tshisekedi came to power by winning the 2018 election, marking the country’s “first peaceful transfer of power” since independence from Belgium, according to the United Nations.
The five presidential candidates announced on Saturday that they would launch a massive demonstration in Kinshasa, the capital of DRC, on December 27 to denounce the irregularities in the electoral process. The demonstration would start from Triumphal boulevard and go right to the headquarters of CENI in downtown Kinshasa.
On Saturday, 13 embassies in Kinshasa released a joint statement calling for restraint.
“We call on All stakeholders, in particular political actors, candidates and their supporters, to continue to exercise restraint, allow time for the process to continue and to assert their challenges peacefully, in accordance with the laws and the Constitution,” read the statement.
A Belgian IT expert deployed by the European Union to support the elections fell from the 12th floor of his hotel and died late Saturday. According to local media, investigation has been opened into the incident.
Unrest reignited
The eastern part of the country, long-plagued by conflicts and rebel attacks for decades, has seen unrest reignited as the country is currently going through a major political transition.
On December 21, the day after the general elections, fighting resumed between the government military and rebels in the March 23 Movement (M23) in the Masisi territory of the North Kivu province.
The rebel group, which resurfaced in late 2021, has triggered conflicts and a major humanitarian crisis and seized major strongholds on Congolese soil.
On December 15, several days before the polling, Corneille Nangaa, a Congolese opposition figure in exile, formed a political-military alliance, “Alliance Fleuve Congo,” with M23 rebels and other armed groups in order to “save the country.”
On Saturday, RED-Tabara, a rebel group based in eastern DRC, claimed responsibility for an attack that left 20 dead late Friday night in Burundi’s border town with the DRC. RED-Tabara has been battling Burundi’s government since 2015.
Several regions in the eastern part of the DRC, still occupied by the rebels, are excluded from holding the elections due to a lack of voter registration.
Tshisekedi and leading opposition candidates, including Martin Fayulu, Moise Katumbi, and Dennis Mukwege, have all campaigned in the east, promising a respite from the violence.
The restive North Kivu province also witnessed a further deterioration in the security situation, with rising regional tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, which increases the risk of direct military confrontation that could involve Burundi.
The DRC has the largest number of internally displaced persons on the African continent. Years of violence and insecurity have driven 5.7 million people from their homes, and in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, violence has increased recently, including against civilians living in displacement sites, according to the United Nations.
When the actors’ union went on strike, many could not promote their projects. The future of red carpets quickly became a topic of concern. But within days of the strike ending in early November, celebrities had again begun stepping out in their finest borrowed garments and those fears disappeared faster than the flash of a flashbulb.
After the strike-induced hiatus, and with awards season now underway, outfits have gotten bolder. We’ve seen real-life Wonkas, daring silhouettes and, despite the time of year, lots of shirtless men.
The looks on this list are highlights from red carpets in November and December. Consider them a taste of what to expect as some of the biggest events of the coming year kick off in January.
Jacob Elordi: Most Oxbridge!
The actor left his purses at home for the Los Angeles premiere of “Saltburn,” allowing his sharply tailored three-piece suit to get all the attention.
Elizabeth Debicki: Most Diana!
Though the actress did not accessorize her black off-the-shoulder dress with pearls, her look at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Crown” Season Six: Part 1 seemed like a subtle homage to the so-called revenge dress worn by Princess Diana, whom she plays in the series.
Meg Bellamy: Most Effortless!
A red poppy pin diverted attention from the plunging neckline of the slinky, black dress that the actress — who plays Kate Middleton “The Crown” — wore to the Los Angeles premiere. (The pin was in honor of Britain’s Remembrance Day.)
The singer and flutist was a vision in white ruffles at the world premiere of “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.” A flowing robe worn over her stomach-baring, two-piece made the look more elegant.
Laverne Cox: Most Frozen!
At the “Renaissance” premiere, a red-carpet host of “Live From E!” traded her microphone for a tiny purse that complemented her ice-blue corset and sleek silver skirt.
Janelle Monáe: Most Pop Art!
The singer seemed to channel one of the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s speckled pumpkins in a hooded polka-dot dress with a balloon skirt at the “Renaissance” premiere.
Charles Melton: Most Debonair!
In a double-breasted suit and no shirt at the Gotham Awards, the “May December” actor — who received the award for Outstanding Supporting Performance — looked like a hypebeast James Bond.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph: Most Regal!
The actress, a star of “Only Murders in the Building,” dazzled at the Gotham Awards in a deep-blue velvety gown that fit like a glove.
Timothée Chalamet: Most Wonka!
The star of “Wonka” dressed the part at the film’s world premiere, pairing a purplish suit with chocolate-brown boots.
Lily Gladstone: Most Radiant!
The bright marigold color helped show off the unusual structure of the dress that the “Killers of the Flower Moon” actress wore at the Academy Museum Gala.
Barry Keoghan: Most Commando!
After baring it all in “Saltburn,” the actor went shirtless beneath an olive-green vest and matching pants that brought out the color of his eyes at the Academy Museum Gala.
Greta Lee: Most Statuesque!
The “Past Lives” actress lit up the Academy Museum Gala carpet with a crimson column-like gown and a glowing complexion.
Emma Stone: Most Sleeves!
At a “Poor Things” screening in London, the actress evoked her wardrobe in that film with a shawl that made it look like her slip dress had mega sleeves.
Stella Bugbee, Madison Malone Kircher and Anthony Rotunno contributed reporting.
Indication of Adbry (tralokinumab-ldrm) expanded to include patients 12 to 17 years of age with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies or for whom those therapies are not advisable.
The FDA has approved an expanded indication for LEO Pharma’s Adbry (tralokinumab-ldrm) for patients 12 to 17 years of age with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies or for whom those therapies are not advisable.1 Adbry is a human immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to human interleukin (IL)-13 and inhibits its interaction with the IL-13 receptor α1 and α2 subunits. Adbry is the first and only biologic FDA-approved for this indication.
“This is an important milestone on our path towards making a fundamental difference for those who need it most. This critical patient group now has access to a much-needed additional treatment option to manage their atopic dermatitis,” Brian Hilberdink, EVP and president, Region North America, LEO Pharma, said in a press release. “We are delighted to be able to offer Adbry, a highly targeted treatment, to both adult and pediatric patients in the US. This debilitating disease can have a particularly strong impact on pediatric patients, who often feel socially isolated because of their condition. We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made to date, and we will continue to work hard to address unmet needs in additional patient populations.”1
In clinical trials, the drug produced significant improvements in itch, sleep interference, anxiety, depression, and overall quality of life among patients 12 to 17 years of age with moderate-to-severe AD.2 The expanded indication is for an initial loading dose of 300 mg followed by 150 mg dose every two weeks for this patient group.
The FDA based its approval for the expanded indication of Adbry on data from the Phase III ECZTRA 6 trial. Investigators evaluated the drug’s efficacy and safety in 289 patients aged 12-17 years with moderate-to-severe AD who were candidates for systemic therapy. Of those enrolled in the trial, 98 patients were administered an initial dose of Adbry 300 mg followed by 150 mg every other week up to week 16.
The study showed that 21% of patients administered Adbry achieved an Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score of 0 or 1 vs. 4% administered placebo. The trial also found that 29% of patients administered Adbry achieved at least a 75% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index score (EASI-75) vs. 6% administered placebo.
Further, 23% of patients administered Adbry achieved at least a four-point drop in Adolescent Worst Pruritis Numerical Rating Scale vs. 3% with placebo and a greater proportion of patients administered Adbry achieved at least a 90% improvement in EASI-90 compared to placebo.
“We know the symptoms associated with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis can have an impact on pediatric patients, which is why it’s so important to have treatment options with demonstrated efficacy in itch reduction and skin clearance,” said international coordinating investigator for ECZTRA 6, Amy Paller, MD, chair, Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University in Chicago, in a press release. “Clinical trial results that provide this evidence are invaluable to clinicians evaluating the safety and efficacy of treatment options for their pediatric patients.”1
In terms of safety, the drug’s profile was comparable to what has been reported in clinical trials by adults with atopic dermatitis. The most common adverse events reported in adults were upper respiratory tract infections, conjunctivitis, injection site reactions, and eosinophilia.
“The approval of Adbry for pediatric patients living with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis expands the therapeutic options for those living with this disease who historically have had a limited selection to choose from,” said Julie Block, president and CEO of the National Eczema Association, said in a press release. “Such advances in the atopic dermatitis treatment landscape provide much-needed hope for pediatric patients seeking a long-term treatment option that could work for them.”1
It is understandable to feel worried if your once food-loving feline has a reduced appetite lately but still acts normal. Although cats can be finicky about mealtimes and their food preferences, a poor appetite could indicate that something is wrong. There are various reasons why your cat could be eating less food than usual but still acting normal.
Not all cats clearly show their discomfort from illnesses or stress, which is why cat parents are encouraged to monitor any changes in their cats’ behaviors. Changes in your cat’s eating habits should not be overlooked, as there might be an underlying issue that needs addressing.
This article will discuss the seven likely issues behind your cat’s reduced appetite and otherwise normal behavior.
The 7 Reasons Your Cat Isn’t Eating But Acting Normal
1. Stress
Just like humans, cats can be sufferers of stress too. However, the reasoning behind our stress versus our cats is different. Rather than stressing about work or money worries, cats can become stressed from things like a new pet or baby in their home or other environmental disruptions. Cats do not handle stress well, so you will start seeing changes in their behavior.
A decreased appetite is a common sign your cat could be feeling stressed or generally feels unwell. Other signs that could indicate your cat is stressed are changes in their litterbox or sleeping habits.
Image credit: one photo, Shutterstock
2. Age
As cats begin to age into their senior years, you might notice their appetite starts decreasing. They may otherwise act normal, but you might notice subtle changes in their activity levels. It can be normal for a cat to eat a bit less the older they get because of reduced activity and a slower metabolism.
If your cat is eating less food because of their age, the changes will be more subtle than if it were from stress or certain illnesses. Older cats can also experience changes in their food preferences.
However, you should first rule out pain and medical conditions as reasons behind your cat’s poor eating habits. Older cats are more likely to be suffering from pain due to conditions such as arthritis or dental disease, and many have other long term diseases which may suppress their appetite. Senior cats that are refusing to eat any food for 24 hours should be taken to an emergency veterinarian for a health evaluation.
3. Health Problems
If your cat is feeling ill, they may start refusing food or eat less than usual. This could be from pain or nausea that is making it difficult for them to keep food down. Various health problems can cause changes to your cats’ eating habits, such as kidney disease and pancreatitis. Anything that causes nasal congestion and affects a cat’s sense of smell can also reduce their appetite. If you suspect that your cat’s appetite changes are caused by a health problem, they should be taken to a veterinarian.
Cats can hide their health problems well because they do not want to show that they are vulnerable. So, if they start refusing food or eating less than usual, it can be a sign that they are not feeling well and you should get them checked by your vet as soon as possible.
Image Credit: Pressmaster,Shutterstock-1
4. Sudden Dietary Changes
Cats can be picky about the food they eat and are not fond of dietary changes. If you have recently switched your cat to a new food or changed up their usual diet, your cat might not show much interest in eating it yet.
It can take a while for cats to adjust to the different flavors and textures of the new food, and they might not enjoy it as much as their old food. It is better to gradually introduce new foods into your cats and allow a transitioning period of 7 to 10 days. This will be much easier on your cat’s digestive system and give them time to adjust to new foods. This gradual transition period is especially important for felines with sensitive stomachs or picky eating habits.
Unfortunately, some cats struggle to adjust to new foods if they have a strong preference for their old diet. Your cat is probably not fond of the new flavors or prefers either the wet or dry food that they previously ate.
5. Certain Medications
If your cat is on medication, whether acute or chronic, a decreased appetite could be a side effect. Medications such as antibiotics can have side effects like nausea and an upset stomach that can make it difficult for your cat to eat normally. It is important to discuss with your cat’s veterinarian any changes in your cat’s behavior and appetite on their medication.
Image Credit: Julia-Cherk, Shutterstock
6. Dental Issues
Dental issues are common in cats and can impact how they eat. Gingivitis, stomatitis, mouth ulcers, periodontal disease, or tooth infections are some of the dental issues that can affect cats. It can be painful and difficult for cats to eat their food if they have dental issues.
Not all cats show obvious signs of dental disease until they are evaluated by a veterinarian, so a decreased appetite might be the first sign to look out for. If you suspect that your cat is not eating much food because of dental issues, you will need to get them checked out by a vet.
Otherwise, some cats won’t eat for a few hours after getting dental surgery or teeth cleaning. This could be from any swelling and discomfort in their mouth that is making it challenging for them to eat. Your cat’s veterinarian might recommend feeding them wet or soft foods until your cat recovers.
7. Gastrointestinal Problems
Like humans, cats can have gastrointestinal problems like nausea and stomach pain that can affect their appetite. They could have eaten food earlier that didn’t agree with their stomach, or perhaps they have acid reflux or irritable bowel disease. This can cause your cat to lose their appetite and not eat much until their gastrointestinal problems ease up.
Image Credit: megaflopp, Shutterstock
Conclusion
If your cat is reluctant to eat their food but still acts normally, don’t hesitate to contact a veterinarian. Cats should never go more than a couple of days without eating any food because of the risk of hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease), a common cause of liver failure in cats. It is not a good sign for cats to start eating less food or refusing food entirely.
Even if your cat seems otherwise normal, the reduced appetite is a sign that they are not. It’s advisable to have them checked out by your vet as soon as possible
Featured Image Credit: 4 PM production, Shutterstock
In the fourth quarter of 2023, the Indian office market saw 58.2 million square feet of gross absorption across the top six cities, representing a 16 per cent y-o-y growth in demand, states Colliers India.
While the contribution of the tech sector to office leasing continues to decline, from around 50 per cent in 2020 to 25 per cent in 2023, overall leasing activity continued to diversify. The sectoral contributions from BFSI and engineering and manufacturing sectors have almost doubled, increasing from 10-12 per cent in 2020 to around 16-20 per cent in 2023.
In addition, demand from flex operators stood at 8.7 million square feet, marking a 24 per cent growth compared to 2022. Moreover, flex penetration in the Indian office market is expected to rise further in 2024 as developers are likely to adopt a core plus flex strategy for decision-making.
Also read: India’s office sector anticipates 20–22% y-o-y growth in 2024: report
The last quarter of the year witnessed the highest-ever demand for office spaces in India, with all three southern cities of Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad registering the best performance since the Covid-19 pandemic, said the report.
While Bengaluru and Delhi NCR drove leasing activity during 2023, accounting for about half of the total demand for office space in India, Chennai made it to the top three list for the first time. Furthermore, with more than 2x leasing activity in 2023 compared to 2022, Chennai breached all earlier highs and recorded 10.5 mn sq ft of gross absorption.
Also read: RERA gains momentum in addressing consumer complaints across India
The demand momentum, particularly as seen during the last quarter, will pave the way for an optimistic start to 2024. “Moreover, increased preference for a combination of core and flex real estate spaces, heightened activity in Tier II markets, and next-generation offices with more sustainable elements will be the key themes for office markets in 2024,” noted Arpit Mehrotra, Managing Director, Head of Office Services, Colliers India.
Even large transactions with around 30 million square feet saw a 24 per cent increase. Global Capability Centers (GCCs), which typically have large space requirements, have resumed their expansionary activities with greater fervor towards the second half of 2023, especially in the fourth quarter. Almost 40 per cent of the large deals in the top six cities have come from GCCs, particularly from the technology and BFSI sectors.
With 50.1 million square feet of new completions, fresh supply across the top six cities rose about 17 per cent y-o-y, indicating higher developer confidence for near-term space uptake.
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.
SEIKO donosi uzbuđenje s novim dodatkom u liniji Seiko 5. Predstavljajući dva nova GMT modela, SSK025 i SSK023, Seiko nastavlja istraživati savršen spoj elegancije i funkcionalnosti.
Dvije različite završne obrade
S brojčanikom koji vuče inspiraciju iz terenskih satova, ovi satovi elegantno kombiniraju sportski izgled sa sofisticiranom funkcionalnošću. Fiksni 24-satni okvir, posebna značajka, omogućuje korisnicima praćenje druge vremenske zone, čineći ih neprocjenjivim alatom za putnike.
Satovi dolaze u dvije različite završne obrade: elegantnoj crnoj i klasičnoj čeličnoj. Kućište širine 39.4 mm pruža dojmljiv izgled na zapešću, istovremeno osiguravajući udobnost. Što se tiče remena, Seiko nudi svestranu čeličnu narukvicu za čelični model i izdržljiv kožni NATO remen za crni model, pružajući stil i udobnost u različitim okruženjima.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Srce ovih GMT satova čini Seikov automatski mehanizam 4R34, poznat po svojoj pouzdanosti i preciznosti. S obilnom rezervom snage od 41 sat, ovi satovi su spremni za korištenje kad god vam zatrebaju. Bez obzira prelazite li vremenske zone ili jednostavno planirate svoju sljedeću avanturu, ovi satovi osiguravaju da ćete uvijek biti na vrijeme i to s dodatkom stila.
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Yes, it’s a cliche — the agony and ecstasy of sport. But it also captures so much of the Los Angeles sporting scene in 2023.
The Dodgers failed to advance in the playoffs (again) and the Chargers appear destined to miss the playoffs (again). USC, though helmed by a Heisman winner, disappointed Trojans football fans all over.
But 2023 brought us plenty to cheer too. Think Shohei Ohtani. Or LeBron James. Or those inspiring Little Leaguers from El Segundo. And who can forget the image of an unusually large dog watching a Lakers game from a courtside seat? What a year. So glad we saw it.
Quarterback Caleb Williams is stopped just short of the goal line during USC’s 34-32 loss to Utah in October. The Trojans later end the regular season at 7-5, and Williams declines to play in the Holiday Bowl against Louisville.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
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1.Weeks of speculation end in December when Shohei Ohtani announces that he had agreed to a record 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers.(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)2.Ohtani pitches against his future Dodger teammates at Angels Stadium in June. In November he is declared the American League MVP, the first player to win by unanimous vote twice.(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Julio Urias reacts after allowing a Chicago Cubs home run at Dodger Stadium in April. In September, he is arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence. Put on administrative leave, he does not appear with the Dodgers again in 2023.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Rickie Fowler hits a fairway shot at the Los Angeles Country Club during the final round of the U.S. Open in June. It was the first U.S. Open held in Los Angeles in 75 years.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
UCLA guard Amari Bailey walks away from Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrating their 79-76 win in March over the Bruins in a Sweet 16 game during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
TCU Horned Frogs safety Bud Clark (26) deflects a pass destined for Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (5) during the CFP National Championship game at SoFi Stadium in January. Georgia wins its second straight national title with a 65-7 win.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Chargers running back Austin Ekeler dives into the end zone for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at SoFi Stadium in October. The Charges cruise to a 30-13 victory, but the season ends on a disappointing note as losses mount.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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1.Before an ecstatic hometown crowd at Crypto.Com Arena in February, Laker LeBron James scores his 38,388th point to become the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)2.James’ fade-away jumper for two points breaks the previous scoring record of 38,387 points held by former Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)3.(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)4.James’ record-setting basket is among 38 points he scores this night. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Former Laker Pau Gasol, with his daughter Elisabet Gianna Gasol on one arm, waves to cheering fans at Crypto.com Arena in March when the team retires his jersey, No. 16.
(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Top: Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. celebrates aboard White Abarrio after winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park in November. Bottom: A spectator at the Breeders’ Cup sports a stylish hat — and a big cigar.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
UCLA defensive back Kenny Churchwell III forces a fumble by USC wide receiver Zachariah Branch during the annual rivalry game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in November. The Bruins go on to beat the Trojans 38-20.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
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1.Dodger Clayton Kershaw reacts after striking out New York Met Tommy Pham to end the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium in April. The Dodgers go on to win 5-0, giving Kershaw his 200th win.(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)2.In October, Kershaw reacts to being pulled in a disastrous first inning during game one of the National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers lose 11-2, their most lopsided postseason defeat at Dodger Stadium. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
El Segundo Little League All Stars players Quinn Boehle, left, and Lennon Salazar celebrate their team’s Little League World Series victory with well-wishers lining Main Street in El Segundo. The 12 players, ages 10 to 12, defeated Curaçao 6-5 in a wild championship game in Williamsport, Pa., in August.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Forget the game. Many folks watching the Lakers and Knicks at Crypto.com Arena in December wanted to know why an 80-pound dog had a courtside seat. And why was he next to actor Kevin Bacon? Turns out he’s an internet sensation, and this story explains all about Brodie the Goldendoodle.
Google has issued an emergency patch to address yet another Chrome zero-day vulnerability that has been exploited in the wild, making this the eighth patch issued since the beginning of the year.
Meanwhile, Google is rolling out a new “AI support assistant” chatbot on some of its Help pages to provide users with product assistance. Image Source: Reuters
Celebrations are in full swing at the inaugural edition of the Hatta Festival with plenty more in store, as community events and sports activities bring together residents and visitors by the thousands to partake in the rich experiences of Dubai’s picturesque mountain region.
UAE: Inaugural Hatta Festival continues to captivate crowds with exciting lineup of community events and activities(Unsplash)
The festival, a vibrant celebration of culture, sports and family entertainment in the heart of Dubai’s scenic town, serves as the centrepiece of the third edition of the Dubai Destinations winter campaign. Running until December 31, the event is being organised by Brand Dubai in partnership with the Supreme Committee Overseeing Hatta Development.
Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here
Amina Taher, Member of the Hatta Festival’s Organising Committee Representing Brand Dubai, said, “Against the breathtaking backdrop of Hatta’s majestic mountains and amid the beautiful winter weather, visitors are being treated to an array of interactive and entertainment experiences at the inaugural Hatta Festival. A showcase of the area’s unique heritage, the festival provides a platform for residents and visitors alike to immerse themselves in the diverse traditions, flavours and artistic expressions that define this enchanting part of the city. We are extremely happy with the huge turnout and the enthusiastic response to the festival, which captures the essence of Hatta’s cultural identity and contributes to further strengthening Dubai’s position as one of the world’s best winter destinations.”
She added, “A stunning lineup of activities awaits visitors, catering to all age groups and interests. We extend a warm invitation to everyone to explore Hatta’s natural wonders and participate in the event’s diverse programmes and activities.”
For enthusiasts of hiking and adventure, the festival presents a golden opportunity to indulge in their passion and relish the breathtaking natural beauty of Hatta. An exhilarating mountain trek spanning a distance of 7 km will offer participants a unique journey amid the area’s historical landmarks.
The two-hour hike, organised by HAT Hatta, a Hatta-born business that arranges hiking adventures in the area, is scheduled to commence on Saturday, 23rd December, promising an unforgettable experience for both adults and children.
Sports enthusiasts can embark on a fitness adventure like no other with StormCycling, a thrilling collaboration with the boutique indoor cycling studio, Storm, at the heart of the Hatta Festival. On 23rd December, participants can gear up for a dynamic spinning session at 10:00, set against the mesmerising vistas of Hatta. The session promises an unparalleled fusion of fitness and scenic beauty, offering a unique opportunity for fitness enthusiasts.
The festival unfolds with a dedicated bicycle parade on December 24, from 8:00 to 10:00. Against the stunning backdrop of Hatta’s scenic landscapes, a group of 20 cycling enthusiasts from the Alkhawaneej Cycling Club will embark on a thrilling journey.
The route will wind down from Hatta, culminating at the picturesque Leem Lake–a three-hectare oasis that stands as the heartbeat of the festival, promising an adventure that merges cycling, nature and festive vibes in perfect harmony.
Adding a dynamic and thrilling element to the festival, a motorcycle procession is set to kick off on December 29. A convoy of 30 avid riders from the Dubai Rider motorcycle club will rev their engines in Dubai and embark on an exciting journey to Hatta, converging at the festival site.
This motorcycle march not only showcases the passion for biking but also contributes to the high-energy atmosphere of the first edition of the festival.
In another exciting event, December 30 will witness a spectacular parade featuring classic cars embarking from Dubai at 7:00 to reach the festival site in Hatta. This classic car procession, led by vintage car enthusiasts under the Flat12 banner, will feature several classic models that are only showcased on rare occasions.
The event is sure to add vintage charm to the festivities, promising a visually captivating spectacle for attendees.
In essence, Hatta Festival goes beyond traditional festivities by catering to a diverse range of interests, ensuring that everyone, from hikers and adventurers to classic car enthusiasts, motorcycle riders and cyclists, finds a space to celebrate their passion amidst the natural wonders of Hatta.
The latest Dubai Destinations campaign encourages residents and visitors to discover Dubai’s diverse leisure, dining, adventure and family-friendly activities that make the city a distinctive winter destination.
The campaign is being rolled out over digital, broadcast, print and outdoor media to ensure it reaches large sections of local and international audiences. Brand Dubai is implementing the Dubai Destinations campaign in cooperation with various stakeholders and the creative media community.
Dubai was named one of the world’s top winter sun destinations, according to Travelbag’s best winter sun destination rankings for 2023. In 2022, the city was also ranked as the world’s best winter-sun destination, with the most Google searches and the most things to do in a city during winter, according to The Winter Sun Index issued by travel package provider ParkSleepFly.
Dubai has been tagged on Instagram more than 111 million times and has the most winter-related ‘things to do’ Google searches in the world, reaching 55,000.
‘Dickens loved home, hearth and Christmas’ says Richard Armitage. (Image: Getty)
Having played Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson’s smash-hit Hobbit trilogy with a powerful northern accent, it’s slightly surprising to hear Richard Armitage’s deep, rich baritone minus the strong inflections of the dwarf lord. But then, the Leicester-born star is a sought-after voice actor, having been a go-to narrator for audiobooks and video games almost as long as he’s been a familiar face on stage and screen.
“My accent in the Hobbit was a hybrid of my dad and his northern side of the family,” he admits with a smile. “I don’t know why my ear tuned into that, but they [the filmmakers] liked it so much Aidan Turner and Dean O’Gorman [who played Thorin’s nephews Fili and Kili] had to do it too. I remember poor old Aidan with his Irish accent trying to do my hybrid!”
The blockbuster fantasy films, of which more later, were released over the three Christmases between 2012 and 2014 and made a billion dollars each, sending their stars soaring into the stratosphere.
But back to Armitage’s fabulous voice, because we’re talking today about his smaller but no less perfectly formed role in a brilliant new spoken-word adaptation of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield for Audible, the Amazon-owned audiobook and podcast app. Directed by Sam Mendes and starring Rwandan-Scottish actor Ncuti Gatwa – due to become the 14th Doctor Who on Christmas Day – as Copperfield, the stunning ensemble production of the coming-of-age story also features Helena Bonham Carter, Jessie Buckley and Toby Jones. And it’s perfectly-timed too for the festive season when England’s greatest storyteller – A Christmas Carol has just celebrated its 180th anniversary – inevitably comes to the fore, and we gather with our families to hear and tell stories.
Armitage, 52, who plays Copperfield’s bullying stepfather Edward Murdstone and, it must be said, is also known for being kind on the camera looks-wise, says: “I think Dickens was a little bit obsessed with Christmas. He loved hearth and home and Christmas. And they’re all so quintessentially English, a good touchstone at this time of year.”
There’s something about his big stories, often extended family sagas, that speaks to that idea of getting together as well, I suggest. “Exactly, no matter how far you travel, around Christmas time you go home and then you repeat all of the rituals you’ve always done since you were a kid. I think that’s why we repeat things, and Dickens seems to understand why.”
Armitage, who lives between London and New York, where he’s spending Christmas, graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before joining the RSC. He enjoyed his first lead as John Thornton in the BBC’s 2004 adaptation of North And South.
Since then, the parts have come thick and fast, with successful spells in Spooks, as spy Lucas North; Robin Hood; and US TV series Hannibal, as well as roles in The Hobbit and Ocean’s 8 among other films.
As mill owner John Thorton in North and South. (Image: BBC One)
A Christmas Carol aside, David Copperfield must be Dickens’ most adapted novel. So what can a new production bring? “Copperfield is probably my favourite Dickens, actually,” Armitage replies. “It’s a timeless story and any new adaptation is going to be more accessible. It feels fresh and modern.”
“It’s so close to the book, but it’s not stodgy – it’s sparkling. I think Dickens would have approved. A multi-voice version is as close as you can get to a staged production that feels like you’re in the room.
“And they really work hard on that, so you feel like you’re walking into Dickens’ world. I love that immersion.”
In the old days, this sort of lavish production would have been the bread and butter of Radio 4 but, as with most things, technology has changed the world. “You had to get all of the cast together in one room and you recorded for a week – I did [Samuel Richardson’s] Clarissa once with Alison Steadman and Miriam Margolyes and it was fantastic – but getting people scheduled at the same time is quite an ordeal.”
“Now technology means you drop in remotely and don’t necessarily meet the people you’re working with. They work their technical magic and it sounds fantastic.”
But doing voice-work, causes one particular issue for a physical actor like Armitage. “My difficulty is I can’t not move around,” he chuckles. “And they tell me, ‘We can hear your clothes moving. You’ve got to stand still.’ But I embody the character. In a scene where Murdstone is whipping David, they want a little bit of movement, but I’m like ‘Give me a stick!’”
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“But it’s brilliant fun – you close your eyes and you’re in his world. There’s that moment David loses his first wife. I don’t want to spoil the book but it’s one of the most heartbreaking observations of grief and death.”
“That’s why Copperfield is my favourite, because it tracks this man’s entire life from a very small child to a coming of age.”
Talking of growing up in the public eye, having enjoyed huge success in some of the biggest movies of the 21st century with The Hobbit – filming in New Zealand took three years – isn’t everything else a bit of a, well, anticlimax? “I sort of knew it at the time, it was one of those moments where I was so present and realised when I got there, ‘Nothing is ever going to come up to this level. If this is the last piece of work you ever do, you can be happy about that’,” he smiles.
Don’t miss… Stay Close’s Richard Armitage relates to ‘tragic’ life in Netflix show
“I didn’t dream in a million years it would happen to me. I’d read The Hobbit as an 11-year-old and remembered every detail.”
“But when you’re on the other side of the world, you walk onto the soundstage and think, ‘I’m about to step into this story I’ve known and loved my entire life’. It’s surreal.”
“It was really difficult, complicated, uncomfortable and tiring too – but every single day, I checked in with myself: ‘Don’t waste a second of this because it’s never gonna happen to you again’.”
It also introduced Armitage to the major leagues as an actor, not a place the modest, unassuming Englishman admits being especially comfortable.
“I turned 40 when I did it so I wasn’t a newcomer, but I still felt like a fish out of water. I remember stepping onto the set of Ocean’s 8 and there was Cate Blanchett and Sandra Bullock and Rihanna. And I’m like, ‘I don’t really belong here’. I feel like I’m happier back home in good quality British TV where I have a bit of a voice. I was a bit cowardly in the big pond. It’s seductive and brilliant, but there’s a lot of ‘BS’.”
Starring in The Hobbit did have some other unexpected benefits, though.
“The people from Lego came at the end of the shoot and they give you your model. It’s obviously in a tiny little box, but it’s very cool. I cannot believe I’m a piece of Lego.”
Storytelling is clearly ingrained in Armitage, who writes short biographies of the characters he plays.
“Whenever I’m sitting down to do an audio book or write myself, I always think, ‘This is basically what we’re all about’,” he continues. “Whether it’s through song or dance or on stage, it’s all storytelling. Everybody’s got a story to tell.”
It’s a technique that has led to another recent triumph: an acclaimed Switzerland-set thriller, Geneva. It came about, like many things, because of his voice.
While recording for Audible, it was suggested he create an original story for the app. The resulting book sat exclusively on the audiobook platform for a year before, to Armitage’s obvious delight, coming out in hardback form via publisher Faber & Faber.
Confident and pacy, it features Sarah Collier, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist facing the same tell-tale signs of early-onset dementia, memory loss, blackouts and confusion, as her Alzheimer’s suffering father.
Armitage with Michelle Keegan in Fool Me Once, (Image: Netflix)
Persuaded by her husband to accept an invitation as guest of honour at a biotech conference, the neural implant being unveiled could revolutionise medical science – and possibly save her life. But as her symptoms worsen, is anything quite as it seems?
“Yes, I’ve written biographies for characters. But I didn’t know whether I could form the ideas in a way that was in that thriller genre,” Armitage admits. In the event, he drew upon his experiences of long-form television and mined his collaborator and friend, Harlan Coben, for inspiration, having starred in three of the US crime writer’s adaptations.
“Ultimately, my passion is going to be character because that’s what I do for a living. I’m inside the character,” he says. “I always think the plot is none of my business, I just kind of walk and talk the character inside the plot. You write a biography for each of your characters and they go away and busy themselves and come back and it’s like, ‘Oh, you’ve changed’.”
His heroine, it turns out, was based on the real-life Dame Sarah Gilbert, 61, who came to attention during the pandemic co-developing the UK’s AstraZeneca vaccine.
“I should probably send her a copy as I’ve banged on about her for so long,” he smiles.
“She was the one person I was paying attention to during the pandemic, she seemed very level headed.”
Placing his fictional equivalent in a story where they begin doubting their sanity became Geneva. He’s now writing a follow-up and will be starring in his third Harlan Coben adaptation on Netflix, Fool Me Once, streaming in January. “It’s eight episodes for January so with your New Year’s Day hangover, you can box set it,” he jokes. “I started writing Geneva while we were making Stay Close and finished it on Fool Me Once so Harlan became a mentor without realising it. He was amazing.”
Uniquely, all three adaptations are standalones. In the latest, Armitage plays the husband of military veteran Maya Stern (Michelle Keegan), who gets a nanny cam and sees her husband playing with their little girl despite him having been murdered three weeks before.
“I’m dead in the first few seconds,” Armitage smiles. “I’ve always wanted to be part of an anthology series where you do have an extended ensemble, and they turn up in different roles. I love the idea of that. It’s like repertory theatre.”
You can’t voice it any better than that.
David Copperfield is available on Audible now. Geneva by Richard Armitage (Faber, £16.99) is out now. Visit express bookshop.com or call 020 3176 3832. Free UK P&P on orders over £25.
The SsangYong Rexton range has been updated for 2024 and beyond, and yes, it’s still called a SsangYong!
WATCH: Paul’s video review of the MY22 Rexton Ultimate
The Korean brand – that nation’s number-three seller behind Kia and Hyundai – was successfully bought out and rebranded KG Mobility in its home market, but our cars will continue on as SsangYong.
That’s probably a good thing for the brand, because it has built up a decent reputation in our market for offering value-focused offerings. But with prices up significantly, is it still a good alternative to the big-name rivals?
In this review, you’ll find out.
How does the Ssangyong Rexton fare vs its competitors?
View a detailed breakdown of the Ssangyong Rexton against similarly sized vehicles.
SsangYong
Rexton
How much does the Ssangyong Rexton cost?
The Rexton range has been tweaked, with a new mid-spec model added. But the one tested in this review is the one most people will want – the top-spec Ultimate.
2024 SsangYong Rexton pricing:
2024 SsangYong Rexton ELX: $50,000 (+$1010)
2024 SsangYong Rexton Adventure: $54,000 (NEW)
2024 SsangYong Rexton Ultimate: $58,000 (+$1415)
Keep in mind; though, that prices rose over the preceding months, so while this is still an affordable 4×4 seven-seater diesel SUV, the cost is starting to creep up.
It’s also worth noting there is a Sport Pack available for the top-spec Ultimate grade, which adds $2000 to the price, but is only available if you choose Pearl White or Space Black – details about the pack are discussed below.
What about alternatives? There are some good ones for those looking at a 4×2 or 4×4 family SUV with five or seven seats, including the Mitusbishi Pajero Sport ($44,940 to $62,440), and Isuzu MU-X ($48,900 to $67,400).
The best player in that part of the market; though, is the Ford Everest, which starts from $53,490 and ranges through to $77,000 before on-roads. So, you’d be looking at an entry-level Everest for the sort of money you’re getting a full-fat Rexton.
What is the Ssangyong Rexton like on the inside?
The last version of the Rexton still looked pretty smart, but the updated one is a bit classier. In fact, I showed it to a few friends who agreed it was “at Hyundai levels” for interior appearance and showmanship.
Indeed, the top-spec version does have a few flourishes that are absent from the cheaper models, including some fancy looking stitching on the dashboard, doors, and seats, and there’s an ambient light strip across the dash, too.
It does look a posh spot to sit, and if you’re upgrading from the previous model you’ll notice the difference the twin 12.3-inch screens make to this cabin.
The existing layout was neat, but the media screen was prone to being washed out during daytime hours, and it was lacking a few features, too.
The new 12.3-inch touchscreen is a tablet-style setup, and it makes interacting with the system a lot easier; though, the home ‘bar’ of menu tabs for Apple CarPlay is aligned to the left of the screen, which makes for a fair reach to move between podcasts and maps, for example.
Also, there’s a bit of a sequence you need to follow when connecting your phone. Don’t plug it in before you start the car, or the system may not kick in. Start the car, then plug in, and you should be away. It’s not wireless, either.
While I found the Musso I tested recently to be a bit glitchy in terms of the display, this version was fine. It’s just a bit basic.
The digital driver info screen is bright and clear, with multiple different displays for the instrumentation, a number of configurations and a depth of info.
Below the screen as part of the redesigned dashboard, there’s a new climate control panel, which includes temperature and fan controls with touch-sensitive toggles, and you have buttons for fan speed, air-con, rear climate controls and more.
Higher-grade models also have a set of controls down below for seat heating and cooling – very welcome features for this kind of money.
The front passenger seat also has a set of slide and tilt controls accessible to the driver, meaning you can quickly slide the front seat forward if you’re picking someone up – rideshare drivers love it.
Up front there’s a pair of cupholders, a covered centre console bin, bottle holders in the doors and a loose item storage box in front of the gear selector (near the USB-C ports) but there’s no wireless phone charging.
In the second row there’s enough space for adults to sit behind adults. I am 182cm or 6’0”, and I could easily slide behind the driver’s seat when it was set to my position, and in the second-row I had ample foot, leg and headroom, and you can fit three grown-ups across the bench, too.
If you have smaller occupants that accompany you places, there are ISOFIX child-seat anchor points in the window seats, and the bench has three top-tether points as well. And, unlike the Musso, the Rexton has a proper three-point middle seatbelt.
Amenities include a pair of directional air-vents, overhead lighting, a pair of USB-C charge ports, a 12-volt port, map pockets on the seatbacks, bottle holders in the doors, and a flip-down armrest with cupholders.
There are some issues with the second-row usability; though, despite it being well sorted in many ways.
For instance, the seats don’t slide fore and aft, meaning you can’t tailor the space to allow for more room in the third-row.
And beyond that, the folding mechanism is more labour intensive than other similar SUVs. It has a two-action mechanism to fold the seatback down, then fold the unit forward.
There are issues with that because you can’t do it simply if the driver’s seat is set for a taller driver. I had to move the driver’s seat forward to fold down the second-row seat behind.
Further, the seats are bloody heavy. Some people won’t have the muscle to manage the larger portion, which is on the vehicle’s kerbside – which I also think is a bit of an issue, because I’d prefer to have the smaller section more easily foldable for third-row access.
Now, about the third row… It’s just not as accommodating or thoughtful as some others out there. There are no child-seat points in the very back, for example. And the seatbacks don’t offer recline adjustment, meaning the space can be a bit uncomfortable.
And beyond that, while it might be suitable for smaller occupants who want to be back-seat bandits, it’s not the most roomy spot for adults to sit because the middle-row seats don’t slide.
Leg room and foot room for someone my size is acceptable for a short trip, but it’s certainly not spacious. At least head room is okay and shoulder space is good.
There’s a pair of vents in the very back row down near the driver’s side rear wheel-arch, and a fan controller, too. The rear lighting does make it feel a bit more airy, which is good because it otherwise feels a touch boxed in, with small rear windows making for a ‘hemmed in’ feel.
So, it seemingly makes more sense as a five-seater, and if you configure it as such you’ll get a big boot capacity, too.
The cargo volume is stated to be 641 litres with five seats up, and that trims back to a still useful 236 litres with all seats up.
With the very back row in place, I managed to fit a carry-on suitcase and backpack with room to spare. There’s also a removable shelf section in that layout, which you can keep to make for a more even storage area if you need.
Fold all the rear seats down and there’s 1806L on offer. Under the body of the car there’s a full-size spare wheel, too.
What’s under the bonnet?
The Rexton comes with one powertrain.
Under the bonnet is a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel good for 148kW of power, and 441Nm of torque. Standard is an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and selectable four-wheel drive (2H, 4H and low-range 4L).
All grades come with unbraked towing capacity of 750kg and a braked maximum towing capacity of 3500kg, which is the benchmark level for off-road-capable SUVs like this.
The kerb weight for Rexton tops out at 2130kg, with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 2960kg. And the gross combination mass, or GCM, is 6460kg, meaning you can put a 3.5-tonne towed load behind the vehicle when it’s at its maximum GVM, if you really, really need to.
How does the Ssangyong Rexton drive?
There are some elements of the Rexton drive experience that are good, and others that could do with a bit of fine tuning.
For example, the turbo-diesel engine offers a good amount of shove when you need it, unless you need it from a standstill, because there’s some noticeable lag from a stop.
The eight-speed automatic transmission is mostly quite good with smooth enough shifts and decent shift logic for high speed gradient changes, plus it’s not too fussy around town either, allowing the engine to do its job.
The steering is mostly fine at lower speeds – and despite the fact the steering wheel is quite large, the Rexton doesn’t feel huge to move around in parking spots.
But the high-speed steering response is frustrating, as the Adventure and Ultimate models have ‘speed sensitive steering’ that makes the weighting feel really heavy, even gluggy, at higher speeds.
For instance, on my commute I drive up a hill where the speed is 90km/h, and while the steering heft is okay in straight-road scenarios, as soon as you turn the wheel there’s an odd stiffness, or resistance, to the reaction of the steering.
The ride is also better in slower speed situations than it is at pace, with the suspension seemingly tuned for a softer ride and; therefore, it’s a bit of a bouncy experience at pace.
It is relatively quiet though, with little in the way of open-road noise intrusion into the cabin, and the diesel is hushed at highway pace, too.
And for the nervous parkers out there, the Ultimate’s surround-view camera really does offer a level of reassurance that you can’t get in versions with a standard back-up camera.
What do you get?
Rexton ELX comes highlights
7 seats
18-inch alloy wheels
Automatic LED headlights
Automatic high-beam
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
6-speaker sound system
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Paddle shifters
Steering height and reach adjustment
Dual-zone climate control
Electric park brake with auto hold
Keyless entry and start
Rain-sensing wipers
Front auto up/down power windows
Rexton Adventure adds:
Power tailgate
Leatherette upholstery
Power-adjustable front seats
Heated and ventilated front seats
Heated outboard second-row seats
Heated steering wheel
Speed-sensitive power steering
Tyre pressure monitoring
Keyless entry with walk-away auto locking
Rexton Ultimate adds:
Power single-pane sunroof
Quilted leather upholstery
Surround-view camera
Third-row climate controls
Ambient lighting
Illuminated scuff plates
Privacy glass
Rear auto up/down power windows
The optional $2000 Sport Pack available in Ultimate spec (in Pearl White or Space Black only) adds:
20-inch alloy wheels with shadow chrome finish
Black roof rails
LED front fog lights with shadow chrome surrounds
Shadow chrome front grille, tailgate, and rear bumper garnish
Is the Ssangyong Rexton safe?
There is no current safety rating applicable to the Rexton SUV.
That could rule it out for you. Or, the fact that the airbag coverage doesn’t extend to cover third-row occupants could rule it out, too. I mean, it’s a three-row SUV and those in the very back aren’t covered by airbags in the event of a crash.
Or you might just be turned off by the fact there’s no adaptive cruise control – still! The brand missed an opportunity to upgrade the vehicle in line with current trends, here. It’s so weird because that tech is offered in the Rexton’s home market.
Standard safety features include:
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
Forward collision warning
Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
Leading vehicle departure alert
Reversing camera
Front and rear parking sensors
Front, front-side and curtain airbags
Driver’s knee airbag
If you choose the Ultimate you also get a surround-view camera.
How much does the Ssangyong Rexton cost to run?
The Rexton argues a strong case from an ownership perspective.
There’s a seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty for private and business customers (meaning if you wanted to drive for a ride-share company in one of these, you could in theory). There’s also a seven-year roadside assistance plan on offer, too.
Servicing intervals are every 12 months/15,000km, with a seven-year capped-price program that spans out to 105,000km. Pricing for these first seven services is capped at $375 per visit.
In terms of fuel consumption, the official number for the Rexton range is 8.7 litres per 100 kilometres, and over a few hundred kilometres of driving, I saw an on-screen return of 9.1L/100km, which I was pretty impressed with.
Load it up with all seven seats full, or tow to the maximum limit and; of course, you won’t see the sort of figures I did. In case you’re wondering, the Rexton has a 70-litre fuel tank.
CarExpert’s Take on the SsangYong Rexton
I can see why the SsangYong Rexton would make sense for plenty of seven-seater customers.
With a relatively efficient diesel engine, four-wheel drive for the adventure-curious, and a long warranty with loads of equipment, it seems to stack up pretty well.
There are some obvious considerations when it comes to safety gear and tech, and rivals like the Isuzu MU-X might appeal more for that reason.
But from a value perspective, the Rexton has a strong case.
With another eventful week in December ending, let’s delve into a comprehensive analysis of the recent market trends. This week has been a mixed bag, with altcoins showcasing remarkable resilience and strength while Bitcoin consolidates after the recent gains.
The altcoin sector, led by tokens like Solana (SOL), has seen impressive growth, with some tokens experiencing over 840% gains year-to-date. Amidst this altcoin fervor, Bitcoin has been cautiously navigating the $44,700 resistance level, reflecting a market weighing optimism against caution.
Top Gainers & Losers:
Leading the pack of gainers, SEI has shown an impressive surge, registering a 53.86% increase in value. This remarkable growth is reflected in its trading price of $0.3682 and a substantial 24-hour trading volume of $328 million.
Following closely, Optimism has also made significant strides, boasting a 48.08% gain. Trading at $3.22, Optimism has seen a soaring trading volume, hitting the $1.028 billion mark. The third spot is occupied by Near Protocol, which has climbed by 44.53%. Its current trading price is $3.33, with a healthy 24-hour trading volume of $296 million.
On the flip side, the market also saw some tokens experiencing downturns. BONK leads the list of top losers, with a decline of 24.13% over the week, trading at a price of $0.00001836 and a 24-hour volume of $218,000.
Helium follows, facing a 15% fall in its value. With a trading price of $7.06, Helium has recorded a significant 24-hour volume of $38 million. Lastly, the FTX Token has witnessed a 14.54% drop, trading at $3.60 and a 24-hour volume of $27 million.
Trending Sectors in the Crypto Industry: A Comprehensive Overview
As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, specific sectors have emerged as particularly noteworthy this week. Let’s delve into the top trending sectors, highlighting their performance and critical players.
1. Solana Ecosystem Tokens
The Solana ecosystem has garnered significant attention, with its market cap reaching $148 billion, marking a 2.57% increase in the last 24 hours. Despite limited significant developments among the big market cap movers, one notable performer is Synthetify (SNY), delivering a staggering 286% return over the past 7 days.
However, in terms of market cap, the leaders are Tether (USDT), Solana (SOL), and Chainlink (LINK). Tether, a stablecoin, maintains a market cap of $91 billion, closely approaching the trillion-dollar mark. Solana, with a 28% return, and Chainlink, with a 5.53% return in the past week, underscores the vitality of this ecosystem.
2. BRC20 Tokens
Contrasting the growth in the Solana sector, the BRC20 tokens have experienced a downturn, with their market cap declining by 2.74% in the past 24 hours. The top three tokens in this sector — SATS, ORDI, and Multibit (MUBI) — have seen declines of 13%, 5.37%, and 27%, respectively, over the past week.
Despite this, BRC20.com stands out with a 28.17% return, showcasing the sector’s diverse performance.
3. Gaming Tokens
The gaming token sector is rising, with a market cap increase of 2.76% in the last 24 hours, reaching $20 billion. This growth is accompanied by a notable 15.68% increase in trading volume.
Immutable X leads in market cap within this sector, posting a 15% return over the past week. However, the BAKERY token (BAKE) takes the top performer spot with a remarkable 95% return, indicating the sector’s potential for high returns.
4. Distributed Computing Tokens
Another trending sector is distributed computing tokens, whose market cap has hit the $20 billion mark, with a 1.54% increase in the last 24 hours. The sector’s standout is the largest computing token by market cap, which saw a 1.12% return this week.
However, WIFIMAP (WIFI) leads in performance with an impressive 239% return despite its relatively minor market cap of $14 million.
5. AI and Big Data Tokens
Finally, the AI and Big Data tokens sector is also making waves. Internet Protocol and Injective are notable mentions here. Injective, the second-largest token in this sector, has a market cap of $3.35 billion and has delivered a 30% return in the past week.
Is Bitcoin Losing the Hype Around Its ETF?
While altcoins enjoy their moment in the spotlight, Bitcoin’s performance has been more subdued yet steady. Traders are closely watching regulators’ potential approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in January, an event poised to invigorate the crypto space potentially. However, there’s speculation that the initial demand for these ETFs may not live up to the hype, suggesting a possible retracement as traders might start booking profits.
The technical chart highlights the $45K barrier as the bulls struggle to cross past this barrier despite the Santa rally in altcoins. With the sideways growing longer, the chances of a correction with a double top arise. Further, the intraday fall of almost 1% warns of an evening star forming at a crucial resistance.
The fate of Bitcoin this week has been closely tied to broader economic indicators and the anticipation of regulatory decisions. The recent data from the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, came in lower than expected at 2.6%. This signals a potentially less aggressive stance from the Fed on interest rates, influencing investor sentiment in the crypto market.
The CME Group’s FedWatch Tool indicates that the market expects a January pivot in the Federal Reserve’s policy around 15%. This shift in monetary policy expectations and the anticipation of the spot Bitcoin ETFs form a complex backdrop against which Bitcoin’s price movements are being analyzed.
Top Altcoins Reaction Around Bitcoin’s Stagnancy
The altcoin market has been a hive of activity, with coins like Solana nearing the $100 mark. Driven by factors such as speedy transactions, low fees, and a slew of meme coin issuances. The value locked in Solana applications has surged, indicating robust growth and investor confidence.
This rise is not confined to Solana; other altcoins like Avalanche have also posted significant gains. Supported by various factors, including institutional partnerships and technological advancements.
This week in crypto has been a testament to the market’s dynamic nature. While altcoins like Solana have surged, Bitcoin maintains a watchful stance. The coming weeks, with potential regulatory changes and economic indicators, promise to be just as eventful, keeping traders and investors on their toes.
The Indian Institute of Management Udaipur (IIMU) has announced that it will set up the JM Financial Centre for Financial Research in collaboration with JM Financial. The Centre will provide scholars in finance and related disciplines access to world-class resources.
The JM Financial Centre for Financial Research at IIMU will engage in academic research in finance and related disciplines, conduct annual workshops, and industry talks, and partner with BFSI sector and regulatory bodies for action research and seminars. The Centre will have an advisory board with experts from BFSI, financial technology sectors, and academia.
Once the Centre becomes operational, it may offer an elective course on M&A or other areas in the MBA Programme, as mutually agreed. IIMU will also conduct studies on areas that are mutually agreed upon between IIMU and JM Financial.
The Centre has been supported by JM Financial as part of its CSR initiative. This collaboration is special as it coincides with the JM Financial Group’s 50th anniversary this year.
As part of the collaboration, the JM Financial Merit Award of ₹3 lakh will be awarded every year to the best Finance student of the IIMU MBA programme.
Vishal Kampani, Non-executive Vice Chairman, JM Financial Limited, said, “It’s a privilege for us to collaborate with the Indian Institute of Management Udaipur, one of the premier management institutes of the country. We are hopeful that the JM Financial Centre for Financial Research at IIMU will act as an intersection of academia and industry and deliver actionable research-driven insights and resources. As we commemorate the group’s 50th anniversary this year, it has been our endeavour to work towards building excellence in industry-academia partnership, and I am grateful to IIM Udaipur management for giving us the platform to realise our goal”.
Speaker 1: Three years after launching the PlayStation five, Sony introduces a new form factor for the home console. This is the new smaller PS five model, commonly known and how I’ll be referring to it during this video as the PSS five slim. I’m going to run you through everything you need to know about this model, all the new and different features, and we’ll figure out whether it’s worth upgrading to or if the original one is good enough. Just like how the PSS five launched, there are two versions of the slim model. [00:00:30] One with the disc drive like I have here and one without. The biggest difference is that now the disc drive can be removed or added on later. By lifting the front end of this plate, you can access the drive, then you lift from the backside to remove it entirely. If you have the disc version, there isn’t really any reason to take the drive off, especially since it doesn’t come with an extra cover plate to cover up the internals.
Speaker 1: This feature is aimed more at players who purchased the non disc version of the console once again called the digital edition. Since all the games [00:01:00] will have to be digital versions as opposed to a physical disc, if that person changes their mind, PlayStation is selling separate disc drives that you can attach for $80. It’s worth noting that the console requires an internet connection when first using it with a disc drive attached, so keep that in mind if you’re upgrading from one version to another. I’ll be comparing the two disc versions of the consoles since that’s what I have here. The original model stands 15.4 inches high, 10.2 inches deep and 4.1 inches wide. The slim [00:01:30] disc model stands 14.1 inches high, 8.5 inches deep and 3.8 inches wide. The originals weight of just under 10 pounds drops to just over seven for the slim. As someone who travels often and takes game consoles with me to play, having a smaller and lighter PSS five is fantastic since I was never going to try and fit the enormous launch model in my luggage.
Speaker 1: However, the slim model still remains the largest of the three main consoles. In fact, I still can’t fit it inside my IKEA shelving [00:02:00] unit under my tv like I do with everything else. For comparison’s sake, here’s the new PSS five Slim in a lineup with a few other consoles. The original PSS five came bundled with a stand that could position the console either vertically or horizontally, depending on your preference. Unfortunately, Sony has only packaged the Slim PSS five with these tiny feet to allow the console to sit horizontally. They’re easy to attach by just pushing them into the little slots between the panels. I think this kind of looks like a goofy tripod setup. If you want to stand [00:02:30] your PS five slim upright like I do, you’re going to need to buy the $30 vertical stand that is sold separately. The front of the console has been slightly updated to now have two USBC ports.
Speaker 1: Instead of one USBC and one standard, the eject button down below has been moved onto the disc drive itself, which makes sense since they’re now selling these separately. The power lights have been lengthened to go all the way down the front of the machine. The back is identical as far as ports, although now they’re positioned in a different order for some. One [00:03:00] of the most important points is that this isn’t an upgraded console. It’s just a new form factor. This means the slim isn’t faster, more powerful, quieter, et cetera. In fact, the only difference on the inside is that it now comes with one terabyte of storage instead of the 825 gigabytes that the launch models had. PlayStation does sell different cover plates for the original PS five. It goes without saying that those will not fit on the new console. Sony has stated IT plans to sell new versions for the slim model in early 2024.
Speaker 1: The slim comes with the exact [00:03:30] same dual sense controller as before. Now that we’ve laid out the differences, let’s talk about the price. The original PS five launched at $400 for the digital edition and $500 for the one with a disc drive. Over the years. PlayStation actually increased that default price in select markets around the world, but to keep things simple, I’ll stick to the American pricing, which did not see a change. The Slim PSS five retails for $450 for the digital edition and 500 for the disc drive option. When it comes to what I recommend, [00:04:00] if you’re in the market for the DISC version, get the new slim model. It has a bit more storage and will take up less space on your shelf, but remember, if you stand your consoles upright like I usually have to, you’ll need that $30 vertical stand when it comes to the digital edition.
Speaker 1: I’m having a hard time recommending the slim. It’s $50 more than the original version, and if you change your mind about a disc drive later, you have to put out another $80. Making it more expensive than the disc version is to begin with. This means the digital version, which used [00:04:30] to have a compelling price point reduction just doesn’t seem worth it if you’re in the market for a PSS five right now. Sony says the slim version is going to be the only option once they sell through the remaining launch model stock. I would keep an eye out for retailers trying to discount and move the older models if you’re trying to find the cheapest option out there. For those of you who already have a psss five, I would recommend holding off and crossing your fingers for a pro or more upgraded console if that ever happens. There just aren’t enough differences between the two models, especially since [00:05:00] both allow you to increase the internal storage on your own. But what do you think? If you’re shopping around for a PSS five, what model are you looking at? Let me know in the comments and thanks for watching.
An Air Force staff sergeant has been reunited with his best friend for the holidays — and they’ll now be together forever.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Mike Alcala and his former military working dog, John, had been separated for over two years. As the 10-year-old German shepherd prepares for retirement, American Humane surprised the dog and his handler with a pre-holiday reunion in San Antonio, Texas.
During the three years that Alcala was John’s handler, the two formed a strong bond. They were separated in September 2021 when Alcala was reassigned to another base.
COLORADO HOTEL FEATURES HOLIDAY COCKTAILS FOR A CAUSE BY DONATING PROCEEDS TO LOCAL ANIMAL ORGANIZATION
“We worked together every day for the three years I was there, give or take a few days,” Alcala told Fox News Digital.
“The bond started strong and ended stronger.”
On Dec. 20, 2023, SSgt. Mike Alcala and dog John reunited after two years apart in San Antonio, Texas.(Brent Strong / American Humane)
When Alcala heard that John was retiring, he reached out to the nonprofit organization American Humane for help in transporting his best friend home for adoption.
When a military dog is retired from service, it can be difficult for the military to track down the animal’s most recent handler for adoption and navigate the complex logistics of transporting the animal home.
American Humane, based in Washington, D.C., handles the process of international and national transport — including the paperwork, red tape and associated costs — to enable retired K-9 veterans to be adopted by their former handlers.
SINGER GAVIN DEGRAW SURPRISES US SOLDIERS WITH RESCUE PETS THROUGH PAWS OF WAR INITIATIVE
“When I found out John was up for retirement, of course, I wanted him so bad,” said Alcala in an interview with American Humane. “I heard about American Humane through a buddy of mine, so I thought I would reach out and see what they could do for me and John.”
“They were gracious to help go pick him up in Hawaii and transport him back to me, without me having to pay anything. It’s been a blessing for us.”
John served as an explosive-detection dog at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii for eight years, according to American Humane.
During his distinguished military career, John protected civilians, his fellow service members and high-profile VIPs, including American presidents, first ladies and foreign dignitaries.
Retired military working dog John on Dec. 20, 2023. He’s now been reunited with his former handler — and will spend the rest of his days with the Alcala family in Texas. (Brent Strong / American Humane)
Last week, John was honored in a special retirement ceremony in Hawaii to celebrate his years of dedicated service.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to all American veterans, including the retired military working dogs who serve our country,” Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane, told Fox News Digital.
LOST DOG IS SAFELY RESCUED AFTER IT SURVIVED ALONE IN THE WOODS FOR MORE THAN 6 YEARS
“Bringing John home for the holidays was the best gift we could give to these two military heroes.”
In addition to transporting John from Hawaii to San Antonio, American Humane is also covering all of the dog’s veterinary care for the rest of his life.
SSgt. Mike Alcala is pictured with John while on deployment.(SSgt. Mike Alcala)
Like humans, K-9 veterans often retire with health complications that require expensive medical care that isn’t covered by the government, according to American Humane.
During the emotional reunion on Dec. 20, Alcala and his wife, Brittany Alcala, introduced their 10-month-old daughter to John, the newest member of the family.
15th Wing Leadership conclude their tour of the 647th Security Forces kennel with a photo with Airmen and Sailors from the 647th Security Forces Squadron after a K-9 obedience and bite demonstration at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Jan. 14, 2021.(Airman 1st Class Makensie Cooper)
“Avery, my daughter, was super excited to meet him,” Alcala told Fox News Digital. “She was waving her arms around and everything.”
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“It’s exciting to be able to watch her grow up with him in the house and see how the relationship blooms.”
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Alcala added, “I’m just so happy that John is doing well and that he now gets to live out his life relaxing in retirement.”
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.
A chicken curry is one of those dishes that provides instant comfort. Ask any chicken lover, and they’ll tell you a gazillion reasons why they love it. You can make it as simple or as indulgent as you wish- the sky’s the limit when it comes to experimenting with chicken curries. Butter chicken, chicken korma, chicken Chettinad, and chicken Kolhapuri are some of the most popular ones out there. There’s no doubt that they taste incredible; however, there are times when we feel like having something out of the box. If you’re in a similar mood, we have the right recipe for you. Let’s introduce you to a mouth-watering chicken curry recipe hailing from the state of Andhra Pradesh. This unique dish is something that every chicken lover should try ASAP! Check out the recipe below:
What Is Gongura Chicken Curry?
Gongura chicken curry is unlike any other type of chicken curry. To make it, gongura (sorrel) leaves are ground to a smooth paste and then cooked along with the chicken and various other spices. It is packed with flavour and has a distinct sour taste that sets it apart from other chicken curries. It is slightly spicy in flavour, but you can adjust the number of green chillies as per your personal taste preference. This chicken curry is sure to take your taste buds by surprise. Pair it with roti, naan, or steamed rice and enjoy it for your next lunch or dinner meal. Also Read: How To Make Gongura Chicken Biryani – A Flavourful Recipe From Andhra Pradesh
Photo Credit: iStock
Gongura Chicken Curry Recipe | How To Make Gongura Chicken Curry
Start by washing the gongura leaves nicely. Transfer them to a pan and cook with green chillies, salt, and a bit of water for about 4 to 5 minutes. Allow it to cool, then grind them to a smooth paste. Now, heat some oil in a kadhai set on a low-medium flame. Add chopped onions and saute until golden brown in colour. Add haldi, coriander powder, jeera, and ginger-garlic paste and fry for a few seconds. Next, add the chicken pieces with red chilli powder and salt. Give it a nice mix, and then cover the kadhai with a lid. Allow it to simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the chicken pieces become soft. You can add some more water at this stage if needed. Once done, add the prepared gongura paste and let it simmer again for a minute or two. Mix well and sprinkle with fresh coriander leaves. Serve hot and enjoy! Your gongura chicken curry is ready to be relished. Also Read: Ever Tried Gongura Kodi Pulao? Here’s The Recipe For A Flavorful Dinner Delight
Click here for the complete recipe for gongura chicken curry.
Try this delicious recipe at home and let us know how you liked its taste. If you’re interested in trying more such chicken curry recipes, click here to explore our impressive collection.
About Vaishali KapilaVaishali finds comfort in eating parathas and rajma chawal but is equally enthusiastic about exploring different cuisines. When she’s not eating or baking, you can often find her curled up on the couch watching her favourite TV show – FRIENDS.
Styles is with people: how they dress, how they live, how they navigate our dynamic world. As such, we are engrossed in looking closely. This year’s collection of images reflects those fixations, whether in a cropped shot of Gwyneth Paltrow’s bare face, or in the swirling memorial for a dancer at a Brooklyn gas station. Each photograph in this roundup gives readers unfettered insight into the characters and places that commanded our gazes.
This year we peered into the California rose garden of the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actress Cheryl Hines as she discussed her husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and his 2024 presidential campaign. We captured Pharrell Williams at the Louis Vuitton men’s atelier in Paris, on the eve of his first collection. We were on the scene for the reopening of the “never pay retail” mecca, Century 21, and in Hollywood when a certain septuagenarian bachelor made his television debut. From Beyoncé fans to A-listers in the front row, from influencers to fashion high school students, our pictures defined what it felt like to be on the front lines of culture in 2023.
“As Jared made his way through the room, the disembodied cat head seemed to float above the crowd, a solid representation of the ‘jump the shark’ status reached at this year’s Met Gala.” — Rebecca Smeyne
“When photographing someone who has been photographed a lot, my goal is to try to create images that look and feel different. Even though we only had 10 minutes, we were able to make images that feel intimate and unhurried.” — Dana Scruggs
“I peered over a shelf only to come face to face with a shopper. We both froze, and I snapped a frame before we shared a laugh at our mutual surprise.” — Jonah Rosenberg
“What I love about photography is that no matter how much planning you do, the magic of an unpredictable moment can surprise you at any time. I put the camera down for a second and looked up to notice Alexandre tossing the Tiffany box in the air in front of his face.” — Landon Nordeman
“My assistant and I found ourselves herding pigeons onto a subway grate with pieces of hot dog bun. Pigeons are clever — they understand that subway grates aren’t ideal to walk across — but it’s all absolutely worth it for the irresistible taste of Wonder Bread hot dog buns.” — Adam Powell
“Beckett was instantly raw and vulnerable with me. Entering his living quarters felt like touring a museum or a storage unit from the 1960s, cobwebs and all.” — OK McCausland
“I wanted something that would embody exactly what she stood for in that moment: a young Black woman from Atlanta at the top of her game. I think this portrait exudes that sense of power.” — Wulf Bradley
“I wanted the viewer to see what Sabrina would look like when relaxed at home, but also make it ‘extra,’ like her personality. It felt awkward yet funny and familiar, like Sabrina.” — Lanna Apisukh
“Once the trucks started selling, it was chaos. I saw Annabella breathlessly escape from the crowded line with a hefty armful of goodies and took some photos as the realization of her success finally set in. She was wearing the joy and relief on her face as proudly as her coveted sweatshirt.” — Zack Wittman
“Models are often perceived and interpreted through various lenses, and the concept of portraying more than one face resonated with me because of that.” — Melissa Schriek
“As someone who is often nude and a huge proponent of nudity, it was interesting to note how many different thoughts and feelings came up for me. It felt very freeing and was one of the most empowering experiences I have had in life.” — Jeanette Spicer
“I wanted everyoneto feel their glamour and beauty. I wanted people to feel as if they were face to face, as I was, with such majesty.” — Gus Aronson
“I love how men’s grooming has become so much more expressive over the years. It was just really cool to hear men talk about their self-care routine and figure out what style they wanted.” — Jessica Chou
“It was the first day of summer camp. As I saw this group of campers gather outside of their bunk, I thought of the endless possibilities that lay in front of them during a summer yet to unfold.” — James Estrin
“I never thought in my wildest dreams I would photograph an adorable pig in a bow tie, but I was here for it. ” — Ariana Drehsler
Filsuvez (birch triterpenes) is indicated to treat partial thickness wounds associated with junctional epidermolysis bullosa and dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
The FDA has approved Chiesi Global Rare Diseases’ topical gel Filsuvez (birch triterpenes) to treat partial thickness wounds associated with junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) and dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB). The regulatory action makes Filsuvez the first approved treatment for wounds associated with JEB.1
“We are grateful for the support of those living with EB and their dedicated caregivers, which allowed us to reach this landmark FDA approval and proudly provide Filsuvez as a solution for wound care management,” Giacomo Chiesi, head of Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, said in a press release.1
Filsuvez is indicated to treat wounds associated with JEB and DEB in patients aged 6 months and older. The gel can be administered at home for topical application to wounds and can be integrated into existing treatment plans.
The FDA’s approval was based on data from the Phase III EASE trial (NCT03068780), which was the largest global Phase III trial in patients with EB. The trial consisted of a three-month double-blind, randomized, controlled phase followed by a 24-month open-label, single-arm phase. The trial enrolled 223 patients, of whom 156 were pediatric patients, with EB target wounds between 10 and 50 cm2 in size present for at least 21 days and fewer than nine months.
Patients were randomly assigned to receive Filsuvez and wound dressings applied according to the standard of care. The trial’s primary endpoint was an evaluation of efficacy for Filsuvez compared with the control gel according to the number of patients with complete closure of the target wound within 45 days of treatment.
The study data showed statistical significance for the primary endpoint, while the key secondary endpoints did not reach statistical significance; however, researchers noted several differences in favor of Filsuvez.
The most frequently reported adverse effects (AEs) associated with Filsuvez were pruritis and pain at the wound application site (7.3%). Further, patients administered Filsuvez reported local hypersensitivity and skin reactions, such as urticaria and dermatitis.
EB is a group of rare diseases in which the skin becomes fragile and blisters easily. Rubbing or bumping of the skin may lead to tears, sores, and blisters that may appear anywhere on the body. More severe cases of the disease may include the development of blisters and sores inside the body, including in the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, upper airway, bladder, and genitals.2
There is currently no cure for EB, as treatment typically involves addressing the symptoms, which may include pain management, treatment of wounds caused by the blisters and tears, and helping with daily quality of life. Although investigators have established that EB is an autoimmune disease, it remains unknown what causes the body to attack collagen in the skin.2
“The FDA’s decision to approve Filsuvez provides those living with EB a safe and effective treatment option for the most prominent and difficult symptom of EB, open wounds that may not heal,” said Brett Kopelan, executive director, DEBRA of America, in the press release. “Today marks an important milestone for those living with junctional EB, as Filsuvez is the first FDA-approved treatment for this variant of the disease.”1
2. Epidermolysis Bullosa. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. National Institues of Health. Webpage. Last Reviewed September 2023. Accessed December 19, 2023. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/epidermolysis-bullosa
Removing your cat’s poop and pee from their litter box is one thing, but when it comes to finding nasty little bugs in there, it can be too much for a cat parent to bear! What are these tiny insects, and more importantly, how do you get rid of them? Don’t worry—here we walk you through each step so you can 1) become a bug expert regarding your cat’s litter, 2) get rid of these pests quickly, and 3) make sure they don’t come back.
So, grab your magnifying glass (perfect for a close-up inspection) and your latex gloves, and let’s get started!
What Types of Bugs Can Be Found in Your Cat’s Litter Box?
Here are the most common insects that may invade your cat’s private bathroom.
Fungus Gnats: These tiny black flies look like mosquitoes but don’t bite. They usually invade our homes when the temperature warms up. They live and breed in decaying organic waste and damp plant beds, probably why your cat’s litter box can attract them.
Fruit Flies: These tiny, big-eyed pests love to fly around your fruit bowls, especially when bananas are overripe. They look like fungus gnats, though if you look closely, you may be able to make out their reddish eyes. You’ll see them flying around not only your cat’s litter box but also your trash can and other kitchen waste.
Phorid Flies: Your cat’s poop is a real magnet for phorid flies! These little brownish pests tend to deposit their eggs in animal feces and other decomposing waste. Phorid flies are easily recognized by the bumps on their thoraxes, giving them their nickname, “humpback flies.”
Cockroaches: These infamous guests need no introduction. Unfortunately, your cat’s litter box can be a haven for these nasty bugs, especially if it hasn’t been changed in a while.
Silverfish: These can be found all around your home, especially in humid, warm areas. These shiny, gray, scaly insects with slender bodies can grow up to 1 inch long. They occasionally wander into your cat’s litter box to feast on decaying waste.
Maggots: Since they are fly larvae, the presence of maggots depends on whether the litter was already visited by flies. Therefore, if you haven’t changed the litter for a while and it’s hot outside (ideal conditions for flies and other insects), you risk finding maggots in there.
Tapeworms: These tiny, pale, yellow parasites can be quite difficult to spot in your cat’s litter box. Seeing tapeworm segments in feces not only means that your cat is infected with tapeworms, but they may also have Indeed, the tapeworm is an intestinal parasite that uses a flea as an intermediate host to enter your cat.
Image Credit: DaModernDaVinci, Pixabay
Should You Take Your Cat to the Vet?
Seeing most of these bugs in your cat’s litter box usually doesn’t require anything from your veterinarian, except for tapeworms. If you notice tapeworms in your cat’s feces or around the anus, you will need to visit your vet for a proper examination. They will provide a dewormer given in the form of a tablet or injection to rid your cat of worms, along with anti-flea medication.
The 3 Ways to Get Rid of Litter Box Invaders
Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to get rid of all the insects and flies that have taken up residence in your kitty’s litter box.
1. Get Rid of the Whole Litter
It’s time for a big clean! Throw the entire contents of the litter box into a garbage bag that you seal carefully to prevent the bugs from escaping.
2. Wash and Disinfect the Box Thoroughly
Wash the box thoroughly with a mild detergent or litter box cleaner. You can also spray white vinegar, but be sure to dilute it well, as the remaining acidic smell may put off your cat. Sprinkling a little baking soda diluted in water can be just as effective.
3. Consider Changing the Type of Litter That You Use
If you are using organic or “all-natural” litter, this may be the problem. This type of substrate tends to stay moist, which can attract insects that feed on decaying organic matter. Consider replacing it with a clay-based or silica-based litter, at least for a while, to see if it makes a difference in your insect problem.
That’s it! You got rid of all those nasty bugs. But now the real question is: How do you make sure they never come back?
Image Credit: Zoran Photographer, Shutterstock
How to Prevent Bugs From Getting Into Your Cat’s Litter Box
The easiest solution to prevent those nasty critters from invading your cat’s toilet is to keep it clean. That means scooping out the poo and urine every day and washing it thoroughly at least once a week, particularly if you use natural litter.
Pro Tip: Ditch the Lid on Covered Litter Boxes
Covered litter boxes tend to retain moisture, as there’s no outlet for it to escape. This trapped dampness creates an ideal environment for bugs and flies to multiply, so get rid of the top if you can.
Wrapping Up
The combination of moisture, urine, and cat feces makes the litter box a real magnet for pesky invaders. Worse, they can lay eggs in the litter, which can stick to your cat’s paws and spread throughout the house. Fortunately, getting rid of these nasty insects is quite simple, because in most cases, the infestation will disappear as soon as you clean the litter box thoroughly. Then, all you have to do is maintain good hygiene practices so your feline friend can do their business in a litter box free of unwanted guests.
Ultimately, although litter box bugs are gross, they are generally not dangerous. However, if you suspect that your cat has tapeworms, it is best to take them to the vet.
Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways urged India’s construction sector to invest in research and to cut India’s net carbon emissions to zero by switching to Hydrogen fuel instead of fossil fuel. These decisions could make India’s construction sector the largest in the world, he said.
The Union Minister was speaking at the inauguration of EXCON, a construction equipment trade fair conducted in Bengaluru. “India’s construction sector currently is the world’s third-largest. By fostering collaborative endeavors among stakeholders and corporations, and through substantial government support, we have the potential to propel it to the top spot within the next five years,” he said.
He further emphasised the construction sector’s significant contribution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to make India a carbon-neutral economy. “Construction and mining operations consume 400 crore liters of diesel, which is quite detrimental to the environment and the economy. By embracing alternative fuels like ethanol, methanol, and hydrogen, the construction and mining sectors can effectively reduce emissions”, Gadkari noted.
Job creation
The Road Transport minister also said that the construction industry alone has created 30 lakh job opportunities thus far. Highlighting that the current import of fossil fuels is ₹16 lakh crore, Gadkari spoke about making Indian construction companies the best in the world within the next five years. He spoke about business prospects for the construction industry within the state, with significant opportunities arising from several infrastructure development initiatives. These projects may be building roads, flyovers, industrial infrastructure, and power.
Chandrajit Banerjee, Director-General of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said, “Currently, India’s construction equipment industry is exporting to over 140 countries. To enhance sustainability and efficiency, private players in the construction sector should focus on automation, the adoption of advanced technologies, global best practices, the use of alternative fuels, and innovations in utilizing waste materials as raw materials for construction projects. This approach can reduce both the cost of construction and the rate of pollution.”
The event accommodated over 1,000 exhibitors, with over 100 from 15 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and the UK. EXCON 2023 will showcase the latest strides in artificial intelligence, IoT, and automation, sustainable power solutions, and exhibits of electric and hybrid machinery tailored for low emissions and optimal energy efficiency.
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.
OVE nedjelje, 24.12., je Badnjak, zatim je Božić u ponedjeljak, 25.12., a u utorak, 26.12., je blagdan Sv. Stjepana. Neke trgovine tih dana neće raditi, neke će raditi skraćeno, a neke će biti otvorene. Donosimo pregled.
Trgovine i drogerije
Kaufland
Kaufland će raditi ovu nedjelju na Badnjak, 24.12., i to od 7 do 16 sati. No u ponedjeljak, 25.12., i utorak, 26.12., Kauflandove trgovine će biti zatvorene.
Lidl
Lidlove trgovine diljem Hrvatske, njih 109, neće raditi na Badnjak, 24.12., na Božić, 25.12., na blagdan Sv. Stjepana, 26.12., na Staru godinu, 31.12., te na Novu godinu, 1.1.2024. Ostale dane Lidl će raditi prema uobičajenom rasporedu.
Konzum
“Dragi kupci, isplanirajte svoju kupnju na vrijeme jer naše prodavaonice neće raditi za Božić, 25.12., i Svetog Stjepana, 26.12. Također, naše prodavaonice će za Badnjak, 24.12., raditi prema posebnom radnom vremenu”, stoji na Konzumovoj stranici.
Radno vrijeme Konzumovih prodavaonica pogledajte ovdje (kliknite otvoreno na Badnjak).
Studenac
Studenac na Badnjak, 24.12., radi po nedjeljnom radnom vremenu, a na Božić, 25.12., i na blagdan Sv. Stjepana, 26.12., neće raditi. Uobičajeno radno vrijeme trgovina Studenac možete vidjeti ovdje.
Spar
“Na Badnjak, 24. prosinca, INTERSPAR hipermarketi u cijeloj Hrvatskoj radit će do 17 sati, dok će poslovnica u Mall of Split bit zatvorena. SPAR supermarketi također će raditi skraćeno, do 14 sati. Izuzetak su SPAR supermarketi Supernova Zadar, Valpovo, Šibenik, Ludbreg, Kaštel Sućurac i Gospić, koji će raditi do 15 sati. SPAR supermarket Vukovar radit će do 16 sati, a SPAR supermarket Martinkovac do 17 sati”, odgovorio nam je Spar na upit o blagdanskom radnom vremenu.
Sve SPAR i INTERSPAR trgovine bit će zatvorene na Božić, 25. prosinca, blagdan Svetog Stjepana, 26. prosinca, i na Novu godinu, 1. siječnja.
Tommy
Na Badnjak neće raditi sljedeće Tommy prodavaonice:
Tommy Maximarket na otoku Visu na adresi Ulica bana Jelačića 43
Tommy Maximarket na otoku Krku na adresi Odvojak Stjepana Radića 2
Tommy Maximarket u Rijeci na adresi Trg Ivana Koblera 1
Tommy Supermarket u Šibeniku na adresi Ante Šupuka 10
Tommy prodavaonice koje se nalaze u sklopu trgovačkih centara rade prema radnom vremenu trgovačkog centra u kojem se nalaze. Ostale Tommy prodavaonice će na Badnjak raditi skraćeno do 14 sati.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Na Božić, 25.12., i na Sv. Stjepana, 26.12., Tommy prodavaonice neće raditi.
Plodine
Plodine su obavijestile svoje kupce o radnom vremenu svojih supermarketa u nadolazećem periodu. Radit će ovako:
Badnjak 24.12.2023. – 7 do 18 (vrijedi za supermarkete s radnom nedjeljom)
Božić 25.12.2023. – zatvoreno
Sveti Stjepan 26.12.2023. – zatvoreno
Iznimke su supermarketi u sklopu trgovačkih centara koji rade prema radnom vremenu trgovačkog centra. Ovdje možete provjeriti radna vremena pojedinih trgovina.
KTC
KTC supermarketi neće raditi na Badnjak, Božić i Štefanje, kao ni na Staru i Novu godinu.
Bipa
“Sve BIPA poslovnice bit će zatvorene 25.12.2023., 26.12.2023., 1.1.2024. i 6.1.2024.”, stoji na stranici. Nedjeljno radno vrijeme Bipinih poslovnica do kraja godine možete vidjeti ovdje.
dm
Radno vrijeme dm trgovina za nadolazeće blagdane možete provjeriti ovdje.
Müller
Radno vrijeme Müller poslovnica za nadolazeće blagdane možete provjeriti ovdje.
Pekarnice
Dubravica
Dubravica je putem svoje internetske stranice informirala kupce o blagdanskom radnom vremenu. Evo koje će poslovnice raditi 24.12. i 31.12.:
P-1 Zaprešić 7-12 h
P-2 Dolac 7-13 h
P-3 Gajnice 7-13 h
P-Trešnjevka 7-13 h
P-5 Jarun 7-13 h
P-6 Utrine 7-13 h
P-7 Kvatrić 7-13 h
P-8 Prečko 7-13 h
P-9 Terminal 7-13 h
P-10 Zabok 7-13 h
P-14 Črnomerec 7-13 h
P-16 radno vrijeme centra
P-21 Autobusni do 17 h
P-25 radno vrijeme centra
P-26 Gajeva 7-13 h
P-33 Zapruđe 7-13 h
P-35 Point centar
P-Tržnica Špansko 7-13
P-38 Marles 7-13 h
P-39 Avenue Mall radno vrijeme centra
“Poštovani kupci na Božić i blagdan Svetog Stjepana naše poslovnice ne rade”, stoji na stranici.
Pan-pek
Tijekom blagdana, 23., 24. i 26.12., Pan-pek poslovnice radit će prema rasporedu koji možete vidjeti ovdje. Poslovnice su zatvorene na Božić, 25.12.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Mlinar
Radno vrijeme Mlinarovih prodajnih mjesta za nadolazeće blagdane možete provjeriti ovdje.
Šoping-centri
Westgate
“Centar će biti zatvoren na datume: 24.12., 25.12., 26.12., 31.12., 1.1. i 6.1. (izuzev igraonice Family Park)”, stoji na stranici centra.
City Center one East Zagreb, West Zagreb i Split
Na Badnjak će centri raditi skraćeno, a neće raditi na Božić, Svetog Stjepana, Staru ni Novu godinu.
City Center one West Zagreb:
24.12.2023. – Badnjak – Centar radi od 9 do 17 sati
25.12.2023. – Božić – Centar je zatvoren
26.12.2023. – Sveti Stjepan – Centar je zatvoren
City Center one East Zagreb:
24.12.2023. – Badnjak – Centar radi od 9 do 17 sati; Cineplexx – 10:30 do 14:30 sati
25.12.2023. – Božić – Centar je zatvoren
26.12.2023. – Sveti Stjepan – Centar je zatvoren; Cineplexx – 14:30 do 22 sati
City Center one Split:
24.12.2023. – Badnjak – Centar radi od 9 do 17 sati; Cineplexx – 10:30 do 14:30 sati
25.12.2023. – Božić – Centar je zatvoren
26.12.2023. – Sveti Stjepan – Centar je zatvoren; Cineplexx – 14:30 do 22 sati
Avenue Mall
Trgovine će u Avenue Mallu raditi skraćeno na Badnjak, 24.12., i to od 9 do 18 sati. Trgovine u centru neće raditi 25.12., 26.12. ni 1.1. Radno vrijeme centra i trgovina možete provjeriti ovdje.
Arena Centar
“Trgovine Arena Centra rade svake nedjelje u prosincu osim 31.12. Arena Centar neće raditi na Božić, 25.12., te na blagdan Sv. Stjepana, 26.12. Na Badnjak, 24.12., trgovine rade skraćeno od 9:00 do 17:00”, stoji na stranici centra.
Point Shopping Centar
Point Shopping Centar bit će otvoren ovu nedjelju na Badnjak, 24.12., i na Staru godinu, 31.12., a radit će skraćeno do 14 sati. Blagdansko radno vrijeme možete provjeriti ovdje.
Z Centar
Na Badnjak, 24.12., trgovine u sklopu centra rade skraćeno od 9 do 17 sati, a hipermarket radi od 7 do 18 sati. Caffe bar, restorani, Hall of Game i MiniPolis rade do 18 sati. Na Božić, 25.12., trgovine i pojedini poslovni objekti ne rade osim Wow bara, Casina i CineStara. Slična je situacija i na blagdan Sv. Stjepana, 26.12., samo će pojedini objekti raditi, dok trgovine neće.
Supernova šoping-centri
Supernova centri ne rade blagdanima, a što se tiče nedjelja, svaki centar ima drugačiji raspored onih radnih do kraja godine. Ove nedjelje na Badnjak, 24.12., i na Staru godinu, 31.12., rade svi po uobičajenom nedjeljnom radnom vremenu svakog centra, koje možete provjeriti na stranicama.
King Cross
King Cross je otvoren sve nedjelje do kraja godine, a na Badnjak i Staru godinu će raditi skraćeno:
24.12.2023. (Badnjak) od 9 do 17 sati
31.12.2023. (Stara godina) od 9 do 17 sati
Interspar u King Crossu će tijekom sljedećih dana raditi dulje, do 22 sata. Što se tiče ostalih blagdana, King Cross neće raditi na Božić, Svetog Stjepana, Novu godinu i na Sveta tri kralja.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Designer Outlet Croatia
Centar neće raditi ovu nedjelju, na Badnjak, ali ni na Božić ni na blagdan Svetog Stjepana.
Family Mall
Family Mall je na svojim stranicama izvjesio radno vrijeme za period od 24.12. do 26.12. Trgovine tih dana neće raditi, Plodine će raditi na Badnjak od 7 do 18 sati dok će na Božić i Sv. Stjepana biti zatvorene. Pojedini objekti će tih dana raditi, a koji točno, možete vidjeti ovdje.
Hey Park Zadar i Vukovar
Ovu nedjelju na Badnjak, 24.12., radit će oba centra i to na stranici piše “minimalno od 8 do 16 sati”.
Trgovački centar Lumini Varaždin
Na Badnjak, 24.12., trgovine u centru Lumini rade od 9 do 17 sati, na Božić, 25.12., i Svetog Stjepana, 26.12., trgovine neće raditi.
Portanova Osijek
Trgovine ovu nedjelju, na Badnjak, rade skraćeno do 9 do 17 sati. U ponedjeljak, 25.12., i utorak, 26.12., trgovine neće raditi.
Mall Osijek
Mall Osijek neće raditi ni na jedan od narednih blagdana, uključujući Badnjak, Božić, Svetog Stjepana, Staru godinu, Novu godinu i Sveta tri kralja.
Tower Centar Rijeka
Centar će raditi ovu nedjelju, 24.12., ali skraćeno do 10 do 17 sati. Neće raditi 25.12., 26.12. ni 31.12.
ZTC Rijeka
Centar će raditi na Badnjak, 24.12., i to skraćeno do 9 do 17 sati. Skraćeno će raditi i na Staru godinu, 31.12., isto od 9 do 17 sati. Neće raditi ostale dane blagdana.
Max City Pula
Na Badnjak trgovine i većina ostalih sadržaja radit će skraćeno, do 17 sati. Plodine će raditi do 18 sati, a Hrvatska pošta će biti zatvorena. Trgovine i većina ostalih sadržaja neće raditi na Božić, blagdan Svetog Stjepana, Staru godinu, Novu godinu i na blagdan Sveta tri kralja.
Pula City Mall
Centar će raditi skraćeno na Badnjak, 24.12., od 9 do 17 sati.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Mall of Split
Mall of Split ne radi nedjeljama u prosincu, tako da neće raditi ni na Badnjak ni na Staru godinu.
Joker Split
Joker će raditi ovu nedjelju, 24.12., do 16 sati. “Na blagdan Božića 25.12. i Svetog Stjepana 26.12. centar Joker neće raditi”, stoji na stranici.
Galerija Poreč
Ovu nedjelju, 24.12., na Badnjak centar će raditi skraćeno do 9 do 16 sati.
Ostale trgovine
Bauhaus
“U nedjelju, 24.12., ponedjeljak, 25.12., i utorak, 26.12.2023., BAUHAUS prodajni centri su zatvoreni”, stoji na stranici.
Emmezeta
24.12.,25.12. i 26.12. Emmezetine trgovine neće raditi. Uobičajeno radno vrijeme svake trgovine možete provjeriti ovdje.
Pevex
Radno vrijeme Pevex prodajnih centara za nadolazeće blagdane možete provjeriti ovdje.
IKEA
IKEA je nedjeljama i praznicima zatvorena, osim 16 odabranih nedjelja u godini. No ona u Zagrebu neće raditi ni 24.12. ni 31.12. Na Badnjak, 24.12., radit će studio za planiranje Split i dostavni centar Split od 9 do 17 sati.
Standing with a microphone at midcourt Saturday afternoon, Clippers wing Terance Mann began to deliver the team’s customary holiday address to fans when he improvised .
“There’s a lot of green in here,” Mann said, drawing a mixture of jeers and cheers. “I don’t like that.”
For the next two-plus hours during a 145-108 rout of the Clippers, it was all green on the court, too.
The points were the most allowed by the Clippers this season, while Boston’s 53 three-point attempts are the most allowed in franchise history.
The Celtics outrebounded them by 17, took nearly double the number of free throws (28 to 15), nearly tripled their second-chance points (23 to 8) and committed fewer turnovers (9 to 10).
The Clippers (17-12) might have pointed to other disadvantages. They had one fewer day of rest. Just as in Thursday’s loss in Oklahoma City that ended the Clippers’ nine-game winning streak, Kawhi Leonard did not play because of a hip contusion that coach Tyronn Lue again classified as “day to day.”
Yet when Boston (22-6) led by 30 points late in the third quarter, well before both teams emptied their bench, despite missing key starter Kristaps Porzingis, there was little doubt which team was the class of its conference, and which still has work to do to enter such a conversation.
“We told our team after the game, these last two games, don’t let it discourage what we’ve built and what we’ve been doing over the last three, four weeks.”
Clippers center Ivica Zubac tries to prevent Celtics forward Jayson Tatum from scoring in the lane during the second half Saturday afternoon.
(Eric Thayer / Associated Press)
Paul George, who scored a team-high 21 points, and center Ivica Zubac, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds, said they agreed with Lue’s postgame message believing their consecutive losses hadn’t unwound progress from their previous nine wins.
“We’re a better team than this,” Zubac said, “and that’s it.”
“We’re in a great spot, we won nine leading up to the two losses,” George said. “… We played two of the better teams in the NBA. Doesn’t derail from where we’re headed and where we’re trying to get to.”
The Celtics made 25 of their 53 three-pointers despite a scouting report that clearly noted that Boston led the NBA in attempted three-pointers. Boston repeatedly took open threes in transition after pushing the ball up as the Clippers tried, often unsuccessfully, to locate their man.
“Everyone’s trying to find their match but, just got to take the guy that’s next to you no matter who’s your matchup in transition,” Zubac said. “You can’t be looking at where’s your guy running and if you’re on the other side of the floor, you can’t look at him and go there; you got to stay with the guy that’s closest to you. I think that hurt us a lot with just those open looks.”
The Clippers, meanwhile, took 55 shots inside the arc, a disparity that turned their attempts for a comeback into a math problem.
“We knew they were going to shoot threes,” Lue said. “We just didn’t do a good job defensively. Or offensively, in that regard.”
James Harden had 14 points and nine assists. Backup center Daniel Theis had 15 points and guard Russell Westbrook scored 12 off the bench. But complementary scorers such as wings Amir Coffey, who started in Leonard’s place, and Mann struggled to provide the kind of offensive boosts that helped keep the team’s winning streak alive when Boston unveiled a defensive wrinkle of guarding them with a center. Mann missed all 10 of his shots, while Coffey made one of his three .
“They did some things differently, putting their center on guards and being able to switch a lot of different things and we weren’t ready for that,” Lue said. He added that, “it was a good learning experience for me. Then we’ll be ready next time that happens.”
Jayson Tatum had 30 points and Jaylen Brown scored 24 as few starters for either team played in the fourth quarter. Celtics guard Derrick White showed why he is one of the league’s best defenders by blocking three shots to go with 18 points.
Playing from behind almost immediately after scoring their fewest points in an opening quarter since Dec. 6, the Clippers’ deficit grew to 16 quickly in the quarter when they continued to struggle grabbing rebounds to extend their own possessions or end those of Boston. Before the Clippers scored their first points off a second-chance opportunity, Boston already had 10. Seven of the game’s first eight offensive rebounds went to Boston.
Then there was the issue of Tatum. He spun past rookie forward Kobe Brown — playing his first true rotation minutes in three games — for a vicious one-handed dunk in the first quarter, then drew a four-point play on Brown in the second. His teammate, Norman Powell, pulled aside Brown during the ensuing timeout to talk about guarding Tatum’s step-back move.
Tatum had 21 points at halftime. The Clippers’ stingy defense had gone nearly a month without allowing a 40-point quarter — on Saturday, it happened for a second consecutive game.
Yet the high volume of three-pointers that fueled Tatum’s big half — eight three-point attempts and five makes — were no outlier. This season, teams on average take 34.9 three-pointers and make 12.8 of them every game; the Celtics eclipsed or came close to passing those marks by halftime, by making 15 of their first 33 three-pointers. And the Celtics reached their league-leading season average for three-point attempts by the end of the third quarter.
Flipkart has secured $ 600 million of funding from US retail giant Walmart at around 5-10 per cent higher valuation, sources aware of the development. The company confirmed that it has secured USD 600 million from Walmart.
Sources, who did not wish to be identified, said that the funding has come at a higher valuation in the range of 5-10 per cent without disclosing the actual figures.
Flipkart did not comment on the valuation of the company post fresh fund infusion from its parent firm.
The last disclosed valuation was USD 37.6 billion or Rs 2.79 lakh crore when it raised USD 3.6 billion or about Rs 26,800 crore from GIC, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Softbank Vision Fund 2, Walmart, DisruptAD, Qatar Investment Authority, Tiger Global etc.
Another source said that the valuation of the company is still below USD 40 billion.
The company posted a 9.4 per cent increase in consolidated net total income to Rs 56,012.8 crore in financial year 2023 from Rs 51,176 crore in FY 2022.
Despite a rise in total income, Flipkart posted a widening of consolidated loss to Rs 4,890.6 crore in the financial year 2023 from Rs 3,371.2 crore a year ago.
Winter holidays are here and if you are luxury seekers, curating extravagance amidst unique landscapes, you have come to the right place as we got a few travel experts on board to reveal a list of tourist destinations where modern aesthetics meet timeless luxury to elevate your travel experience to paradise this Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024. Get ready to discover luxe at every turn as we spill the beans.
Elevate luxury travel to paradise with a Christmas 2023, New Year 2024 trip to these destinations (Photo by Elina Fairytale on Pexels)
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Soufiane El Allam, Complex Commercial Director at Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection, shared, “For those who desire luxe at every touchpoint, Dubai is the answer and what better than the best-in-class luxurious hospitality? You can unwind in opulence as you experience the luxurious accommodations that seamlessly showcase modern aesthetics and timeless art and architectural inspiration from bygone times. Being located in close vicinity of regional attractions, you are never away from experiencing the innumerable immersive experiences that the destination has to offer. One can relish gourmet cuisines from across the world and local attractions and on top of them all, relax in luxury. Experience it all with the iconic skyline in the backdrop for a truly unforgettable visit to Dubai.”
Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here
Manoj Kumar Tiwari, General Manager, Regency Travel & Tours, suggested, “The popular destination to experience luxury at its fullest in the Middle East has to be Qatar. From fun cultural activities throughout the country, Qatar has it all, unique desert, vast coastline and old-world charm architecture to contemporary skyscrapers and world-class facilities for entertainment. Qatar ensures a memorable luxurious journey for you from elaborate dining options at luxurious restaurants to rejuvenating in world-class hotels to retire for the day. Plan your trip to experience the ultimate extravagance. Go dune bashing at the desert or visit the nearby museum and pick up souvenirs from the local bazaars, there’s a lot that you can experience in Qatar. An ideal weekend getaway destination, Qatar offers a timeless charm that one must experience.”
Bringing her expertise to the same, Niluh Werdiani, Managing Director at Tria Uma Wisata, recommended, “For the tropical retreat amidst the glistening waters and a pristine coastline, Bali must the on your list for the hassle-free luxurious getaway vacay. With quick e-visa services, Bali has become a popular destination for Indians to explore the lush landscapes, calming clean beaches and cultural attractions. Offering a wide range of luxurious accommodations, you can unwind in peace during your visit to the island destination. You can experience the vibrant local culture, sink your teeth into the scrumptious local cuisine and explore the calming, peaceful locales of the destination. From local markets to experiencing the Indian cuisine far away from India, Bali has a lot to offer which can be explored to the fullest.”
This year, there were plenty of major vehicle launches in Australia, and CarExpert published over 300 new car reviews.
Here are the new car reviews you were most excited about this year.
2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid review
People are willing to wait months, even years for a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, especially in Cruiser spec as tested here.
Is it worth the wait? This mid-sized SUV offers a lot of positive traits, terrific real-world efficiency, and it’s a very good size: offering plenty of practicality for growing families.
Let’s also contextualise the original start price for this generation RAV4 Cruiser 2WD Hybrid – back at launch in 2019, this spec was $41,140 plus on-road costs. Today? It’s $51,410 before on-roads.
I know a lot has happened in the market (and the world since those simpler times) but that does give you some indication that its value equation isn’t quite as strong as it was. There is at least still a heap of good gear in standard specification, and the most recent update has seen some included new stuff, which I’ll detail further down.
MORE: 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid review MORE: Everything Toyota RAV4 MORE: Toyota RAV4 price and spec
2023 Chery Omoda 5 review
There’s no way we can talk about Chery’s re-entry into the Australian market with the Omoda 5 without addressing the elephant in the room: its initial, truncated run here from 2011 to 2014.
It was hard to take it seriously. One of its models was a pretty blatant clone, something the company used to be guilty of (General Motors even sued it once), while even Chery’s name and logo seemed utterly derivative.
Chery was part of the initial wave of Chinese brands in Australia, most of which specialised on either dirt-cheap utes (Great Wall, JMC, ZX Auto) or dirt-cheap passenger cars (Chery, Geely).
All of them ended up leaving after just a few years apart from Great Wall (now GWM), which rebooted itself and is now in an enviable position with much more competitive products.
The Toyota Supra is almost as storied in Japanese automotive lore as Nissan’s ‘Godzilla’ GT-R.
As a kid growing up with Gran Turismo and Fast and Furious, Japan’s great sports cars of the ’90s were things of worship for young car enthusiasts, well before any of us could learn how to drive.
Like the GT-R, the Supra had a lengthy hiatus after the fourth-gen A80 model went out of production in the early 2000s, leaving many wondering if Toyota would ever rejoin the sports car fold.
The 86 arrived in the early 2010s to much acclaim, itself a rebirth of the AE86 series of front-engined, rear-driven Corollas given cult status by Initial D, and rumours of a reborn Supra swirled for years.
MORE: 2023 Toyota GR Supra review MORE: Everything Toyota Supra MORE: Toyota Supra price and specs
2023 GWM Tank 300 Hybrid review
GWM is on the charge in Australia. Sales grew by 36 per cent in Australia during 2022 across its Haval and Ute brands, leaving it knocking on the door of the top 10 on the sales charts.
It won’t be resting on its laurels in 2023. Along with Ora-branded electric cars, it’s debuting the off-road focused Tank line locally. First cab (or should it be tank?) off the rank is the 300.
Under the skin, the GWM Tank 300 rides on a version of the ladder-frame chassis from the GWM Ute.
It’s not a soft-roader dressed up in army fatigues, it’s a proper off-roader aimed loosely at everything from the Jeep Wrangler to the Ford Everest. It’s also a hybrid, although petrol power is offered in the 300 elsewhere in the world.
MORE: 2023 GWM Tank 300 Hybrid review MORE: Everything GWM Tank 300 MORE: Tank 300 price and specs
2023 GWM Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid review
Note: This is the second year in a row the GWM Haval H6 Hybrid has made the top five list.
It took a while for Toyota to finally bring its hybrid RAV4 to Australia, waiting a whole generation to introduce a powertrain that has quickly become the most popular in the line-up.
With the RAV4 hybrid selling up a storm and waiting times blowing out to up to two years, there’s clearly demand for a mid-sized hybrid SUV.
GWM, Nissan and Subaru have responded in kind, while Honda has a pair of hybrid mid-sizers in the pipeline and Hyundai is expected to finally bring a hybrid Tucson here next year.
The segment has therefore gone from barren to booming in a short space of time, with the GWM Haval H6 carving out a niche as one of the more affordable models.
The decentralized exchange platform, MilkyWay, introduced a liquid staking protocol for Celestia (TIA) tokens, enabling users to stake and receive milkTIA, a more efficient alternative to traditional staking. In other news, the massive adoption that Meme Moguls (MGLS) are predicted to amass might be too challenging for Shiba Inu (SHIB) to match up with.
Celestia Users Can Now Trade and Stake TIA Tokens Flexibly
Celestia, a modular network that helps other blockchain networks with their data and agreements, released it for everyone to use on the Cosmos network in October. However, validators had to use the Celestia token (TIA) to make it secure.
But now, MilkTIA lets users keep their Celestia tokens flexible, not stuck for a long time. You can trade them or use them in DeFi apps, and unlike other networks, you won’t have to wait for 21 days to get your tokens back.
MilkyWay made this without needing a special main blockchain. They used smart contracts on Osmosis, which is like a hub for finance on the Cosmos network, making staking more flexible on the Celestia network.
Due to this, Celestia price had gone up 15.62% in the last 24 hours, eventually impacting the trading volume which is also up by 9.89% in the last 24 hours. Overall, Celestia holds much more potential for gains and adoption making it a good crypto to buy.
Shiba Inu price has seen a significantly good week, despite that the trading volume doesn’t seem to be following up today. Could the recent massive Whale Shiba Inu transaction be affecting this?
Shiba Inu has jumped 6.36% in the last 24 hours, which was followed by a weekly jump in price of over 7.90%. The monthly price rate of Shiba Inu also experienced another 21.75% increase. Altogether, this signifies a bullish momentum for Shiba Inu and a promising near future for Shiba Inu price.
However as of today, Shiba Inu trading activity lost over 38.21% leaving the volume at $244 million. However, this doesn’t seem to pose any negative impact on Shiba Inu coin, considering the recent Whale activity and its series of positive momentum so far.
Meme Moguls (MGLS) To Amass Enough Adoption to Contend With Other Meme Coins
Meme Moguls is poised for greater adoption compared to other meme coins due to its innovative fusion of entertainment, investment, and financial learning. The adoption is already fast coming as it sold out its beta-stage in record-breaking time. It is already selling out its stage 2 presale with over $576,000 and the token going for $0.0023.
To understand Meme Moguls better, the platform gamifies the crypto experience through a simulated investing game, which attracts a diverse audience interested in both fun and investment. This unique approach sets it apart as the best crypto investment in a market saturated with meme coins lacking utility like Pepe coin and Shiba Inu.
The incorporation of cash prizes, NFT characters, and a wealth leaderboard not only adds a competitive edge but also provides tangible incentives, making it more appealing to a wider demographic. Beyond the typical crypto speculation, Meme Moguls introduces a metaverse world and staking options, offering users additional avenues to engage and earn.
This multifaceted strategy positions Meme Moguls as a comprehensive and inclusive platform, likely to resonate with a larger user base, thereby driving increased adoption. It might not only be the best crypto investment backed by meme assets but also one of the best crypto to buy for high returns.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided not to assign overall divisions, distinctions, or aggregates to students taking the Class 10 and Class 12 exams in 2024.
Candidates with more than five subjects may have the best five subjects determined by admitting institutes or employers recruiting CBSE board students.
In a notice on its website, on November 30, the CBSE said that it is receiving requests from various persons to intimate the criteria to calculate the percentage of the students in the Board’s exams. However, the sub-section 40.1 (iii) of Chapter – 7 of the examination bye-laws state that “No overall division/distinction/aggregate shall be awarded.”
Accordingly, it clarified that the Board does not calculate/declare/inform the percentage of marks. “If the percentage of marks is required for higher education or in employment the calculation, if any, may be done by admitting institution or employer,” it stated.
With Black Friday shopping season underway, video games are seeing massive discounts across the board from multiple retailers. Now, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which launched to rave reviews earlier this April, is on sale for low as $25, but only if you pick it up in-store.
At GameStop, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is on sale for $30 on PS5. At checkout, if you pick-up in-store, a $5 discount will be provided, bringing the total down to $25 — the lowest price we’ve seen to date, and $10 less than what Best Buy and Target are currently charging. The same deal doesn’t extend to Xbox Series X and S owners, however, as the game is currently listed for $35. While it is a higher price, the $5 in-store pickup discount probably applies as well.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a sequel to 2019’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. It takes place five years after the events of the first game in which you play as Cal Kestis, a Jedi knight taking on the Empire. Survivor expands on the combat mechanics over the first and introduces some character customization.
The game isn’t just for Star Wars fans, either. It currently sits at 84 on OpenCritic, meanings it’s just an excellent game, period. (While the original release was quite buggy, the current patch cleans things up nicely.)
Didn’t get enough sleep during the week? Take heart — catching up on shuteye over the weekend could provide the bonus of improved cardiovascular health, according to a new study published in the journal Sleep Health.
Researchers from Nanjing Medical University in China analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which compiled information from 3,400 U.S. adults ages 20 years and older between 2017 and 2018.
The survey gathered information on how long the participants slept on weekdays and weekends, as well as whether they had heart disease, high blood pressure and/or diabetes.
FOR QUALITY SLEEP, TIMING IS EVERYTHING, EXPERTS SAY
The people who slept for at least one hour longer on weekends than weekdays were shown to have lower rates of cardiovascular disease — in particular, stroke, coronary heart disease and angina (chest pain due to reduced blood flow) compared to those who didn’t get catch-up sleep.
The reduced risk was most significant among those who got less than six hours of sleep on weekdays and slept for at least two extra hours on weekends.
Catching up on sleep over the weekend could provide the bonus of improved cardiovascular health, according to a new study.(iStock)
“Sleeping less than six hours per night increases our risk of stress hormone release and increased heart attack and stroke,” said Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor.
“Making up sleep debt does not fully reverse the effects of chronic sleep deprivation.”
Siegel, who was not involved in the study, offered comment on the findings.
“The study found that you can make up for a sleep debt during the week and reset with more than two extra hours on the weekend, bringing your risk of heart disease back to baseline,” he told Fox News Digital.
WHEN MEASURING HEART ATTACK RISK, ONE IMPORTANT RED FLAG IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED, DOCTORS SAY
“Though this is observational and not proof, I believe this finding is real, because more sleep brings your metabolism down to a lower level where the risks are lower,” he added.
People who slept for at least one hour longer on weekends than on weekdays were shown in a study to have lower rates of cardiovascular disease.(iStock)
Fox News Digital reached out to the study author for additional comments.
Dr. Biquan Luo, a San Francisco sleep expert and CEO of LumosTech, which produces a smart sleep mask to promote healthy circadian rhythms, shared her reaction to the study findings. She was not involved in the research.
CARE ABOUT YOUR HEART? TRY GETTING BETTER SLEEP, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS
“Under normal circumstances, when you are not sleep-deprived, a consistent sleep schedule helps maintain the body’s circadian rhythms, supporting higher-quality sleep, better energy and cardiometabolic health,” Luo told Fox News Digital.
“That’s why sleep experts recommend not sleeping in during the weekend.”
The reduced risk was most significant among those who got less than six hours of sleep on weekdays and slept for at least two extra hours on weekends.(iStock)
However, consistently lacking adequate sleep can cause chronic fatigue and increased risks for obesity and cardiovascular diseases, the expert pointed out.
“In this case, catching up on sleep on the weekend is more beneficial for your health,” she said.
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“It is important to note that making up sleep debt does not fully reverse the effects of chronic sleep deprivation,” Luo added.
The Sleep Research Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommend at least seven hours of sleep per night for adults.
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Insufficient sleep has previously been linked to a higher risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression, high blood pressure and other diseases and conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. With a sudden surge of Christmas decorations, themed-parties invitations, cake-mixing ceremonies, and even Christmas movies on OTT platforms – the festive vibe is running high. But just like every other festival, Christmas is also deeply rooted in age-old traditions. The festival celebrates the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ on December 25, every year. Christian communities all across the world mark this day with certain rituals that have been passed on through generations. And the food is an intrinsic part of Christmas celebrations, with every country following their own traditions.
What are traditional Christmas dishes?
If you are looking answer to this, then you are at the right place. Let’s take a look at what the Christmas feast looks like in various parts of the world. We have dug out some popular traditional Christmas dishes that are specific (but not limited) to a particular region.
Here Are 9 Traditional Christmas Foods From Around The World:
1. Plum Cake
Plum Cake is a ubiquitous Christmas speciality but you’ll find it interesting to know that it actually originated in England and remains their speciality to date during special occasions like Christmas. The cake is made by mixing dried fruits, nuts, and some warming spices, soaked for days in spirits like rum, before being turned into a batter to make the cake. Make plum cake for Christmas with this recipe.
Plum cake is must-have in Christmas celebrations Photo Credit: iStock
2. Stollen
Stollen is a sweet bread that makes it to the centrepiece of the Christmas spread in Germany. It is a slightly dry bread but the addition of nuts spices, rum, marzipan and candies fruits, and the outer coating of powdered sugar makes it a flavourful treat. Stollen’s existence can be traced back to as far as the 1400s and it is still one of the most popular German delicacies.
3. Eggnog
Eggnog is a festive-special beverage served commonly during Christmas celebrations in the United States of America. Made with milk, sugar, cream and eggs, this creamy drink is best served chilled.
4. Irish Stew
In Ireland, you’ll always find this warm stew as part of the Christmas celebrations. It is traditionally made with lamb meat and seasonal vegetables, but different regions have given it their own variations. Here is the traditional Irish stew recipe you can try.
Irish stew is traditionally made with mutton. Photo Credit: iStock
5. Panettone
Panettone is an Italian loaf which is made in the shape of a cylindrical log. It is flavoured with sultanas, candies peels and fruits, and raisins. It looks like bread but tastes as light as foam.
6. Leaf Bread
This wafer-thin bread is popular in Iceland for Christmas celebrations. It is made in a big size for everyone to tear off and take a bite of it. To make it, the dough is rolled into fine thinness and then stamped with patterned iron to decorate it. It is then deep-fried to make a fine, crispy bread
7. Plum Pudding
You’ll find this Christmas pudding in Ireland, UK during the holiday season. But the traditional plum cake actually doesn’t contain plums. The recipe dates back to the pre-Victorian era when raisins were used instead of plums. The pudding also adds spices like ginger, cloves and cinnamon, along with alcoholic drinks like brandy.
Also Read: Christmas Tree: 4 Quirky Ways to Decorate Xmas Tree with Food
8. Gingerbread Cookies
Kids’ favourite, gingerbread cookies are biscuits shaped in the form of a man. Reports suggest that gingerbread was actually invented by Greeks who made it for important ceremonies. Gingerbread traversed boundaries and was given the shape of a man in Europe to make it the popular Christmas delicacy that it is now. Make Gingerbread cookies with this easy recipe.
Gingerbread cookies are popularly made for Christmas binge. Photo Credit: iStock
9. Kul Kul
Anglo-Indian households in India introduced us to this traditional Christmas recipe. These inch-long dough curls are a fried snack made from semolina flour, milk, sugar and ghee (or butter) and glazed with thick sugar syrup
It’s the traditions that keep the festivals going on in high spirits. For us, the best way to celebrate is by gorging on traditional foods.
Protesting Polish truckers have unblocked the key border crossing of Shehyni-Medyka between Poland and Ukraine, Kyiv’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Saturday.
“An important improvement in the situation on the western border,” Svyrydenko said.
Over the summer Viviane Trinh, 35, received a surprising email from her parents, her mother in her late 60s and her father in his mid-70s, explaining that they wanted to skip the family’s Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations this year and take a six-week cruise from Japan to Singapore. “They asked if anyone had objections,” she said.
Ms. Trinh, who is a dentist and lives in the West Village, felt torn.
On one hand, she loves her family’s traditions. The whole gang — she and her two siblings, and their partners — gathers at her parent’s house in Stamford, Conn., where they have a huge Thanksgiving meal. The day after Thanksgiving they begin decorating the tree, and in the weeks leading up to Christmas she’ll drop by to keep helping out. Christmas Day brings another feast along with a gift exchange.
“I never thought our family traditions would change,” she said.
But Ms. Trinh also wants her parents to do what they want, especially since they are getting older. “My parents love us so much, they are always providing, and this is a chance to rekindle their own love as a couple,” she said. “People my age are making our own plans and having our own families,” she added.
This year some parents of adult children are forgoing family traditions and making their own plans, including taking dream trips. Their thinking goes: Our holidays have revolved around our children for decades; why not finally take time for ourselves?
But changing long-established roles and customs can be challenging.
“I didn’t realize how much I appreciated our family traditions and family time until my parents made this choice,” said Ms. Trinh, who is spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with her husband’s family.
Susan Rossen, 72, who works as a part-time hospice and palliative care nurse in Memphis, has spent numerous Hanukkahs with her three children, ages 46, 43 and 37, and her six grandchildren, ages 3 to 17.
But this year she and her husband are celebrating their 50th anniversary and decided to spend the holiday in Aruba. “We have a timeshare there, and we’ve come so many times with children, grandchildren, siblings, relatives,” she said. “We’ve never come with just the two of us, so we decided to take a couple’s trip.”
She feels the difference. “We talk about our kids a lot,” she said. “We are buying souvenirs for them.” The couple also made sure to celebrate Hanukkah with their child who lives in Memphis, along with other family members, before they left, and they plan to see all of them when they return.
But it’s also been stimulating to create new holiday traditions. “Last Thursday night there was a Hanukkah party here at one of the hotels,” she said. “There were several hundred people; they did candle lighting; they had latkes and jelly doughnuts and kosher deli sandwiches; they had a concert. It was really fun.”
Ms. Rossen said it wasn’t as big of a deal for her not to spend the holidays with her family since she sees them regularly, especially the one who lives in the same city.
It was the same reason Laurel Niedospial, 39, a middle school teacher in Oak Park, Ill., said she didn’t mind that her father and his wife, who both live in Evanston, decided to take a road trip to California instead of spending Christmas with her and her two children, 8 and 3. “Because I see them fairly frequently it didn’t feel like any sort of slight,” she said. “They even dropped off a box of presents before they left.”
She also said she understood that roles were changing with her family. “Christmas for me at this point has become mostly about my kids, and I am not the kid anymore,” she said. “We are passing the baton.”
Some parents who chose to be away from their children this holiday season are discovering they don’t like it.
Dinah Duvall, 75, a retiree who lives in Indianapolis, decided to go on a river cruise down the Douro River in Portugal with her husband. “I had all three kids and their spouses home for Thanksgiving,” she said. “My husband and I just thought, ‘Why are we staying around here? Let’s go somewhere.’”
It’s been a fun trip. “There are decorations all over the ship, and people are starting to be festive,” she said.
But Ms. Duvall said she missed her family, which sparked an idea of what next Christmas might look like. “I think we might talk with them and see if they will come on a cruise with us next year,” she said. “I love the idea of doing something new for the holidays with them.”
Garadacimab is a novel, first-in-class, recombinant monoclonal antibody for hereditary angioedema that targets activated Factor XII.
The FDA has accepted a Biologics License Application (BLA) for CSL Behring’s garadacimab (CSL312), a once-monthly prophylactic therapy for hereditary angioedema (HAE). A Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) filed by CSL Behring was also accepted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for garadacimab.
“CSL is a company with a deep heritage in developing innovative treatments for the rare disease community, and we are extremely proud that our first homegrown recombinant monoclonal antibody is progressing our commitment to support HAE patients in need,” Emmanuelle Lecomte Brisset, PharmD, senior vice president and global head of Regulatory Affairs at CSL, said in a press release.1 “We believe that garadacimab has the potential to become a promising therapy in the prevention of HAE attacks and we look forward to working closely with global health regulators throughout the review process.”
The novel, first-in-class, recombinant monoclonal antibody targets activated Factor XII (FXIIa). FXIIa is a plasma protein that initiates the kallikrein-kinin cascade of HAE attacks.
Garadacimab targets FXIIa to slow the cascade of HAE attacks at the top, which differs from other HAE treatments that target downstream mediators. Garadacimab was previously granted orphan drug designation for patients with HAE by both the FDA and EMA.1
The agencies granted these designations based on data from the pivotal, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group VANGUARD study, which analyzed the long-term efficacy and safety of garadacimab administered monthly at a dose of 200 mg doses as a prophylactic treatment for patients with HAE.
Patients in the trial were administered either garadacimab at a subcutaneous (SC) dose of 400 mg in two 200 mg injections or a volume-matched placebo, followed by five self-administered monthly doses of 200 mg SC garadacimab or volume-matched placebo. The trial’s primary endpoint was investigator-assessed time-normalized number of HAE attacks per month during the six-month treatment period. Safety was analyzed in patients administered at least one dose of garadacimab or placebo.1,2
Data from the study show that over a 6-month treatment period, the mean number of investigator-confirmed HAE attacks per month dropped significantly in patients administered garadacimab compared with the placebo cohort. The mean number of HAE attacks per month in patients administered garadacimab was 0 compared with 1.35 in the placebo cohort.
HAE is an autosomal dominant disease caused by the lack of or a dysfunctional C1-inhibitor protein.3 HAE’s estimated prevalence is one in 50,000, with the disease typically manifesting during the first two decades of life.
Although symptoms vary in severity, location, and duration, it typically involves the upper airway, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. The disease manifests with symptoms related to angioedema of the upper airway, skin, and gastrointestinal tract, with the most worrisome complication being upper airway swelling that may proceed to asphyxiation, which occurs in just 1% to 3% of cases.3
If the FDA approves garadacimab, it would be the first HAE therapy that targets activated FXIIa.
2. Craig TJ, Reshef A, Li HH, et al. Efficacy and safety of garadacimab, a factor XIIa inhibitor for hereditary angioedema prevention (VANGUARD): a global, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial [published correction appears in Lancet. 2023 Apr 15;401(10384):1266]. Lancet. 2023;401(10382):1079-1090. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00350-1
Cats are among the most popular pets in America, behind only dogs.1 They are friendly, playful, and easy to care for. However, they do go through quite a bit of litter, which can cause some owners to look for suitable alternatives, especially in an emergency. One item in your home that you might think would be a good alternative to traditional cat litter is rice.
You can indeed use rice as cat litter, but it probably won’t be suitable in the long term for most owners. Keep reading as we list the pros and cons of using rice for litter and provide several tips and tricks that you can use for the best results.
The 6 Advantages of Using Rice as Cat Litter
1. Cost Effective
Using rice as cat litter can be cost effective if you buy it in large quantities. Clay litter costs between $0.50 and $1 per pound. You can find several rice brands for about that price, especially when buying more than 10 pounds at a time. Specialized litter, like silica litter, can be several times more expensive.
2. Environmentally Friendly
Unlike many commercial cat litters, rice is a biodegradable material. It can be a more environmentally conscious choice for cat owners concerned about the disposability of clay and other litters.
Image Credit: Maliflower73, Shutterstock
3. Safe for Cats
Rice is non-toxic and safe for cats. It poses no immediate health risks and can be an excellent option for households with cats that have sensitivities or allergies to dust or other cat litter ingredients.
4. Easy to Dispose Of
Rice can be easily disposed of in your compost or garden, reducing waste and contributing to a greener lifestyle.
5. Absorbent
Rice is incredibly absorbent and easily absorbs your cat’s urine, though it can take longer than traditional clumping litter.
Image Credit: SURAKIT SAWANGCHIT, Shutterstock
6. Low Dust
One of the biggest complaints of pet owners who use clay litter is that it can be quite dusty, which can make a mess out of your house. Rice produces no dust and is a good choice for people or pets that suffer from breathing issues.
The 4 Drawbacks of Using Rice as Cat Litter
1. Tracking
Rice grains are small, and your cat can track them throughout the house, spreading bacteria and increasing cleanup.
2. Frequent Replacement
You might find that you need to replace the rice more frequently than other types of litter since it won’t absorb odors.
Image Credit: Duet PandG, Shutterstock
3. Odor Control
Since rice absorbs urine more slowly than clay, and it won’t help with odor control.
4. Pests
Unfortunately, since rice litter struggles with odor control and is itself a food, it can attract insects, which will cause you to change out the rice more frequently, potentially raising costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Use Rice as Cat Litter
Choose plain, uncooked rice, avoiding flavored, seasoned, or instant varieties.
Before use, ensure that the rice is clean and free of any contaminants. Rinse it thoroughly to remove dust, dirt, and any potential debris.
Fill your cat’s litter box with rice like your would with traditional cat litter. The depth should be similar to what you would normally use.
Keep an eye on the rice litter. As it loses its absorbency, replace it to maintain a clean and odor-free litter box.
Observe how your cat reacts to the rice litter. Some cats may not adjust well to the change, and ensuring that your pet is comfortable is essential.
What Type of Rice Should I Use as Cat Litter?
Rice is a safe and economical alternative to traditional cat litter. Choose plain, uncooked rice without any added flavors or seasonings, like white rice or brown rice. It’s essential to first rinse the rice to remove contaminants, then you can use it similarly to conventional cat litter. Avoid using instant or quick-cook rice, as these may be less effective.
Image Credit: Apisit Hrpp, Shutterstock
Is Rice Absorbent Enough to Work as Cat Litter?
While rice is absorbent, it isn’t as absorbent as commercial cat litter. It can absorb a certain amount of moisture, but you will need to change it more frequently, especially if you have multiple cats.
What About Odor Control?
Rice alone is not as effective at controlling odors as specialized cat litter. To help with odor control, consider adding baking soda to the rice or changing it more frequently. Regular scooping of soiled areas can also help manage odors.
Can I Mix Rice With Other Litter Types?
Yes, you can mix rice with other cat litter types if you want to improve absorbency or odor control. Blending rice with a clumping clay or silica-based litter can be a practical solution.
What If My Cat Eats the Rice?
Ingesting small amounts of rice litter is generally not harmful to cats. However, monitor your cat’s behavior, and if you notice excessive consumption, discontinue using rice as cat litter to prevent digestive issues.
Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock
Summary
If you accidentally ran out of litter and are looking for a quick substitute, rice can be a perfect solution. It’s fairly inexpensive, is absorbent, doesn’t produce dust, and there is a good chance that you already have some in your home. However, it may not be a good choice in the long term because it absorbs slowly and less effectively than traditional litter, so it struggles with odor control. As a food, rice might attract insects or your cat may eat it, so using rice long-term may not be ideal for some situations.
Last month Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) greenlighted the launch of micro, small and medium real estate investment trusts (REITs) paving the way for unregulated fractional ownership platforms to function under a REIT framework. Mumbai-based hBits intends to be first off the block in launching a REIT. “We are working on creating the structure that will be required….our aim is to be the first fractional platform that lists as a MSM REIT,” hBits founder and CEO Shiv Parekh told businessline.
The fractional ownership platform has assets under management of ₹260 crore, which it intends to double in the next four months and take that to ₹1,000 crore by the end of the next fiscal year.
Fractional ownership platforms raise money from investors through a special-purpose vehicle, and the funds are used to own and manage properties. Effectively, the concept involves several investors who jointly own a fraction of the rent-yielding real estate asset, which can be offices, warehouses, malls, and data centres.
Parekh feels that being regulated will increase interest in such platforms. Following are edited excerpts of the interview with Parekh.
How would you assess the past year for fractional ownership platforms and what would be the impact of SEBI regulations?
Fractional ownership, as a concept, has picked up a lot of traction in the country. It’s a relatively new concept, about five or six years old. This year has been monumental for the fractional ownership space. One of the biggest reasons is the SEBI regulation that has come into play.
We have seen a lot of interest in this asset class as an investment. As an investment product, it makes a lot of sense, because you get 8-9 per cent rental yield and along with appreciation, you can make a 15 per cent IRR (internal rate of return). Compared to even investing in a broad index, you can make higher returns with minimal downside risk.
First, as a concept it didn’t exist, and after it came as a concept, it was not regulated by SEBI, so people were not sure. But now that’s changed and overall investor interest is growing significantly.
As a company, it has been a very important year for us. We picked up quite a few assets in Mumbai. We are also excited for 2024 because in my opinion, this industry is going to explode with the new regulation. Already the product was great, now investor interest as well as distributor interest is going to increase substantially. On the flip side, there are numerous developers seeking an exit strategy who previously had limited options available. Commercial leasing in 2023 has been touching 2019 highs, at pre-Covid levels. So there are a lot of assets that are leased out and now developers want to exit them.
What kind of assets are you evaluating?
We have probably a database of about ₹30,000-odd crore worth of assets that we sourced from the market in the last 12 months. There are a lot of assets in the market. But obviously, not all the assets are worthy of investment. We look at a lot of criteria — it should be in a good micro market, it should be a Grade A asset, long term agreement, and a good market capital value. Ideally, we should negotiate for below market value, so that investors come in and make a good return.
Is there enough quality commercial assets in the market?
If we just talk about offices, there is 800 million sq ft of Grade A offices in the top six cities and that is our focus markets.
To give some examples, in Mumbai we work with Kanakia Developers, who are Grade A builders. There are other Grade A developers like Boomerang and Wall Street. We work with Ajmera, a listed company. In Pune, we are talking to 3-4 developers; in Bengaluru, we are talking to one of the top three developers, and they have an option for a REIT. So there’s a lot of Grade A stock that’s available.
The question, however, is not about it being Grade A stock, but whether in that asset we have rented it at the right pricing. Are we negotiating the right pricing? It’s about getting Grade A stock at the right pricing with the right tenant and that’s where we add value.
How has your growth metrics been and what is your growth outlook?
Now, we have 60,000 registered users on our platform. I think three years ago, we must have been at 10,000 users. Our assets under management right now is ₹260 crore, we’re looking to double that in the next four months. Currently, we have 260,000 sq ft and after four months, we will be up to about half a million sq ft. Our target for the next financial year is to go from ₹260 crore to ₹1,000 crore in investments.
Have you started work on the REIT structure?
The details are not fully announced but we have started working towards it and are building the tech platform that will enable investment at a lower ticket size, so it’s completely digital. We are working on creating the structure that will be required because the regulator has given six plus six months to migrate, but our aim is to be the first fractional platform that lists as a MSM REIT.
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.
NIKE je u četvrtak upozorio da ne može držati tempo do kraja svoje fiskalne godine, što je dovelo do pada dionica tvrtke za 14% u petak. Naime, sportski div se oglasio i umanjio svoju godišnju prognozu prodaje i ujedno predstavio plan za smanjenje troškova i uštedu od čak dvije milijarde dolara u sljedeće tri godine.
Ovo uključuje pojednostavljivanje linije proizvoda, povećanje automatizacije, ali i otpuštanje zaposlenika. Nike je u četvrtak objavio da sada predviđa samo 1% rasta prihoda za svoju fiskalnu godinu, koja završava 31. svibnja 2024.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Kako prenosi Fortune, Nikeova prodaja u Kini porasla je 4% na godišnjoj razini u posljednjem tromjesečju, što je ispod očekivanja. Prodaja u Europi, na Bliskom istoku i u Africi porasla je 2%, što je također niže od očekivanja. Prihodi u Sjevernoj Americi, Nikeovom najvećem tržištu, manji su za 4% u usporedbi s prošlom godinom.
Kupci mijenjaju svoje ponašanje
Nike je ukazao na snažnu prodaju oko velikih trgovačkih događaja poput Black Fridaya i kineskog Dana samaca, no tvrtka je ipak upozorila na “naznake opreznijeg ponašanja potrošača diljem svijeta” i priznala da općenito prodaja “nije ispunila očekivanja.”
Kako piše CNN, kupci mijenjaju svoje ponašanje, propuštajući određene kupnje – poput skupih tenisica i sportske odjeće – za osnove i iskustva poput koncerata i putovanja. Nike se također suočava s jakom konkurencijom novonastalih brendova kao što su Hoka i On Cloud.
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In a season slipping away before the start of conference play, games might not be the most important thing a team centered on freshmen and sophomores is losing.
“They’ve lost their confidence,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin told reporters of his players Friday night. “This is just my opinion, I’m not saying I’m right … but we’ve lost our confidence.”
Citing missed free throws and clanked open shots early in games, Cronin said the lack of belief in what the Bruins are doing carries over to defense, leading to the sort of breakdowns that plagued UCLA during a 69-60 loss to Maryland on Friday night at Pauley Pavilion.
“So it snowballs, right?” Cronin said after his team’s fourth consecutive loss, which dropped the Bruins (5-6) below .500 this deep into a season for the first time since they were 8-9 in January 2020. “They’re young, they’re trying to live up to the letters on the jersey and the ball’s not going in and they start to feel the snowball effect.”
Clunky offense combined with sagging defense left UCLA in a 20-point hole early in the second half only three days after a stunning home loss to Cal State Northridge. The Bruins finally found some swagger during a 27-9 run fueled by rebounding and strong defense.
After UCLA freshman guard Sebastian Mack made a short jumper in the lane, the Bruins trailed just 57-55 and got the ball back after getting another stop. A crowd that had been quiet started to stir with the Bruins on the brink of what looked to be a breakthrough victory.
But UCLA sophomore guard Dylan Andrews missed a jumper that would have tied the score and Maryland’s Jahmir Young scored six of the next seven points to help the Terrapins (8-4) pull away.
“We’ve lost out confidence. At the beginning of games, we’ve got guys not coming close on free throws or shots, so it’s hard to win. It snowballs. That’s just my opinion … Clearly we do not have a go-to guy.”
Becoming the latest player to almost single-handedly foil the Bruins, Young scored a career-high 37 points on 13-for-19 shooting while also illustrating UCLA’s inability to carry out its game plan.
“I told the guys he’s got to get 25 for them to win and he got it at halftime,” Cronin said after Young actually scored 23 points by the game’s midpoint. “So we did an absolutely horrendous job on him, but congratulations to him. He played great, but we did an awful job. Could not have done a worse job.”
UCLA’s search for consistent offense besides Mack (17 points) continued. Andrews (11 points) was the only other Bruin in double figures while making four of 15 shots, indicative of a team that shot 31.5% from the field and made one of 14 three-pointers (7.1%).
Lazar Stefanovic’s shooting slump deepened, the junior guard missing all six of his shots and finishing with one point. Aday Mara was a nonfactor, the freshman center benched for the second half and scoring three points in eight minutes. Adem Bona’s seasonlong struggles dragged on, the sophomore center tallying eight points, four rebounds, one steal and one block before fouling out in only 20 minutes.
“We’ve got to get more out of Adem,” Cronin said.
In his return from a three-game absence because of an ankle injury, UCLA freshman forward Berke Buyuktuncel picked up two fouls in two first-half minutes, symbolizing his team’s struggles. Buyuktuncel went on to collect four points and five rebounds in 12 minutes.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin talks with players during a timeout in the second half against Maryland on Friday.
(Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
After his team failed to log one nonconference victory against a Power Five team, Cronin is in serious danger of ending his personal streak of making 12 consecutive NCAA tournaments dating to his last nine seasons at Cincinnati. The Bruins have lost two straight home games after having won their previous 29.
“I mean, we just have to be better,” Andrews said. “We tell our guys every day that … we’re at home, we don’t lose at home. We just have to come out and be better.”
Featuring seven freshmen and three sophomores, these Bruins don’t do anything particularly well, even their strong defense from earlier in the season fading over the last few weeks. Among other issues, they lack a leader, a clearly defined offensive plan, a bevy of good shooters and an ability to reliably score in the post or get the ball in scoring position to their big men.
Their coach just added confidence to the list of items lacking, saying he was concerned about this possibility after his team played reasonably well in close losses to Marquette, Gonzaga, Villanova and Ohio State. Since then, the Bruins have regressed in home losses to Northridge and Maryland.
How do the Bruins regain their belief?
“Tough,” Cronin said. “You’ve got to find a way to get a win. You’ve got to man up. … It just seems like everybody’s looking for the next guy to do it, in my opinion.”
Maybe even a symbolic change could help. A new year is coming. Pac-12 play is about to start.
At this point, those might be the only positives for a young team that seems lost.
“Look, nobody feels sorry for you,” Cronin said. “You’ve got to get better and find a way.”
Apple is in touch with some top news publishers to use their articles to help train its generative AI systems, the media reported.
The tech giant is apparently discussing “multiyear deals worth at least $50 million and is in touch with publications like Conde Nast, NBC News, and IAC (which owns People, The Daily Beast and Better Homes and Gardens), reports The New York Times.
“Apple has opened negotiations in recent weeks with major news and publishing organisations, seeking permission to use their material in the company’s development of generative artificial intelligence systems,” the report said, citing people familiar with the discussions.
The response from the publishers appears mixed and the publishers might be “potentially on the hook for any legal liabilities that could stem from Apple’s use of their content”.
However, some news executives were “optimistic that Apple’s approach might eventually lead to a meaningful partnership”.
The iPhone maker has apparently been “vague” about its plans for news and generative AI.
“Apple has been absent from the public discussion of A.I. Its virtual assistant, Siri, has remained largely stagnant in the decade since its release,” the report mentioned.
Apple declined to comment on the report.Earlier this month, Apple’s machine learning research team released frameworks and model libraries designed to run on its silicon chips.
The company released MLX, a machine learning framework designed for efficient and flexible machine learning on Apple silicon.
“The design of MLX is inspired by frameworks like PyTorch, Jax, and ArrayFire. A noteable difference from these frameworks and MLX is the unified memory model,” according to Apple on GitHub.
Last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that the company is investing quite a bit in AI and will do it responsibly for product enhancements over time.
Cook said the company views AI and machine learning as fundamental technologies and they’re integral to virtually every product that they ship.
He added that Apple has work going on related to AI for quite some time.
Mexico on Friday launched operations on a train line that crosses the country’s narrowest point from the Gulf coast to the Pacific Ocean, kicking off a flagship government project as the administration enters its last months in office.
The Inter-Oceanic Train, that crosses the country’s narrowest point from the Gulf coast to the Pacific Ocean, in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico, is seen in this handout (via REUTERS)
The “Inter-Oceanic Train,” which will carry both passengers and cargo on a three-hour trip from the coastal hub of Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz state to the Pacific port of Salina Cruz, is part of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s plan to bring investment to the country’s poorer south.
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The government is also hoping to attract investments from carmakers, tech firms and semiconductor producers in a dozen industrial parks in the area. The two port towns are also home to major installations of state-run oil company Pemex.
Officials have pitched the train line as a potential rival to the Panama Canal, which curbed operations this year due to a historic drought.
“All the Asian countries are very interested,” Lopez Obrador said on Friday, “because Panama is at capacity.”
Analysts, however, estimate the rail line will be able to ship just a fraction of what the canal moves.
Other lines connecting to the train’s main rail line are expected to be completed next year, officials said on Friday.
One of the branches will connect to the Mayan Train, another flagship project inaugurated last week, which will carry travelers from the southern state of Chiapas to the tourist town of Cancun once all sections are completed.
Experts, however, have warned that the Mayan Train has run nearly four times over budget and is still far from being finished.
Earlier this year, Mexican authorities seized parts of a rail line operated by conglomerate Grupo Mexico’s transport division for the Inter-Oceanic Train, with the two parties later coming to a deal.
Lopez Obrador has also said he wants to get major rail operator CPKC, which operates a network through Canada and the U.S. and ends in Veracruz, on board with his rail projects to connect their lines to the government’s projects in the South.
Hollywood Golden Age star Ingrid Bergman was in her middle age and hadn’t been on a Tinseltown soundstage for two decades when cast in 1969’s Cactus Flower.
The film adaptation of the Broadway show had the Casablanca actress playing Lauren Bacall’s part of Stephanie Dickinson, the dentist’s spinster assistant.
Rick Lenz, who portrayed Igor Sullivan in the production, was cast opposite Bergman in the movie version and both started falling for each other.
Speaking previously with Express.co.uk, he told us: “Even though she was twenty years older than I was, I had a crush on her—I knew it was silly.
“She was a beautiful movie star, already a legend. I was lucky to have my role.”
Lenz continued: “I played the same intimate scene with her that I had with Lauren Bacall on stage. We danced in the scene. My character, Igor, says something about her being a sexy lady. She says, ‘An old sexy lady.’ I say, ‘Good, let’s run away and live on your Social Security.’
“Lauren Bacall had liked me in the role, but Ingrid liked me personally. You can tell these things. Sometimes. We talked for hours during the times Walter Matthau and Goldie Hawn were doing their scenes and while we were learning our dance number for the final nightclub sequence. I guess I thought it was probably kind of a mother thing she felt toward me, but I was extremely flattered that she was interested in me.”
Rick continued: “Then I read a little and found out that she’d had relationships with several of her leading men. It was obvious she wasn’t attracted to Walter Matthau in that way. And then I began to feel that maybe it was more than just a mother thing. She spent more of her off-camera time with me than with anyone else on the film. There was no doubt about it; Ingrid Bergman had a crush on me.
“After we wrapped, the next time I saw her was at the New York premiere several months later. I came down the aisle, spotted her and grinned, “Hi, Ingrid.” She looked into my eyes, searching, then said, “Hi, Nick.”
Pushing Aston Martin’s hugely powerful DBX707 at a proper nine-tenths through endless hairpins and back-to-back twisties high above the Sardinian coastline was proof that Aston’s ultra-luxury SUV was the new benchmark in performance and luxury in a crossover.
In fact, so adept was it at smashing corners and dashing from point-to-point at supercar speeds for hours on end, it was almost impossible to find fault with the high-riding Aston in terms of outright pace, dynamics and comfort. It balanced all-three metrics flawlessly.
The steering was fast and accurate, but not too quick as to feel nervous; while throttle response, power delivery, gear ratios and brake calibration were all beautifully linear and engaging at the same time.
But from a co-driver’s perspective on the return journey back to our accommodation, it was an entirely unpleasant experience. Too many corners, too much braking, and too much G-force was altogether stomach curdling. So much so, I had to ask my driving partner to ease up on the race braking. Suffice to say I’m not the best passenger.
Nevertheless, all the major mechanical controls operated in perfect sync, while pedal feel was utterly natural, allowing for the tiniest changes with throttle, steering and brake inputs.
It drove like a full-fat supercar, yet you were perched high enough for a grand view of the stunning idyllic island off the coast of mainland Italy.
However, a question remained at least from an engineering perspective. Could the more luxurious Aston stay with the likes of the Lamborghini Urus Performante and close cousin the Porsche Cayenne GT Turbo on the racetrack?
Some might argue the absurdity of putting a 2300kg V8-powered behemoth on track to drive at the same level of intensity as its more focused Lamborghini and Porsche contenders.
I had my doubts as the venue was the demanding Sydney Motorsport Park (minus the kink), and it was a night session under not-so-great lights.
How does the Aston Martin DBX fare vs its competitors?
View a detailed breakdown of the Aston Martin DBX against similarly sized vehicles.
Aston Martin
DBX
How much does the Aston Martin DBX707 cost?
Commanding a price premium of just $40,600 over the ‘standard’ Aston Martin DBX, the flagship DBX707 is priced from $428,400 before on-road costs.
Compared with its closest rivals in this rarefied league of extraordinarily capable luxury SUVs, the big Aston stands as a bargain.
Range-topping makes and models include the Bentley Bentayga Speed priced from $531,500, as well as the Lamborghini Urus Performante ($465,876), Maserati Levante Trofeo ($364,700) and Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT ($364,700).
However, in this rarefied end of the automotive world, there’s almost no such thing as a standard purchase. Cashed-up buyers like to personalise their vehicles with specific options and pricing rarely comes into it.
Take our Plasma Blue, track ready DBX707 at this event. It was fitted with just nine tasty optional extras including grey brake calipers, signature metallic paint, Q semi aniline leather palette, power tailgate with gesture control, interior jewellery pack – Q – 2×2 twill carbon-fibre trim with dark satin chrome, contrast stitching, tail lights smoked, trim inlay – gloss 2×2 twill carbon-fibre and 23-inch forged satin black diamond turned alloy wheels – very special.
All of that bumped the princely price of our Aston Martin DBX707 tester to $526,000 excluding on-road costs.
What is the Aston Martin DBX707 like on the inside?
If Saville Row were a car brand it would most likely be an Aston Martin DBX707 these days, given the first-class space afforded to passengers and the beautifully embellished interior boasting lashings of carbon-fibre, hand-stitched semi-aniline leather and bronze metal mesh veneer.
The standard-fit Sports seats (Comfort seats are a no-cost option) are simply superb for the level of comfort and lateral support they provide, regardless of the kind of driving you’re doing.
But those fitted to our tester are more special again, especially given they’re hand-crafted in super-soft, semi-aniline leather in exquisite Cote d A’zure Blue with contrasting crème stitch.
It’s the multiple layers of cushioning throughout the entire seat and seat-back that make them feel more like your favourite armchair rather than something capable of supporting your torso in an all-out track attack at Sydney Motorsport Park.
The entire cabin oozes ultra-luxury and while the leather craft looks a bit out of place on a race track, more than anything else in the cockpit it’s the double-twilled glossy carbon-fibre trim which points to the high-powered nature of this ballistically quick family hauler.
The perfectly round hand-stitched steering wheel is a rare sight in this age of awkward flat-bottom versions. The leather is soft to the touch and the thickness of the rim is comfortably sized, like those used by Porsche.
Most of what you see is pretty much standard DBX fare complete with rotary Manettino dial for switching drive modes or engaging a genuine manual mode – the proper kind that holds the gear ratio until it’s bouncing off the rev limiter until you decide to pull a paddle.
It’s flanked by a series of shortcut buttons (real buttons) including an active exhaust switch that opens the valves up on the quad tailpipes, without being in ‘Sport’.
And while the big 12.3-inch digital driver’s display meets the current required level of modernity, it’s the smaller 10.25-inch central screen that looks and feels a decade old compared to its rivals.
Interior space is what you might expect of a 5.0-metre-long crossover, offering plenty of space for five adults; although, two passengers (rather than three) in the 40:20:40 split-folding rear-seat accommodation would make it a far more comfortable place to be on longer journeys.
Rear-seat leg room is more than adequate for those of average height, though taller frames might find it a bit tight back there. Boot space; though, is a plentiful 638 litres behind the second row, along with a practical load height and a reasonably wide aperture for easy loading of larger boxes.
What’s under the bonnet?
There’s not much to see when you pop the bonnet on the DBX707, besides the ‘hand built‘ build plate, but lurking under all the plastic sits one of the most powerful V8s ever produced.
It’s a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 powerhouse making 520kW (707PS) of power at 6000rpm and a ground-shaking 900Nm of torque from 4500rpm, delivered through a new nine-speed wet-clutch transmission.
As far as rivals go the Bentley Bentayga Speed only produces 467kW from its monster-size W12 engine, while making the same 900Nm of torque. Even the more track-focused Lamborghini Urus Performante and its Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT Coupe cousin can only muster 490kW/850Nm and 485kW/850Nm respectively.
Despite its huge price tag approaching $1 million, some will want to compare the Aston with Ferrari’s Purosangue – a genuine four-seater powered by a naturally aspirated V12 that makes 533kW of power and 716Nm of torque.
Interestingly, all except the Bentley (3.8s) are capable of rocketing from standstill to 100km/h in just 3.3 seconds.
How does the Aston Martin DBX707 drive?
Personally, I’d prefer my Aston Martin DBX707 to belt out a few more decibels and especially when you’re flat stick down the main straightaway at Sydney Motorsport Park.
That’s not to say you can’t hear the bellowing twin-turbo V8 as you let loose at full noise up the hill out of turn five, intoxicating as that is, it’s just that I figure genuine enthusiast-type 707 buyers might just want the volume dialled up a smidge.
It’s hard to imagine driving hell for leather on a race track in a family-friendly SUV that tips the scales at a hefty 2245kg, but that’s how far things have come these days with dynamic engineering and the sorcery of weight balance and traction though advanced hardware and software tuning.
Much of the DBX’s superb handling credentials are down to its active roll control. This tech keeps this full-size SUV bolt upright even through the tightest bends. It also means small mid-corner adjustments are possible with steering and throttle, in particular.
Nevertheless, it’s a lot of momentum to harness at big speeds and under big loads. Thankfully, the DBX707 is equipped with huge carbon-ceramic brake discs all-round, with equally large calipers to ensure consistent stopping power – lap after lap.
We weren’t holding back either, the two DBX707 testers were on the go, session after session. There were only very short pit-lane stops purely for driver changes and yet the high-speed braking was simply flawless all night.
A fast-flowing racetrack like SMSP is an ample enough arena to expose any weaknesses when it comes to cornering and steering feel, not to mention throttle and brake calibration; two elements which can make or break a high-performance vehicle, particularly an SUV.
And while you’re definitely aware of the Aston’s mass in the tighter turns, it’s also inspiring for how accurately it can keep its line, as well as the high level of traction and grip on offer from those huge Pirellis at the rear, which do wonders to encourage driver confidence.
We’re already three four-lap sessions in and I’m utterly surprised at how track focused the Aston is and how you can really throw it around.
Surprised, because it’s the DBX707 that gets the ride/handling balance absolutely spot on – compared with the Urus Performante and Cayenne Turbo GT. Both of these might be a tad sharper on the racetrack but slightly less comfortable as a daily; although, the Porsche isn’t far behind.
Just as I found on the road drive in Italy, you keep upping the ante – a little more commitment with each and every lap, and somehow its feels just as good from behind the wheel – so you really start to put the pedal down.
It’s easy to forget just how quick the this DBX is. Once you hit third, you’ve got all 900Nm under your right foot. I’m not sure what my terminal speed was down the main straightaway, but 260km/h seems probable and I what I think I saw in a split-second glance.
Remember, the Aston is capable of hitting 310km/h at full tilt, provided you’ve got enough clear tarmac.
Not surprising either, given it’s the Aston that was originally billed as the world’s most powerful combustion-engined luxury SUV when it launched. If we leave aside the stratospherically-priced V12-powered Ferrari Purosangue, that’s still the case.
Again, it’s the linearity with the mechanical controls that’s most appealing here. It’s another element that enables the driver to properly pedal the big Aston with similar levels of bravado as you would in a well-sorted hot hatch.
Honestly, performance like this in a vehicle ostensibly designed as a high-riding luxury grand tourer shouldn’t be possible, but somehow the engineering behind it defies the laws of physics.
And while we acknowledge most DBX707 owners probably won’t go anywhere near a track, it’s also reassuring to know it’s got such an all-encompassing breadth of capability.
I’m using manual mode with paddleshifters, but it’s just as responsive in the dialled-up Sports+ and letting the nine-speed auto do its thing.
For an automatic (with a wet-clutch), it’s properly sharp, but most of all, super smooth and refined.
Re-calibrated air-suspension, steering and active anti-roll bars
Race Start launch control system
Aerodynamic exterior styling package
16-way electric front seats
Rotary Manettino dial with manual override function
DBX707 highlights:
22-inch Sport alloy wheels in gloss black, diamond turned
Bi-LED headlights
Approach illumination
Solid exterior paint
Aston Martin Designer key
Power tailgate
Sport steering wheel
Sports exhaust system
Front seats, door mirrors with 3-position memory
Power-folding door mirrors
Auto-dimming, heated exterior door mirrors
Keyless entry and start
Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
Double sun visors (windscreen, side windows)
Auto lights and wipers
Ambient lighting with 64 colours
Park assist
Front, rear parking sensors
360-degree camera system
Sports pedals – satin chrome
Anodised sill plates with Aston Martin wings
Carbon ceramic brakes – front, rear
Wireless charging
12.3-inch digital instrument display
10.25-inch central infotainment display
Premium Audio system (800 watts, 14 speakers)
DAB digital radio
Apple CarPlay
Satellite Navigation
Battery conditioning connection
Adaptive triple-chamber air suspension
Tri-zone climate control
Electrically adjustable steering column
Standard Exterior Package Upper Gloss Black
Side strakes
Window surrounds
Roof rails
Bonnet blades
Door mirror caps
Standard Exterior Package Lower Gloss Black
Body colour Sport front bumper
Sport front splitter
Front aero winglets
Sport door sill extensions
Rear diffuser with gloss black diffuser wing
Rear aero winglets
Body colour vented rear wheel arches
Standard interior environment accelerate
Alcantara/leather upholstery
16-way Sport electric front seats with memory
Heated front, rear seats
Embroidery – Aston Martin wings
Interior jewellery – Dark satin chrome
Micro-perforation
Alcantara headlining
Options as tested:
Front grille finish – Dark
Black chrome AML wings badging and script
Multiple 22-23-inch wheel options
incl. Sport, Ribbon and Forged in Silver, Satin black, Satin black bronze and Textured black
Brake calipers (Red, Grey, Yellow, Bronze and Orange)
Carbon-fibre exterior packages for upper and lower body
Interior environments including, Inspire Comfort and Inspire Sport
Seat ventilation
Heated Alcantara steering wheel
Trim inlay including Gloss 2×2 twill carbon-fibre, Q-Gloss Bronze Mesh
Jewellery Pack including Satin Chrome, Gloss 2×2 twill carbon-fibre with dark chrome
Smoked tail lights
Rear privacy glass
Rear acoustic privacy glass
Power tailgate with gesture control
Space saver spare wheel
Electric deploying tow bar
Remote park heat
Heavy pile floor mats
Umbrella and holder
Is the Aston Martin DBX707 safe?
Despite the absence of an ANCAP or EuroNCAP safety rating – given the cost of crash testing such high-priced vehicles – the DBX707 is otherwise equipped with the following suite of active and passive safety systems.
AEB incl. Pedestrian detection
Adaptive cruise control
Blind-spot warning
Forward collision warning
Lane departure warning
Lane keep assist
Lane change warning
Rear-cross traffic alert
Traffic sign recognition
Door-opening warning
Airbags (front, side and curtain)
ISOFIX on outer rear seats
How much does the Aston Martin DBX707 cost to run?
The DBX707 is covered by Aston Martin’s standard three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty; along with three-years roadside assist.
Service charges will vary with dealers but with the standard 12-month scheduled service it will likely be similar to the cost of servicing the regular DBX V8 which is between $1700-$1900 per visit.
Aston Martin claims 14.2L/100km fuel consumption on premium 98 RON petrol on the combined cycle using the WLTP standard.
CarExpert’s Take on the Aston Martin DBX707
At the international launch after an all-encompassing road drive, I concluded the DBX707 was the clear benchmark in the high-performance luxury SUV stakes due to its outstanding ride/handling balance and daily usability – never mind its bespoke luxury.
While it’s on-track performance won’t matter to most buyers, I still had my doubts as to whether the Aston would measure up to its more focused rivals from Lamborghini and Porsche.
It wasn’t patently obvious from the first session but by the end of the night, it’s fair to say I was pretty much gobsmacked at just how easy it was to pedal the DBX707 around a race circuit – and with a fair degree of precision.
It’s not quite as manic or as pinpoint sharp as the Urus Performante, but even then, there’s not much in it. It just feels easier and less edgy in the Aston. It’s certainly more comfortable and less demanding on the driver.
There’s still no other in the segment that can deliver such a unique combination of Saville Row craftsmanship with supercar levels of handling and sheer go on track. For that, it’s unique within the segment.
It’s still an engineering triumph to be celebrated, even if the infotainment system falls way short of the mark.
Click the images for the full gallery
BUY: Aston Martin DBX MORE: Everything Aston Martin DBX
The post Top Crypto News Roundup – Dec 18th to 23rd appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
The world of cryptocurrency continues to evolve at a breathtaking pace, with this week seeing a flurry of activity across regulatory landscapes, market trends, and innovative leaps. Here’s a comprehensive look at the significant developments from December 18 to 23, 2023.
Bitcoin ETF Updates
Dec 18 – Bitwise Sparks Interest – Bitwise Asset Management stirred excitement in the crypto market with an engaging commercial for its proposed spot Bitcoin ETF, signaling bullish sentiment ahead of the SEC’s decision.
Dec 21 – Spot ETF Verdict Anticipation – A report by QCP Capital indicates a crucial period between January 5-10, 2024, for the announcement of the Spot Bitcoin ETF, a significant event awaited by investors.
Dec 23 – BlackRock’s Bold Step – BlackRock is set to inaugurate its Bitcoin ETF with a $10 million investment on January 3, 2024. This strategic move precedes the SEC’s expected ETF approval on January 10.
Crypto Regulation
Dec 19 – Binance’s Historic Settlement – Binance and its ex-CEO, CZ, reached a $2.7 billion settlement with the CFTC for violating rules by targeting U.S. customers. The outcome sets a precedent for digital currency market oversight.
Dec 20 – Senator Warren Raises Concerns – Senator Elizabeth Warren critiqued the crypto industry’s lobbying tactics, emphasizing the need for transparent regulations to combat illegal activities and safeguard legitimate businesses.
Dec 22 – SEC’s Admission – The SEC acknowledged errors in enforcement proceedings, mandating staff training to ensure accuracy and transparency in future cases.
Dec 23 – Nigeria’s Progressive Crypto Regulation – Nigeria has taken a significant step in crypto by lifting the ban on cryptocurrency firms.
Market Trends and Predictions
Dec 18 – Ripple’s XRP Movement – A substantial transfer of XRP tokens to Bitstamp during a market dip raised speculations of a potential price drop amid ongoing lawsuit concerns and regulatory uncertainties.
Dec 19 – Stablecoins’ Stagnation – Contrasting the dynamic crypto market, the total value of stablecoins has remained relatively static, a trend highlighted in the SixdegreeLabs study.
Dec 21 – Bullish Projections for Bitcoin – Reports suggest Bitcoin’s value could soar to $50K following an ETF approval, with the 2024 halving event potentially pushing it to $160K. However, analysts advise caution against market volatility.
Dec 22 – Fetch.ai’s Impressive Growth – Fetch.ai (FET) has seen a remarkable 620% yearly growth, with projections indicating a potential new all-time high.
Dec 22 – Solana’s Remarkable Surge – Solana’s recent performance has been nothing short of impressive, as it briefly entered the top 5 cryptocurrencies by market cap, surpassing XRP and Binance Coin (BNB).
Other Notable Events
Dec 18 – NFT Heist – Two major NFT platforms, Flooring Protocol and NFT Trader, suffered a combined loss of $4.54 million in NFTs due to a sophisticated cyber heist, underscoring security vulnerabilities.
Dec 19 – Coinbase and Ripple’s Political Move – Coinbase and Ripple pledged $78 million to support pro-crypto candidates in the 2024 U.S. elections, aiming to shape favorable blockchain regulations.
Dec 20 – Shiba Inu’s Web3 Initiative – Shiba Inu announced the launch of the ‘.shib’ domain for SHIB holders, marking a significant step in bridging Web2 and Web3 technologies.
Dec 21 – 3AC Founders’ Asset Freeze – The founders of the collapsed hedge fund Three Arrows Capital faced a global asset freeze, with $1.1 billion seized amid ongoing investigations.
Dec 22 – Paxos’ Expansion to Solana – With regulatory approval, Paxos is set to offer its stablecoin USDP on the Solana blockchain starting January 17, 2024.
Embattled edtech Byju’s may lay off nearly 40 per cent of the firm’s engineering team as a cost-saving measure amid battling troubles on various fronts.
According to sources, the edtech major plans to let go of nearly 190 employees, i.e., 40 per cent of its 310-member engineering team.
Furthermore, Byju’s has delayed November salaries for a section of its employees, sources added, which has impacted around 1,000 staffers at the financially beleaguered edtech firm.
Read: Byju’s says ED notice technical in nature, flags delay in filing annual reports
The company has told the affected employees that it will deposit the pending salaries by Monday. It has about 14,000 employees in India, excluding subsidiaries like Aakash Institute.
In an internal email to the employees, the edtech major said that the delay was due to a ‘technical error.’ businessline has reviewed a copy of the email.
“Due to technical error at the backend, the salary for a few of you will now be processed on Monday. This techincal glitch has affected a very limited number of employees (<5%),” it said in its email.
Read: Prosus marks down Byju’s stake, valuing ed-tech firm at less than $3 billion
Byju’s salary cycle resets on the first of every month. The impacted employees are housed under Think & Learn, the parent firm of Byju’s. This does not include its test prep subsidiary, Aakash Institute.
The delay in salary payments came even as Prosus, one of Byju’s major investors, marked down its valuation further to below $3 billion for the first half of this financial year. In March, Byju’s was valued by Prosus at around $5.1 billion.
Meanwhile, on November 21, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued show cause notices to Byju’s and Raveendran for violations involving an amount of Rs 9,362.35 crore under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
It has also been dragged to the National Company Law Tribunal by the Board of Control for Cricket in India over a dispute related to sponsorship payment but Byju’s said it is looking to settle the issue.
The newly-appointed CEO of Byju’s India operations, Arjun Mohan, had initiated a restructuring effort expected to impact 4,000-5,000 jobs.
In June, the firm laid off 1,000 employees across various departments, including mentoring, logistics, training, sales, post-sales, and finance. Later in August, another 400 employees were laid off, which Byju’s said was after a performance review in the mentoring, and product expert division.
The employees let go from May to July were informed that they would receive their salaries along with the final settlement by September 15. However, on September 14, the company sent an e-mail to the affected employees notifying them of a delay in disbursing their dues.
Earlier this month, Manipal Group chairman Ranjan Pai bought out the debt investment by the US Hedge Fund David Kempner, in a ₹1,400-crore deal.
It has also proposed to its lenders to fully repay its $1.2 billion term loan B in the next six months. Byju’s aims to achieve this by making an initial payment of $300 million within the next three months.
With video games being a hot product this Black Friday, let’s not forget how much space games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 take up on your PS5 (235 GBs!). For gamers looking to have a wide library of titles on their PS5 without having to delete games just to download new ones, an SSD upgrade is a must.
Luckily, there’s a deal on the WD_Black SN850X 4TB NVMe SSD. The deal is available on Amazon, Best Buy, and the WD store for $230. It’s a savings of $60. Based on our research, the price of the 4TB SN850X doesn’t go lower than this. Or, at least it hasn’t yet. Do note, that it’s recommended to install a heatsink to help dissipate some heat when used on a PS5. Luckily heatsinks, like this one by QIVYNSRY are cheap, only coming in at $9.
Being able to add a whole lot of storage to your PS5 is excellent, though not cheap. Any savings you can get on Black Friday is a good saving, and if you haven’t bought the console to go with the memory yet, check out our PS5 Black Friday deals as well.
New hope may be on the horizon for melanoma patients in the form of a novel skin cancer vaccine.
This week, Moderna announced that its new vaccine has shown promising results in clinical trials.
Among 157 patients with advanced melanoma, the vaccine led to “statistically significant improvement in survival before the cancer returned,” according to a statement from Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center in New Jersey, which has been participating in the clinical trials.
WHY IMMUNOTHERAPY IS EMERGING AS THE ‘FOURTH PILLAR’ OF CANCER TREATMENTS, EXPERTS SAY
In the study, the vaccine was used in combination with Merck’s immunotherapy drug, Keytruda.
“Keytruda is a checkpoint inhibitor, meaning it blocks an enzyme that the cancer cell uses to become invisible to the immune system,” said Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, was not involved in the vaccine trials.
In clinical trials, Moderna’s melanoma vaccine was used in combination with Merck’s immunotherapy drug, Keytruda.(iStock)
“Keytruda works well in certain kinds of highly mutagenic cancers, including melanoma, and there is often a very effective response,” Siegel told Fox News Digital.
“But the cancer can then mutate away from the impact of the drug and once again become resistant to an immune response.”
Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel said that Moderna’s mRNA vaccine “shows real promise.”(Fox News)
The patients who took the experimental mRNA vaccine along with Keytruda — all of whom previously had surgery to remove their cancer — saw a 44% reduction in the risk of death or recurring disease compared to those who did not take the vaccine, the companies said.
“This is truly game-changing, groundbreaking stuff,” said Dr. Andrew Pecora, an oncologist and researcher at the Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center, who has been involved in the clinical trials since they began.
“This is truly game-changing, groundbreaking stuff,” said Dr. Andrew Pecora, an oncologist and researcher at the Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center, who has been involved in the clinical trials since they began.(Hackensack Meridian)
Immunotherapy has been shown to be effective in about half of cancer patients, Pecora noted — but for the other half, the proteins of the tumor are not properly presented to the immune system to be recognized and killed.
“In those cases, the melanoma is kind of hiding out or it doesn’t express proteins that well, so the immune system doesn’t recognize the proteins as foreign,” Pecora told Fox News Digital in a phone interview.
CANCER SCREENINGS: HERE ARE 5 TYPES AND CRITICAL INFORMATION TO KNOW ABOUT EACH
The Moderna vaccine is “revolutionizing” the immune system’s ability to recognize and kill the melanoma, he said.
The vaccine, which Pecora described as “miraculous,” is personalized to each patient’s specific tumor.
Moderna announced that its new melanoma vaccine has shown promising results in clinical trials.(REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
“You and I may have melanoma, but my melanoma may be very different than yours even though it looks exactly the same under the microscope, because the DNA changes that occurred in mine are different than yours,” he told Fox News Digital.
That means a generic cancer vaccine wouldn’t work for everyone, Pecora said.
IN POTENTIAL CANCER BREAKTHROUGH, NEWLY FOUND ‘KILL SWITCH’ TRIGGERS DEATH OF CANCER CELLS: ‘ONE-TWO PUNCH’
With the new vaccine, the scientist takes a piece of the person’s tumor and precisely determines what parts of the DNA of the tumor are mutated or changed, and then creates a personalized mRNA vaccine that targets those changed pieces of DNA, the doctor said.
“We can literally vaccinate the person against their tumor-specific proteins, overcoming one of the limitations of current immunotherapy,” he said.
Different cases of melanoma require different therapies, an oncologist told Fox News Digital.(iStock)
“The simultaneous use of an mRNA vaccine seems to show improved regression and remission of metastatic melanoma,” Siegel said.
“I think this shows real promise for combined therapies.”
In 2023, nearly 187,000 Americans were expected to be diagnosed with melanoma and more than 97,600 will die from the disease.
The vaccine is now entering Phase 3 trials, as the researchers work to determine how and when it will receive FDA approval.
The trial participants have not reported any side effects other than what they experienced with immunotherapy, Pecora said.
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“It could be approved as soon as the next year or two,” he predicted.
The hope is that this breakthrough will also be applied to other forms of cancer beyond melanoma.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma is fast-growing and can spread to any organ.
In 2023, nearly 187,000 Americans were expected to be diagnosed with melanoma, according to the Melanoma Research Foundation.
More than 97,600 of those will be diagnosed with invasive melanoma, and 7,990 Americans are expected to die from the disease in 2023.
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.
Winter is here and it’s time to make the most wholesome meals from the comfort of our home. This season brings the best vegetables from, gourds to greens, to roots. Incorporating these seasonal gifts allows us to get warmth and add nutrition to our traditional meals. One of these vegetables is turnip or shaljam, which is extremely versatile and full of health benefits. You must have eaten turnip pickle (shaljam ka achaar), turnip kebabs (shaljam ke kebab), bharta, turnip sabzi, and what not. But have you heard of Shaljam Gosht? It’s a traditional Pakistani dish that is full of flavour and goodness of shaljam. Read on to learn how to make this unique dish!
Also Read: How To Make Black Mutton Curry – An Exotic Mutton Curry From Jharkhand
Shaljam Gosht is an easy and flavourful recipe. Photo Credit: iStock
What Does Shaljam Gosht Taste Like?
Shaljam Gosht is a spicy and flavourful dish that goes well with roti, naan, paratha or rice. Although it sounds like an unusual combination, Shaljam Gosht is actually very tasty. The use of mutton with this winter vegetable gives the dish an earthy taste which beautifully contrasts with the meat’s tenderness and gravy’s spices. It is a warm and hearty meal perfect for winters which you can easily make from the comfort of your home. What’s more, turnips are high in fibre, Vitamin C and potassium help you boost immunity, support bone health and promote heart health. Mutton is packed with Vitamin B12, zinc and iron, which is important for normal blood haemoglobin levels and to avoid anaemia.
How To Make Shaljam Gosht: Recipe To Make Turnip Mutton
Take a pressure cooker, and add ghee to it. Once it heats up, add the chopped onions along with the solid spices – dalchini and tez patta. Saute and cook the onions till they become translucent and golden brown in colour. Now add mutton, salt and dhaniya leaves to the cooker. Mix them well for 30 seconds so that the mutton absorbs the onion oil. To this, add red chilli powder, haldi, and dhaniya powder. Mix it well.
Shaljam Gosht is spicy but versatile. Photo Credit: iStock
While on moderate heat, add whisked curd and ginger garlic to the mutton. Then add water and mix everything thoroughly. Cover the pressure cooker with a lid and wait for at least 7-8 whistles so that the mutton is soft and tender. Take a large pan, and to it add ghee. Once it heats up, add jeera and stir it. Wait for it to sputter. Add chopped ginger, green chillies (cut in half), chopped turnip and saute. On top of this, add butter and salt as per taste levels. Cook this on moderate heat.
Now add butter, black cardamom and coriander leaves to the pan and mix. After the mutton is cooked add it to the same pan and mix it well. After the turnip turns tender, mash it in the gravy and cook it till the mutton flesh is soft. Take the Shaljam Gosht out in a pot and garnish it with coriander and butter. And voila! Your Shaljam Gosht is ready to serve!
Also Read: 5 Best Turnip Recipes | Popular Shalgam Recipes
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday voiced China’s firm opposition to the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.
When asked to comment on media reports that the Israeli authorities recently confiscated occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in East Jerusalem, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stressed that China opposed the unilateral alteration of the status of Jerusalem and the historically established status quo.
China always believes that the issue of Jerusalem’s status should be resolved through negotiations between the parties concerned in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions, Wang said.
The spokesperson pointed out that, against the backdrop of the ongoing escalation of tensions between Israel and Palestine and the expanding risk of spillover from the Gaza conflict, the parties concerned should be prudent in their words and refrain from any action that could lead to an escalation of the situation or even its loss of control.
Ms. Marshall, 48, a private practice nurse practitioner, was excited to show off the Christmas town to the couples’ families. “It’s like you’re stuck in a snow globe,” she said. “It’s just like this perfect little bubble.”
Ms. Marshall added that weddings during Christmas time “kill two birds with one stone. We get to see the family during the holiday time.” Mr. Clancey, 61, an independent business coach who recently moved to Plainfield Township, Pa., from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hadn’t seen his entire family for the holidays in years. “So this was a nice way to be able to do that,” Ms. Marshall said.
On their wedding night, the couple rode on a horse-drawn carriage, with a sleigh attached to it, to Moravian University for their ceremony. Afterward, they took the sleigh to city hall for photos in front of the town’s Christmas tree, and they then returned to the hotel for the cocktail hour and reception. Their flower girls, Ms. Marshall’s two nieces, who were dressed in burgundy dresses with silver bows and shoes, joined the couple for a sleigh ride.
On the day after their wedding, the couple and 41 of their guests dined at the hotel’s weekly “Brunch with Santa,” which features a pianist performing Christmas tunes. The couple plan on going to New York for their honeymoon to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and attend a Lauren Daigle Christmas concert at the Beacon Theater.
“There was a tremendous amount of enthusiasm,” Mr. Clancey said about his guests’ responses upon finding out about the wedding theme. The couple kept a small guest list of 52, and they couldn’t invite all their friends. “We’ve had people banging on the door, asking, ‘Can we come, can we come, can we come?’”
Explore the implementation of enterprise laboratory software and the start of a digital transformation in your lab with an industry expert who discusses maximizing returns on investment, upholding data integrity while managing cost containment, and adopting digital best practices. This podcast addresses critical topics such as cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and fiscal strategy for pharmaceutical labs and offers valuable insights for professionals at the crossroads of technology, finance, and pharmaceutical regulations. Discover how laboratories can use software solutions to surpass industry standards while managing costs with Bob Voelkner, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, LabVantage Solutions, Inc.
Have you ever considered how cats seem to instinctively know where to go when nature calls, while dogs often require dozens of potty-training repetitions? What makes cats such tidy creatures? Are their brains naturally wired for cleanliness?
Despite what many think, cats are not born knowing how to use the litter box, but many learn at a very young age. Let’s explore what lies behind this remarkable quality of our feline companions.
How Do Cats Know How to Use Their Litter Box?
Here are common reasons provided by veterinarians and feline experts:
Survival instincts. The most likely explanation is that cats want to be protected from predators, which is why they bury their feces to mask the scent. This act of burying waste provides a sense of protection, even if it’s largely symbolic for domestic cats.
Mother cat’s influence. Mother cats play a significant role in shaping the natural inclination of their kittens to use a litter box. Kittens start observing and mimicking their mother’s behaviors from a very young age, including the act of digging a small hole to bury excrement. Scent may also play a role in this phenomenon as cats as elimination is a form of communication. This observation contributes to the kittens’ “innate” ability to use a designated spot for their business.
Perfect litter texture. Cats naturally prefer soft, loose substrates like soil to bury their feces, and cat litter perfectly echoes this texture. If you have ever found cat poop buried next to your lettuce in your garden, you’re already aware of this preference!
Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock
Why Do Cats Get Zoomies After Using the Litter Box?
You may have noticed that your cat quickly runs from the litter box and zooms around the house and wondered if they are frightened. Well, this behavior may be explained by the fact that passing a large stool can stimulate the vagus nerve leading to a feeling of euphoria or “poo-phoria”.1
Are Cats the Only Pets That Can Use a Litter Box?
No. Ferrets, rabbits, and even hedgehogs can learn to use a litter box or at least a designated corner of their cage or enclosure. That said, constant training and a great deal of patience are essential!
Why Is My Cat Not Using Their Litter Box?
If your cat occasionally eliminates outside their litter box, there may be one or more underlying reasons to consider:
The litter box may be too dirty.
The litter box may be too small.
The litter box may be located in a high-traffic area of your home.
The litter box may be difficult for your cat to access.
Keep in mind that avoiding the litter box is not a “whim” of your cat: They are probably trying to tell you that something is wrong. You’ll need to make adjustments and then take your cat to the vet if nothing seems to be working.
When You Should Take Your Cat to the Vet
Some cats may develop litter box problems due to health issues. So, if your cat suddenly stops using the litter box or consistently has accidents, consult with a veterinarian to rule out any medical problems.
Important: If your cat can’t defecate or urinate, it may indicate an intestinal blockage, constipation or urinary tract blockage (urethral obstruction). Both urinary and intestinal blockage are considered medical emergencies, so you must contact your emergency veterinarian immediately if you believe that your cat has an obstruction.
Image Credit: H Ko, Shutterstock
Tips to Help Your Cat Use the Litter Box
Fortunately, cats are creatures of habit. Once they start using a litter box, they will often continue to do so, as long as it is clean and they can access it without problems.
Still, here are basic tips to help your feline friend maintain good pooping and peeing practices:
Keep the litter box spotless.
Use one box per cat, plus one extra.
Separate their litter box from their food.
Place the box in a quiet area of your home.
Avoid buying litter with strong scents that could be irritating to your cat.
How to Help Your Kitten Use Their Litter Box
Kittens may need help when learning how to use their litter box. You can gently place them in the tray after meals, when they wake up, or when you notice signs that they need to go. Reward them with treats, but don’t punish them by sticking their nose in their poop if they have occasional accidents. This punishment will only cause more anxiety and litter box aversion.
Mother cats lick their kittens to encourage them to toilet. If the kitten is under 4 weeks of age you will need to rub their bottom with a warm cloth to encourage them to eliminate; this mimics their mothers licking.
Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
Final Thoughts
For most cats, by the time they enter your home they already know how to use a litter box, however, some cats may not know. They may have been raised outside and never exposed to a litter box. Cats that suddenly stop using the litter box are likely trying to communicate that something is wrong. By becoming an expert in your cat’s toilet habits, you’ll be able to recognize the signs of issues fast and react accordingly.
US private equity firm Blackstone plans to exit its holding in Embassy Office Parks REIT for ₹6,931.5 crore ($833 million) in a block deal on December 20.
According to the term-sheet seen by businessline, Blackstone-sponsored special purpose vehicles will be selling 22.4 crore units or 23.59 per cent stake in Embassy REIT, the country’s first REIT to be listed.
The floor price for the deal is ₹310 a share, which is at a 7.7 per cent discount to the closing price of Embassy REIT on Tuesday.
Blackstone, which held a stake of 55.3 per cent in the REIT in June 2019, has been paring its stake over the years through strategic sales.
Talks with Bain Capital
This year, it has been attempting a full exit but could not find the right price. In January, talks with Bain Capital for a possible stake-sale floundered on valuations. Blackstone India officials also told businessline on two occasions during the year that it was not the right time to exit because the price was not right.
The REIT’s units listed at ₹314.10 in 2019 with modest listing gains and reached a high of ₹512 in March. It is currently trading at ₹335.75 on the NSE. It has fallen 3.8 per cent over a 52-week period to date and is down 13.7 per cent over a three-year period.
IIFL Securities and Kotak Securities are the bookrunners to the deal.
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.
TRŽIŠTE je prepuno različitih balzama za usne. Teško je odabrati najbolji, stoga mnogi odlučuju stvari zadržati jednostavnima. Među njima su i brojni celebrityji, koji koriste proizvode koji su dobro izdržali test vremena. Kozmetički brend Burt’s Bees postoji od osamdesetih, a Lily Collins, Margot Robbie i još neke slavne osobe rado ga koriste svaki dan.
Jednostavan sastav za odličnu njegu
Burt’s Bees poznat je po jednostavnom sastavu i po velikom izboru različitih okusa, pa čak i boja, i to sve uz odličnu njegu. Redovito donosi nove kolekcije ograničenog trajanja zahvaljujući čemu ostaju aktualni, a trenutno je aktualna blagdanska kolekcija u kojoj dobivate četiri balzama s okusima brusnice, peperminta, slane karamele i keksa.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
“Volim intenzivno hidratizirati svoje usne, a Burt’s Bees pruža tu stvarno odličnu hidrataciju”, rekla je Lily Collins, prenosi Hollywood Life. Najdraži okus nove limitirane kolekcije joj je pepermint. Ispucale usne nisu zabavne, a Burt’s Bees koristi sastojke bogate hranjivim tvarima za hidrataciju vaših usana.
Bogat izbor različitih balzama
Blagdanska Burt’s Bees kolekcija dostupna je na Amazonu, a dolazi u paketu s četiri različita okusa. Sastojci su 100% prirodnog porijekla, a uključuju pčelinji vosak, shea maslac i kokosovo ulje. Burt’s Bees balzami nisu testirani na životinjama te dolaze u pakiranju koje se može reciklirati.
U ponudi imaju i pigmentirane balzame koji su posebno popularni zato što mogu zamijeniti lagani ruž.
Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?
The Rams at least temporarily moved into the No. 6 spot in the NFC playoff picture with their win over the New Orleans Saints and will stand no worse than the final playoff position after Week 16. Los Angeles Times Rams beat writer Gary Klein, NFL columnist Sam Farmer and columnist Helene Elliott discuss what happened and upcoming prospects:
Who would you say is the MVP in the Rams’ emergence into the NFC playoff picture?
Farmer: As good as Kyren Williams has been — and he has changed the complexion of this offense — Matthew Stafford is playing the quarterback position about as well as it can be played. It’s highly unlikely that he would be named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, but Stafford has forced his way into the conversation. With 14 touchdowns and one interception in the past five games, he’s the reason no one would want to play the Rams right now.
Elliott: I agree with Sam that Matthew Stafford has been the MVP in the Rams’ emergence into the NFC playoff picture , but I think this has been such a team effort that it’s difficult to single out one player. Stafford, Kyren Williams, Puka Nucua, Demarcus Robinson, Cooper Kupp and others have played such key roles in this resurgence that it’s tough to pick one above another.
Klein: True, but it’s all about the quarterback. Matthew Stafford. And it’s not just the efficiency and touchdown-to-interception ratio. For me, one of the best throws Stafford made against the Saints was a bullet over the middle to Cooper Kupp. They just missed completing the pass, but Stafford put it where no defender could get a hand on it. There was no chance for a turnover. That has been typical of his play since returning from a thumb injury.
Who should be rookie of the year, Rams receiver Puka Nacua or Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud?
Klein: Like I said: It’s all about the quarterback. Nacua has been great but Stroud should win.
Farmer: Yes, for the same reason I would name Stafford the team MVP, Stroud should be rookie of the year. It’s just the complexity of the position, and it’s not like Houston is loaded with offensive weapons. That said, Nacua has been phenomenal. He single-handedly iced the win over New Orleans, with his clutch jet sweep and onside-kick recovery.
Elliott: I’ll side with Sam and Gary on C.J. Stroud being rookie of the year because of the difficulty of his position but Nacua has been sensational — skilled, tough and charismatic. It will be fun to watch him develop.
Rookie receiver Puka Nacua was one of the stars of the Rams’ victory over the Saints.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Really don’t want to make this a weekly question, but it is a weekly bone of contention for the Rams. Lucas Havrisik missed his fifth field-goal attempt in seven games, and that 47-yard miss in the first half against the Saints was a momentum-changer. Bring back Mason Crosby or someone else before it burns the Rams?
(Editor’s note: On Friday, coach Sean McVay told beat writers — Gary Klein included — after this roundtable discussion that the Rams currently are not thinking of making a move at kicker.)
Klein: Sean McVay said Friday that the Rams were not interested in bringing in a kicker to compete with or replace Havrisik “right now.” You might recall McVay saying after a divisional-round loss in 2020 that Jared Goff was the quarterback “right now” before trading for Stafford. McVay indicated that Havrisik’s miss against the Saints was a snap-operation issue. Long-snapper Alex Ward has been on injured reserve for two games because of a neck issue and he will not be eligible to return until the playoffs. Carson Tinker has been the snapper in his place.
Farmer: The Rams need to look at their options. Havrisik is too much of a liability on kicks of 40 yards or longer, and the pressure is only going to increase in these next two games and, presumably, the postseason.
Elliott: The Rams can’t trust Havrisik on those longer field goal attempts, and after all they’ve done to overcome a bad start and get into the playoff picture, they can’t let that cost them in a big moment. Maybe Shohei Ohtani can help them? He seems able to do everything else …
On paper, the Rams should be able to beat a Giants team down to their third quarterback and with a horrendous offensive line for starters. What’s not on paper that should scare Rams fans?
Farmer: Right, the Rams should win that game. But we’ve seen a lot of should-win scenarios go sideways around the league this season. Traveling across the country to play is never a breeze. What’s more, it remains to be seen if these Rams have the requisite killer instinct. They’ve continued to struggled in the red zone, and they let the Saints right back into Thursday night’s game when they should have put the visitors away.
Elliott: The Rams should beat the Giants. But, yes, there can be a thin margin between what “should” happen and what does happen. I think the Rams have a strong enough team mentality to get through this. Closing out games remains a concern, though, so they can’t let the Giants stay close.
Klein: For the last month, this has loomed as the potential trap game for the Rams. The Giants are the inferior team. But the Rams’ momentum since the bye could be adversely affected by the aftermath of holiday gatherings and a long flight to the East Coast. The Giants have nothing to lose. The Rams could lose a playoff spot.
The rivalry between Rams coach Sean McVay (left) 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan could become a factor in Week 18.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
If the 49ers have clinched the top seed going into the final game of the regular season against the Rams, do you think San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan would rest his starters for the playoffs, which would help the Rams’ chance to win and qualify for the postseason?
Elliott: If the 49ers have clinched the top seed and Kyle Shanahan doesn’t rest his starters in the season finale, he can always ask Brandon Staley about the consequences of that … oh wait, Staley isn’t coaching the Chargers anymore. Maybe put the starters in for a bit to keep them sharp but rest is most important for a team that wants to go a long way.
Farmer: Two schools of thought here. Getting healthy and resting starters offers big benefits, but if you’re Shanahan, do you want your players heading into the postseason with starters sitting for three weeks?
Klein: Remember the injury that Chargers receiver Mike Williams suffered last season in a meaningless finale before the playoffs? Whether that influences Shanahan or any other coach remains to be seen. As Sam notes, if Shanahan rested starters against the Rams, that would be a long layoff before playing again. But the Rams are no lock to beat the 49ers even if Shanahan rests starters. And you can be certain that Shanahan would love nothing more than to continue the 49ers’ regular-season dominance over the Rams and McVay by winning with backups.
Infinix has launched its premium laptop – the Infinix INBOOK Y2 Plus. The laptop, with a thin and light metal body with a rugged brush aluminium alloy metal craft design, is available in three colours – Silver, Grey, and Blue. The laptop is available at a starting price of Rs 27,490.
Under the hood, the INBOOK Y2 Plus is powered by the 11th Gen Intel Core Processor. The laptop offers up to 1 TB of SSD with PCIe3.0 for faster read and write speeds. The laptop comes with a 50Wh big battery that supports 65W fast charging using the PD 3.0 technology. According to the company, this combination allows for 10 hours of web browsing and a multi-utility Type-C to Type-C fast charging feature that charges 75 per cent in just 60 minutes.
The laptop boasts a 15.6-inch display, featuring an 83 per cent sRGB colour gamut, 260 nit brightness, and an 82 per cent screen-body ratio. The Full HD resolution of 1920*1080 is complemented by Dual speakers with stereo surround sound.
The laptop also features a 6.36-inch AG glass touchpad that supports multiple touch with gesture control and a keyboard with tactile keys, offering a 1.5 mm key depth and 5 ms response time. In terms of connectivity, the latest INBOOK is equipped with USB-C, USB 3.0, HDMI, SD card slot, and a 3.5mm headset and microphone jack.
Infinix INBOOK Y2 Plus will be available for purchase on Flipkart.
Not many know that ‘Indonesia’ stems from the Greek words Indos and Nesos (literally, Indian islands). For very long, the country was known as the Malay Archipelago and it was in 1850 that James Richardson Logan first mentioned the term ‘Indonesia’ as a synonym for Indian Archipelago in the Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia.
Year-end travel: Have ₹1 lakh? Check out Indonesia (Unsplash)
Now, Indonesia with its pristine beaches, glorious mountains, sacred holy temples, lively nightclubs is a popular tourist destination known for the beaches in Bali, diving sites in Bunaken, Lake Toba, Mount Bromo in East Java, national parks in Sumatra, temples in Borobudur and Prambanan, among several other scenic locations.
Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here
Here is a quick guide to Indonesia, a country that can be explored within a ₹1 lakh budget.
Important cities: Jakarta, Bali, Bandung, Surabaya, Beden, Sumerang, Makassar, Bekasi, Bogor, Ubud.
Must-see/do: Udjo’s House of Angling (Sundanese art & culture); Pasar Baru Trade Center (Historical marketplace in Bandung); White Crater; Pekalongan, Java’s artistic & cultural delight; Borobudur Temple, Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Tanah Lot, Ciater Hot Springs; Majestic cliffs of Tebing Keraton; Tangkuban Perahu (volcanoes); Cave of Virgin Mary in Ambarawa; Tegalalang Rice Terraces, Bogor Botanic Garden. Samosir Island. For surfers & yoga lovers, Bali is the place to be.
Must-eat:
• Rendang: Tender beef cooked with flavourful herbs and spices.
• Pempek: Fish cake
• Ketoprak: Tofu salad.
• Simony: Steamed fish dumplings
• Gudeg: Made from unripe jackfruit combined with thick coconut milk and palm sugar
• Iiwet: Deliciously-seasoned rice dish cooked with coconut milk, chicken broth, bay leaves, and lemongrass
• Lumpia: Spring roll
• Bakso: Beef or chicken meatballs served with fried wontons in a warm broth
• Satay Lilit: Street food made from minced meat.
• Must try: snake fruit.
What to buy: Batik fabric, Ulos fabric (Batak), Noken bag (a type of woven bag that is not carried in hand but worn on the head), wooden masks, Wayang Kulit (puppets used in the art of puppet dance), Indonesian coffee, Celuk jewellery.
Where to buy: Jakarta: Mangga Dua Mall, Plaza Indonesia, Mal Blok M (Jakarta). Bali: Art Market Kumbasari, Ubud Traditional Art Market, Beachwalk Shopping Centre, Discovery Shopping Mall, Bali Collection.
Return Flight (Economy): Vistara is the only airline offering direct flights from New Delhi to Bali. Return flight costs INR 61,000+. One/two stop return flights of other airlines start at INR 33,000+.
Visa: Get an e-visa before departure. Indian nationals can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 14 to 30 days and can extend their stay for an additional 30 days. Note that visitors must hold a return/onward journey tickets.
Good to know:
Currency: Rupiah. 1 Rupiah = INR 0.0054
Language: Bahasa Indonesia is the official language of Indonesia. Most people associated with the hotel/tourism sector speak English.
Local transport: Transport is different in rural and urban areas. In big cities, you can find exclusive rides like the Metro bus or Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. In rural areas, you can get Ojek (motorcycle taxis) and becak (tricycle rickshaws). Intercity + commuter trains/buses are very frequent. Mini buses are called Angkutan Kota or Angkot. Hailed taxis are also very common.
Wi-fi: Indonesia has a lot of free wifi spots. To know/connect, download the WiFi map app. WiFi Map Pro costs $3.99 per month, while Secure VPN starts at $4.99 a month.
Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions: Indonesia is on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ and prone to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. If you’re new to quakes and tremors, the government recommends:
Staying inside — but if you’re outside already, head to a clear area away from trees and power lines
Dropping to your hands and knees — Drop under heavy furniture such as a table, desk, bed or any solid furniture
Covering your head and torso (and entire body, if possible) your head and torso to prevent being hit by falling objects
Holding on to your shelter and being prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.
Security/safety tips:
• Indonesia has capital punishments for possession and trafficking of illegal drugs.
• Smoking is prohibited in public places. Travellers can bring a maximum of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco and a reasonable amount of perfume per adult.
• Avoid tap water.
• Always keep mosquito/insect repellent handy.
• Check insurance, license before renting a motorcycle. Be careful of unlicensed companies offering bikes on rent.
• Avoid drink spiking by keeping an eye on your mates and buying your own drinks.
• Don’t drink and swim.
• Petty crime, including pickpocketing, bag snatching and forced cash withdrawals from ATMs, is a significant problem.
• Keep your valuable safe – wearing a backpack or a satchel bag makes it more difficult for thieves.
• Use cash when you can, but if you do need to use your card make sure it’s only used in front of you (for example, do not handover your credit to the server in a hotel).
Every festive season there are several rival offerings of A Christmas Carol across London’s theatres to choose from.
Amid the big budget productions like Christopher Eccleston’s Scrooge at the Old Vic and Mark Gatiss’ ghostly take on Charles Dickens’ story at Ally Pally, is a smaller and less well-known treat that’s been around for quite a lot longer.
Antic Disposition, best known for innovative interpretations of classic plays and stories with an emphasis on Shakespeare, have been putting on their version of the festive tale at Middle Temple Hall for six sell-out seasons since 2014.
The wood-panelled Elizabethan space towers above the audience, with portraits of long-dead kings looming over us. We sat in a squared horseshoe around the centre of the room; mulled wine and mince pie in hand from the in-house Bar Humbug.
What followed was a real treat and probably the most atmospheric stage production of A Christmas Carol we’ve ever seen.
This version of the Dickens classic is a musical, with most of the songs expertly taking well-known Christmas carol tunes and rewriting the lyrics to the story. What was particularly impressive was witnessing that half the band were also half the cast; playing multiple roles, singing and tooting along on a musical instrument.
To add to this, the best use of the space was the show’s lighting and sound effects. At one point a Christmas tree’s lights were turned off, leaving us in darkness before the sudden appearance of the spookier spectres like Jacob Marley and the Ghost of Christmas Future.
David Burt’s Scrooge, which he’s played several times in this production, was deliciously menacing, while Gabriel Akamo’s Fezziwig/Ghost of Christmas Present was a particular highlight with his booming merriment.
Aside from the wonderful mashup of festive brightness and ghostly gloom, there were times when it was quite difficult to hear the cast members, who either needed to project more or have a microphone given they were often competing with the sound of the excellent score. Nevertheless, this musical was a real find that will leave even the most Scroogey of us feeling extremely Christmassy.
Antic Disposition’s A Christmas Carol runs at Middle Temple Hall until Saturday, December 30 with two shows a day except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day when there are none. To book tickets, click here.
Another year is going, going, gone in the automotive world.
That means it’s time to reflect on the good, bad, and ugly. Here are the stories, trends, and cars that most disappointed the CarExpert team in 2023.
William Stopford
The mid-sized SUV segment is Australia’s largest by volume. These vehicles have become the de facto family car for so many Australians as mid-sized and large passenger vehicles have disappeared. Almost every mass-market brand has a mid-sized SUV, some even two.
And yet Ford has left this segment. The Escape has, well, escaped, even though it continues to be sold in markets like Europe and North America.
Seriously, Ford?
The company has indicated this comes down to not being able to get enough volume. The Escape was always one of the lower-volume vehicles in this segment, but you’d be forgiven for thinking sales figures were low because Ford simply didn’t seem to market the thing.
Regardless of why it has been discontinued, it’s galling Ford now has no vehicle in this segment, and it just fuels the narrative the Blue Oval brand is the Ranger Car Company in Australia. Heaven forbid ute sales ever take a dive in Australia, because while the likes of Toyota and Mazda have a diversified product portfolio, Ford is heavily reliant on its ute.
The Escape itself wasn’t a class leader, but it had plenty going for it and I have recommended it to many people. In a segment full of petrol engines that are adequate but no more, the Escape’s punchy 2.0-litre turbo was refreshing – particularly as it was even standard on the base model.
The interior was a bit dull, the seats a bit crap and the styling a bit ‘bloated Focus’, but this was a car that deserved to sell much, much better than it did.
Ford wasn’t the only mainstream brand to withdraw from this segment of late, as Jeep pulled its dated Cherokee last year. But to date there’s no replacement for that car, so Australia isn’t alone in being without a Cherokee (though wow, talk about an even bigger strategic error by a car company!)
There’s a perfectly good Escape coming out of Ford’s Spanish factory. There’s a Bronco Sport coming out of Mexico that would likely do even better here. Get on it, Ford.
James Wong
The lack of initiative from manufacturers around more efficient and electrified vehicles. It’s no secret most brands in Australia have diverse line-ups of models and powertrains available overseas.
We’ve had heaps of commentary from executives calling for efficiency standards or better strategy and legislative framework around reducing fuel emissions and driving electrification uptake, but not so much action.
Criticise Toyota all you want, but at least the brand has committed itself to offering affordable, attainable electrified options across its line-up – bar some of its more specialised commercial and 4×4 vehicles. Other than the Chinese brands we’re yet to see similar widespread offerings from other brands.
If Australians want to take emissions reduction seriously, it needs to be a holistic approach that covers all powertrain types and price points, starting with hybridisation of lower-end parts of the market and more electrified choice where applicable higher up.
For example, where are the Volkswagen Group’s mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid options beyond limited availability from Audi and Cupra? Why is Mazda pulling its M Hybrid products from sale rather than making them the standard powertrain? How come BMW and Mercedes-Benz are leaving half of their model ranges (like PHEVs) overseas?
We should be getting more Euro 6 options with overseas-spec fuel-saving and emissions systems as a base point. The fact that most mainstream manufacturers are still bringing decade-old EU5 tech sans idle stop-start means the bulk of Australian motorists are using more fuel, and just idling away emitting tonnes of CO2 and NOx at the lights every day.
Further to that, while we’re one of the most competitive markets with the widest range of brands available to us, the lack of choice and the constant axing of key models (cough Ford) really grates.
Jade Credentino
This is tricky because it could be a variety of things; I feel like the industry has changed so much in the last 12 months.
My biggest disappointment is the Australian Government’s lack of effort to develop a charging infrastructure for electric cars at the rate consumers require.
It seems to be up to a few major companies to build networks around Australia, and when they are built there’s limited accountability for their reliability because we haven’t legislated uptime standards or maintenance requirements.
I have only required a public charger on a handful of occasions this year but on almost every occasion there was an issue with the availability or condition of the charger when I rolled up.
I think there’s a growing number of Australians who would seriously like to be an early adopter of electric cars, but the infrastructure isn’t like it is in parts of Europe which hurts sales, and stops OEMs from releasing products.
Multiple surveys have concluded the biggest factor stopping people from buying an EV is range anxiety. I am not saying offering more chargers is going to solely solve this problem, but I think more can be done to help.
Scott Collie
I can’t think of a properly game-changing car that debuted this year.
Will the ID2.all become a game-changer one day?
Small cars are getting more expensive and complicated, putting them further out of reach for average consumers.
Blame tightening emissions standards and a bloated list of necessary inclusions from safety bodies like ANCAP for that; it’s hard to make a car cheap when it needs to feature seven million cameras and radars for autonomous braking to protect butterflies as they blow across the road.
The average family sedan, SUV, or dual-cab ute looks much the same now as it did in 2022, or 2021, or even 2010, save for the proliferation of hybrids. It’s a step in the right direction, but Toyota has been doing it locally since the current RAV4 launched back in 2018.
In the luxury world, it feels like brands are running out of ideas. We’ve seen a lot of fancy interior lighting and bigger touchscreens, and marginally improved levels of refinement, but it’s hard to think of a segment-defining new car from a luxury manufacturer in recent times.
The new BMW 5 Series is an example. It’s lovely to drive, brilliant to look at, and special to sit in – but none of that is down to significant innovation, it’s down to the fact it’s now essentially a 7 Series. At least it’s more interesting than what Mercedes-Benz is doing; the proliferation of creaky plastics and same-same screens is getting downright sad.
A lot of the new cars debuted in 2023 feel stale, like the automotive world is in a holding pattern while carmakers gear up for the electric revolution that’s being legislated into force overseas.
Here’s hoping that changes in 2024.
Jack Quick
I remember coming into this year really looking forward to experiencing Mazda’s new premium SUV offerings, in particular the CX-60.
Now that the year is coming to an end and I’ve had a chance to drive the CX-60 in a number of different flavours, it leaves me with a funny taste in my mouth.
In theory the CX-60 should be fantastic with its available inline-six petrol and diesel powertrains and rear-biased all-wheel drive system, but the reality is the multi-clutch transmission is super clunky and the suspension tune is way too firm.
Hopefully Mazda can fix some of these gripes with an update of some variety.
Paul Maric
My biggest disappointment is brands failing to read the room on electric vehicles. Toyota and Subaru have both just rolled the arm over when it comes to electric vehicles – and in the case of Subaru, is offering comical pricing on what appears to be a thoroughly subpar electric car based on specifications. It shows how out of touch they are.
Polestar’s pricing has been bonkers for a long time, and it remains so high that you wonder whether anybody at head office was aware of a cost of living crisis. Maybe the brand thought nobody uses radar cruise control, which is why it’s still part of an options package that’ll set you back thousands of dollars.
It’s no wonder it sells barely any cars in Australia, and all the cars I see are driven by ride share operators – virtually guaranteeing a depreciation crash in years to come.
Tony Crawford
There are a few glaring disappointments which have already been mentioned, such as the Subaru Solterra, which may as well be shelved entirely or at least until its mid-life update comes along given its monumental delay and out-of-date tech compared with less expensive options from the likes of Tesla and BYD.
If you were going to spend that kind of money on a top-spec Solterra ($83,690 excluding on-roads) I’d prefer a new BMW iX3 from $89,100 with all the cool tech and one of the the best dynamic setups in the EV segment.
Nevertheless, my most disappointing moment of 2023 came after I’d placed a deposit on the new Mustang Dark Horse – after reluctantly selling my beloved 2018 Bullitt with suspension by Herrod Performance – on the back of its new-generation looks, technology, and most of all its power upgrade to 373kW and 567Nm… in the USA.
Then comes the news when we find out it’s got just 349kW and 548Nm in Australia, barely up on my old Bullitt.
No thanks. I’ll be looking for a used Mach 1 manual in the meantime, until I can buy back my Bullitt at some stage.
A CURIOUS LETTER sent on November 6th recently surfaced in Washington, DC. On that day, nearly a dozen American senators sent a stern note to Janet Yellen, America’s treasury secretary, Jennifer Granholm, its energy secretary, and John Podesta, the senior adviser to the White House on clean energy. It was about the legal guidance they expected from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on tax rules governing a generous new subsidy for “green” hydrogen. They insisted that the rules for this clean fuel, that can replace fossil fuels in hard-to-decarbonise industrial sectors like steel and chemicals, must be “a robust and flexible incentive that will catalyse and quickly scale a domestic hydrogen economy”.
That was but one heavyweight salvo in a months-long war waged by technology companies, environmental groups, energy lobbyists and business chambers over this previously obscure topic. To influence the handful of tax nerds and their political masters making this decision, millions have been spent on full-page advertisements in the New York Times and Washington Post, on podcasts and—to the bewilderment of punters looking for a mindless rom-com—on mainstream streaming services like Hulu.
Perhaps that was fitting, for the ruling looks to be a blockbuster. The long-delayed draft guidance on the 45V tax credit, as the proposal is formally known, was finally unveiled on December 22nd (the White House tried to bury the controversy in pre-Christmas distractions). Those senators calling for flexibility will not be pleased. There is always tension between growth and greenery in environmental regulation, and especially when it comes to writing rules for an industry that does not yet exist. The Biden administration has tilted strongly towards greenery in its proposals. In doing so it will probably kick up a hornet’s nest of industry protest.
The stage was set for this battle royal by the passage last year of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), America’s landmark climate law that offers the world’s most generous subsidy ($3/kg) for making the greenest sort of hydrogen from renewable energy, as well as smaller subsidies for making low-carbon hydrogen in other ways. Because Congress declined to cap this subsidy, potentially hundreds of billions of dollars are at stake in the coming decade. Though Europe led the world in developing clean hydrogen, the Hydrogen Council, an industry association, has found that the IRA lured many potential investors to its side of the Atlantic with proposed investments in hydrogen as of January at $46bn, up from just $29bn in May 2022.
The green trade-off arises because making the cleanest sort of hydrogen involves the use of electrolysers, fancy bits of kit that separate water into its constituent hydrogen and oxygen using a lot of electricity. As an influential study done by Jesse Jenkins and colleagues at Princeton University has shown, if those machines use grid power burning coal or natural gas then the resulting hydrogen (though clean in its end use) could pollute more over its life cycle than the hydrogen produced using fossil fuels today.
That is why it is vital to put in place three pillars as “guardrails” against greenwashing, argues Rachel Fakhry of the Natural Resources Defence Council, a prominent green group. One would require the renewable energy involved to be produced close to the point of use. Another, known as “additionality”, would require any clean power used to come from new, not currently operating, generation facilities. The final requirement is that the hydrogen produced be matched hour by hour with clean-energy production, rather than using annual matching of production. The IRS proposes strict criteria on all three fronts, earning praise from Ms Fakhry and other environmental advocates.
Predictably, some industry advocates are up in arms. Jason Grumet, boss of the American Clean Power Association, a big lobby representing renewables, hydrogen, technology and transmission firms, argues the new proposal contains “a fatal but fixable flaw”. While accepting the three pillars, he argues that the hourly matching provision is being imposed too aggressively and so will “discourage a significant majority of clean-power companies from investing in green hydrogen”. Potential financiers will worry that hourly matching is not even possible in all parts of America, and the reforms needed for it will take several years to come into effect.
Only a fifth of that $46bn in hydrogen projects identified by the Hydrogen Council has been firmly committed, in part because investors have been waiting for this tax ruling, and some of those will now be in jeopardy. Keith Martin, a 45V expert at Norton Rose Fulbright, a law firm, reckons “the Treasury has made it difficult to finance green-hydrogen projects” because it does not grandfather projects under construction before the introduction of the hourly-matching requirement in 2028. Bernd Heid of McKinsey, a consultancy, reckons the guidance could lead to an increase of $1/kg to $2.5/kg in the cost of producing green hydrogen compared with using annual time-matching and looser additionality standards, yielding a total cost of $2.7/kg to $4.5/kg depending on input costs. For comparison, the total cost of dirty hydrogen made from natural gas today is well under $2/kg.
Revealingly, though, some powerful industry voices do support this ruling. One is Andrés Gluski, head of AES, a utility investing in a $4bn green-hydrogen facility in northern Texas. He is confident his mega-project, which will use bespoke renewable energy made on site, will meet the tough new 45V proposals. Air Products, the world’s largest manufacturer of hydrogen, has made a $15bn global bet on clean hydrogen including a stake in that Texas facility. Seifi Ghasemi, its boss, applauds what he calls the “strong three-pillar” proposal which he reckons will stimulate investments while reducing emissions.
The schism suggests the trade-off between growth and greenery may not be as stark as it first seems. Guardrails are indeed needed to prevent greenwashing. This is especially true, notes Martin Tengler of BloombergNEF, an information firm, since making hydrogen with grid power is dirtier than, say, using grid power for electric vehicles (which are still cleaner than using petrol-fired engines). He argues that claims of a chilling effect on investment are overblown, and that although the pool of viable projects “is going to shrink, it is worth it”.
As the enthusiasm of the aspiring green-hydrogen tycoons reveals, there can be opportunity here in leapfrogging too. A big source of future revenue will be exports of green ammonia (a hydrogen derivative used in making fertiliser) to environmentally minded overseas markets like Japan and Europe, so long as it is demonstrably clean. Maria Martinez of Breakthrough Energy, a climate-policy organisation, argues that the draft rules put America’s hydrogen sector in alignment with Europe’s green rules, which will help those (like Air Products) keen to export there.
The new proposals are now open for public comment for two months. An almighty scrum will surely take place in the new year, involving fulmination from those senators whose advice was ignored. This will probably result in some modification of the strictest provisions. Even so, America looks likely to have pretty green rules for its nascent green-hydrogen sector. The open question is whether the resulting boost for leapfroggers will outweigh the loss from those laggards that drop out. ■
In the world of cryptocurrencies, a day without Gary Gensler’s criticism is incomplete. The head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has become a figure of controversy. Gensler’s role in regulating the $1 trillion crypto sector has been challenging.
Gensler Raises Concerns Over Fraud and Lack of Disclosure
SEC Chair Gary Gensler has expressed concerns about the high prevalence of fraud and bankruptcies in the cryptocurrency industry, stating that investors are not receiving sufficient disclosures from projects they invest in.
Gensler, who has previously highlighted the sector’s issues with wash trading and customer fund commingling, believes that there are “far too many frauds and bankruptcies” in the space. He also questioned the value proposition of most tokens that he views as securities, stating that many are simply speculative investment contracts.
His remarks come as the SEC reviews a number of outstanding rules that could impact the crypto industry, though he declined to prejudge them. The SEC chair emphasized the importance of caution and warned investors that they should be prepared to lose their entire investment if they invest in cryptocurrencies that are widely publicized.
Criticism Over Regulations
Some in the industry have called for him to withdraw a lawsuit against Ripple Labs, approve the first bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), and provide clarity for businesses hoping to launch and trade a crypto token without having to endure the SEC’s expensive and time-consuming registration process, others have introduced bills to defund parts of his agency and cut his salary and several other remarks.
His Stance On Cryptocurrencies
Gary Gensler has been a known proponent of regulating cryptocurrencies as securities. In his view, if a crypto trading platform lists certain tokens, it needs to separate out its brokerage function from its clearinghouse function from its exchange function. This idea that crypto exchanges should partition out these different types of businesses has been a contentious issue in the industry. Some argue that this is technologically impossible, while others criticize Gensler’s use of enforcement actions instead of explicit rulemaking or guidance.
Enforcement Actions Over Guidance
One of the major criticisms directed at Gary Gensler and his predecessor Jay Clayton is the reliance on enforcement actions instead of clear rulemaking or guidance in the crypto industry. This approach, which lacks explicit guidelines for companies, has sparked frustration among industry players.
Some in the crypto industry have expressed hate about the communication style of SEC Chair Gary Gensler, with some accusing him of excessive exuberance. While others acknowledge that he has valid points, they argue that his tone towards the industry seems overly enthusiastic. This criticism comes as Gensler continues to push for greater regulation of the crypto sector, which has been a source of controversy among industry players.
Balancing Act for SEC Chair Gensler
The challenges facing Gensler are not just limited to industry criticism, as the SEC has issued or proposed rules on a wide range of issues in 2023 alone. Crypto is only one small part of this larger mandate, leaving some to wonder how Gensler can balance all these competing priorities. As one employee of a crypto company put it, “Crypto is only one small part of that larger mandate.
Editor’s note: No ChatGPT was prompted to create this poem. Robert deserves all credit (or blame) for the twists on the original by Clement Clarke Moore.
’Twas the night before break, when all through our firms, No marketer stirring, not even interns.
Content was set in the calendar with care, With the hopes that AI might soon bring some flair.
Practitioners nestled, all snug in their beds, While names for Taylor and Travis danced in their heads.
Maybe Swelce, Tayvis, or Traylor is best, Not since Barbenheimer has there been such unrest.
Then my wife on TikTok, and I on Reddit, Had settled our brains from memes we’d embedded.
She smirked and asked, “Name a woman, can you?” In a fluster, I answered, “Someone like you!”
Apparently, I passed — she smiled and swiped up, Leaving me happy that I hadn’t effed up.
But then, in our house arose an explosion, I swiped to my Nest cam to see the commotion.
I couldn’t see much, so I sprang from my sheets, And scurried to see what was disturbing our peace.
I expected to spy a crashed Chinese balloon, Or Linda Yaccarino, loud excuses anew.
But what to my marketer’s eyes did appear, Pixels resembling Elon Musk with a beard.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, But his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
He looked, as Google said, elegant and grand — But on second glance, I spied something wrong with his hands.
Fingers combined like an alien elf, I laughed when I saw it, in spite of myself.
A St. Nick made with generative AI, In need of tech support because he wasn’t quite right.
He spoke not a word and went straight to his hot takes, Filling the web with awful written mistakes.
“Recession is coming; blogs are sure to fall. GenAI surely will replace us all!”
“Give me a post, the style of Joe Pulizzi.” LinkedIn comment spam, oh so very cringey.
He was no Santa, not even the minimum, Just a digital influencer working the algorithm.
But then came a clatter, a rattle, a hum, And a real sleigh entered my room from above.
The real Santa! His eyes, how they twinkled! And his hands – five digits each – properly crinkled!
With a whistle and shout, he rolled up on Threads, “I’m off of X,” he said. “Twitter is dead!”
Then, faster than Altman got fired and rehired, AI-generated Santa was duly retired.
Real Santa opened his bag, chock full of gifts, Promising all marketers would be given their wish.
“More budget, more resources, innovations galore! And a reliance on humans, more and more”.
“Now brand! Now creative! Now purpose and tech! Content ops! Strategy! Check, check, and check!”
Then, with a wink and a wave of farewell, He flew off with a whoosh, leaving a jingle-bell trail.
I felt great relief, with wonder and dreaming, Next year will be filled with a true focus on meaning.
Then I heard him exclaim, and he yelled with true cheer, “The right answer is Swelce! Have a happy new year!”
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
Troubled edtech major Byju’s has called for an Annual General Meeting(AGM) on December 20 to discuss various matters, including approving FY22 financials.
Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg, its founder, Byju Raveendran, has pledged his home and the houses owned by his family members as the company faces a cash crunch.
“The Annual General Meeting of the Members of Think & Learn Private Limited, the “Company”, will be held on Wednesday, 20th day of December 2023 at 6.00 p.m. through video conferencing (“VC’) or other audiovisual means (‘OAVM’),” the company said in a letter -reviewed by BL-
The company will pass a resolution to receive, consider and adopt the audited standalone and consolidated Financial Statements of the company got the FY ended March 31 2022, together with the report of the Board of Directors and Auditors, it said.
Byjus will also discuss the appointment of MSKA & Associates as statutory auditors of the company.
It will also discuss the remuneration of B Y & Associates, Cost Accountants, and the Cost Auditors of the company for the financial years 2022-22, 22-23 and 23-24
The founder reportedly has pledged two homes owned by the family in Bengaluru and an under-construction villa in a gated community to borrow $12 million. The money was used to pay salaries to the employees.
This comes a month after it announced partial or incomplete FY22 financials only reflecting its core operations, even after a delay of almost a year.
In November, Byju’s reported its delayed audited financial accounting for the year ended March 2022 — in parts — showing a 2.3 times growth in revenue to ₹3,569 crore in its standalone business.
According to a company statement, the EBITDA loss of the core business — financials for which were reported — was down to ₹2,253 crore in FY22 from ₹2,406 crore in the previous year.
Previously, Byju’s management had agreed with its investors that the company would be putting out FY22 results by the end of September and FY23 results by the end of December. This comes when Byju’s plans to lay off nearly 40% of its engineering team.
Does anyone still remember family game night? And can they please tell my teenagers about it? Ever since my kids became old enough to explore the internet and video games, getting them to sit down at the table for a board game has become much more difficult.
This story is part of Amazon Prime Day, CNET’s guide to everything you need to know and how to find the best deals.
When I’m desperate for nonscreen gaming, however, there’s one choice that almost always works. If you’re looking for an offline entertainment option for your family, consider One Night Ultimate Werewolf. Right now you can get it for just $20 on Amazon, or 20% off its $25 list price.
This social deduction game has a low barrier to entry, and players can contribute as much or as little to the gameplay as they would like. Deliberations in the game can often lead to hilarity, whether the players are 10 years old or 80.
You’ll need at least three players for One Night Ultimate Werewolf, and up to 10 can play easily, although the game works best with six or seven. At the start of the game, each player picks a card from the center and keeps it secret. There are two werewolf cards to choose from, and an assortment of villager cards with different roles like Seer, Robber and Troublemaker. All of the players with villager cards are trying to identify the werewolves, and the werewolves are trying to avoid detection.
The big twist? During the “night,” certain players can take actions that will change other players’ cards and thus roles, meaning a player who starts out as a werewolf might end up as a villager and vice versa. After the players determine their roles and place their cards face down in front of them, “night” falls, and everyone must close their eyes.
A mobile app keeps the game moving by eliminating the need for a human moderator.
Amazon
During the night, the players perform their actions according to a specific script based on which roles are being used. For example, the werewolves open their eyes first and identify each other. After they close their eyes, the Seer wakes up next and can look at one other player’s card. When the Seer’s turn is complete, the Robber opens their eyes and switches their card with another player. (Some characters, like the plain old Villagers, don’t complete any actions during the night.)
The script for each night can be read by a human player, or (of course) there’s also a mobile app that will read the script for you.
Once the players have taken all their actions, the night is over and everyone opens their eyes. Then players deliberate openly about which of the players are the werewolves. You can share as much or as little as you like about your card and the actions you took during the night. No players are required to volunteer any information at all.
At the end of deliberations (which can be as long as you like), a vote decides which of the players will be killed for being a werewolf. Each player points simultaneously to another player (or themselves), and the player who receives the most votes is killed.
If that person was a werewolf, the villagers win. If that person was a villager, the werewolves win. The shifting teams for each round and the lack of a scoring system make the game more attractive to players who don’t enjoy competition.
Bluffing is key to success for the werewolves, which can be a challenge for younger players who haven’t learned that lying is OK in some games, but trust me — they’ll catch on quickly. The thrill of fooling other players and the confusion it creates can be a powerful feeling, while often leading to very humorous discussions.
If you’re looking for a fun card game that the whole family can enjoy at any age, give One Night Ultimate Werewolf a shot.
For a Texas cardiologist who recently saved Santa Claus’ life, Christmas came early when Kris Kringle stopped by the hospital to express his gratitude.
Dennis Vaughan, 74 — along with his wife (“Mrs. Claus”) and their children and grandchildren — visited the helipad of Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston for a reunion with Dr. Anthony Estrera and the Life Flight crew who saved Vaughn’s life in September.
In keeping with the spirit of the season, Vaughan and his wife were all suited up for Christmas.
LITTLE GIRL IN MIAMI TELLS SANTA SHE DOESN’T WANT TO SIT ON HIS LAP AND HIS REACTION GOES VIRAL
Fox News Digital spoke with Vaughan, his wife and Dr. Estrera about the near-death experience, the life-saving measures taken by his care team — and the joyful reunion.
Vaughan, a retired welder, has been filling the role of Santa for the past several years.
For a Texas cardiologist who recently saved Santa Claus’ life, Christmas came early when Kris Kringle stopped by the hospital to express his gratitude.(Memorial Hermann Health System)
He and his wife make regular visits to Christmas parties, churches, day cares and schools during the holidays.
“It really brings joy to the kids — to see their faces light up when Santa walks in,” Vaughan told Fox News Digital. “It’s been really fun.”
Just before the start of the 2023 holiday season, Vaughan was about to head to a doctor’s appointment. But before they left the house, his wife found him seated with his head slumped over — he had passed out.
Dennis Vaughan and his wife have been dressing as Santa and Mrs. Claus for the past several years, stopping by churches, day cares and holiday parties.(Dennis Vaughan)
She called 911, and Vaughan was rushed to a local hospital, where it was determined that he’d had an aortic dissection, or a tear in the aorta, the largest artery in the body.
The tear caused internal bleeding around Vaughan’s heart, putting him at risk of death.
WHEN MEASURING HEART ATTACK RISK, ONE IMPORTANT RED FLAG IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED, DOCTORS SAY
“They thought he had died because he was so pale and he was losing blood,” Vaughan’s wife told Fox News Digital.
Doctors told her that Vaughan would have died within 30 minutes without immediate medical attention.
Recalling the incident through tears, Vaughan said, “If it had been my time to go, I had made my peace with God.”
Vaughan is shown arriving on the helipad to reunite with his doctor and LifeFlight team.(Memorial Hermann Health System)
After the diagnosis, Vaughan was transported to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center by LifeFlight.
Estrera, professor and chair at UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular, performed emergency surgery and replaced the torn aorta with a graft — a procedure that he compared to a plumber replacing a broken section of pipe.
“It was an absolute team effort — everything had to work perfectly,” Estrera told Fox News Digital.
DEAF GIRL FINALLY TELLS SANTA WHAT SHE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS AFTER ELF HELPS HER ‘SIGN’ HER WISH LIST
“He was hypertensive and in shock and every minute mattered,” the doctor said. “We went straight from the helicopter pad to the operating room.”
The dissection had caused bleeding into and around Vaughan’s heart, which is why he passed out.
“Mr. Vaughan had a lot of angels looking after him that day.”
“He had no blood flow going anywhere — so we had to operate as soon as possible to release the blood so that we could get some heart function back and then rebuild his aorta, which is the main pipe of the body.”
Estrera was able to rebuild the portion of the aorta that had been dissected.
Vaughan was emotional as he greeted Dr. Estrera and members of the LifeFlight team who saved his life. “It was important for me to give thanks to them,” he said.(Memorial Hermann Health System)
“If there had been even a moment’s delay, he wouldn’t be with us,” the doctor said. “Mr. Vaughan had a lot of angels looking after him that day.”
Gazing ahead, Vaughan will need to manage his blood pressure, Estrera noted, as high pressure can affect the stress forces on the aortic wall.
HOLIDAY PHOTO HUNT: HOW FAST CAN YOU FIND SANTA’S MISSING RED HAT?
Adhering to a healthy diet and avoiding smoking will also help prevent future heart events, the doctor said.
“He has no big restrictions — although he probably shouldn’t be lifting 100-pound bags or anything like that,” Estrera joked. “All in all, he can live a normal life.”
Two months after Vaughan’s near-death experience, he and his wife had an emotional reunion with the medical team at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston on Wednesday.
Vaughan embraces members of his medical care team during the emotional reunion.( Memorial Hermann Health System)
Dressed in his Santa uniform, Vaughan hugged Estrera and the LifeFlight crew as he broke into tears. Mrs. Claus handed out homemade Christmas cookies to everyone.
Vaughan told Fox News Digital that he felt compelled to share his gratitude with the people who saved him.
“It was important for me to give thanks to them,” he said.
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Vaughan and his wife are looking forward to a relaxing holiday with their two children and six grandchildren.
They plan to return to the Santa circuit next year, after he’s had some time to rest and recover.
What to know about aortic dissections
While aortic dissections are not as common as heart attacks, Estrera emphasized that they do happen.
Although Vaughan’s initial doctors identified the diagnosis when he was brought in, the condition is often overlooked.
Vaughan and his wife are pictured with their six grandchildren. (Dennis Vaughan)
“The problem is people don’t recognize it when folks are presenting with chest pain,” Estrera said.
“That’s why it’s so important to increase awareness of this situation. When someone’s having chest pain, it’s more often a heart attack, but you can’t forget about the other diagnoses because the treatments are completely different.”
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The main risk factors for aortic dissection are high blood pressure, smoking and family history.
“This runs in families 20% of the time,” said Estrera. “That’s why it’s important to be aware of folks who may have a family history or have had a sudden death.”
The doctor added, “If Mr. Vaughan [had] died and never gotten an autopsy, people would have just assumed it was a heart attack or stroke.”
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.
Christmas 2023: Christmas celebrations are incomplete without a swig of rum. If a plum cake is not enough to get you into high spirits, rum-based cocktails are perfect to make your Christmas celebrations merrier. Besides warming your body and soul, rum drinks act as the ideal party starters over hearty conversations and satiating food. For those who find the taste of rum a bit too heavy and dark, concoctions made with rum and other sweet ingredients offer the punch of taste and verve. If you are planning to host a Christmas party or want to enjoy the festivities in an intimate gathering of loved ones, these rum cocktails will make your party a hit, with all. The best part – it takes just a few minutes to make them!
Christmas 2023: Here Are 7 Rum Cocktail Recipes For Your Christmas Party:
1. Rum Punch
Give a punch of joy to your Christmas feast with this cocktail made with the eclectic combination of pineapple, lemon, peach juice and of course, rum. Click here for the recipe for the Rum Punch cocktail.
2. Snow Shower
A perfect drink to enjoy the snow shower this holiday season, this cocktail imbues the creamy flavour of coconut cream mixed with pineapple juice and coconut-flavoured rum. Click here for the easy recipe for Snow Shower cocktail.
3. The Elixir
If you are looking for a simple recipe to turn your glass of rum into a lip-smacking drink, this recipe is for you. Just add some lemon juice, honey and tonic water and you’re done. Click here for the complete recipe for The Elixir cocktail.
(Also Read: Christmas 2022: 47 Places Across India Offering Christmas-Special Deals)
Christmas 2023: The Elixir is a delicious cocktail made with rum. Photo: iStock
4. Classic Mojito
Make the ever-so-popular mojito with white rum combined with lemon, sugar syrup, mint leaves and soda. Don’t forget to decorate it with a few sprigs of mint leaves. Click here for the recipe for Classic Mojito rum cocktail.
5. Desi Masala
If the ‘desi’ in you won’t settle for anything that is not masaledaar, make this cocktail with rum, green chillies, red chilli flakes, salt and lemon juice. Add guava juice to balance the flavours. Click here for the recipe for the Desi Masala cocktail.
(Also Read: Christmas 2022: 7 Quick And Easy Christmas Dinner Recipes You Must Try)
Christmas 2023: Spice it up with the help of this desi masala cocktail.
6. Utterly Simple
As the name suggests, this cocktail is utterly simple to make. Just add some hot apple juice and cinnamon stick to your glass of rum and enjoy a soul-warming drink. Click here for the recipe for Utterly Simple cocktail.
7. Caribbean Passion
Bring the holiday feel to your Christmas party with this drink made with passion fruit rum, lemon rum and coconut rum. The addition of basil leaves and pineapple juice will make it even better. Click here for the recipe for the Caribbean Passion cocktail.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday announced that the counternarcotics authorities of China and the U.S. are resuming regular communication.
Speaking at a regular press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin pointed out that carrying out counternarcotics cooperation is one of the important common understandings reached between the two presidents during their meeting in San Francisco.
To deliver on that, the U.S. side has lifted sanctions on relevant Chinese law enforcement institutes while China has been engaged in campaigns against fentanyl and its precursors, and cracked down on illegal and criminal activities involving the smuggling, illicit manufacturing, trafficking and abuse of fentanyl-related substances, Wang stressed.
According to the spokesperson, China has carried out a sweeping inspection of key businesses, personnel and equipment and has been working to clean up information about online sales of fentanyl, and strictly prevent the smuggling and trafficking of relevant chemical substances to protect people’s physical and mental health.
The Chinese side has notified the U.S. side of the progress made in U.S.-related law enforcement operations against narcotics, Wang noted, adding that China has responded to the U.S. request for verifying clues on certain cases and actions taken.
The two sides are in close communication on setting up a working group on counternarcotics cooperation, he added.
Wang also said that resuming China-U.S. counternarcotics cooperation has not come easy and needs to be doubly cherished by both sides.
He voiced the hope that the U.S. side will show sincerity, work with China in the same direction and continue to carry out practical counternarcotics cooperation based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.
(Cover: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin speaks at a regular press conference in Beijing, China, December 22, 2023. /Chinese Foreign Ministry)
Shortly after signing their prenuptial agreement the morning of Dec. 7 in Miami, Barbara Guggenheim and Alan Joel Patricof were, as usual, watching the clock. Not because they were counting the days until they were married — they are so in love, both said, that this was a given — but because that’s what their lifestyles dictate.
“I think breakneck is the only speed Alan knows,” said Ms. Guggenheim, who lives in Malibu, Calif. She wasn’t exactly idle that morning either. Before the ink on the prenup was dry, several clients were awaiting her at Art Basel, the international art fair that brought her to Miami.
Ms. Guggenheim, 77, and Mr. Patricof, 89, have known each other since the early 1970s, before either had established what would become formidable reputations — Ms. Guggenheim as an art adviser to clients including Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg, and Mr. Patricof in business.
Both were living in Manhattan when a mutual friend, the art historian Jonathan Brown, brought them together for dinners on the town. They were a party of six in those days: Ms. Guggenheim and an art dealer boyfriend, Mr. Patricof and his wife, Susan, and Mr. Brown and his wife, Sandra (Mr. Brown died in 2022).
The meet-ups were infrequent, both recall, but the company was memorable. “Alan liked new adventures,” Ms. Guggenheim said. “He was always willing to try out new restaurants. And he was lively and interested in art history or whatever the conversation was.” Mr. Patricof liked Ms. Guggenheim’s passion for art, and her hustle. “Barbara was always very knowledgeable and hardworking,” he said.
Mr. Patricof started his first firm, Alan Patricof Associates, in 1969, before “venture capital” was familiar business parlance and shorthand for how to breathe life into promising startups. That company later became Apax Partners. A second firm, Greycroft Partners, where he is still chairman emeritus, opened in 2006 and invested in companies including what was then known as the Huffington Post, Axios and Wondery. In 2020, he and a partner founded Primetime Partners, a fund that invests in goods, services and technology for people over 60. He is still the chairman there.
Bootstraps helped him conquer the corporate world. Born in New York in 1934 to immigrant parents — his mother, Dorine, was from Belarus; his father, Martin, was Ukrainian — Mr. Patricof was selling the Saturday Evening Post in the subway at age 6. “We lived a very careful life,” he said. “My parents had just enough to scrape by and educate their children,” which included his two younger sisters. “I didn’t get on a plane or ride in a taxi until the middle of college.”
At Ohio State University, he studied finance, graduating with a bachelor’s degree after three years. Two years later, he earned an M.B.A. from Columbia while working as an analyst for an investment firm.
An early marriage, in 1958, ended in divorce in 1966 after the first of his three sons, Mark, now 59, was born. In 1970, he married Susan, who became a well-known philanthropist, supporting children and global health. “My wife was brilliant and beautiful, and she was the sweetest person in the world,” he said. Ms. Patricof died of Alzheimer’s disease in January 2021; the couple had two sons, Jon, 50, and Jamie, 47.
Ms. Guggenheim, despite her familiar name, comes from a family that is entirely distinct from the one behind the Guggenheim museums and foundation. She grew up attending Quaker school in Woodbury, N.J., with a younger sister, Eileen Guggenheim Wilkinson. Their parents, Lester and Sylvia Guggenheim, owned dress shops, but Sylvia was more passionate about art than fashion.
That passion rubbed off on both girls. Ms. Guggenheim Wilkinson is chair of the board at the New York Academy of Art and a former aide to King Charles III; both sisters have doctorate degrees in art history. Before Ms. Guggenheim earned hers, from Columbia, she worked as a lecturer at the Whitney Museum of American Art to finance her way through graduate school. Her master’s degree in art history also came from Columbia. Her bachelor’s degree in art history is from Douglass College at Rutgers University.
“I’ve seen the art world from different angles,” she said, including as the entrepreneur behind the ’70s-era Art Tours of Manhattan, which brought visitors to art studios and galleries, and as the head of the American Painting Department at the auction house Christie’s.
In 1981, she founded an art advisory company that morphed into Guggenheim, Asher Associates. She is still president there. She didn’t marry Bert Fields, an entertainment lawyer known for representing Hollywood film studios and clients including George Lucas, Michael Jackson, Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman, until 1991, when she was in her early 40s.
The couple had no children but several homes. “I collect houses, not art,” said Ms. Guggenheim, who owns four but considers Malibu her primary residence. “I don’t want to compete with my clients.”
Like Mr. Patricof’s, her marriage was enduring. When Mr. Fields died last year of complications from long Covid, Mr. Patricof went to the memorial in Los Angeles. And because the couples had socialized throughout the years, Ms. Guggenheim, likewise, mourned with Mr. Patricof when Susan, whom she had long admired, died.
Binge more Vows columns here and read all our wedding, relationship and divorce coverage here.
“We both had great marriages,” Mr. Patricof said. Their decision this fall to start a new one together surprised them more than it surprised friends.
“I think them finding each other was a comfort they didn’t expect,” said Dr. Wayne Winnick, a sports medicine doctor who has been close with Mr. Patricof for more than 30 years.
They’re as well matched energetically as they are socially, he said. Mr. Patricof runs marathons — last year, he was the oldest person to complete the New York City Marathon — and Ms. Guggenheim is a competitive ballroom dancer. Both write books in their spare time. Mr. Patricof’s “No Red Lights: Reflections on Life, 50 Years in Venture Capital and Never Driving Alone,” published by Post Hill Press, came out last year; Ms. Guggenheim has written five books on art, including “Art World: The New Rules of the Game,” published by Marmont Lane in 2017, and is working on a collection of stories.
Neither would call the courtship traditional. In 2020, when Ms. Patricof’s disease had progressed so much she was confined to the couple’s Upper East Side apartment, Mr. Patricof often found himself in need of a partner for social obligations. “I told my children and my friends, don’t be surprised if you see me out with someone,” he said. “Barbara and I were both unbelievably dedicated to our marriages. But it’s tough to be alone.”
Ms. Guggenheim, on the West Coast, was too far away to be in his lineup of possible companions. She was also busy caring for Mr. Fields, whose health was declining. But she helped in another way. “Alan would need a plus-one, and I would vet them,” she said. By 2022, she was noticing a shift in how she felt about her vetting duties.
When visiting New York, “I would go places with him, and if we ran into someone he had gone out with or was going to go out with, I felt a little pang of jealousy,” she said. Both went on a few blind dates after their spouses died, but by the end of 2022, “I think we both came to the conclusion that we’d rather be with each other than with anyone else,” she added.
Both reject the idea that their romance was built on convenience. “It’s nice to be with someone who fits in with your friends and your family,” Mr. Patricof said. “But it’s as simple as, we fell in love. We have a love affair now.” As Ms. Guggenheim put it, “I always laugh, because people probably think we’re two old losers who just decided, let’s glue it together. It’s not like that.”
The relationship glue known as marriage hadn’t occurred to either when they were at a cocktail party in September in the Hamptons and a friend congratulated them on their engagement. “He mentioned the name of a mutual friend who had told him we were getting married,” Mr. Patricof said. The friend had started the rumor — neither knows why, but both found it amusing. A few days later, they took a long walk in East Hampton. “I said, ‘Since he said it, why don’t we do it?’”
Among the things Ms. Guggenheim loves about Mr. Patricof, she said, is that he’s game. That day, she was game. She said yes.
On Dec. 10, they were married in the Park Avenue apartment Mr. Patricof has lived in since 1970. Just 40 family members and a few close friends had been invited.
David Gelfand, the rabbi at Temple Israel of the City of New York, officiated a traditional Jewish ceremony. Before each stomped a glass to mark the start of their marriage, Rabbi Gelfand told guests the wedding was life affirming. “People their age are typically going to funerals,” he said. Not them.
Mr. Patricof often tells people he expects to live to 114. “I promised Barbara we’d have 25 years together,” he said. She’s counting on it. “Alan is irresistible,” she said.
On This Day
When Dec. 10, 2023
Where Park Avenue, New York
Recycled Rings During the ceremony, the couple exchanged rings. But not new ones. Each gave the other the band they had worn in their previous marriages. “Our marriages were both long and good,” Ms. Guggenheim said. “We figured it was a good omen.”
Something Spectacular Ms. Guggenheim turned 77 on her wedding day. During a reception in the apartment, while guests sipped bellinis and mimosas and helped themselves to a buffet of lox and bagels, a bouquet of flowers arrived. “In the middle of everything, I got birthday flowers from Tom Cruise,” she said. It was not a small bouquet. “He does nothing that’s not spectacular.”
And Something Signature For her short walk down the living room aisle, she carried a lily of the valley bouquet — her mother’s favorite flower — and wore a white Dior pantsuit she pulled from her closet. Mr. Patricof wore his signature outfit, a blue suit from J. Crew.
Collection Intact Ms. Guggenheim will move to New York in the new year, though she will hang onto her other properties, including the Malibu home.
In a recent article published by Oxford Academic, authors discussed a number of ways that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) could transform biomedical research and healthcare. This includes enhancing operational efficiency, reducing costs, improving diagnostics, identifying therapeutic targets, and enabling personalized treatment. Despite these opportunities, challenges, such as responsible and ethical implementation, workforce diversity, and equitable access, remain.1
The article makes mention of Monica Bertagnolli, director of the National Institutes of Health, highlighting in a related piece, the need for a multidisciplinary approach involving researchers, clinicians, patients, community organizations, social scientists, equity researchers, and policy experts to optimize AI/ML outcomes.2 Authors also point to President Biden’s recent executive order on AI’s safe development, emphasizing the importance of responsible implementation, considering privacy, security, and civil rights.3
“As Bertagnolli rightfully points out, a multidisciplinary perspective is required to achieve these important goals—one that is inclusive of not only researchers and clinicians but also patients and community organizations, social scientists and equity researchers, and policy and legal experts,” the authors wrote.
ML, as a University of Colorado School of Medicine report notes, can be used to enhance the power of physicians and healthcare professionals, ranging from using closed captioning on a video call with a patient, to something more challenging, such as discovering new personalized medicine treatments for rare diseases.4 ML, the report adds, has evolved at a rapid pace in the last 10 years. CU School of Medicine mentions a 2014 joke about computers taking hours to identify a bird in a photo. Nowadays, a simple phone app can watch a birdfeeder, inform you when one arrives, and identify what type of bird it is.4
Oxford Academic authors acknowledge that there will be further equity challenges in AI/ML implementation, including hurdles in workforce diversity and geographic biases, potential for unintentionally discriminatory algorithms, and possible post-approval application inequities and digital divides.
“To ensure equity, prevent unintended consequences, and maximize AI’s impact and achievements, governance must instead be iterative and dynamic, capable of capturing the broad view of development and evolution of AI across sectors and across all facets of health and medicine,5” the authors wrote. “As described in a recent report from the National Academies and the NAM—Toward Equitable Innovation in Health and Medicine: A Framework—this will require considering the many types of equity in science and technology innovation and how to incorporate them across stages of the innovation life cycle—from conceiving and embarking on an idea, to research and development, to technological evaluation, to access and use of technology, through post-market evaluation and long-term learning. Governance for AI/ML must be able to address the various needs at every stage in the technological life cycle.”
Further improvements to scale and infrastructure are recommended as well. Citing international collaborative efforts, the authors believe that working together will be necessary to achieve scale and avoid costly duplicative efforts. Federal efforts to make this happen, the article cites, include Vice President Kamala Harris’s involvement in the AI Safety Summit. Furthermore, the US Department of State has been heavily involved in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development AI Policy Observatory, a platform, the authors explain, that is aimed to shape global public policies for responsible, trustworthy, and beneficial AI. Lastly, according to the article, the US is a member of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), an international and multistakeholder initiative to guide the responsible development and use of AI, grounded in human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and economic growth.
Oxford Academic authors call for a holistic approach to implementation of AI/ML, emphasizing the importance of equity throughout the process. Other vital aspects include making major advances in infrastructure; building out a dynamic, mission-driven governance framework for continuing innovation; and expanding capacity for international collaboration to address the major health challenges of our time.
References
1. Achieving the promise of artificial intelligence in health and medicine: Building a foundation for the future. Oxford Academic. December 19, 2023. https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/2/12/pgad410/7477225?login=false
2. Bertagnolli, M. Advancing Health Through Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning: The Critical Importance of Multidisciplinary Collaboration. 2023. PNAS Nexus. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad356
3. The White House Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. October 30, 2023. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/
4.How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Health Care. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. October 25, 2023. Accessed December 21, 2023. https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/how-artificial-intelligence-is-changing-health-care
5. Mathews, DJH; Balatbat, CA; Dzau, VJ. Governance of Emerging Technologies in Health and Medicine—Creating a New Framework. 2022. N Engl J Med. 386 (23), 2239-2242. https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMms2200907?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
Queens occasionally reject kittens who appear to be ill or spend less time caring for weaker ones when they have particularly large litters and not enough milk to provide adequate nourishment for all their babies. Mother cats sometimes stop giving their kittens attention but can also actively attack them, for a variety of reasons.
Once kittens get older, the reasons mother cats may go on the attack vary from teaching boundaries to weaning. Contact your veterinarian for advice if you become concerned about your cat’s behavior or the kittens’ welfare. Keep reading to learn more about four possible reasons mother cats attack older kittens.
The 4 Reasons a Mother Cat May Attack Their Older Kittens
1. Weaning
When cats are born, they’re dependent on their mothers for nutrition. As kittens age, their mothers encourage them to eat regular food by pushing them away when they want to cuddle up and nurse.
The process can continue until cats are entirely weaned, and most kittens need about 6-8 weeks before they’re fully weaned. If your cat appears to be reacting assertively, specifically when her older kittens approach to nurse, there’s likely nothing to be worried about as it’s probably just part of the natural weaning process.
Image Credit: Christiane Höfer, Pixabay
2. Teaching Boundaries
Cats sometimes react aggressively when things become too heated during playtime. Mother cats are primarily responsible for teaching their babies how to interact with and get along with other cats and navigate the world. Cats often growl, bite, and use aggression to tell their feline friends it’s time to back off.
If your cat is biting or hitting her kittens when they get carried away while playing, she’s likely teaching them their boundaries. The mother and her kittens usually calm down after she disciplines them.
3. Redirected Aggression
Scared cats sometimes attack people and animals that have nothing to do with what’s upsetting them. For instance, a cat who is upset with the family dog may attack the nearest bystander instead of the dog; it’s called redirected aggression and can also be triggered by things your cat sees happening outside.
If your cat reacts aggressively toward her kittens after a showdown with another pet, it may be redirected aggression. Allowing cats the time and space to calm down is critical when it comes to controlling this sort of behavior.
Image Credit: Alfiya Safuanova, Shutterstock
4. Pain
Cats often hide signs they’re not feeling well; it’s an adaptation that helped them survive in the wild. It’s notoriously difficult to identify signs of illness in cats, as they’re often subtle and marked by minor changes. Cats that aren’t feeling well often withdraw and lose interest in interacting with people they usually want to spend every minute with, and they can even lash out when feeling particularly under the weather.
Some bite and become aggressive when painful parts of their bodies are touched. If your cat generally appears to be lethargic or you’ve observed other behavioral changes, make an appointment with your vet to ensure nothing else is going on that could be causing the behavior.
Conclusion
Mother cats can become aggressive toward older kittens for several reasons, including setting limits and weaning. Pain can also motivate this sort of behavior. Mother cats can go on the offensive when kittens’ play becomes a bit too enthusiastic.
Getting rid of stressors and ensuring cats have comfortable environments that meet their needs can often go a long way toward reducing overly assertive behavior in pets. Keep in mind that punishing cats for aggressive conduct makes the situation worse. Cats showing signs of illness, such as lethargy, lack of appetite, or withdrawal, should always be seen by a veterinarian so that they can be diagnosed and treated.
Featured Image Credit: Volodymyr Plysiuk, Shutterstock
The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) has gained momentum in addressing consumer complaints, with State authorities resolving 1,16,300 cases as of November 28, 2023, according to data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Out of the total, Uttar Pradesh led with 38 per cent (44,602 cases), followed by Haryana with 20,604 cases (18 per cent) and Maharashtra with 15,423 cases (13 per cent, jointly accounting for 69 per cent of resolved cases nationwide, states ANAROCK Property Consultants.
Maharashtra dominates project registrations under RERA, constituting 36 per cent, while Tamil Nadu (16 per cent), Telangana (11 per cent), and Gujarat (7 per cent) follow.
In fact, registrations for projects and real estate agents under RERA have also been increasing steadily. Nationally, 116,117 projects and 82,755 real estate brokers were registered by November 28, 2023, marking a 63 per cent and 47 per cent growth, respectively, over the previous two years.
Also read: IBBI seeks to smoothen insolvency processes for real estate projects
“Resolving homebuyer concerns is one of the main functions of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, which it has been demonstrably fulfilling,” said Anuj Puri, Chairman – ANAROCK Group. “More than 1.16 lakh consumer complaints have been handled by the various State and Union Territories’ RERA bodies, according to official data from MoHUA. Over the previous two years, the pace of project and real estate agent registrations was not slowed down,” he added.
Almost all States/UTs have notified rules under RERA. The North-Eastern State of Nagaland is still under process to notify its rules, while West Bengal – which earlier enacted its own legislation – was challenged on this by MoHUA before the Supreme Court. In March 2022, the apex court struck down the West Bengal Housing Industry Regulation Act, 2017 (WBHIRA), stating that it overlapped with RERA, which was enacted a law in the Parliament.
With 32 States/UTs having a functional Real Estate Regulatory Authority, Ladakh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Sikkim are yet to establish theirs. Real Estate Appellate Tribunals have been set up in 28 States/UTs, with Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, West Bengal, and Sikkim in progress.
Websites under RERA provisions are operational in 30 States/UTs, while Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur are in the process of implementation.
Moreover, adjudicating officers have been appointed in 26 States/UTs, with 10, including Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh yet to do so. The Supreme Court’s decision in March 2022 struck down the West Bengal Housing Industry Regulation Act, 2017, acknowledging its overlap with RERA.
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.
KONAČNO je krenulo Steam zimsko sniženje. Traje do 4. siječnja, a na visokim ćete popustima pronaći indie, AAA i sve igre između. Neki popusti dosežu i 90%, a na popustu su i kompletni serijali, tako da se svakako isplati pregledati ovosezonsku ponudu. Ako još uvijek razmišljate što pokloniti gejmeru, vjerujemo da će vam ova prilika i više nego dobro doći. Evo što je nama privuklo pozornost.
DOOM serijal
Cijela DOOM franšiza je na sniženju, a popusti na pojedine naslove dosežu čak 80%. Dostupan je i DOOM franchise bundle u kojemu dobivate DOOM, DOOM Eternal Deluxe Edition, DOOM 3, DOOM 64, DOOM II i DOOM 1993 za 27.98 eura (210.81 kn), što je popust od 76% u odnosu na ukupnu cijenu svih ovih igara bez popusta, koja iznosi 114.94 eura (866.01 kn).
Battlefield serijal
Na sniženju je i kompletan serijal Battlefield, a popusti na pojedinačne igre iznose i 92%. Konkretno, Battlefield 3 i Battlefield V su dostupni po cijeni od samo 3.20 eura (24.11 kn) i 4 eura (30.13 kn)
Resident Evil serijal
Još jedan važan serijal kojim se možete počastiti na velikom sniženju jest Resident Evil. Sniženja sežu do 83%, tako da ćete Resident Evil 2 i Resident Evil 3 svaki platiti 9.99 eura (75.26 kn), a Resident Evil 6 samo 5.09 eura (38.35 kn).
Cyberpunk 2077
Jedan od najiščekivanijih naslova 2020. i danas je jedan od najpopularnijih na Steamu. Cyberpunk 2077 na sniženju je od 50% te ga možete kupiti po cijeni od 29.99 eura (225.95 kn). Ako vam je zanimljiviji Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, koji sadrži Cyberpunk 2077 i Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, ostvarit ćete popust od 43%, odnosno platiti 51.04 eura (384.56 kn).
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Dead by Daylight
Ljubiteljima survival horror igara Dead by Daylight je dobro poznat naslov, a trenutno su na sniženju osnovna igra i većina DLC-jeva. Dostupni su i bundleovi koji uključuju osnovnu igru i DLC-jeve. Osnovna igra snižena je 65% te je dostupna po cijeni od 6.99 eura (52.66 kn).
The Elder Scrolls Online
Jedan od najpopularnijih RPG-ova snižen je za čak 70% te je dostupan po cijeni od 5.99 eura (45.13 kn). Iako je prvi put izdan 2014., gotovo 10 godina kasnije uživa vrlo visoku popularnost. Tijekom zimske rasprodaje možete kupiti i kolekciju Necrom, koja uključuje osnovnu igru i dodatna poglavlja za 19.79 eura (149.10 kn).
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
Jedna od najpopularnijih strateških igara na nevjerojatnom je sniženju od 90% te je možete kupiti po cijeni od 5.99 eura (45.13 kn). Dostupan je i bundle koji sadrži osnovnu igru i DLC-jeve za 24.86 eura (187.30 kn), što je sniženje od 88% i zaista sjajna prilika.
Sea of Stars
Ova indie igra izašla je prije tek nekoliko mjeseci, a već je jedna od popularnijih na Steamu. Cijena je snižena 20% te iznosi 27.19 eura (204.86 kn), a prije kupnje igru možete isprobati. Dostupan je kratak demo koji će vas uvesti u svijet ove igre i uz koji ćete lako zaključiti želite li nastaviti istraživati ili ne.
Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?
Rams running back Kyren Williams revered one star above all others at SoFi Stadium Thursday, and it wasn’t who you might think.
It wasn’t new Dodger Shohei Ohtani, though the two-way standout’s appearance on the field before the game and in the team’s locker room afterward turned a bunch of supposedly blasé professional athletes into stunned little kids, so impressed were they by his size and presence.
After Williams ran 10 yards off left guard in the third quarter to score the touchdown that helped launch the Rams to a 30-22 victory over New Orleans and solidified their hold on an NFC wild-card playoff spot, he ran directly to the stands, ball in hand. He tossed it to his mom, Taryn, achieving another major goal in a season dotted with impressive feats.
Earlier in the game, he had reached a milestone by passing 1,000 yards rushing, the first Ram to do that since Todd Gurley in 2018. But the experience of tossing the ball to his mother, the brightest star in his life, was almost overwhelming for him.
“That was everything. That was literally everything,” he said of throwing the ball to his mother after his 104-yard rushing performance, his sixth this season of 100 or more yards rushing.
“I can’t explain it to you because she knows, and I say ‘we’ because we went through it together,” he said. “Since I was young, I’ve always been overlooked. Always been doubted. And I’m finally on the stage where I’ve waited my whole life to be on. It’s being able to share that moment with her, and for her to have her screen time.”
His run was perfect. So was his timing in being within throwing distance.
“That was my first time scoring on that side of the end zone,” he said, smiling. “I’ve been waiting, like, since the first game of the season to go throw a ball at her. She was front row, front center, and I had to do it, and it was fun.”
Stardom is currency here in southern California. Williams and rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua were fifth-round draft picks — Williams in 2022 out of Notre Dame and Nacua this year out of Brigham Young — and were unheralded when they arrived.
But if they began as understudies, they’ve become stars in classic Hollywood fashion, bringing skill and life and depth to a Rams team that was expected to measure progress in small steps this season but instead has jumped ahead in happy leaps and big bounds.
They’re 8-7 after winning their regular-season home finale and the odds favor them for a playoff spot.
Nacua was targeted 11 times Thursday by quarterback Matthew Stafford and caught nine passes for 164 yards and one touchdown. He also picked up 16 yards rushing on two carries, but his biggest thrill might have been seeing Ohtani wearing a Rams jersey with number 17 on it, Nacua’s number.
“I looked up to the big screen and they were showing him on the camera and it put a big smile on my face,” said Nacua, who had watched the Lakers’ game Monday from a prime spot just behind celebrity row.
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani watches the Rams beat the New Orleans Saints from Rams owner Stan Kroenke’s suite.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
“Seeing him rock the 17, I thought it was cool.”
It’s Nacua’s world, and we’re all just living in it. His name has been mentioned for offensive rookie of the year honors, and deservedly so. Nacua has racked up 1,327 yards receiving with two games left, putting him within reach of the rookie receiving record of 1,473 set in 1960 by Bill Groman of the Houston Oilers in a 14-game season.
“It’s cool. It’s not my main goal,” Nacua said of the record. “It’s been fun to be a part of every football game that we’ve been playing since we were able to come back from the bye.
“What coach has been preaching is these games that we’re playing in December, the playoffs have already begun for us. To be in that playoff mindset has been fun. It’s definitely something that I’m not used to, that we’re playing late into December, so I’m finding ways to adjust to that, but it’s been super fun.”
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua breaks a tackle against the Saints.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Williams, who missed four games earlier this season because of an ankle injury, showed no signs of repeating the two fumbles he committed last Sunday in the Rams’ 28-20 victory over the Washington Commanders. He was sure-handed, confident, and effective in giving the Rams a valuable run-pass balance.
“We’re different when he plays. You just look at it,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “The energy, the production, just the overall work ethic, there’s so many guys on this team that you just say man, they are exactly what we’re looking for in Rams. I love him and I’m so proud of the way that he responded.
“And he did that last week in the game. We saw him respond in the game. You look at the amount of work that we’re giving him, for him to be able to get his body turned over on a Thursday night, to have the production that he had, to play with the toughness, it’s been outstanding, and there’s a lot of guys that are in that mold. Kyren, I’m so happy for him. It’s just awesome to see him get his flowers that he deserves.”
The Dodgers have added a couple of megastars in Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but a couple of stars have been born as Rams this season, in Nacua and Williams. Their light is just beginning to glow.
Google-owned YouTube has rolled out “BrandConnect”, the company’s branded content platform, for eligible creators and select advertisers in India.
With this, the company said that it wants to make it easy for creators, top brands, and leading agencies to partner, create, promote, and measure sponsored creator content.
“This will help brands execute their branded content campaigns more seamlessly by identifying the right mix and profile of creators to work with, while creators will have a new avenue to be discovered and earn more from their content,” Google said in a blogpost on Thursday.
Beyond giving everyone a stage, the company stated that it also wants to give people a workshop with the right tools to spark creativity, a creative studio to bring these ideas to life, a spotlight to help audiences discover the content they love, and their own personal box-office that helps them earn more revenue.
In addition, the company also introduced a new Podcasts feature, which is being gradually rolled out to all listeners in India. “We’ve begun rolling this out to all our listeners in India gradually. New features in YouTube Studio make it easier to publish podcasts, while Podcast shelves on the YouTube Music homepage will help improve discovery for listeners and increase engagement for creators,” Google said.
The tech giant also added, “With podcasts available for on-demand, offline & background listening on YouTube Music in India, it unlocks the opportunity to earn more on the platform via ads and subscriptions.”
Meanwhile, YouTube has added play counts for every song in its Music app and broadened the availability of the generative AI creator for playlist art. Users will now see the play count for every track when they browse an album or public playlist generated by YouTube Music.
Motorists were stranded in their vehicles on flooded roadways in typically idyllic Santa Barbara on Thursday, while nearby Oxnard got a month’s worth of rain in a single hour in a storm that pummeled Southern California while Christmas travel got underway.
A man walks past a submerged vehicle on a flooded street, in Santa Barbara, California. Christmas travel snarl: Pacific storm creates chaos for holiday commuters in California (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The downpours targeted Ventura and Santa Barbara counties northwest of Los Angeles County overnight, swamping areas in the cities of Port Hueneme, Oxnard and Santa Barbara, where a police detective carried a woman on his back after the SUV she was riding in got stuck in knee-deep floodwaters.
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Between midnight and 1 a.m., the storm dumped 3.18 inches (8.08 centimeters) of rainfall in downtown Oxnard, surpassing the area’s average of 2.56 inches (6.50 centimeters) for the entire month of December, according to the National Weather Service.
The deluge prompted flash flooding in Ventura County around 1:30 a.m., the weather service said. Later in the morning, streets began filling with water in parts of Santa Barbara as the storm delivered another deluge. By midday, the rain and wind had eased and residents ventured outside to look at the damage.
Sven Dybdahl, owner of olive oil and vinegar store Viva Oliva in downtown Santa Barbara, said he had trouble finding dry routes to work Thursday morning, but most of the heavy rains and flooding had receded shortly before 11 a.m. He said he was grateful that the weather is only expected to be an issue for a few days at the tail end of the holiday shopping season, otherwise he’d be worried about how the rains would affect his store’s bottom line.
“It will have an impact but thankfully it’s happening quite late,” he said.
By late afternoon, the city of Port Hueneme had lifted evacuation orders for residences on four streets. About 60 houses were affected by the orders, all in a senior citizen community, said Firefighter Andy VanSciver, a Ventura County fire spokesperson. An evacuation center was set up at a college gymnasium.
Three people from the senior community were taken to hospitals out of an abundance of caution, and there were multiple rescues of drivers from flooded vehicles, he said.
The city of Oxnard said in a social media post that many streets and intersections were heavily impacted. “Please stay off the city streets for the next several hours until the water recedes,” the post said.
“This is a genuinely dramatic storm,” climate scientist Daniel Swain, of the University of California, Los Angeles, said in an online briefing. “In Oxnard, particularly, overnight there were downpours that preliminary data suggests were probably the heaviest downpours ever observed in that part of Southern California.”
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Oxnard and the city of Ventura at 1:28 a.m. due to a high-intensity thunderstorm, but no tornado activity was immediately observed, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post.
Hours later at Heritage Coffee and Gifts in downtown Oxnard, manager Carlos Larios said the storm hadn’t made a dent in their Thursday morning rush despite “gloomy” skies.
“People are still coming in to get coffee, which is surprising,” he said. “I don’t think the rain is going to stop many people from being out and about.”
The storm swept through Northern California earlier in the week as the center of the low-pressure system slowly moved south off the coast. Forecasters described it as a “cutoff low,” a storm that is cut off from the general west-to-east flow and can linger for days, increasing the amount of rainfall.
The system was producing hit-and-miss bands of precipitation rather than generalized widespread rainfall. Forecasters said the low would wobble slightly away from the coast on Thursday, drawing moisture away and allowing some sunshine, but will return.
The San Diego-area weather office warned that rather than fizzling, the storm was gathering energy and its main core would move through that region overnight through Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Californians were gearing up for holiday travel and finishing preparations for Christmas. The Automobile Club of Southern California predicted 9.5 million people in the region would travel during the year-end holiday period.
The Northeast was hit with an unexpectedly strong storm earlier this week, and some parts of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont were still digging out from rain and wind damage. Parts of Maine along the Androscoggin and Kennebec rivers were hit especially hard.
Floodwaters were receding throughout northern New England, though some localized areas were still in the flood stage, said Jon Palmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Flood warnings were also still in effect in parts of Maine and New Hampshire, he said.
At least five people in East Coast states have died in the storms, with deaths reported in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts and Maine.
The storm cut power to 400,000 customers in Maine, and restoration was still underway Thursday morning.
The Christmas season is upon us and nothing is better than cosying up to watch a good festive movie. But with hundreds to choose from, Express.co.uk wants to know your favourite.
Whether you enjoy films filled with nostalgia, a festive comedy, a Christmas rom-com or animated family fun, there is plenty to choose from.
A recent survey by electrical retailer Currys of 2,000 Britons found that 37 percent spend Christmas Eve watching movies and a quarter settle down to watch festive films on Boxing Day.
The survey also asked about their favourite movies, with Home Alone coming out on top with 21 percent of the vote.
The 1990 comedy starring Macaulay Culkin has remained the nation’s favourite festive film after winning a study by Showcase Cinemas last year.
Elf came closely behind in second place with 19 percent loving Will Ferrel’s adventures as Buddy the Elf who ventures farther away from the North Pole than most elves.
The Grinch ranked in third place with 15 percent choosing Jim Carrey’s take of Dr. Seuss’ classic character.
This was followed by A Christmas Carol and The Polar Express in fourth and fifth respectively. Miracle on 34th Street, The Snowman, Love Actually, and The Santa Clause also ranked highly, completing the top nine.
Despite controversy about whether it classifies as a Christmas film, Die Hard finished in 10th place.
It is not just the plot that brings us back to watch our favourites movies every year but the feeling it leaves us with. BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra film critic Ali Plumb previously said: “The best Christmas movies are reassuring, funny, loving and cozy.
“They give you that kind of snuggly feeling of being wrapped up in a blanket on a sofa. And that’s what people crave.”
But what do YOU think? Which is your favourite Christmas movie? Vote in our poll and leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
You should drive responsibly all the time, but there’s another reason to be on your best behaviour on the roads during the holiday period: the double demerit points some states will be doling out.
Below, we’ve included a guide to the states and territories that issue double demerit points and when they’ll be issuing them over the December/January holiday period.
State (or territory)
Double demerit points?
Victoria
NO
New South Wales
YES
Western Australia
YES
Queensland
YES*
Tasmania
NO
Australian Capital Territory
YES
Northern Territory
NO
South Australia
NO
How double demerit points work in Australia
Victoria: There are no double demerit points in Victoria these holidays.
New South Wales: New South Wales has double demerit points that apply for an 11-day period this Christmas. They go into force at 12am on December 22, 2023 and finish at midnight on January 2, 2024.
Double demerit points in New South Wales apply for speeding, illegal use of mobile phones, not wearing a seatbelt and riding a motorbike without a helmet.
Using a mobile phone while driving during double demerits in New South Wales, for example, will attract five demerit points.
Western Australia: Western Australia has double demerit points that apply these holidays. They go into force at 12am on December 22, 2023 and finish at midnight on January 8, 2024.
Double demerit points in Western Australia apply for speeding, drink or drug driving, failing to wear a seatbelt or child restraint, illegal use of a mobile phone while driving, driving a vehicle with a radar detector and driving in a manner to avoid detection by a speed camera.
As an example, if you decide to use a radar detector or laser jammer during a double demerit period in Western Australia, you’ll cop demerit 14 points in one hit.
Queensland: Queensland doesn’t have a holiday-specific double demerit point policy, and instead enforces double demerit points for certain offences all year round.
Offences that will get you double demerits comprise speeding at more than 20km/h over the speed limit, mobile phone offences, driver seatbelt offences, motorcycle helmet offences, and failure to ensure passengers under 16 are properly restrained.
They work a little differently to other states, though. In Queensland a driver can get a penalty on a public holiday (or any time during the year) and only pay the regular fine and attract the regular demerit points.
But, if the driver commits the same type of offence within a 12-month period of the first, their second offence will attract double the demerit points.
As an example, if you commit a mobile phone offence you will receive four demerit points for the first offence. Commit the same type of offence within a 12-month period and the second offence will attract eight demerit points meaning you will have accrued 12 demerit points in total within a 12-month period.
Tasmania: Tasmania has no double demerit points during holiday periods or at any point during the year.
Australian Capital Territory: The Australian Capital Territory has the same double demerit point offence rules as New South Wales for the duration of the holiday period.
Northern Territory: Northern Territory has no double demerit points during holiday periods or at any point during the year.
South Australia: South Australia has no double demerit points during holiday periods or at any point during the year.
What happens if you travel interstate?
One thing you need to keep in mind is that if you travel interstate, the fine amount and demerit point amount from your home state applies interstate.
So, for example, if you’re travelling from New South Wales into Victoria during a double demerit point period and you receive a speeding fine in Victoria, you will cop double demerit points.
Conversely, if you travel from Victoria into New South Wales during a double demerit period, you will receive a fine without double demerit points, because your home state doesn’t have a double demerit point rule.
Navigating the intricate world of cryptocurrencies demands keen insight, especially in the pursuit of reliable returns amidst market fluctuations. In this landscape, securing reliable APY in liquidity pools remains a priority. Yet, the search for a balance between trustworthy pools with low APY and suspiciously high-yield projects proves challenging, showing the need to find a golden mean.
This time, a recent point of focus is the Hydra Chain. In the middle of December, the project announced the launch of the LYDRA/HYDRA liquidity pool, with a price ratio of 1 LYDRA = 0.3 HYDRA. The pool offers a captivating prospect for users to make extra money.
This guide equips you with essential insights to harness the project and its assets effectively. So, you’ll be poised to refine your investment approach and navigate this landscape with greater confidence.
What is it?
In order to pay close attention to the liquidity pool, let’s have a quick look at Hydra itself and see what it has to offer. It operates as a layer 1 blockchain utilizing a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. Hydra adopts a unique Hybrid UTXO/EVM model, strategically incorporating advanced technologies from renowned open-source projects such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Qtum. The ecosystem’s resilience is showcased through notable projects like LockTrip, GoMeat, and Changex. Moreover, Hydra boasts essential infrastructure components, including native mobile and browser wallets, a decentralized exchange (DEX), and seamless bridges connecting it with the Ethereum network.
Hydra’s standout feature includes a staking economy that empowers individuals to become full nodes with ease. Boasting more than 1000 nodes that are distributed all over the world, Hydra’s commitment to a resilient and widely dispersed infrastructure is quite evident.
Beyond these advantages that Hydra has to offer, its resilience extends far and wide, creating a wide and reliable infrastructure. This idea becomes the canvas for a groundbreaking initiative in Hydra’s commitment. It offers 50% gas royalties to smart contract proprietors. This groundbreaking initiative paves the way for a distinctive economic avenue, ensuring users benefit from fixed transaction fees and independent rates, fostering predictability and stability within the ecosystem.
Unlocking the Potential With LYDRA
Regarding the latest update provided by Hydra, let’s pay close attention to its LYDRA asset, which is an acronym for “Liquid HYDRA.” It represents a protocol-issued liquid staking derivative of the native asset HYDRA, setting itself apart as a native blockchain asset. By eliminating the need for intermediaries, LYDRA maintains a 1:1 ratio with HYDRA, allowing users to stake HYDRA passively while ensuring liquidity. This approach fortifies trust within the ecosystem, eliminating vulnerabilities associated with third-party involvement and reinforcing the resilience of decentralized finance activities.
Beyond its fundamental role as a staking derivative, LYDRA offers a vast set of advantages that position it as a valuable asset within the whole ecosystem. Earning rewards becomes an active process for LYDRA holders, providing an opportunity to engage in activities and benefit from the Hydra Chain. Notably, LYDRA can be minted through the Hydra DEX and mobile apps, ensuring accessibility for a diverse range of users.
Mitigating Risks, Maximizing Returns From Staking
LYDRA’s innovative approach goes beyond the conventional staking mechanisms by mitigating risks and maximizing returns. Traditional staking often exposes users to market fluctuations, but LYDRA’s secure environment instills confidence, allowing users to earn passive income without the anxiety of sudden market downturns.
The leveraged staking mechanism, reaching up to an impressive 50% APY, opens doors to a broader audience, fostering inclusivity within the HYDRA ecosystem. Staking HYDRA tokens not only delivers a substantial 34% APY but also awards stakers with LYDRA tokens, creating a strategic cycle that can boost APY to unprecedented levels.
Boost APY up to 50%: How Does It Work?
Staking HYDRA tokens on the platform not only delivers an impressive 34% APY but also awards stakers with LYDRA tokens, which works the same as stETH for ETH. This transformative feature allows users to seamlessly exchange LYDRA for HYDRA and initiate the staking cycle anew.
The modular design of LYDRA allows users to repeat the staking and acquiring process through multiple loops. Yes, each phase may bring diminishing returns, but the potential for leveraged staking and the absence of risks that traditional staking mechanisms have make LYDRA a unique player in the DeFi arena.
So, Is It Worth Trying?
It’s up to you. In summary, the Hydra Chain, particularly with its LYDRA/HYDRA liquidity pool and lucrative APY, offers a distinct proposition. Its commitment to decentralized finance and its resilient staking economy make it an intriguing option to try. While the prospect of high returns is appealing, potential investors should approach with balanced expectations.
For those open to exploring novel opportunities in earning passive income, observing Hydra Chain could be a wise move. Keep in mind that prudent research and a measured approach are needed. In this case, you’ll gain insights into whether Hydra Chain aligns with your investment goals and financial appetites. This careful approach will make the journey into Hydra not just an opportunity for potential gains but also a step towards informed and calculated investment decisions.
In 2023, online education witnessed a 32 per cent surge in demand from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, projected to rise by another 20 per cent in 2024, as per a College Vidya survey involving 20,000 participants across 13 cities.
This growth is fueled by increased accessibility to electronic devices, particularly smartphones, empowering students in smaller cities to connect seamlessly with education providers; increasing awareness about the availability of online full-time courses; and more.
Moreover, improved digital literacy and enhanced internet services have significantly contributed to the accessibility of online education. In fact, the impact on students in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities has been transformative, as it has enabled them to pursue higher education without the challenges of relocation.
In addition, online education has also become a catalyst for career growth, facilitating upskilling, career switches, and job escalation, even in smaller towns. Over 32 per cent of working professionals from smaller towns enrolled in upskilling in the last year to remain job-ready and navigate industry changes.
In fact, certain courses and programs such as online MBAs, B.Com., M.Com., and work-integrated learning programs (WILP) like B.Tech. and M.Tech have been particularly successful in these cities. The success of these courses can be attributed to their professional value, equal recognition by UGC-DEB, and the limited availability of quality higher education options in these cities in the regular mode, said the report.
“With this study, we wanted to highlight the growing demand for online courses in smaller towns. And to address this increasing demand, we are committed to providing academic counseling to overcome awareness gaps, enhancing offline availability of learning materials to combat connectivity issues, and offering personalized assistance and better student support for a seamless learning experience,” said Rohit Gupta, COO and Co-Founder of College Vidya.
Speaker 1: Handheld gaming is back in a big way, but especially for PC gamers right now, there were two big PC gaming handhelds on sale, the steam deck, which is a new ole display and a lot of other tweaks and the Lenovo Legion Go. Now these aren’t the first PC gaming handhelds, but it’s a trend that’s continuing and with rumors of a new Nintendo switch next year and streaming devices like the PlayStation portal, there are all sorts of options. What should you consider [00:00:30] in a PC gaming handheld, or should you wait? Well, here are my experiences after about a week playing with both. Now, I should let you know I am pretty apprehensive about PC gaming. It’s outside of my comfort zone, and that may sound a bit embarrassing, but it’s true. I’m not much of a tinkerer when it comes to PC games, and that means you might prefer one of these over another.
Speaker 1: I’ll get into that in a minute. What’s going on here is pretty different in terms of features. The steam deck is a bunch of tweaks to the existing steam deck to create a much better overall product. It has a 7.4 inch [00:01:00] HDR display that’s ole this time, and it also has better wifi and it has improved haptics and just an overall improved feel, but it’s still the same feel and size as the previous steam deck. No detachable controllers, although it can connect with monitors and keyboards. Now the Lenovo Legion Go has an 8.8 inch screen. It is 1.8 pounds, so it’s big. It runs full windows and it has a kickstand and it even has detachable controllers. And the crazy thing is that one of these controllers actually doubles as [00:01:30] a mouse. There’s an optical sensor here and you can flip it on and it comes with a base that turns this into a throttle mouse controller.
Speaker 1: You snap it in here and then you can essentially use this as a mouse for the whole oss. So I could also scroll with the scroll wheel and click on things too. I mean, while this controller mouse thing is meant to be used for games, this is where it starts to feel with Windows and a mouse [00:02:00] controller that it’s not even really a game console at all. It’s really a super portable Windows 11 device. So in terms of size, like I said, the Lenovo Legion Go is a lot bigger. I mean it’s not tremendously large, but it is much like a tablet with controllers. The 1.8 pound size and the 8.8 inch screen as big and nice as it is means that you’re going to want to lug this around in its carry case and have a big enough bag for it. The steam deck is also pretty large, but it seems more portable in comparison.
Speaker 1: [00:02:30] Not only does it have a smaller display, but it’s a lot lighter and it feels more like a super large switch to hold in the hand. Now let’s get to games because that’s what you’re doing on these things. You’re gaming with the Steam deck, the proposition is everything running through Steam. This is really a game console for Steam and Valve has optimized this wonderfully to run a ton of games, specifically using its AMD Z two processor and its Linux operating system and doing it in a way that well and performs [00:03:00] well. For those games that say that it can run on Steam Deck, that means that there are some games that don’t, and there are some games like Madden Football that need anti cheat verification that doesn’t run on the steam deck, which is frustrating and you can get the steam deck to do other types of things like game streaming, but that’s kind of going under the hub with it out of the box, it’s really meant to run everything via Steam.
Speaker 1: Now the Lenovo Legion Go is a full Windows 11 machine. This is a Windows device with controllers. Lenovo does have [00:03:30] a graphics software overlay that provides access like a little bit of a launcher to all sorts of game store environments. That means you can run Steam on this, you can run Microsoft Game Pass, you can run Epic Game Store, you could run anything. It’s a Windows machine that gives a tremendous amount of flexibility. However, the games that work for it are hit and miss. So far I’ve launched some games that have run really slowly, some games that have crashed, some games that said I needed new drivers, some games that seemed to work [00:04:00] perfectly well. Now that may require some sort of tinkering with graphic settings, with drivers, with other things. Again, getting under the hood with this device out of the box, you’re going to have to discover what games work best on this like I have now that goes down to the os, the OSS on the Lenovo Legion Go, it’s Windows 11, so there’s a lot of flexibility there and a lot of frustration.
Speaker 1: I mean there are pop-up windows. There are things telling you about security checks. There are different types of messages from different programs at the same time, which you [00:04:30] don’t always want when you’re gaming and stuff like that. And the display, while it’s big, is still small compared to a Windows laptop. So sometimes you have to hunt around and tap for things which can get annoying. Now the Steam Deck, its OSS is a custom design built on Linux, so it has a very nice console like feel. It’s very comforting it yet surprisingly, it has a lot of Under the Hood futures, a lot of ways to tweak a lot of different settings, a lot of things to satisfy somebody who wants to make their system a little more of their own. But to be clear, it really [00:05:00] does feel like a gaming console environment. You can’t easily run out of the box, all sorts of other software, although you can and you can look up all sorts of ways to do that.
Speaker 1: So there’s a lot of flexibility under the hood here, but on top feels a lot more comforting. Now let’s get down to price. Price is kind of the same in some regards in that they’re both in the over $500 range, but the Steam deck is more affordable. The Steam deck without an Oola display is only $400. And then if you want to get the one with a 512 [00:05:30] gigabytes of storage and ole display, that’s 550, go to the one terabyte, that’s 650. Now the Lenovo Legion Go has a 512 gigabyte configuration that’s $700, but the one terabyte is 750, so you’d probably go for that, but seven $50 is considerably more expensive than the $550 entry level price here. Even. There’s about $150 gap on the storage differences. That means creeping towards the thousand dollars territory, [00:06:00] even if it’s in the $700 range. These are definitely a far cry from the $300 of a Nintendo Switch.
Speaker 1: What would I do right now? Well, there are going to be a lot of Windows handhelds coming, I think not just this one, and Microsoft needs to get a lot more involved in making these easier to use and not so confusing. I think there are going to be more iterations coming. The Legion Go feels experimental. I would consider waiting and seeing what other stuff pops up. I think this is a nice first effort, but it’s a very buggy first effort, whereas the Steam deck feels very polished [00:06:30] right now. I think it’s a great product right now to get if you want to play games that are PC games. But again, will there be a Steam deck too, according to Valve, probably not for a couple of years, so I think you’re safe. It’s kind of like these switch OLED that came out a few years ago. That’s the state of handheld gaming for PCs and there are a lot more handheld game systems like the Switch two that we’re expecting next year. Good luck holiday shoppers. If you have questions and comments below, please let me know and thanks for watching.
A new study from Italy found that the Mediterranean diet could have a beneficial effect on male fertility.
The study, published in the journal Food Science, explored the different causes of male infertility, pinpointing how diet plays a “crucial role in improving a man’s reproductive capacity.”
The researchers suggested that an appropriate diet for men should include a diverse range of essential ingredients, similar to those found in the Mediterranean diet.
MEDITERRANEAN DIET COULD HELP REDUCE BELLY FAT AND MUSCLE LOSS CAUSED BY AGING, STUDY FINDS
The Mediterranean diet involves high amounts of vegetables and fruits that are “rich in detoxifying and antioxidant substances,” the researchers noted in a discussion of the findings.
The study included 50 “sub-fertile” men who were provided with specific nutrition plans that consisted of 80% organic foods.
The Mediterranean diet was ranked as the top regimen in U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of the best overall diets for 2022. (iStock)
The plan also introduced whole grains and low glycemic load options (which have minimal impact on blood sugar levels), grass-fed meat and wild-caught seafood, and a daily intake of leafy greens and red fruits.
It also eliminated refined carbs and saturated fats in exchange for healthy fats like olive oil, avocado and nuts.
Dairy products were reduced or eliminated.
BROWN SEAWEED CONSUMPTION COULD HELP MANAGE AND PREVENT TYPE 2 DIABETES, STUDY SHOWS
The men, who were ages 35 to 45, followed this diet for three months and were evaluated between Nov. 2020 and Oct. 2021.
Before the study, the pool of men exhibited “limited concern for food quality, rarely reading food labels and rarely purchasing organic products.”
“Grass-fed meat, fish and organic eggs can contain higher levels of omega 3 DHA, which is found in the sperm tail and is associated with sperm motility,” a dietitian told Fox News Digital.(iStock)
The men who stuck with the Mediterranean-inspired food plan saw a significant increase in testosterone levels, the study found.
In a subgroup of individuals who reduced their carb intake by 35%, sperm DNA fragmentation (damaged DNA) decreased with consumption of the modified diet.
“Diets rich in vitamins, minerals, polyphenols and antioxidants are critical for protecting sperm from oxidative stress and damage.”
“The male contribution to a couple’s fertility is important and the findings of this study underscore the importance of dietary variation and the inclusion of organic foods in achieving this goal,” the researchers wrote.
“Specifically, adhering to a pre-conception Mediterranean diet that is low in carbohydrates and high in legumes, whole grains and green leafy vegetables, along with consuming 80% organic foods, was associated with improved testosterone levels and reduced sperm DNA fragmentation.”
The study findings emphasized the importance of “dietary variation,” according to the researchers.(iStock)
Although the study size was limited, the researchers said the findings “emphasize the significance of consuming quality food for physical and psychological well-being and suggest that it may serve as an achievable measure of human resilience against environmental insults.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for additional comment.
DRINKING CARROT JUICE COULD BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM AND REDUCE INFLAMMATION, SAY RESEARCHERS
Registered dietitian and nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein, who is based in Los Angeles, told Fox News Digital she’s seen firsthand the beneficial impact nutrition can have on both male and female fertility.
“It’s amazing how even a moderate weight loss can make significant changes to a person’s hormone levels and ability to conceive,” she said.
Other studies have shown how diets high in refined carbs and sugar can have negative effects on sperm health, Muhlstein mentioned.
Registered dietitian nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein (pictured) called the new study “eye-opening.”(BODi)
“Additionally, following a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, lean proteins, high-fiber carbohydrates and healthy fats may help reduce inflammation, which can benefit fertility,” she added.
The study took the diet “one step further” by focusing on specifics like mostly organic food, frequent nuts and seafood, limited dairy, daily red fruit, three servings of green vegetables, and refined sugar and packaged food avoidance, Muhlstein pointed out.
OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS COULD HELP REDUCE ALCOHOL USE DISORDER SYMPTOMS, STUDY SUGGESTS
The “noteworthy” increase in testosterone levels could be due to the focus on organic foods, which contain fewer pesticides and pollutants and higher levels of bioactive compounds, she said.
“Diets rich in vitamins, minerals, polyphenols and antioxidants are critical for protecting sperm from oxidative stress and damage,” the dietitian said.
The new study revealed that Mediterranean-style diets could improve male fertility.(iStock)
“Additionally, grass-fed meat, fish and organic eggs can contain higher levels of omega 3 DHA, which is found in the sperm tail and is associated with sperm motility,” Muhlstein added.
The study also surveyed the benefits of lowering carb intake, which proved beneficial for weight and blood sugar control.
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The study was limited by including only men with a BMI range of 20 to 24, Muhlstein pointed out.
“I wish in the future that they would conduct this study with overweight and obese men, because I am sure the findings would have been even more significant,” she said.
A fertility doctor recommended that men who are experiencing fertility complications switch to a Mediterranean-based diet.(iStock)
Dr. Reem Sabouni, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist at Houston Fertility Institute, called the study findings “interesting” in a response sent to Fox News Digital.
The Mediterranean diet “appears to positively influence male fertility,” the doctor said.
“This aligns with our understanding of nutrition’s role in overall health,” she said. “For men with male factor infertility (MFI), adopting a Mediterranean-based diet could be a beneficial, non-invasive strategy to improve fertility health.”
SNACKS PACK MORE CALORIES THAN A SINGLE MEAL FOR MANY US ADULTS, STUDY FINDS
These findings are “promising, potentially contributing to addressing the global decline in sperm counts,” Sabouni told Fox News Digital.
Based on the study’s evidence, the doctor recommended that men with MFI should switch to a Mediterranean-based diet.
The Mediterranean diet involves high amounts of vegetables and fruits that are “rich in detoxifying and antioxidant substances,” the researchers noted in a discussion of the findings.(iStock)
“The diet’s rich antioxidants and balanced nutrients likely play a key role in enhancing reproductive health,” she added.
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“[The study] underscores the importance of lifestyle and dietary factors in reproductive health, which [are] in our control.”
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital.
Once again, the holiday season is upon us, and so are the rays of the winter sun, making this time of the year perfect for going out to shop and bringing home some gorgeous crockery and cutlery. Whether you want a big mug for your cuppa hot chocolate or are looking for colourful plates to serve snacks or designer glasses, these markets in and around Delhi offer a wide variety of crockery options at affordable rates. Take a look at our list of the 5 best markets to buy affordable and gorgeous crockery in Delhi-NCR.
Here Are The 5 Best Crockery Markets In and Around Delhi
1. Banjara Market, Gurugram
One of the most worth-its-hype markets, Banjara Market offers a wide variety of stunning pieces of cups, mugs, platters, bowls, serving plates, cookie jars, and so on. You will find lots of trendy and beautiful designs in ceramics. Do check the product quality before buying, but a simple check can help you get your hands on quality material. You can also bargain easily to buy things at an even cheaper price. Also Read: Watch: This Thai Food Market Is Set On Railway Tracks – Video Goes Viral
2. Central Market, Lajpat Nagar
Central Market in Lajpat Nagar is one of the biggest markets in South Delhi. Here you can find everything from clothes to jewellery to amazing cutlery for your kitchen. Here you can find retail stores that offer products at wholesale prices. It is also a great spot for buying affordable and good-quality crockery for gifting purposes.
3. Tip Top Market, Karol Bagh
This market offers all things fancy and in great quality, including designer plates, stylish glasses, ceramics, bowls, tea sets, sugar, and tea jars, and so on. You will find them at reasonable retail prices.
4. Azad Market, Sadar Bazar
Whether you are looking for beautiful and affordable restaurant-style crockery, glasses, cutlery, tea sets, trays, snacks sets, pudding sets, designer dinner sets, or festive collections – Azad Market is your place. Here, you can get the crockery at wholesale rates.
Also Read: Top 5 Biggest Food Markets Around The World
5. Hauz Rani Market, Malviya Nagar
If Banjara Market is too far for you, then you can also hit the Hauz Rani Market which offers a similar collection and experience. The market is open on all seven days of the week. While this market is not too big, you will be able to get your hands on a wide variety of colourful ceramic crockeries such as bowls, mugs, and tea sets. You will be able to find sturdy and affordable items easily, with good finishing.
The Hangzhou Asian Games, held in late September and early October, set out to be the first carbon neutral event of their kind. This was a particular challenge, given that these were the largest-ever Asian Games, with the most events. To achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, a major focus was addressing energy emissions. Key measures included using renewable energy for all event venues and facilities, and adopting innovative construction techniques to conserve resources. The efforts were supported by the people of Hangzhou, whose green lifestyle habits, such as cycling and online payment, have helped to offset carbon emissions.
Explore the implementation of enterprise laboratory software and the start of a digital transformation in your lab with an industry expert who discusses maximizing returns on investment, upholding data integrity while managing cost containment, and adopting digital best practices. This podcast addresses critical topics such as cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and fiscal strategy for pharmaceutical labs and offers valuable insights for professionals at the crossroads of technology, finance, and pharmaceutical regulations. Discover how laboratories can use software solutions to surpass industry standards while managing costs with Bob Voelkner, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, LabVantage Solutions, Inc.
You may not be familiar with the Snowshoe cat, but it’s a breed that is a mix between Siamese and the American shorthair. These felines are sociable, fun, playful, and affectionate, but if you are considering adopting one, you should know how long they may be around so you know what you’re looking at commitment-wise. The Snowshoe cat lives 15–20 years.
Many factors affect just how long a cat will live, though, such as health issues, proper diet, and more. Here’s a closer look at those factors and how you can enable your Snowshoe cat to live its longest, happiest life!
Snowshoe Cat Average Lifespan
As we said, the Snowshoe cat lives, on average, 15 to 20 years. Whether yours live to be on the higher end of that spectrum will depend on a few factors. You can help your kitty live as long as possible by properly caring for them.
Image Credit: Eric SonstroemFollow, Flickr
How to Care for Your Snowshoe Cat for a Long Lifespan?
Here’s how to care for your Snowshoe cat so they have as long a lifespan as possible!
Feeding & Diet
All felines are obligate carnivores, requiring meat to stay healthy. That means avoiding vegetarian options when it comes to cat food and instead feeding your pet high-quality food with high-quality protein. You also want to ensure that any cat food you get for your Snowshoe cat is complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards. Follow the recommended feeding guidelines on the bag for most healthy cats. If you aren’t sure how much to feed or what food to feed your pet, check with your vet for recommendations. Fresh water should be available at all times.
Environment
Your cat’s environment can also affect how long your pet lives. Snowshoes make excellent pets for families because they adore being around people. They’ll even often get along with other animals in the home, provided those animals are friendly to felines. They’ll seek this companionship to stave off boredom and to stimulate their minds.
You also need to ensure your pet has all their needs met, including having a clean litter box and toys, like scratching posts or cat trees, throughout the home. The scratching posts and cat trees are essential as cats need to scratch to keep their nails healthy and toys and cat trees can encourage exercise. Also, make sure they have a warm spot to go in cooler weather and a cool spot to go when the temperatures rise.
Image Credit: Tawach, Shutterstock
Care
In terms of caring for your Snowshoe, other than feeding them a nutritious diet and keeping their litter box clean, you’ll need to engage in occasional grooming. This breed is fairly low-maintenance in that area, as they have short hair. Mostly, you’ll need to brush them a couple of times a week and keep their nails trimmed and ears clean, too.
Also ensure that your Snowshoe gets daily exercise. This may be in the form of interactive play with you, with toys or by jumping and climbing on a cat tree. Since Snowshoes like the company of other animals, they may get exercise by playing with them as well.
Breeding
Genetics plays a key role in determining how long your cat will live. If you get your Snowshoe from a breeder, make sure the breeder is a reputable one. Ask questions about the cat’s family background, like whether the parents have been tested for common health issues. You also want to physically go to a breeder’s location so you can look at the conditions the cats are being kept in. If the breeder’s place isn’t clean or cats are crammed into small spaces together, find another breeder!
Healthcare
Snowshoe cats are a relatively healthy breed, but a few health issues may have been passed down by their parents. Taking your pet for routine vet visits is one of the best ways to keep them healthy, as these visits often catch issues early enough for treatment. Also, ensure that your kitty is up-to-date on all their vaccinations and has a good tick and flea prevention.
Minor conditions include poor dental health and crossed eyes. Many Siamese are cross-eyed, so this can be passed to the Snowshoe. And many felines deal with dental disease (partly because brushing their teeth regularly can be a challenge).
Other conditions to watch out for include cardiomyopathy, feline lower urinary tract diseases, and arterial thromboembolism.
Image Credit: Anna Krivitskaya, Shutterstock
The Life Stages of a Snowshoe Cat
There are four life stages for a Snowshoe cat.
Kitten: 0–12 months
The kitten stage is crucial for your pet when it comes to socialization, growth and development. This is when your kitty will learn how to interact with others, whether people or animals, and how to play in acceptable ways. This is also the stage where you can help your pet have a longer lifespan by getting them required vaccinations, feeding a high-quality kitten diet, and beginning them on flea and tick control.
Young Adult: 1–6 years
After your Snowshoe hits the age of one, they’re officially an adult (although a young one)! At this point, you should switch your pet from kitten food to adult food, so they keep getting the nutrients they need. You should also ensure your pet is getting plenty of daily exercise and keeping up with routine vet visits.
Image Credit: Pxhere
Mature Adult: 7–10 years
The mature adult stage is mostly just a continuation of the young adult stage, but by this point, your cat might be experiencing a health issue or two. Keep taking your kitty for routine vet visits to keep them healthy, and keep a closer eye on them so you notice signs of health problems if they occur.
Senior: 10+ years
You shouldn’t necessarily expect your Snowshoe to slow down in their senior years. Many healthy senior cats will still lead active lives. But this is a period where you need to monitor your kitty’s health more closely than ever to ensure any illness or disease that shows up will be caught earlier rather than later.
How to Tell Your Snowshoe Cat’s Age
Unsure how old your Snowshoe is? There are a few ways you can determine their age (or an age range).
If your pet is still a kitten, check their weight. Up until about 6 months of age, kittens should gain about a pound for each month they’re alive. So, a kitten that is 3 months old should weigh about 3 pounds.
You can also check the kitty’s teeth to figure out their age. If a kitten has all their baby teeth, they’re 6-8 weeks old; if they have all their adult teeth, they’re at least 6-7 months old. Unsure which are baby and which are adult teeth? Ask your vet!
If you have an adult Snowshoe that you adopted or were gifted and don’t know their age, you’re best off having your vet check to determine how old they are.
With proper care, a Snowshoe cat will likely live between 15 and 20 years. If you want your kitty to live longer, you’ll need to properly care for them by feeding them a healthy diet, taking them for regular vet visits, and ensuring they’re in a happy and safe environment.
Featured Image Credit: Aleksandar Nalbantjan, Shutterstock
India’s residential sector marked a notable upswing in the first nine months of 2023, recording 1,96,227 unit sales— equivalent to 91 per cent of the total sales in 2022 — hitting the highest since 2008 at approximately 260,000 units, according to JLL’s report.
The growth trajectory is poised to extend into 2024, anticipating sales to reach between 2,90,000 and 3,00,000 units, fueled by robust demand and quality launches.
Also Read: 2023 set to see record housing sales on sustained demand
Record sales
The report underscores record-breaking quarterly sales, exceeding 65,000 units on average until the third quarter of 2023. Sales during the first nine months of 2023 soared to a record 2,23,905 units, reflecting a y-o-y increase of 21.5 per cent. Projections indicate around 2,80,000 launches by the end of 2023, with a strong continuation into 2024, estimated at 280,000-290,000 units.
Dr. Samantak Das, Chief Economist at JLL India, remains optimistic despite rising home loan interest rates and prices. The domestic housing market retains a positive sentiment, with expectations of surpassing 260,000 units in residential sales and launching 280,000 units in 2023.
Also Read: Residential sales in top 7 cities expected to surpass 215,000 units by the end of 2023: JLL report
A potential policy rate cut in 2024, contingent on GDP growth and inflation, could further stimulate residential sector growth, with sales expected to be around 290,000 to 300,000 units in 2024.
From January to September 2023, 71 per cent of residential sales were attributed to projects launched between January 2022 and September 2023. Consumers are increasingly drawn to under-construction projects due to developers’ track record in timely execution and delivery.
Premium segment
In the premium segment, the mid-segment price category (₹50 – 75 lakh) dominated 9 months 2023 sales, while the share of premium segments (above ₹1.50 crore) increased from 18 per cent in 9 months 2022 to 22 per cent in 9 months 2023. Delhi NCR and Mumbai led premium segment sales. The luxury segment, priced above ₹3 crore, experienced an 83 per cent surge from 8,013 units in 9 months 2022 to 14,627 in 9 months 2023.
Looking ahead to 2024, Siva Krishnan, Sr. MD, Chennai & Coimbatore, Head of Residential, India, foresees a buoyant residential market with sustained growth in the mid- and premium segments. A robust supply pipeline and new launches by branded developers are expected to maintain the market’s strength, with an estimated range of 2,80,000–2,90,000 units.
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.
AKO za godišnji odmor želite odsjesti u nešto drugačijem smještaju i fan ste Harryja Pottera, možda će vam se svidjeti ova koliba koju mnogi na internetu nazivaju i Hagrids Hut. Nalazi se u engleskom sjevernom Yorkshireu, i replika je prave Hagridove kolibe – ima čak i Ford Anglia ispred na prilazu.
Tiktokerica Melissa (@melmadog) provela je svoje gledatelje kroz ovu magičnu kolibu. “Ostvario mi se san”, opisala je noćenje u njoj.
“Ovo izgleda tako prekrasno za bijeg od stvarnosti na neko vrijeme”, “Sve u vezi ovoga je savršeno”, “Pažnja pridana detaljima ove kolibe je nevjerojatna”, “Učinila bih sve da mogu živjeti ovdje”, “Želim ići ovdje”, samo su neki od komentara ispod njezinog videa.
Replika Hagridove kolibe izgrađena je 2019.
Ovu repliku 2019. izradili su Karl i Carol, vlasnici farme. Već su imali niz čarobnih smještaja na svom imanju, uključujući Hobbit Hole, temeljenu na Gospodaru prstenova, i kućicu Storybook, koja je inspirirana Kronikama iz Narnije. Službenog imena Ground Keeper’s Cottage najnoviji je dodatak.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Tri prostorije, zdepasti tornjići i tave koje vise sa stropa
Koliba je konfigurirana kao tri isprepletene kružne prostorije, sa zdepastim tornjićima koji podsjećaju na one srednjovjekovne i neusklađenim prozorima od obojenog stakla kakvi se znaju pronaći u mnogim čarobnjačkim pričama. Na stropu se mogu pronaći lonci i tave te drugi predmeti koji vise s njega.
>> Airbnb nudi vikend u Shrekovoj močvari u Škotskom visočju. Evo detalja
Upečatljiva je i kupaonica sa zelenim pločicama i bakrenom kadom. Ulazna vrata kolibe osvijetljena su svjetiljkama, a ista je okružena poljima i može se pohvaliti pogledom na obalu Yorkshirea.
Koliba može primiti do šest osoba. Minimum su dva noćenja, a cijena za dvije odrasle osobe u siječnju 2024. je 490 funti (oko 564 eura). Više o smještaju, pogledajte ovdje.
Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?
“Have you ever been victimized by a missed field goal?” a suit-clad Dicker shouts while standing in what appears to be a law office and pointing directly into the camera. He then lets out a piercing scream before adding, “My name is Cameron Dicker and I’ll kick for you,” with another point into the camera for emphasis.
The mock commercial posted by the Chargers social media team Wednesday is a spoof of an over-the-top personal injury attorney TV ad. Only Dicker doesn’t want your business — he wants your vote.
“Let me kick for you at the Pro Bowl!” the man known as “Dicker the Kicker” says during the fake commercial that has been viewed more than 4 million times on X (formerly Twitter) and has more than 14,000 likes on TikTok.
He then lets out another scream and adds, “So go to chargers.com/vote to send me and my leg to kick for you.”
The clip touts Dicker’s impressive stats from this season. He’s made 95% of his field-goal attempts, with his only miss in 20 tries being from 53 yards in a Week 3 road game against the Minnesota Vikings, and has been perfect in all 34 of his PAT attempts.
“50! 40! 30! Doesn’t matter — I’ll make it!” Dicker yells. “Rain, sleet or snow, this leg is ready to go!”
But Dicker does appear to need the help of Chargers fans to reach the 2024 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, Fla. An NFL spokesperson told The Times on Thursday morning that Dicker currently ranks outside the top 10 among kickers in fan voting for kickers, with former Charger and current Cleveland Brown Dustin Hopkins leading the way in the AFC and Dallas Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey doing so in the NFC. Only one kicker per conference will make the Pro Bowl rosters.
Fan votes are not the only factor that determines if a player makes the Pro Bowl. Coaches and players get a say as well, with all three groups counting as one-third of the vote. Fan voting ends on Christmas.
Even if the spoof commercial doesn’t lead to a spot on the AFC Pro Bowl, Dicker should consider it a triumph. He certainly should consider a future as an actor — or maybe even as a personal injury lawyer.
On December 14, realme introduced the realme C67 5G, the latest addition to its Championship series and a standout device in the lineup. Notably, it is the first phone in the C Series to offer 5G compatibility, marking a significant stride in the brand’s journey.
The realme C67 5G has received overwhelming support from dealers, achieving the highest order for realme in its C series. The online early access offer sale for C67 5G sold out within four hours, setting a new record for offline first sales on December 16.
Realme’s C Series boasts a substantial customer base of over 30 million in India. Each generation of the series stands out for exciting upgrades in fast charging, camera technology, storage, and design aesthetics.
Supporting Dual 5G mode for the use of two 5G SIMs simultaneously, it caters to those requiring extensive connectivity.
Beyond speed, 5G technology is reshaping industries with low latency for near-instant data sharing. The C67’s 33W SUPERVOOC Fast Charging technology ensures a quick power-up, providing 50% battery capacity in just 29 minutes, making it an ideal companion for busy days.
With a massive 5000mAh battery, the realme C67 5G promises remarkable all-day battery life. The 33W fast charging feature, introduced in the under Rs 15,000 price segment, addresses the increasing demand for quick charging solutions, offering high-performance attributes at an affordable price.
Realme’s commitment to pioneering a new era of connectivity in India is evident through its swift upgrades, with more than half of its product line now supporting 5G. The brand’s profound understanding of the diverse Indian market and its dedication to democratising 5G access make it a preferred choice for the younger generation seeking advanced technology at a reasonable price.
As the realme C67 5G becomes available for purchase both online and offline, it invites consumers to embrace the future and experience unparalleled connectivity without breaking the bank.
It’s beginning to look a lot like a hectic holiday travel season, but it might go relatively smoothly if the weather cooperates. Travel over Christmas and New Year’s tends to spread out over many days, so the peaks in the U.S. are likely to be lower than they were during the Thanksgiving holiday. That is making airlines and federal officials optimistic.
Travelers at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Wednesday. The airport will welcome its 21 millionth passenger in the coming weeks, after a record year for traffic. (Graham Hughes/Bloomberg)
But the debacle at Southwest Airlines over Christmas last year should guard against overconfidence. Just this week, the Transportation Department announced a settlement in which Southwest will pay $140 million for that meltdown, which stranded more than 2 million travelers. So far this year, airlines have canceled 1.2% of U.S. flights, down nearly half from 2.1% over the same period last year. Cancellations were well below 1% during Thanksgiving, according to FlightAware.
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“I don’t want to jinx us, but so far 2023 has seen the lowest cancellation rate in the last five years,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Tuesday. He added, however, that winter weather “will certainly be a challenge in the next few weeks.”
Canceled flights surged last year, as airlines were caught short-staffed when travel rebounded from the pandemic more quickly than expected. Since then, U.S. airlines have hired thousands of pilots, flight attendants and other workers, and the cancellation rate has come down.
After struggling with cancellations and other disruptions last year, European travel has also been smoother this year and more people are expected travel over Christmas and New Year’s, said Mike Arnot, spokesman for Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Still, about 3% of flights within Europe have been canceled in so far in December, and nearly 30% have been delayed, according to Cirium. Cirium projected that the number of seats flown within Europe will rise 10% between Dec. 22 and Jan. 2 compared to the similar period in 2023.
Strong winds and rain from a storm named Pia was expected disrupt travel in the Netherlands and U.K on Thursday. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol airport warned a “significant number of flights will be delayed or canceled on Thursday.” On Wednesday night, about a third of arriving and departing flights were delayed Schiphol on Wednesday, according to FlightAware. Just 1% of departing flights and 2% of arrival flights were canceled.
Some train routes were suspended in Scotland on Thursday due to Pia, and slowdowns were expected elsewhere in the U.K. but the storm was so far not disrupting air travel. Globally, air travel has still not fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. About 8.6 billion people are projected to travel through the world’s airports in 2023, according to Airports Council International, a Montreal-based trade group for airports. That’s about 94% of the passenger volume in 2019, before the pandemic hit.
In one piece of good news: The volcanic eruptions in southwestern Iceland are not disrupting flights, despite the area’s proximity to the country’s main Keflavik Airport. Experts the location and features of the eruptions on Reykjanes Peninsula make it different from the 2010 eruption of a different Icelandic volcano, the Eyjafjallajokull, which sent giant clouds of ash over Europe and caused massive disruptions to international aviation.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration says it is creating more air-traffic routes, especially along the East Coast, to help keep planes moving over the holidays. Over the past year, airlines have blamed many of their delays on a shortage of FAA air traffic controllers that slows down traffic. The agency, which pressured airlines to reduce flights in the New York City area this summer and fall because of FAA understaffing, says it has been hiring and now has 10,700 certified controllers.
“There are different views on what the number should be, but it needs to be a lot higher,” new FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said Tuesday. AAA is forecasting that 115 million people will go 50 miles or more from home between Saturday and New Year’s Day. That is a 2% increase over the auto club’s forecast last year, although it would fall short of the record set in 2019.
Most of those people will drive, and they will save a bit on gasoline, compared with last Christmas. The nationwide average Wednesday was $3.08 a gallon, down 23 cents from a month ago and 6 cents from this time last year, according to AAA. The busiest days on the road will be Saturday and next Thursday, Dec. 28, according to transportation data provider INRIX.
The Transportation Security Administration expects that the busiest days for air travel will be Thursday, Friday and New Year’s Day. TSA expects to screen more than 2.5 million travelers each of those days — that’s still far short of the record 2.9 million that agents screened on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Flying is already surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The TSA has screened 12.3% more travelers than it had by this time last year and 1.4% more than in 2019. December is running about 6% above the same month last year.
Canceled flights surged last year, as airlines were caught short-staffed when travel rebounded from the pandemic more quickly than expected. Since then, airlines have hired thousands of pilots, flight attendants and other workers, and the cancellation rate has come down. The low rate of cancellations over Thanksgiving is leading to hope that flying over Christmas and New Year’s will be tolerable.
But even if cancellations remain low, flights will be packed, testing the patience of travelers and creating competition for space in overhead bins to store carry-on bags. “Airline gate agents are getting demerits when planes are late, so they are gate-checking far more bags to keep flights on time,” said Pauline Frommer co-president of Frommers Travel Guides.
Frommer advises putting a smart tag in any bag that gets checked so you’ll know where it is, even if the airline doesn’t. Whether flying or driving, travelers should be keeping an eye on the weather forecast.
AccuWeather forecasters say rain storms could hit California, the Pacific Northwest and the southern Plains states including Texas later this week, but things look brighter for population centers — and key airports — in the Northeast. “Last year was a really rough travel holiday,” said AccuWeather’s Paul Pastelok. “This year it looks like milder conditions. There isn’t much snow and ice on the horizon yet.”
The Steam Winter Sale is about to begin for 2023. The Steam Christmas Sale has a December 21 launch date and a 6pm GMT UK start time. The sale runs for a couple of weeks, ending at the same time on January 4. This means customers have plenty of time to make savings on thousands of games, something which will be particularly tempting for anybody receiving a Steam Deck this Christmas. Fans will also be able to cast their votes in The Steam Awards, choosing their favourite titles for 2023.
Valve explains more: “Cozy on up (or throw on some sunscreen if you’re in the southern hemisphere) and explore the thousands of games on sale during the Steam Winter Sale, from developers around the world.
“Feeling adventurous? Visit any category page on the store during the sale to claim a free daily sticker.”
According to Valve, users can earn additional rewards by voting in The Steam Awards. You’ll receive a different sticker for each category you vote in.
“The Winter Sale also means voting for your favourite game in The Steam Awards,” Valve continues.
“Millions of players from around the world cast nominations during the Autumn Sale and we’ve narrowed it down to the five finalists in each category.
“Starting December 21st, you can cast your vote for the winner in each category and earn a special Steam Awards sticker for each category you vote in.”
As for the discounts, the Steam Winter Sale trailer (above) shows some of the games on offer.
Games like Baldur’s Gate 3, The Witcher 3 and Rainbow 6 Siege will all be discounted, alongside Dwarf Fortress, Euro Truck Simulator and The Hunter: Call of the Wild.
That’s on top of discounts for BattleBit Remastered, Satisfactory, Pummel Party, Atomic Heart, Starship Troopers: Extermination, New World, AEW Fight Forever, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, The Front, Tunic, Wreckfest, The Case of the Golden Idol, The Forest and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. There are also discounts on multiple Frontier Developments titles, which you can see below…
From big model launches to big policy changes, it’s seen the industry start to break the shackles of the COVID-19 crisis and supply shortages, as it gears up for an electrified future.
As we look forward to 2024, here are the news stories that garnered the most attention throughout the year.
Chinese and Indian drivers now need to sit proper driving tests
Drivers from China, India, Nepal and other unrecognised countries are on notice when it comes to driving in New South Wales.
MORE: Read the full story
Thousands of vulnerable Australian drivers in limbo after rule change
A quiet rule change has thrown a veil of uncertainty over thousands of autistic drivers in Australia.
The ABC reports last year a change was quietly made to the Assessing Fitness to Drive standards, which now state autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that “should be assessed individually”.
MORE: Read the full story
Is the Ford Falcon coming back?
Ford has filed a trademark for the Falcon name… in Mexico.
Ford Authority reports the Blue Oval brand trademarked the name there on May 12, 2023. While it’s not unusual for companies to hold onto trademarks to protect heritage nameplates, Ford has been busily resurrecting old names.
A Mexican-market Ford wearing the Falcon name would also have company from another ex-Australian nameplate: Territory.
MORE: Read the full story
What do those green stickers on roadside posts mean?
Ever wondered what those green stickers mean on highway-side reflector posts in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria?
The ‘3-2-1 green reflectors’ were originally created for truck drivers to assist with short stop points where drivers can check their cargo or pull over for a small rest if they are tired.
The initiative was started by road safety advocate and truck driver Rod Hannifey.
MORE: Read the full story
Another state looks to kill electric car support in Australia
New South Wales could soon become the second state in Australia to axe its electric vehicle (EV) rebates following remarks from Premier Chris Minns.
As reported by the Australian Associated Press and The Driven, Mr Minns has said he’s considering scrapping the EV subsidies as part of the upcoming budget.
“We’ve got a subsidy in place that we think is pushing up the costs of EVs and we’re seeing EVs take up from about two per cent to eight per cent in the marketplace,” said Mr Minns.
XRP will have to be worth $630 to make $1 million from a $1,000 investment.
Shiba Inu will be worth $0.0099 with a market size of $5.82 trillion to make $1 million from a $1,000 investment.
NuggetRush’s future price will have to be $20, with a market size of $10 billion, to make $1 million, which is achievable.
We are constantly on the lookout for the next 100x gem. After all, don’t we all want to be a million-dollar richer? While it sounds exciting, it begs the question: do all cryptocurrencies have the potential to give such returns?
In this post, we will use Ripple (XRP), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and NuggetRush (NUGX) as case studies. Which is more likely to give you your desired return, and how much growth is needed? This article will answer these questions, so continue reading.
As a top ICO, NuggetRush (NUGX) has staggering growth potential. It also stands out for its unique concept, which is a blend of P2E (play-to-earn) and memes. In the third stage of its ICO, a token costs just $0.013. However, its listing price will be $0.02.
The million-dollar question—quite literally—is: How does one make $1 million from a $1,000 NUGX investment? From its listing price, the price will be $20.00 to make one million dollars from a $1,000 investment. Its market cap will also rise to $10 billion—pretty low. This is achievable, which makes it the best crypto investment now.
Ripple (XRP): Is One Million Dollars Possible From a $1k Investment?
If you are searching for which crypto to buy today for the long term, you may consider XRP. After all, it is one of the top altcoins on the market. At the time of publication, XRP costs $0.63 per token. Back to the main question: can a $1,000 investment become one million dollars?
To reach this milestone, XRP would need to be priced at $630 per token, which is remotely impossible if it is possible at all. That isn’t all.
Shiba Inu (SHIB): Is it a Promising Investment Now?
Shiba Inu (SHIB) stands out as one of the most popular memecoins. Although it is one of the best coins to invest in, is it as promising? While memecoins are characterized by explosive growth, can SHIB experience a 1,000x increase?
At the moment, Shiba Inu costs $0.0000099. You might be tempted to say, Yes, it can surge a thousand times. However, for you to turn a $1,000 investment into $1 million, Shiba Inu would need to undergo explosive growth. To put this in perspective, three zeros would need to be deleted. This is remotely impossible, given its past growth.
Conclusion
In light of the discussion in this post, XRP and Shiba Inu experiencing 1,000x growth to turn a $1,000 investment into a million dollars is almost impossible. Meanwhile, as a low-cap gem, NuggetRush could easily flip such an investment into $1 million. This makes it one of the best cryptos to buy now. If you wish to participate in the presale, click the link below.
Content comes at you fast, to paraphrase that old ad campaign from Nationwide. So, you likely missed (or forgot) some helpful and thought-provoking articles from this year.
Sure, we surface pieces through the in-case-you-missed-it entries in the CMI newsletters. But we’re a realistic crew (that produces a lot of content).
I pulled together this list of the 10 most popular articles published in 2023 to highlight things you might have missed. I assessed popularity based on a mix of data, including page views, email responses, unique linking domains, and some editorial discretion.
All these articles include a ton of knowledge you can use right away on emerging topics and evergreen fundamentals. I hope you find them as helpful as other readers did.
Author: Jodi Harris
Why read this: Remember that ear-splitting BEEP followed by the robotic chant, “This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System – this is only a test?” That thing shook ’80s kids from even the deepest Saturday cartoon-induced haze. Blaring a loud noise isn’t an option for getting attention in a noisy inbox (thank goodness).
But you can break through a noisy inbox. This article analyzes the successful designs, tactics, and content choices from newsletters that are easy to admire.
Notable excerpt
Offer flexible subscription terms: Give subscribers the option to self-select the content they receive – for example, a daily newsletter or a weekly digest. You can also segment content by topics or geographic region. It makes the newsletter more personally resonant – and helps you gather more data on your subscribers’ interests.
Author: Stephanie Stahl
Why read this: CMI’s annual research is one of the most read (and linked) pieces every year. The 14th edition rose up the charts more quickly than most. Maybe because we held nothing back, packing every finding into a single article instead of sending people to a PDF report.
Or maybe the details on everything from generative AI use to social media changes, how content work gets done, and where marketers plan to invest proved to be what everyone needed to figure out their plans for 2024.
Notable excerpt
AI in content remains mostly ungoverned. Asked if their organizations have guidelines for using generative AI tools, 31% of marketers say yes, 61% say no, and 8% are unsure.
We asked Ann Handley, chief content officer of MarketingProfs, for her perspective. “It feels crazy … 61% have no guidelines? But is it actually shocking and crazy? No. It is not. Most of us are just getting going with generative AI. That means there is a clear and rich opportunity to lead from where you sit,” she says.
“Ignite the conversation internally. Press upon your colleagues and leadership that this isn’t a technology opportunity. It’s also a people and operational challenge in need of thoughtful and intelligent response. You can be the AI leader your organization needs,” Ann says.
Author: Jim Yu
Why read this: People got a look at Google’s Search Generative Experience, an experimental generative AI-driven search interface, this year. And, as you can see in this article, it looks cool from the searcher’s perspective. (You can also sign up to test the feature through Search Labs.)
But, it raised many questions for content producers about what kind of content will surface and whether SGE will be another blow to site traffic as other zero-click search results have been.
Jim Yu, founder of SEO platform BrightEdge, explained how to prep your content for this new search environment.
Notable excerpt
If you refined your blog content based on Google Search’s helpful content system, you have a head start on building a strategy for Search Generative Experience. Google prioritizes useful, high-quality content and increasingly bumps out thin, generic content that doesn’t seem written by humans for humans.
With SGE, think about the natural flow of conversation between the searcher and Google’s AI. How can you better meet searchers’ needs and make it clear to Google that your blog or article is the best choice for relevant queries?
Author: Ann Gynn
Why read this: Somebody somewhere once said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it.” Yet, how many of us struggle to explain content marketing to friends and acquaintances? I know I do. But you won’t have to struggle anymore, thanks to the examples Ann chose tailored to a variety of social and professional situations and the clear explanations she gathered from content and marketing experts.
Notable excerpt
“Content marketing is what you really wish all marketing was – where the people who are trying to get you to buy something just help you and provide you with answers to your questions. (They) try genuinely to be collaborative support to you during the buying process instead of jumping straight to the click-this-button buy-now.” – Andrea Fryrear, CEO and co-founder, AgileSherpas
Author: Jodi Harris
Why read this: What will the content marketing profession look like in 2028? The plot twists of the past five years have humbled many prognosticators. Content Marketing World presenters give advice on how to future-proof your career when the future’s less than clear.
Notable excerpt
Too many marketers are reluctant to get in the heads of their customers, opting to make assumptions instead. To get this critical information, you need to talk to customers. If you can’t speak to them directly, work closely with customer-facing roles such as sales, customer success, or community to discover their pain points. Sit in on calls and demos to learn. If that’s not an option, do social listening and scan review sites.
Words from the customer make some of the most compelling marketing copy. With the rise of AI, there will be an explosion of content, but most of it won’t be great. Marketers who can speak to their customers will win. – Adrienne Sheares, owner, ViviMae Labs
Author: Ahava Leibtag
Why read this: With all the hoopla around AI-generated content, it felt like the right time to revisit the question of what makes content valuable. No matter who (or what) generates the copy, putting words on a page is only part of the content mission. Someone must decide if those words support your organization’s goals and audience needs. This updated checklist takes the guesswork out of ensuring every piece you publish is up to the task.
Notable excerpt
[Use] alt tags [to] ensure your images appear in image searches. Describe the picture in the image (because alt tags were first designed for the visually impaired) and use these tags to highlight your content.
For instance, if the image shows doctors performing surgery, the alt tag could be, “The doctors at Sweet Valley Hospital in Sweet Valley, Calif., are experts in separating identical twins in a surgery known as identical separation, as shown in this photo.”
Author: Stephanie Stahl
Why read this: If you want to know how your pay compares to the earnings of people in a similar career stage, this is the place to start. (You may need to download the gated report for the most detailed picture.) After all, it’s a tricky subject to bring up around the coffee station at a conference or other networking opportunity. This report revealed the average content marketing salary in the United States along with career concerns (cough — AI — cough), frustrations, skill investment plans, and aspirations.
Notable excerpt
[C]ontent marketers are less focused on developing creative skills like writing, editing, video, and audio. A year ago, 40% of respondents said they were interested in honing their writing and editing skills. This year, that figure dropped to nearly half to 22%.
That’s troubling in a profession that relies on talented and creative writers and editors to engage and build trust with audiences. Right now, market forces seem to push content marketers to spend their personal development time on other skills.
Why read this: Search is changing. Social is changing. Competition for attention grows everywhere you look. But one thing hasn’t changed: An audience-first strategy still works. This article explores how to adjust to new content discovery patterns.
Notable excerpt
Advances in content delivery platforms make “if you build it, they will come” possible when the content aligns with the audience’s intent.
In earlier years, you needed to perform on- and off-page SEO, careful content activation, proactive outreach, and even a media spend to get an audience to notice a stellar piece of content. Now, content discovery platforms can find those shining needles in haystacks.
Content delivery platforms, largely thanks to AI, no longer serve up the longest, newest, fastest, or most-linked-to asset. Rather, search, social, shopping, and streaming platforms align more powerfully to offer new content based on the user’s intent.
You still can’t replace the value of timing, SEO, and content promotion. However, publishing content that meets a user’s intent is the ultimate measure of quality that will help it rise to the top.
Author: Ann Gynn
Why read this: By now, some of the shine has worn off the ChatGPT toy. But back in January, it was a novelty. So we asked intrepid reporter and editor Ann Gynn to have a heart-to-heart chat with the (then) newcomer, causing so much angst for our industry. The results still hold up.
Notable excerpt
ChatGPT reworded CMI’s definition [of the term content marketing] about as well as a high schooler whose clumsy attempt to “write” an essay earned an F for plagiarism. The use of specific phrases, “clearly defined” and “profitable customer action,” tells me it is copied from CMI.
That’s where a human editor comes into play. Always run the text (human- or AI-created) through a plagiarism checker (another AI tool) before publishing, and always incorporate proper attribution.
But wait, I thought, maybe the attribution problem was my fault. Maybe my prompt was poorly written. What if I asked for attribution?
Author: Carlijn Postma
Why read this: You put so much effort into each piece of long-form content. If you let it be a one-and-done, you’re overlooking opportunities to give yourself a break. This step-by-step plan shows you how to get some easy (or at least easier) wins by turning that big piece into adjacent content over time.
Notable excerpt
I use the term “content mapping” to talk about mapping content to other content. Content mapping is a logical derivative of the phenomenon of mind mapping — drawing a diagram to visually organize information, frequently around a single concept represented as a circle in the center of the map.
An experienced content mapper can easily chop the topic into separate thoughts or ideas. But less-experienced content mappers should brainstorm, using the map as a physical manifestation. I like to draw a tree and jot down all the different categories, subjects, and content types that come to mind as branches.
Want more content marketing tips, insights, and examples? Subscribe to workday or weekly emails from CMI.
HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: Key Trends in Content Marketing 2024: 67 Predictions
Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute
Ed-tech firm Techmaghi made it to the India Book of Records by hosting the largest live online technical workshop that garnered 45,000 registrations, reiterating the company’s capacity to provide quality education in the digital era.
The November 25-26 event by Techmaghi, which is incubating under Kerala Start-up Mission (KSUM), won the firm the achievement amid an active participation of 28,000 students.
The performance comes close on the heels of LJ Knowledge Foundation funding Tehchmaghi under the Start-up India Seed Fund Scheme.
India Book of Records adjudicator Vivek Nair presented the award to Techmaghi founder-CEO Deepak Rajan. The ceremony was inaugurated by the Start-up Mission’s COO Tom Thomas.
Journey so far
Rajan, speaking at the function, attributed the 2021-founded company’s milestone to the collective effort of its dedicated team. In two years, Techmaghi’s 30-member team has evolved into a leading education provider. The company has trained over one lakh students, offering specialized programmes in new-age technologies such as electric vehicles, AI, programming, advanced driver assistance systems and machine learning.
“The diverse portfolio of training modules reflects our dedication towards fostering innovation and preparing the workforce to face the challenges and opportunities of the digital age,” Rajan, noted, highlighting the company’s focus on developing virtual labs and offering students hands-on practice opportunities from any location. “This strategic move aligns with Techmaghi’s vision to stay at the forefront of technology-enhanced education,” he added.
Pointing out that Techmaghi’s primary emphasis lies in core engineering fields, equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge essential for success in a competitive job market, Rajan said the honour reiterates the company’s commitment to revolutionizing education and empowering the next generation of skilled professionals.
There are a ton of great Cyber Monday deals on big-ticket items like laptops or TVs that can save you hundreds of dollars, but if you’re looking to stock up on family laughs, it’s the little deals that often make the biggest impact. For my family, that was the case with Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, an unassuming card game packed with potential hilarity.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza might be the most fun I’ve had with a card game since forever, and it made our recent vacation very memorable. And now you can pick it up for yourself at a special $8 price.
We took Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza to the poolside in Crete and everyone must have thought we had enjoyed the all-inclusive drinks a little too much. It’s impossible to play this game without shouting, laughing and sometimes even crying — again, maybe that was just me — at how much fun it can be. And the best part? It’s just so simple.
Each player puts down a card and says “Taco,” “Cat,” “Goat,” “Cheese” and “Pizza” in order. If the word matches the card, the last person to slap their hand down has to pick up all the cards — with some special cards and actions I won’t spoil for you. The person who run out of cards first wins. Simple, right? And yes, dear reader, I always finished with the most. I do indeed suck at this game.
But you know what? It doesn’t matter, because it’s so fun that I don’t care. I sincerely hope that you’re better at Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza than I am but, frankly, you won’t care if you aren’t, either.
Health officials have confirmed an international traveler who passed through Denver International Airport on Dec. 13 has tested positive for measles.
The adolescent, whose vaccination status is unknown, allegedly visited several Colorado counties, and has been in isolation since Dec. 18, health officials stated in a news release.
“On Monday, Dec. 18, the adolescent went to Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Emergency Department at the Anschutz Medical Campus from 8:30 to 11 a.m. The hospital is notifying healthcare providers, patients and others who were in a similar area as the measles patient,” the release said.
Arapahoe County Public Health is leading the investigation and has been notifying people who may have been directly exposed, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE).
ILLINOIS REPORTS FIRST MEASLES CASE SINCE 2019: ‘ONE OF THE MOST CONTAGIOUS DISEASES KNOWN’
An adolescent who traveled through Denver International Airport earlier this month has tested positive for measles, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health.(Fox News)
The CDPHE also provided a timeline of when the adolescent was at the airport.
According to the timeline, the adolescent was at Denver International Airport from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 13 with possible exposure to people moving through Concourse A, bridge security, baggage claim and the passenger pickup area, the release said.
MEASLES PROTECTION IS PARAMOUNT BEFORE TRAVELING OUTSIDE THE US, SAYS CDC
Colorado has not reported a measles case since January 2019 prior to this outbreak.(iStock)
The last confirmed case of measles in a Colorado resident before this was in January 2019, according to the state.
Denver International Airport was not immediately available for comment.
Hill Road in Bandra is undoubtedly one of the most popular shopping destinations. People from different corners of the city regularly flock to this neighbourhood to buy a wide variety of items. It also marks some of the main localities you pass while making your way to other iconic parts of Bandra while travelling from the station. As a result, you’ll always find Hill Road buzzing with activity. In recent times, a newly opened cafe, The Nest, seeks to provide you with a refuge from this hustle-bustle. We visited the cosy establishment for ourselves for dinner some time back.
The menu is relatively straightforward. Along with cafe classics like pasta, pizza, sushi and breakfast favourites, there are different types of appetisers and signature sourdough toasties. The drinks menu is noteworthy, because of its wide range of offerings. You don’t just get typical hot and cold beverages here. There’s a lot more to choose from, and the unique additions are a welcome change from the same old options. For instance, we counted more than 7 cold, coffee-flavoured milk beverages. There are also speciality coffee mocktails and cold brews.
Helmed by Khushal and Priyanka Kotak, the cafe aims to make patrons feel at home. This is mirrored in the comforting ambience marked by bamboo work, jute mats, jute rope chairs and earthy tones of beige and green. Small plants and warm lighting give the cafe a welcoming vibe. There is an open-air seating area as well as tables nestled in a climate-controlled space. Patrons can also pick a book from the cafe’s small collection or choose to play board games with friends.
Photo Credit: Toshita Sahni
Let’s dive into our recommendations. Among the starters or “munchies”, we enjoyed the Baked Cigar Rolls (chicken) served with a spicy sauce. While we’d have preferred the side to be more fiery, its flavours nevertheless complemented the rolls quite well. We appreciated the heartiness of the stuffing and the delicate flakiness of the rolls.
Photo Credit: Toshita Sahni
Another yummy chicken option was the Shish Tawook, though the flavours are much more subtler here. The dish consisted of juicy chicken kebabs laid on a bed of pickled veggies and pita bread, with a side of fries. We especially loved the garlic sauce it was served with. Our server told us our order would be like a deconstructed shawarma. In that case, we felt that the bread should have been cut – as the dish was rather unwieldy to handle as a whole.
Photo Credit: Toshita Sahni
Among the Sourdough Toasties, we liked the Farmer’s Toast. Loaded with the goodness of cucumber, tomato, avocado and sprouts, this is a great choice for the diet-conscious friend who has grudgingly agreed to tag along with you! The freshness of the toppings and the overall wholesomeness of the toastie stood out for us.
If you’re craving Asian flavours, we recommend the Crispy Lotus Stem. Tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce, the appetiser was satisfying and easily shared between two people.
Photo Credit: Toshita Sahni
For the main course, we relished the tangy Ravioli Pomodoro. The veg version featured a filling of spinach, corn and feta. The flavours of the basil and herbs, along with the tartness of the tomato were well-balanced.
Throughout the evening, we paired our food with some interesting drinks. We started our meal with one of the special brews: cascara tea. It refers to a tea made from the dried husks of coffee cherries. It was fruity and delicately sweet – with a soothing effect that anyone would appreciate after a long work day. The cafe also has a chilled version of the same.
Among the mocktails, you should not miss the Passion Spritz. It was a delightfully refreshing and fruity drink that would be perfect for summer – or any time Mumbai humidity gets to you. We also liked the simplicity of The Elder – a bubbly concoction with elderflower syrup.
Photo Credit: Toshita Sahni
We satisfied our sweet cravings with the Chocolate Hazelnut French Toast. Yes, it is indeed as decadent as it sounds! The brioche was gloriously soft and spongy, with a nutty chocolate and whipped cream topping. It also came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and what can we say? We had entered dessert heaven.
The Nest is a great spot to hang out with your friends or your significant other. Even if you need a quick break alone from the crowds of Hill Road, head here for a charming atmosphere and tasty food.
Where: The Nest, 1st Floor, Hotel Metro Palace, Hill Rd, opposite Marks & Spencer, Bandra West, Mumbai.
A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Thursday denounced Lai Ching-te, a politician with Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), for his “Taiwan independence” remarks.
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that Lai’s provocative remarks will only bring great harm to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. Zhu made the comments in response to Lai’s recent remarks inciting confrontation between the two sides of the Straits.
Lai’s remarks once again exposed that the DPP does not hesitate to let the people of Taiwan serve as cannon fodder for its selfish motives, Zhu said, calling on Taiwan compatriots to recognize the extreme danger of “Taiwan independence” and make the right choice to bring cross-Straits relations back onto the right track of peaceful development.
(Cover: The Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, China’s Taiwan. /Xinhua)
Philip von Hahn, a 30-year-old tech investor on the Upper East Side, attended a holiday party on Sunday night to take his mind off the recent dissolution of his three-year relationship.
“We’ve been weighing it for the past few months,” Mr. von Hahn said of the decision to end things. The holidays, however, added a sense of urgency, as he and his ex-girlfriend weren’t able to agree on who would visit whose family for Christmas, or if they even wanted to spend this time of year with each other again.
Although fall and winter have affectionately become known as “cuffing season” in recent years — a period where couples stay indoors, cuffed together throughout the cold months — they can also be a fraught time that puts pressures on newer relationships.
A small infraction like not buying a thoughtful Christmas gift or being reluctant to visit your partner’s family for the holidays can be the excuse a hesitant partner was looking for to call it quits. Ghosting feels like an easy option when people can use their travel plans as an excuse to be absent, and time apart can make staying connected difficult, especially if a relationship is already on shaky ground.
Mr. von Hahn said that he and his ex-girlfriend both decided to break up after realizing the relationship wasn’t progressing to the next step (“Like, get married”). He said he felt good about the decision, despite still needing time to adjust, and was crashing with a friend in Brooklyn after moving out of the apartment they shared.
For Christmas, he planned to return home to Toronto to spend time with his family “and convalesce.” He was looking forward to having a busy holiday schedule to keep him occupied.
The end of the year is also often a time of reflection and a yearning for a “new year, new me” that can be at times one-sided.
Beth Booker, a 33-year-old public relations specialist in Naples, Fla., had met her ex-boyfriend in September on Bumble and hard launched as a couple in November. He broke up with her this past weekend.
“It really sucks when you finally decide to take that leap and you feel safe enough to do it, and they can’t catch you,” she said in a phone interview on Monday.
He returned home to Pennsylvania around late fall, and, after agreeing to try to make a long-distance relationship work, he had a change of heart during a conversation about their plans for the new year.
Despite films on the Hallmark and Lifetime channels that would like to convince people that the holidays are the most romantic time of the year, they can feel especially lonely if you’re single.
Tejah Larkin, 31, describes this time of year as the moment many couples choose to make things official, so holiday parties and ugly Christmas sweater gatherings can feel harder for people like her who are still casually dating.
“During this time, the events are not really gauged for the singles, because most people probably have been dating since the summer and now they’re trying to lock it down,” said Ms. Larkin, who lives in East Orange, N.J. “Most people are inside with their significant others.”
Ms. Larkin is currently seeing a man with whom she grew up after reconnecting in late October. It’s in the honeymoon phase, she said, and they are focused on building atop their old friendship and seeing where things go. He plans to return home to Georgia for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. She hopes they will stay in contact during that time.
“This will be the first time either of us have been not in the same area communicating, so hopefully we keep the same consistent communication,” Ms. Larkin said. “It’ll be a real test.”
American Heart Association survey suggests holiday stress has a major impact on health habits.
A recent survey released by the American Heart Association revealed that 79% of respondents tend to neglect their health needs during the holidays, focusing instead on creating special moments for others. Additionally, 51% of Americans state that they take weeks to recover from holiday stress, with more than one-quarter of moms requiring a month or more for recovery. Furthermore, 63% of respondents find the holiday season more stressful than tax season, 71% regret not taking time to relax and enjoy the holiday season, and healthy eating remains the top priority to be overlooked.1
The nonprofit organization offers multiple solutions for people to keep track of their health during this time of year. This includes eating reasonable portions, more physical activity, and making sure to get enough sleep. Furthermore, they suggest connecting with loved ones whenever feeling stressed in order to enjoy the holiday season with happy and healthy hearts.1
“Chronic stress can negatively impact both your long-term mental and physical health in many ways if left unmanaged,” said Glenn N. Levine, MD, FAHA, American Heart Association volunteer, writing committee chair of the Association’s 2021 Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection scientific statement, in a company press release. “The holidays are an easy time to justify putting off healthy habits, but it’s important to manage chronic stress and other risk factors to stay healthy during the holiday season and into the New Year.”
The survey, conducted by Wakefield Research, involved 1,000 nationally representative US adults, with results subject to a sampling variation of 3.1 percentage points. The American Heart Association stated that it is committed to promoting longer, healthier lives and equitable health in all communities.1
In an article published by CNET, author Taylor Leamey offers six strategies aimed to keep stress at bay during the holidays. These strategies include:
Acknowledge what you’re feeling.
Plan ahead where you can.
Embrace saying no.
Make time for yourself.
Stick to health habits.
Reach out to family and friends.2
“The holidays are quickly approaching, and you might be feeling the pressure of this time of year,” wrote Leamey. “In addition to the elaborate meals, well-thought-out gifts and never-faltering smiles comes the anxiety. For many people, holiday festivities trigger an influx of stress and anxiety symptoms.”
References
1. New survey: 79% of survey respondents overlook their health needs during the holidays; find the holidays more stressful than tax season. Eurekalert. December 18, 2023. Accessed December 19, 2023. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1029378
2. 6 Expert Strategies to Keep Your Stress at Bay During the Holidays. CNET. December 19, 2023. Accessed December 19, 2023. https://www.cnet.com/health/mental/6-expert-strategies-to-keep-your-stress-at-bay-during-the-holidays/
Whether you already know it or not, cats scratching things is an instinctive behavior. While their claws provide defense, they also allow cats to communicate with other felines in the area with visual and olfactory signals. That’s not an issue when it comes to the trees outside, but it’s another matter when it’s your couch that they’re digging their nails into. You have three plans of attack: You can put up barriers to keep your pet from destroying your stuff, you can try positive reinforcement training to get them to scratch appropriate things, or you can cut it off at the source—literally.
Trimming your cat’s claws is an important part of cat ownership. Like the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), we don’t advocate declawing. Instead, we recommend trimming them. We understand if you’re wondering how to trim a cat’s nails that won’t let you. It’s not like they make it easy. However, our guide offers tips on ways to make the experience less dramatic for both of you.
Before You Start
The best way to make this task easier is to get your pet used to the process. That means handling them and their paws frequently so that they get used to it, preferably from a young age. You can also use every pet owner’s secret weapon: treats. Food has a remarkable way of making animals comfortable doing things they wouldn’t normally do. We suggest getting something special for this task, such as tuna, given the feline preference for it.
Cats are naturally wary of new things in their environment. It’s helpful to get them used to the things you’re going to use to clip their nails before you start. Let them explore the clippers on their own time instead of yours. Also, understand that even the most docile pet may bite. Felines don’t like being restrained and will often fight it. Therefore, you may want to enlist a helper to help hold your cat or to run the clippers while you hold.
Image Credit: Tatiana Foxy, Shutterstock
The object of many of the items used for trimming a cat’s nails is to minimize injuries to you and your pet. It’s in everyone’s best interest to get the job done as quickly and safely as possible. The materials you may need include the following:
Large towel
Pheromone spray (optional)
Nail clipper
Styptic powder
Treats
How to Restrain a Cat for Nail Clipping
1. Let Your Cat Sniff the Towel if Using One
We equate curiosity with cats for a good reason. Breeds vary in how outgoing or shy they are. However, familiarity brings a certain comfort. That’s why we suggest letting your cat sniff the towel and clippers you’re going to use for a few days before you try to groom them. Novel objects may put an animal on the defense, so allow your pet to take their time and investigate things at their own pace.
2. Apply Pheromone Spray to the Items
For some cats, pheromone sprays can be calming in stressful situations. Being restrained for nail clipping can undoubtedly qualify as one of those stressful situations. These products simulate pheromones a cat releases in comforting times, such as snuggling with their mother and littermates. It’s an olfactory all-is-well signal that may make this task more manageable and less stressful. Spray the items, area and your hands about 15 minutes before attempting nail trims.
Image Credit: Vydrin, Shutterstock
3. Wrap Your Pet in a Towel
A thick towel will protect you from getting scratched. After all, there’s a good reason you’ve decided to clip your pet’s nails. Fold the towel in half lengthwise and lay it out on the floor or table. Starting at one end, wrap the towel snuggly around your cat’s body burrito-style. The head should be sticking out one end and unobscured so that your cat can breathe easily. This will keep their legs contained and give you control of their head at the same time. While you’re trimming their nails, hold your kitty close to your body. This can comfort a frightened pet and help things get done as quickly and safely as possible.
4. Expose One Paw at a Time and Trim the Tip of the Nails
Bring out one paw at a time. Your cat will likely instinctively extend their claws to grasp for something. Push each nail forward to expose the tip. Make sure to look for the quick (the red line extending about half the length of the claw) beforehand and only trim the tip where there is no quick. Trim small amounts until the nail is as short as you want it. Have the styptic powder ready if you happen to go too short and the nail starts to bleed.
5. Reward Your Cat
Reward your cat with a treat for their cooperation after clipping their first paw. This action builds a foundation for a positive association with this task. Your kitty still may object to being restrained the next time you do it, however, you’ll likely find there’s less drama once your pet realizes what lies at the end of the proverbial tunnel.
Image Credit: Andriy Blokhin, Shutterstock
6. Speak Softly to Your Cat as You Switch Paws
Speak softly to your pet while clipping their nails. Research has shown that cats find their owners’ presence comforting during stressful times. If someone is helping you, ensure you’re the one holding your kitty while the other person does the trimming.
7. Remove the Towel and Finish With a Treat
When you’re done, make sure to end on a positive note with another treat. Your cat likely has an escape on their mind. Something yummy may distract your pet and put the focus back on a good experience. You can leave the materials you used in the room so that your cat can come back and check them out again if they want.
Final Thoughts
Nail clipping doesn’t have to be an ordeal for you and your cat every time you do it. Letting them get comfortable and used to the gear you’re going to use well before you start may really help you. Nurturing a positive association between nail trimming and treats is essential as it can help spare both you and your cat from injury. Hopefully, they’ll soon get used to the process and it won’t be such a hassle the next time.
Featured Image Credit: Yimmyphotography, Shutterstock
Private equity inflows into the Indian real estate sector fell 44 per cent in 2023 to $3 billion, as global investors exercised caution, said a report by property consultant Knight Frank India.
PE investments in real estate are on a downtrend since 2021, the lowest in eight years with near record low deals. Only 23 deals were struck during the year, with the lowest ever being during the pandemic year 2020 at 20, although the amount raised was higher at around $4 billion.
“Global geopolitical uncertainties and high interest rate environment with multiple rate hikes from US Federal Reserve and Central Bank of Canada have curbed investment activities from US and Canada, leading to significant reduction,” said the report. Over half of the inflows were from PE investors in Singapore.
Most of the inflows were in the office sector, following by warehousing and residential. There were no PE deals in the retail sector.
Yet, foreign inflows dominated investments during the year with domestic investment lagging.
“We have also witnessed a rise in interest from Asian private equity players in the recent past. This, particularly amid the impact on investments from western countries, could signal a positive shift for the Indian PE market,” said Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India.
During the pandemic, I moved from NYC to my hometown of Vancouver, Canada. I was eager to reconnect with my old community of friends once restrictions lifted. I’d coordinate dinners, host people in my home, and was the one who’d initiate plans.
For a while, I shrugged,
Oh, they’re busy. They have kids so it’s too hard for them to initiate. Or <insert excuse here>.
But I realized, even though they were not showing up in the relationship – I was holding on to the friendships because of history. This would leave me resentful and disappointed. I’ve learned that history alone, is not enough for someone to be in my life in the present and future.
Our relationships require nurturing.
I stopped over-performing in these friendships. I paused before impulsively trying harder to make plans happen. I told some friends how I felt and what I desired. A few stepped it up and our friendship has since grown. And with others, I’ve accepted that they’re no longer part of my inner circle, and that’s okay.
Here’s what I learned is the KEY to relationships: MUTUALITY.
Mutuality means there’s an interactive relationship between two people – a balance of energy and exchange. Without it, you’re in a one-sided relationship with someone who is not in a relationship with you.
Take an inventory of your one-sided relationships.
For the ones where you’re the only one investing, take a step back. Stop taking three steps to make up for their lack of steps. Communicate what you want and give people the opportunity to step up. If they don’t want to, then you have your data. If you realize you do not make an effort with those you love – take action to nurture the connection. Initiate plans, send flowers, tell them how much you care… do something, anything, then passively wait for people to happen to you. There is no such thing as not enough time. There is only what you prioritize as important enough for your time.
Invest wisely. Love fully.
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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.
BILO da volite eksperimentirati s proizvodima za njegu kože ili vam je doista potrebna dobra krema za područje oko očiju, vjerujemo da će vas zaintrigirati ona koju preporučuje Jennifer Garner. S obzirom na njezin mladolik izgled, mnogi su požurili isprobati kremu za okoloočno područje koju hvali.
Gotovo instantno djelovanje
U pitanju je Neutrogena Hydro Boost gel krema, koju ambasadorica brenda rado koristi u svojoj svakodnevnoj njezi. Ovaj pristupačni proizvod formuliran je s nizom snažnih sastojaka, čija je namjena umiriti i zagladiti područje oko očiju.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Sadrži hijaluronsku kiselinu za smanjenje pojave bora i sitnih linija te dubinsko hidratiziranje vašeg tena, što je posebno važno zimi. Preporučuje se nanijeti je ujutro i navečer nakon čišćenja kože za najbolje rezultate.
Garner nije jedina obožavateljica ove kreme. Na Amazonu ima ocjenu 4.5 uz preko 18.000 recenzija: “Gotovo odmah smanjuje fine linije i bore, odlični rezultati”, “Brzo i u potpunosti se upija, odlična vrijednost za novac”, “Imala sam jako suhu kožu ispod očiju, a otkad koristim ovu kremu, problemi su nestali”.
Kremu je potrebno nanositi ujutro i navečer i umasirati dok se u potpunosti ne upije. Ova hidratantna gel-krema brzo se upija, ne ostavlja mastan i težak film, a snažno hidratizira suhu kožu. Sadrži hijaluronsku kiselinu, koja pomaže u vlaženju i elastičnosti kože.
Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu?
For long stretches Wednesday, the Clippers were not the NBA’s hottest team, but its most uncomfortable.
An illness had left their second-leading scorer, Paul George, at the team’s Dallas hotel, and their fourth-leading scorer, Norman Powell, suited up but feeling “terrible,” all the same.
Unable to score at the end of the second quarter, or hold onto the ball in the third, their 22-point first-half lead was gone early in the fourth quarter.
By playing a combination of guards and wings, Dallas forced the Clippers to match the adjustment for the fourth quarter’s final seven minutes — taking them away from their strongest, and preferred, lineups featuring either centers Ivica Zubac or Daniel Theis, and replacing it with the small-ball coach Tyronn Lue has studiously attempted to avoid.
In the fourth-quarter roar of the 20,310 inside American Airlines Center, you could hear the echoes from five weeks earlier, when the Clippers came to this same arena three games into James Harden’s tenure and saw their resolve, and double-digit lead, quickly give way when pushed.
Instead the Clippers ended Wednesday as they have every game in December — a winner.
By not just outlasting Dallas’ rally in a 120-111 victory but turning the final minutes into a clinic in how to close, led by a bravura performance by Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers improved to 17-10 behind their ninth consecutive victory, which ties Orlando for the NBA’s longest win streak this season.
“Huge win for us,” Lue said.
The Clippers are far from perfect, as their December record would suggest — each flaw a reminder of how quickly the streak could go away.
Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) looks to pass under pressure from Clippers Ivica Zubac (40) and Russell Westbrook (0) Wednesday in Dallas.
(LM Otero / Associated Press)
But their overall body of work since a Nov. 29 win in Sacramento that preceded the start of the streak, yet was hailed in the moment and in hindsight the “blueprint” for how they could play, has also revealed a team with better habits, better chemistry and a better sense of knowing “who we are,” said Harden after 17 points and 11 assists in 38 minutes. “We kind of have a sense of our identity.” And internally, the Clippers strongly believe that even when the streak eventually ends, that progress won’t.
Consider the superstar scoring run of the past month that Leonard continued by scoring a game-high 30 points, with 10 rebounds and five assists against Dallas. Ten of his points came in the fourth quarter, when Leonard did not allow the Clippers to finish meekly as they had when outscored 11-4 and 10-2 in the final minutes of the second and third quarters, respectively.
Starting with 3:59 to play, Leonard scored four times at the rim, getting wherever he wanted despite George, his co-star, not even being on the floor. Again Leonard logged heavy minutes, this time 37, and played stronger as the game wore on. All 16 points scored by the Clippers in the game’s final five minutes were either baskets scored or assisted by Leonard.
He got wherever he wanted, his four baskets in that span coming at the rim. Again Leonard logged heavy minutes, this time 37, and played stronger as the game wore on.
“A beast down the stretch,” Lue said.
His play was a reflection of key adjustments made over the past month, as coaches implored the team’s stars, including Leonard, to make faster decisions with the ball. Leonard beat double teams before they could trap him, including with 1:40 to play when he saw Derrick Jones Jr. taking a step away from his man, Harden, and toward Leonard, and Leonard spun past his defender and evaded a waiting Luka Doncic at the rim for a bucket that extended the lead to eight, the streak to nine and sent teammates mimicking his final two-step on the sideline.
The finish revealed how much more comfortable the Clippers are playing with one another since their last visit here. When Dallas sent two defenders at Harden beyond the three-point line late, he knew to quickly get rid of the ball to Mann at the free-throw line, who then surveyed the remaining three defenders and whipped the ball to the open option, including a lob to Leonard late in the fourth.
Asked what metric tells him the most about the Clippers’ transformation, Leonard pointed to their late-game defense. In November, that defense rated as one of the league’s worst late in close games. In December, the Clippers are now 5-0 in games within five points in the last five minutes because that defense has become one of the stingiest, allowing Dallas three points during Wednesday’s final 3:46. One team source described the difference as the roster learning to play with urgency.
“We know basketball isn’t just a one-game thing, especially when you’re acquiring pieces, acquiring a guy like [Harden], Hall of Fame, superstar player, a guy that can affect the game in a multitude of ways and it’s going to take time,” said Powell, who scored 21 points, with the Clippers outsourcing Dallas by 16 points in his 31 minutes. “It’s going to take time for them to find a rhythm, find a continuity, find a chemistry.
“It’s not summer league, summertime pickup basketball where you’re doing whatever you want. There’s a system in place and everybody got to figure out their role and how it goes and we’re doing that. The sacrifices from those guys, and figuring out how to give themselves up for the team to reach the end goal, we’re starting to figure that out. We’re starting to play cohesive togetherness basketball offensively and defensively.”
Powell looked sapped of energy afterward, his eyes droopy and a hoodie covering his head. Not feeling well enough to even attend that morning’s shootaround, he made all three of his shots while playing the entire fourth quarter. Not playing was never an option, he said.
“I got to have a broken leg where I can’t run or walk,” he told The Times. “You see me show up on that bus, I’m playing.”
But the news Wednesday was that Powell’s mental and physical toughness doesn’t appear to be the exception.
Russell Westbrook came off the bench and disrupted Doncic’s rhythm with his physical defense. Doncic finished with 28 points but scored only seven after halftime, while attempting 25 field goals to get his points.
“Ain’t too many people defending better than me at this position all around the league, honestly,” said Westbrook, who had 10 points.
The Clippers outscored Dallas (16-11) by 16 points in Westbrook and Harden’s 14 minutes together, a stretch that produced 69% shooting and 11 assists against just two turnovers. This after the duo had been so inefficient together that in recent weeks their minutes were at one point separated entirely.
Harden didn’t allow an 0-for-5 start from deep to rattle his willingness to shoot. He made two of the team’s three three-pointers in the final quarter. And the Clippers committed just two turnovers in the final quarter, as well.
“Adversity is the biggest character in my opinion,” Westbrook said. “It shows what type of team you want to be and we had some adversity initially and we didn’t waver. We stuck with it and made some adjustments, figured out where each of us could be beneficial to the team, for the betterment of the team, and I think we’re finding ways to figure that out.”
These were not the same Clippers who gave a game away here in November. On this night, they stole one back.
The users of microblogging platform ‘X’ and X Pro were not able to access the platform after it suffered a global outage on Thursday, Reuters reported citing the Downdetector.com, an outage tracking website.
The users on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) were not able to view posts on the site.
They were not able to access the platform with a message that said, “Welcome to X!”, according to Reuters.
On X Pro, the old TweetDeck, users experienced loading problems and ran into a pop-up display, “Waiting for posts.”
Access problems with X and X Pro were reported by over 47,000 US customers, based on data from Downdetector.
Further details are awaited.
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