Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd shared some opinions with his audience during an episode of "The Herd" on Thursday, comparing multiple NFL quarterbacks to former Oregon Duck and current Denver Bronco Bo Nix. In a 48-second clip posted to TikTok and various other social media platforms, Cowherd could be heard weighing Nix against other NFL stars including Jalen Hurts, Jordan Love and Brock Purdy. At one point, Cowherd made quite a bold claim, giving Nix, a rookie, the edge over a two-time Pro Bowler. "Here's what concerns me with Jalen Hurts," Cowherd said. "He is very dependent on his legs. Even through nine, 10, 12 games, I think (Nix), in the pocket, is a better pocket passer." "Here's what concerns me with Jalen Hurts. He is very dependent on his legs... I think Bo is better pocket passer." @ColinCowherd decides which QBs he'd take over Bo Nix: pic.twitter.com/gmo7sQ12Xk From there, Cowherd struggled comparing Nix to Love, citing the Packers' starter as a better athlete with a better arm. Still, the Fox analyst noted Love's recklessness as a drawback, failing to decide between the two quarterbacks. Then, Cowherd continued to sing the praises of Nix, picking him over current San Francisco 49er Brock Purdy. "I don't even think it's close. I think it's Bo Nix," Cowherd said. "One's a first-rounder, one's a seventh-rounder. One guy actually won big-time in college at two places. I mean, what's Auburn been since Bo Nix left? Stinkaroony." FS1 Since Nix's departure following the 2021 season, the Tigers have gone a combined 15-20 over three seasons. In their three seasons with Nix at the helm, they went 21-16. Nix will hope to justify Cowherd's claims as the Broncos travel to take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. PST and the game will air on CBS.Key details to know about the arrest of a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO

Digi International Announces the Nomination of Two Accomplished Executives to its Board of Directors and the Pending Retirement of Sally Smith from the Board of Directors

From ‘throning’ to ‘caspering’ and ‘shadow phasing’ – Gen Z dating terms are a minefield. How many do you know?Earlier this year, Steve Cohen laid out his principles as the owner of the New York Mets, saying it was a “philanthropic” endeavor, in an interview with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin . “I don’t care about the cost side,” Cohen said, adding: “If I can make millions of people happy, how cool is that? I actually do it as a civic responsibility.” That attitude helps explain how outfielder Juan Soto ended up agreeing to the richest-ever contract in baseball on Sunday, and among the most lucrative signed by any professional athlete in the world. The deal for Soto, who's 26 and from the Dominican Republic, comes to $765 million over 15 years and includes a $75 million signing bonus and has the potential to increase to more than $800 million, according to MLB.com . What’s especially notable about the contract is that none of the money is “deferred” — meaning it must be paid each year that Soto is on the Mets’ active roster. Besides the dollar amount, the lack of deferrals is what makes Soto’s contract even more eye-popping than the $700 million deal signed just last year by Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani: $680 million of Ohtani’s deal will not be paid until after 2034. For Soto, it means taking all the money up front. “It actually makes little sense why (Soto) would get such a big contract without deferrals,” Nathan Goldman, an associate professor of accounting at North Carolina State University, said in an interview with NBC News. Given the hefty combined personal income tax rates — approximately 15% for the wealthiest residents — levied by the city and state of New York, Soto’s ultimate payout will be somewhat diminished. Yet Soto retains the potential to earn even more money: According to MLB.com , he can opt out of his contract after his fifth year with the Mets if he believes he can command higher sums on the free market. However, the Mets can override that opt-out by increasing his annual salary by $4 million a year, from $51 million to $55 million for the final 10 years. And Soto’s contract does not include the amount the Mets and Cohen will have to pay to satisfy Major League Baseball’s luxury tax. Though ostensibly designed to create a more even playing field between large- and small-market teams, deep-pocketed owners like Cohen have not flinched at paying that penalty to acquire the most coveted players. The simple answer to unlocking Soto’s contract may simply be Cohen. Despite regularly carrying some of the most expensive contracts in baseball this century — including a $340 million deal signed with shortstop Francisco Lindor in 2022 — the Mets have been thwarted time and time again, including crushing losses in the playoffs and World Series. The team is nearing the 40th anniversary of its last championship. The outlook seemed to change five years ago, when Cohen, a longtime hedge fund manager, purchased the team for $2.4 billion. Cohen has been an unusually accessible owner, meeting with fans on multiple occasions and often weighing in on social media . More importantly: Cohen, worth as much as $21.3 billion according to Forbes, has been among the most profligate owners in baseball since he took the reins of the team. According to data from Spotrac, a website that monitors sports spending, the Mets have held the largest annual payroll since 2023. A separate index from TheScore.com that tracks payrolls versus teams’ approximate revenues shows Cohen may actually be operating the team at a loss. Despite the annual ratcheting of payrolls, the winner of the World Series has often been unpredictable. But the baseball gods have been notoriously cruel to the Mets, despite their outsize spending. After crashing out of the first round of the playoffs in 2022 with a roster full of veterans, Cohen blew up the team and traded for prospects while loading up on another set of expensive free agents. But that team still only tied for second in the National League East Division this year and barely made the playoffs. While they nevertheless made it to the National League Championship Series, they were ultimately bested by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who went on to win the World Series in October. Yet over time, payroll does seem to equate to winning — belying the infamous “Moneyball” approach to spending efficiently on under-used players. With Soto’s contract, it seems Cohen will not be denied again. According to reports, the New York Yankees, baseball’s long-running big spenders, offered Soto only $5 million less than the Mets. But despite making the World Series this year, the Bronx Bombers have faced roster turmoil in recent years , while continuing to employ a manager, Aaron Boone, now loathed by many fans. Ironically, Soto is coming over from the Yankees, where he was traded in December 2023. Soto is entering his peak years and continues to draw comparisons to the hitting legends Ted Williams and Barry Bonds. That combination of youth and potential helped clinch the salary record. Another key to Soto ending up with such a massive contract was simply timing. He took advantage of a year lacking in other mega free agents and was able to command a premium on the open market. It’s possible Soto’s contract will be surpassed in just one year. Analysts say Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who finished sixth in MVP voting last season, is expected to command massive numbers when he enters free agency after the 2025 season. Even if no one ends up reaching or surpassing Soto’s figure, MLB will continue to lead all professional sports in titanic deals for contracts, for one simple reason: Unlike the NFL and NBA, it doesn’t have a salary cap. According to Michael Ginnitti, Spotrac’s founder and managing editor, “Baseball’s luxury tax system ... allows billionaires to spend billions on their team if they choose.”

NEW YORK , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to: Altair Engineering Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTR)'s sale to Siemens for $113.00 per share in cash. If you are an Altair shareholder, click here to learn more about your legal rights and options . Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: MPB)'s merger with William Penn Bancorporation. If you are a Mid Penn shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options . Avid Bioservices, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDMO)'s sale to funds managed by GHO Capital Partners LLP and Ampersand Capital Partners for $12.50 per share in cash. If you are an Avid shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options . AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV)'s merger with BlueHalo LLC. Per the terms of the proposed transaction, AeroVironment will issue approximately 18.5 million shares of AeroVironment common stock to BlueHalo. Upon closing of the proposed transaction, AeroVironment shareholders will own approximately 60.5% of the combined company. If you are an AeroVironment shareholder, click here to learn more about your legal rights and options . Halper Sadeh LLC may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits on behalf of shareholders. We would handle the action on a contingent fee basis, whereby you would not be responsible for out-of-pocket payment of our legal fees or expenses. Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm free of charge to discuss their legal rights and options. Please call Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or email sadeh@halpersadeh.com or zhalper@halpersadeh.com . Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Halper Sadeh LLC Daniel Sadeh, Esq. Zachary Halper, Esq. (212) 763-0060 sadeh@halpersadeh.com zhalper@halpersadeh.com https://www.halpersadeh.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-investigation-halper-sadeh-llc-investigates-altr-mpb-cdmo-avav-on-behalf-of-shareholders-302326334.html SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLP

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JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — “My Driver and I” was supposed to be made in 2016, but was scuttled amid Saudi Arabia's decades-long cinema ban. Eight years later, the landscape for film in the kingdom looks much different — and the star of “My Driver and I” now has an award. Roula Dakheelallah was named the winner of the Chopard Emerging Saudi Talent award at the Red Sea International Film Festival on Thursday. The award — and the glitzy festival itself — is a sign of Saudi Arabia's commitment to shaping a new film industry. “My heart is attached to cinema and art; I have always dreamed of a moment like this,” Dakheelallah, who still works a 9-5 job, told The Associated Press before the awards ceremony. “I used to work in voluntary films and help my friends in the field, but this is my first big role in a film.” The reopening of cinemas in 2018 marked a cultural turning point for Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy that had instituted the ban 35 years before, under the influence of ultraconservative religious authorities. It has since invested heavily in a native film industry by building theaters and launching programs to support local filmmakers through grants and training. The Red Sea International Film Festival was launched just a year later, part of an attempt to expand Saudi influence into films, gaming, sports and other cultural fields. Activists have decried the investments as whitewashing the kingdom’s human rights record as it tightly controls speech and remains one of the world’s top executioners. With FIFA awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia this week, Lina al-Hathloul, a Saudi activist with the London-based rights group ALQST, said Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman “has really managed to create this bubble where people only see entertainment and they don’t see the reality on the ground.” These efforts are part of Vision 2030, an ambitious reform plan unveiled in 2016 to ease the economy's dependence on oil. As part of it, Saudi Arabia plans to construct 350 cinemas with over 2,500 movie screens — by this past April, across 22 cities, it already had 66 cinemas showing movies from the local film industry, as well as Hollywood and Bollywood. (The Red Sea International Film Festival attracts a host of talent from the latter industries, with Viola Davis and Priyanka Chopra Jonas also picking up awards Thursday.) The country's General Entertainment Authority last month opened Al Hisn Studios on the outskirts of Riyadh. As one of the largest such production hubs in the Middle East, it not only includes several film studios but also a production village with workshops for carpentry, blacksmithing and fashion tailoring. “These facilities, when they exist, will stimulate filmmakers,” said Saudi actor Mohammed Elshehri. “Today, no writer or director has an excuse to imagine and say, ‘I cannot implement my imagination.’” The facilities are one part of the equation — the content itself is another. One of the major players in transforming Saudi filmmaking has been Telfaz11, a media company founded in 2011 that began as a YouTube channel and quickly became a trailblazer. Producing high-quality digital content such as short films, comedy sketches and series, Telfaz11 offered fresh perspectives on Saudi and regional issues. In 2020, Telfaz11 signed a partnership with Netflix to produce original content for the streaming giant. The result has been movies that demonstrate an evolution on the storytelling level, tackling topics that were once off-limits and sensitive to the public like secret nightlife in “Mandoob” (“Night Courier”) and changing social norms in “Naga.” “I think we tell our stories in a very simple way, and that’s what reaches the world,” Elshehri says of the changing shift. “When you tell your story in a natural way without any affectation, it will reach every person.” But the films were not without their critics, drawing mixed reaction. Social media discoursed ranged from pleasure that Saudi film were tackling such topics to anger over how the films reflected conservative society. As Hana Al-Omair, a Saudi writer and director, points out, there are still many stories left untold. “We certainly have a long time ahead of us before we can tell the Saudi narrative as it should be,” she said, acknowledging that there are still barriers and rampant censorship. “The Goat Life,” a Malayalam-language movie about an Indian man forced to work without pay in Saudi Arabia, is not available on Netflix's platform in the country. Movies that explore political topics or LGBTQ+ stories are essentially out of the question. Even “My Driver and I,” featured at the Red Sea festival alongside 11 other Saudi feature-length films, was initially too controversial. It centers on a Sudanese man in Jeddah, living away from his own daughter, who feels responsible for the girl he drives as her parents are absent. It was initially blocked from being made because of the relationship between the girl and the driver, filmmaker Ahd Kamel has said, even though it's not a romantic relationship. Now in 2024, the film is a success story — a symbol of the Saudi film industry's evolution as well as the growing role of women like Kamel behind the camera and Dakheelallah in front of it. “I see the change in Saudi cinema, a very beautiful change and it is moving at a wonderful speed. In my opinion, we do not need to rush,” Dakheelallah said. “We need to guide the truth of the artistic movement that is happening in Saudi Arabia.” Baraa Anwer, The Associated PressThe AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — D’Maurian Williams scored 18 points as High Point beat Pfeiffer 81-50 on Saturday. Williams went 8 of 13 from the field (2 for 3 from 3-point range) for the Panthers (8-1). Kezza Giffa scored 14 points, going 3 of 8 from the floor, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and 7 for 8 from the line. Kimani Hamilton shot 4 for 8, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points. The Falcons were led by Doug Smith and Justin Gaten with nine points apiece. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

TOKYO — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan announced plans to work toward a merger that would form the world's third-largest automaker by sales, as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors Corp. also agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Automakers in Japan lag behind their big rivals in electric vehicles and are trying to cut costs and make up for lost time as newcomers such as China's BYD and EV market leader Tesla devour market share. Honda's president, Toshihiro Mibe, said Honda and Nissan will attempt to unify their operations under a joint holding company. Honda will lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. They aim to have a formal merger agreement by June and to complete the deal and list the holding company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by August 2026, he said. People are also reading... Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen hospitalized at UNMC after falling from horse Nebraska volleyball falls to Penn State in 5 sets in Final Four: How it happened Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez signs to play with Omaha pro team Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola addresses transfer portal speculation: 'It was unfortunate' Longtime Wahoo boys basketball coach Kevin Scheef resigns Amie Just: Lexi Rodriguez deserved a national title. For her career to end like this? Gutting Final Four volleyball: Roca native a regular for No. 1 Pitt; Kennedi Orr's impact on Nebraska 'Multiple wins for me': Lincoln North Star rallies from double-digit deficit hours after coach's son is born Nebraska volleyball laments being a 'couple plays' short of finishing off Penn State 3 Nebraska starters still with team to miss bowl game with mix of injuries, opt outs Here's a list of Lincoln restaurants open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day Man killed in Friday night crash north of Lincoln Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen sustained fractured ribs, lacerated spleen in fall from horse Penn State swipes Final Four match from Nebraska, which was one point away The Journal Star's 2024 Super-State and all-state football teams No dollar value was given and the formal talks are just starting, Mibe said. There are "points that need to be studied and discussed," he said. "Frankly speaking, the possibility of this not being implemented is not zero." A merger could result in a behemoth worth more than $50 billion based on the market capitalization of all three automakers. Together, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi would gain scale to compete with Toyota Motor Corp. and with Germany's Volkswagen AG. Toyota has technology partnerships with Japan's Mazda Motor Corp. and Subaru Corp. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month, with unconfirmed reports saying Taiwan iPhone maker Foxconn was seeking to tie-up with Nissan by buying shares from the Japan company's other alliance partner, Renault SA of France. Nissan's CEO Makoto Uchida said Foxconn had not directly approached his company. He also acknowledged that Nissan's situation was "severe." Even after a merger, Toyota, which rolled out 11.5 million vehicles in 2023, would remain the leading Japanese automaker. If they join, the three smaller companies would make about 8 million vehicles a year. In 2023, Honda made 4 million, and Nissan produced 3.4 million. Mitsubishi Motors made just more than 1 million. "We have come to the realization that in order for both parties to be leaders in this mobility transformation, it is necessary to make a more bold change than a collaboration in specific areas," Mibe said. Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi earlier agreed to share components for electric vehicles like batteries and to jointly research software for autonomous driving to adapt better to electrification. Nissan struggled following a scandal that began with the arrest of its former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, in late 2018 on charges of fraud and misuse of company assets, allegations that he denies. He eventually was released on bail and fled to Lebanon. Speaking Monday to reporters in Tokyo via a video link, Ghosn derided the planned merger as a "desperate move." From Nissan, Honda could get truck-based body-on-frame large SUVs such as the Armada and Infiniti QX80 that Honda doesn't have, with large towing capacities and good off-road performance, Sam Fiorani, vice president of AutoForecast Solutions, told The Associated Press. Nissan also has years of experience building batteries and electric vehicles, and gas-electric hybrid powertrains that could help Honda in developing its own EVs and next generation of hybrids, he said. The company said in November that it was slashing 9,000 jobs, or about 6% of its global workforce, and reducing its global production capacity by 20% after reporting a quarterly loss of $61 million. It recently reshuffled its management and Uchida, its chief executive, took a 50% pay cut while acknowledging responsibility for the financial woes, saying Nissan needed to become more efficient and respond better to market tastes, increasing costs and other global changes. "We anticipate that if this integration comes to fruition, we will be able to deliver even greater value to a wider customer base," Uchida said. Fitch Ratings recently downgraded Nissan's credit outlook to "negative," citing worsening profitability, partly because of price cuts in the North American market. But it noted it has a strong financial structure and solid cash reserves that amounted to $9.4 billion. Nissan's share price also fell to the point where it is considered something of a bargain. On Monday, its Tokyo-traded shares gained 1.6%. They jumped more than 20% after news of the possible merger broke last week. Honda's shares surged 3.8%. Honda's net profit slipped nearly 20% in the first half of the April-March fiscal year from a year earlier, as its sales suffered in China.

Grog dopeys So, the thrashing meted out by Ireland to the Flying Fijians last weekend was the referee’s fault! Again. Any wins by the Flying Fijians are never the referee’s fault. How much of a Third World mentality and pathetic are the grog dopeys of Fiji? When will Fijians stop blaming everyone else? I guess wrecking the RFNS Puamau was also the referee’s fault and the fact that the people and government in the country are useless is also the referee’s fault. JAN NISSAR, Sydney, Australia. FNPF contributions Can the Government please reconsider the re-entry of people that had no options but to withdraw totally. On the first occasion I withdrew to help my parents pay for my wedding. On the second occasion I had to withdraw for my mother’s medical expenses. For the past 16 years I have been working but despite making several requests I have been told I cannot rejoin. My reasons were genuine. Please can I rejoin for the rest of my working life which could be anything between 6-10years? TAI SMITH, Nasinu Secondary School Rd, Kinoya, Nasinu Family reunions It has always been my policy to refrain from engaging in debate with overseas correspondents, like me, who are not resident in Fiji. Fiji Times readers, I feel are more interested in domestic affairs instead of slanging matches between offshore letter writers. Yesterday’s letter (FT 25/11) from Jan Nissar though, screams for a response. He asks: “Why was there such great pomp, ceremony and celebration? Is there something wrong with living in Fiji?”, when writing of the departure of PALM workers family members. All of this above a tag line of J.N. Sydney, Australia! After years of separation while striving to increase their family life style, these families now look forward to a better future. Yes Jan, they have won the lottery. They are coming to join you. Who did you vote for? TERRY HULME, Australia Milky water, stench Who is responsible for the enforcement of regulations for the very milky water and the unbearable stench present in the Yarawa Rd creek in the Raiwasa area in Suva? The Suva City Council, Ministry of Environment, and the Water Authority of Fiji have been approached and responded but the problem is still there. Who should we approach now? ASISH VINAY PRASAD, Park Rd, Raiwasa, Suva Transport payment The truck/carrier operators on Ovalau are infuriated regarding the much delayed RSL Education Transport Payment. Such an issue was not experienced during the term of the previous government. If there was a delay, it would take only a few days for the MOE to effect payments, unlike now. Payments are long outstanding, not for weeks but months and numerous calls to those responsible at MOE have proven futile. One wonders, were the payment funds diverted to cater for the 50-plus COP29 group expenses or to cater for Government’s weekly globetrotting or for their soqo and kalavata? A service has been provided and payment is long overdue. What’s happening? Who’s responsible for such a “botched up mess?” ANTHONY SAHAI, Levuka, Ovalau RFNS Timo I hope our Fiji Navy sailors don’t have the misconception that the new RFNS Timo is a landing craft and try crossing over a reef. Sobo! WISE MUAVONO, Balawa, Lautoka FNPF pensions Although I am grateful that Parmesh Chand has publicly acknowledged that what was done to us FNPF pensioners in 2012 was wrong while under his chairmanship of the FNPF Board, I am very disappointed that he took all this time to come out and acknowledge this. Shame on you Mr Chand. ROBERT MANOA, Nasinu 16 Days of Activism! As I flipped through the World Health Organization’s page, my attention was drawn to the wealth of information presented on the global 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women, which is a key international moment to call for an end to violence against women and girls. It runs from 25th November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10th December (Human Rights Day). WHO shared that violence against women happens in every country and culture, causing harm to millions of women and girls. WHO added that around the world today, prolonged and intense conflicts have resulted in a continuous rise in of all forms of gender-based violence. I salute WHO for playing an active role in strengthening health systems and for calling all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect women and girls from gender-based violence and ensure access to essential health services. Activists marched in Labasa town on Monday during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. They were in high spirits, making every effort to end violence against girls and women. Our ‘iron-lady’ Shamima Ali is spearheading this campaign, and alongside her, women and girls need our support! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM, Nadawa, Nasinu. Drunkards in town West Police SP Lakobo Vaisewa’s stern warning of arresting disorderly drunkards has had negligible effect as groups of unruly people continue to consume alcoholic beverages in plain view of the public. Police patrols are rare whenever there is a drinking assembly within the city boundaries, despite the Lautoka Police Station located just metres away from all the drinking hotspots. Just last week, while on my usual early morning walk, I observed a lone police officer armed with a police baton nonchalantly approaching a drinking party consisting of rowdy teens at the Pacific Energy Service Station premises (a very common drinking base) situated across the Vomo St junction. Assuming that the lawman would dutifully confront and detain these hooligans for public drinking and disturbing the peace, I was shocked to see this officer informally conversing with these drunkards and shaking hands with them. After the pleasantries were exchanged followed by a kaila, the police officer casually strolled away, leaving the drunks to continue their alcohol binge. I wonder if the situation would have been any different if the guilty party belonged to a different ethnicity, since the two-tier law and justice system is quite dominant in our communities. Law enforcement officers are generally expected to maintain the law, especially in cases of public disturbances or recurring issues like public drinking. When officers appear to be lenient or indifferent to such behaviour, it destabilises the rule of law and often leads to a loss of confidence in the police force. With such lack of commitment to enforcing the law, no wonder the Men in Blue continually gets a bad rapport. NISHANT SINGH,Lautoka Suffering in Baku I believe that the way the Assistant Minister for Women has described the suffering of the Fiji delegation to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan one would have thought they travelled there on the back of camels in a caravan through an unforgiving desert in the year 1524 (not 2024) without food, water and medicines to reach Baku. It appears they are the only delegation who have stayed away from their families, missed meals and the usual comforts of life at home, suffered from cold and wet, flu and blisters. We all know that people living in Fiji never miss a meal. No other delegates have suffered these things. I have always known that Fijians are resilient and hardworking people who seem to have been allocated tents in Baku while all the other delegates from the developed world travelled by modern jetliners and are staying in luxury hotels and have a lot of money and help. I do not know about anyone else, but I feel for the suffering of the Fiji delegation and the sacrifices they are making for us, for a better Fiji and a better world! I am genuinely concerned about their treacherous camel ride back to Fiji. Are they strong enough to make it back safely? We all should appreciate the hard work they are doing and not be sceptical or critical. I do not for a second believe that the Assistant Minister is being a drama queen. JAN NISSAR, Sydney, Australia The ban IF the Tui Namosi has decided to ban land owners or the people of Namosi caught for their involvement in drugs, then perhaps it will be even-handed for him to also banish thieves, sex perpetrators, domestic abuses etc., from the province. Anyway, I wonder if Ratu Matanitobua was literally better advised or has sought guidance from a legal counsel before giving out his command? Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, I hope you have not looked away from the issue! AREKI DAWAI, Suva. GCC use by date Like Nishant Singh of Lautoka (F/T Nov22) and other writers to this column the GCC has already expired their “use by date” and should be abolished. Former prime minister Bainimarama did the right thing by banishing them under that famous mango tree. They should have been left alone to continue to enjoy themselves under the tree. What good has the GCC ever done for Fiji? ROBERT MANOA, Nasinu Our schoolies Our local schoolies where do they go? Not to a hotel on an island overseas, but usually to an island home, across our seas. EDWARD BLAKELOCK, Admiral Circle, Pacific Harbour Social media ban It’s the parents who should be banned from using social media, not the children. Children copy what their parents do. If the parents stop wasting family time on social media then so will their children. AREN NUNNINK, Hooper St, Savusavu Failure! A failure on every front: Pacific climate advocates decry COP 29 outcomes (RNZ/ FT 26/11/24). The biggest Pacific Island country Papua New Guinea anticipated well and decided not to send any delegation to COP29 saying it’s a waste of time. Fiji sent a bloated delegation of 56 to what has turned out to be “A failure on every front”. But the people of Fiji remain truly blessed with such profound political leadership. RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia Optimistic The Coalition Government in New Zealand are optimistic after completing the first year. Can the same be said of our Government? DAN URAI, Lautoka Drugs and coconuts The Fiji Times news on drug in coconuts (FT25/11) will affect the sale to some extent. Travellers stop to quench their thirst by drinking this safe natural drink. We are well blessed in our tropical climate. Such publications may affect Fiji tourism. As I stopped for a green coconut drink the vendor said: “This natural drink is good for health.” TAHIR ALI, Hamilton, New Zealand Pool saga THAT swimming pool, is it still in the pipeline? Oh, I see time to review the pipeline. Mmm! NAVNEET RAM (TD), Lautoka

It’s not just Alison Hammonds warm personality, wonderful one liners and her ability to fall off a sturdy countertop (watch 70’s week for that stand out moment) that have caught the eye of onlookers this series. But her fashion. The 49-year-old has won over the nation with her affordable high street looks. Wearing a mix of dresses and co-ords throughout the series all in bright patterns and colours Alison has said in the past that she wants fashion to be first and foremost comfortable. As The Great British Bake Off concludes tonight, in which we see Alison wearing a lilac polka dot dress from Dancing Leopard, which sadly is no longer available to buy. However, her other outfits throughout the series have caught the attention of many, with fans asking on social media where her outfits are from and fear not, as Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale shows you where exactly to shop her looks from. Read more in fashion Colourful Leopard Print Wearing this dress for last week's semi-final Alison showed her playful wild side with this colourful leopard print number. A fun twist on the print that is dominating the high street currently, this particular dress is from Scamp & Dude. For £110 it is at the higher end of the high street, but also comes in lots of different leopard print shades. Plus keep your eyes peeled as the brand currently as up to 30 per cent off in the Black Friday sales. Most read in Fabulous Orange and Green Co-ord Now as Bake Off is filmed during the spring summer months of the year a few pieces Alison wore have now sold out. Including the top half of this green and orange co-ord from Never Fully Dressed. However, the trousers are still available to buy on Asos and there are plenty of other similar co-ords available directly on Never Fully Dressed. The great things with co-ords is how many outfits they can make, as well as wearing together you have the option to also wear separate to create even more looks. Star Dress Alison is no stranger to vibrant prints and that is certainly the case with this star dress. By the brand Twisted Wunder, who Alison has worn on the previous series of the show, you can find it stocked on the likes of Simply Be. Still available to buy now it’s reduced down from £69 to £48.30 and goes up to a size 28. The empire line style of this dress is great for those with a larger bust as it fits nicely up top before skimming down the rest of your body, with lovely capped sleeves to finish off. Denim Dress This denim dress worn by Alison in the second week of the show this season is one of the less vibrant pieces. However, you really can’t go wrong when it comes to denim as it never goes out of style. This dress in particular is from Monsoon and retails for £75. With buttons down the middle and a tie font detail it makes for a dress that you can wear no matter the season. For this time of year pair with some tights, knee high boots and a long wool coat, for a smart look that will also keep you warm. Leopard Print Dress To open the show this year Alison opted for the print of the season - leopard. In the classic neutral colours this ticks all the boxes as a dress that is bang on trend. From Karen Millen it’s clear that Alison likes these shirt style dresses with a tie front detail, having worn multiple similar styles throughout the series. This one retails for £89 but is currently in the sale for just £36. Accessorise with some gold jewellery as Alison has done here and let the dress do the the rest of the talking. Monochrome Co-ord We know Alison loves a satin co-ord, usually with an elasticated waist and flowy top half, they’re a super comfortable lightweight option. And that is certainly the case for this two piece. READ MORE SUN STORIES This one from River Island is currently on sale, but hurry as there aren’t many sizes left. The shirt is down to £25 from £45 and the trousers are down to £35, also from £45. SHE graces our televisions every Friday, as she co-hosts This Morning with Dermot O'Leary. But just how did Alison Hammond first find fame? 2002 - Alison competed in Big Brother, and was the second housemate to be evicted . She won over viewers with moments such as when she broke the table in the garden by jumping up and down on it. It was this year that she also started presenting for This Morning in a guest capacity. 2003 - Alison had a small acting role on TV drama Doctors. 2004 - This was the year that Alison returned to reality television, starring in shows including Celebrity Fit Club and Celebrity Stars in their Eyes - for which she performed as Nina Simone. 2010 - After several years of presenting gigs and reality show appearances, Alison was signed up to appear on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! She came in 10th place. 2014 - This was a busy year for Alison as she competed on both Celebrity Masterchef and Strictly Come Dancing, coming in 10th in the latter. 2020 - Alison appeared on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off - her first, but not last, time in the famous tent. 2021 - Alison co-hosted This Morning for three episodes alongside Phillip Schofield. It was later announced that Alison and Dermot would be replacing Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford as presenters of This Morning on a Friday. 2023 - Alison was announced as the new co-host of The Great British Bake Off, replacing Matt Lucas to present alongside Noel Fielding. 2024 - Following the death of Paul O'Grady, Alison stepped in as host of For The Love of Dogs. 2025 - An eight-part series titled Alison Hammond's Big Weekend will premiere on BBC one next year, as she spends 48 hours with a celebrity in a bid to really get to know them.Buggs' 15 lead East Tennessee State over Austin Peay 79-57

An innovative electrolyser design that uses steam to produce green hydrogen rather than water has completed its first successful road test in a real world setting. The technology – a modular assembly of tubes about half a metre long – has been installed at BlueScope’s Port Kembla Steelworks in New South Wales where it has run without incident for over 1000 hours. This by a team of 14 scientists from CSIRO and in partnership with Hadean Energy which has licensed the technology and has ambitions to build a 250 kWh demonstration system. Conventional hydrogen electrolysers work by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, but the new technology developed by CSIRO passes 750C waste heat generated in heavy industrial processes through a series of ceramic tubes. An electric current is run along the walls of these tubes which splits the high temperature steam into hydrogen and water. The modular design of these tubes promises to reduce the cost of manufacturing, reduces production costs by 30 percent, allowing the system to make hydrogen at less than 36 kWh a kilo. CSIRO Senior Principal Research Scientist and Group Leader Dr Sarb Giddey says the use of steam is important in lowering costs of green hydrogen. The lion’s share of variable production costs for renewable hydrogen are in electricity, and a 30 per cent reduction in the electricity required – by using this steam-based technology – could be a game changer for the industry. Giddey says that with the trial run serving as proof of concept, the question now was how to scale up the system to provide the amount of hydrogen needed for use applications such as iron and steelmaking, or ammonia production. “There are two factors that are really critical to decarbonising iron making and steel making – one is the cost of hydrogen, the other is the scale we can produce at,” Giddey said. “We are looking at tonnes and tonnes of hydrogen being produced. If you look at the scale required for iron and steel making, it’s a lot of hydrogen. You have to replace the coal.” According to the , the steel industry globally accounts for 2.8 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions each year, or 8 percent of total energy system emissions. Hydrogen is expected to be essential in helping to decarbonise iron and steelmaking processes but it is currently made using gas or coal. Some proposals have sought to use carbon, capture, utilisation and storage to remove the CO2 from the steel production process, but of the approach. Of the six proposed steelmaking projects that are seeking to rely on CCUS, the analysts found all lack transparency about key details on the projects including capture capacity and storage type. Two of three projects considered in “advanced development” do not have dates by which they expect to enter production. The world’s only operational commercial-scale CCUS project for steelmaking, the project in the United Arab Emirates, only manages to capture a quarter of its emissions, the analysts found. CSIRO’s green hydrogen technology has been licenced to Hadean Energy which is seeking to develop a modular design. A showcase of a 5kW demonstration unit as part of the Australia-UK Renewable Hydrogen Innovation Partnership is in planning. Under this partnership the company is working to build a small 5kW electrolyser for use in a UK .Kearny, NJ, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StarV, a leader in wearable augmented reality (AR) innovation, has officially launched its highly anticipated Indiegogo campaign for two breakthrough AR smart glasses: StarV Air1 - MYVU and StarV View We also officially launched sales on StarV website and opening pre-orders to global users through both channels. These models redefine usability, accessibility, and entertainment, showcasing the brand's commitment to innovation and inclusivity. Key Features of StarV MYVU Ultra-Light Design : Weighing just 43g , MYVU is the world’s lightest AR glasses, designed for all-day comfort. Real-Time Translation : Powered by Microsoft, it supports 13 languages , making it an essential tool for travel and communication. Accessibility for All : Includes speech-to-text functionality , making it a valuable device for individuals with hearing impairments. Hands-Free Connectivity : Bluetooth-enabled for music, calls, and seamless multitasking. Photos: StarV Air1- MYVU Key Features of StarV View Immersive Entertainment : Offers a 188-inch virtual screen with Dolby sound for movies and gaming anywhere. Adjustable Focus : Supports 0-600° myopia , ensuring an optimal experience for users with varying vision needs. Portable Cinema : Designed for users seeking on-the-go entertainment without sacrificing comfort or quality. StarV View: StarV’s Commitment to "Technology for Good" StarV integrates accessibility and inclusivity into its products. From aiding communication with real-time translation to assisting individuals with hearing challenges, these AR glasses embody the brand’s mission to make cutting-edge technology accessible to all. Also, Early-Bird Crowdfunding Pricing As part of the Indiegogo launch, StarV offers exclusive early-bird prices: MYVU : $299 View : $349 Readers can enjoy an exclusive $20 discount on StarV Website by using the code: StarVUP20, which can be applied on top of the early-bird price. Both models are now available for pre-order at the following links: StarV MYVU Indiegogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/starv-air-myvu-ar-smart-glasses--2#/ Official Web: https://flyme.global/products/ar-smart-glasses-starv-air-myvu-1 StarV View Indiegogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/starv-view-ar-glasses-portable-entertainment-hub#/ Official Web: https://flyme.global/products/ar-smart-glasses-starv-view-1 Awards and Recognition StarV has earned accolades for its innovation, including [list relevant awards if applicable, further cementing its reputation as a forward-thinking leader in AR technology. Our StarV Air1-MYVU series has been honored with the prestigious iF Design Award and the G-Mark Best Design Award , recognizing its excellence in innovation and design. Social Media Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567095793998 Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/starv_global/ About StarV StarV is a pioneering AR technology company dedicated to creating accessible, practical, and socially responsible wearable devices. Its products aim to enhance user experiences across entertainment, communication, and professional applications. DreamSmart AI Ecology Conference was held in Beijing in 2024, released a series of new products, including Meizu Lucky 08 AI phone, AR smart glasses StarV View, StarV Air2, smart ring StarV Ring2 and Z10 STARBUFF jointly developed by Meizu and Lynk & Co.US to transform white elephant destroyers by fitting hypersonic weaponsFrom ‘throning’ to ‘caspering’ and ‘shadow phasing’ – Gen Z dating terms are a minefield. How many do you know?