7xm.con
7xm.con
7xm.con
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Trump expected to offer Kelly Loeffler secretary of Agriculture
The Telecommunications Authority of Fiji (TAF) made history at Tanoa Plaza, Suva, with the launch of its first-ever five-Year Strategic Plan (2025-2029). The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications Manoa Kamikamica officiated the event as chief guest, as the STRATEGIC PLAN outlined four core pillars: Regulatory Effectiveness, Service Delivery, Advocacy and Financial Sustainability. It was supported by strategic enablers focusing on People and Governance, Processes, and Technology. It aims to bridge the digital divide, stimulate innovation, and enhance Fiji’s position as the ICT hub of the Pacific. In launching the strategic plan, Mr Kamikamica said this milestone reflected TAF’s dedication to strengthening the telecommunications sector. He also said the strategic plan embodied a vision of a digitally connected Fiji, where every citizen has equitable access to technology and opportunities. “The plan’s emphasis on regulatory excellence, enhanced service delivery, advocacy for community needs, and financial sustainability is a testament to TAF’s alignment with the government’s vision of a digitally inclusive and empowered Fiji,” he said. “I am confident that TAF will collaborate effectively with key stakeholders to ensure the seamless implementation of this plan.” TAF’s chairman, David Eyre, said TAF charted a bold course towards a digitally inclusive future. “We look forward to executing this plan and being part of the transformative change, it will bring to Fiji and the Pacific. With the support of our stakeholders, TAF will turn these aspirations into measurable impacts for the people of Fiji.” TAF’s chief executive officer, Prit Chand, said they now had a clear and actionable roadmap to transform Fiji’s telecommunications sector. “This plan not only outlines our vision for a digitally connected Fiji but also ensures that every decision we make aligns with our long-term objectives. It enables us to manage resources effectively, embrace innovation, and address emerging challenges, ensuring we remain responsive and forward-thinking.” SOURCE: Telecommunications Authority of Fiji
BING-JHEN HONG Introduction It’s been over 2 months since I initiated coverage on TSMC . As TSMC will report its Q4 and FY 2024 results next month, I think it is an appropriate time before Christmas to shed some light on Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of TSM either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Their ages vary. But a conspicuous handful of filmmaking lions in winter, or let’s say late autumn, have given us new reasons to be grateful for their work over the decades — even for the work that didn’t quite work. Which, yes, sounds like ingratitude. But do we even want more conventional or better-behaved work from talents such as Francis Ford Coppola? Even if we’re talking about “Megalopolis” ? If Clint Eastwood’s “Juror #2” gave audiences a less morally complicated courtroom drama, would that have mattered, given Warner Bros.’ butt-headed decision to plop it in less than three dozen movie theaters in the U.S.? Coppola is 85. Eastwood is 94. Paul Schrader, whose latest film “Oh, Canada” arrives this week and is well worth seeking out, is a mere 78. Based on the 2021 Russell Banks novel “Foregone,” “Oh, Canada” is the story of a documentary filmmaker, played by Richard Gere, being interviewed near the end of his cancer-shrouded final days. In the Montreal home he shares with his wife and creative partner, played by Uma Thurman, he consents to the interview by two former students of his. Gere’s character, Leonard Fife, has no little contempt for these two, whom he calls “Mr. and Mrs. Ken Burns of Canada” with subtle disdain. As we learn over the artful dodges and layers of past and present, events imagined and/or real, Fife treats the interview as a final confession from a guarded and deceptive soul. He’s also a hero to everyone in the room, famous for his anti-Vietnam war political activism, and for the Frederick Wiseman-like inflection of his own films’ interview techniques. The real-life filmmaker name-checked in “Oh, Canada” is documentarian Errol Morris, whose straight-to-the-lens framing of interview subjects was made possible by his Interrotron device. In Schrader’s adaptation, Fife doesn’t want the nominal director (Michael Imperioli, a nicely finessed embodiment of a second-rate talent with first-rate airs) in his eyeline. Rather, as he struggles with hazy, self-incriminating memories of affairs, marriages, one-offs with a friend’s wife and a tense, brief reunion with the son he never knew, Fife wants only his wife, Emma — his former Goddard College student — in this metaphoric confessional. Schrader and his editor Benjamin Rodriguez Jr. treat the memories as on-screen flashbacks spanning from 1968 to 2023. At times, Gere and Thurman appear as their decades-young selves, without any attempt to de-age them, digitally or otherwise. (Thank god, I kind of hate that stuff in any circumstance.) In other sequences from Fife’s past, Jacob Elordi portrays Fife, with sly and convincing behavioral details linking his performance to Gere’s persona. We hear frequent voiceovers spoken by Gere about having ruined his life by age 24, at least spiritually or morally. Banks’ novel is no less devoted to a dying man’s addled but ardent attempt to come clean and own up to what has terrified him the most in the mess and joy of living: Honesty. Love. Commitment. There are elements of “Oh, Canada” that soften Banks’ conception of Fife, from the parentage of Fife’s abandoned son to the specific qualities of Gere’s performance. It has been 44 years since Gere teamed with Schrader on “American Gigolo,” a movie made by a very different filmmaker with very different preoccupations of hetero male hollowness. It’s also clearly the same director at work, I think. And Gere remains a unique camera object, with a stunning mastery of filling a close-up with an unblinking stillness conveying feelings easier left behind. The musical score is pretty watery, and with Schrader you always get a few lines of tortured rhetoric interrupting the good stuff. In the end, “Oh, Canada” has an extraordinarily simple idea at its core: That of a man with a movie camera, most of his life, now on the other side of the lens. Not easy. “I can’t tell the truth unless that camera’s on!” he barks at one point. I don’t think the line from the novel made it into Schrader’s script, but it too sums up this lion-in-winter feeling of truth without triumphal Hollywood catharsis. The interview, Banks wrote, is one’s man’s “last chance to stop lying.” It’s also a “final prayer,” dramatized by the Calvinist-to-the-bone filmmaker who made sure to include that phrase in his latest devotion to final prayers and missions of redemption. “Oh, Canada” — 3 stars (out of 4) No MPA rating (some language and sexual material) Running time: 1:34 How to watch: Opens in theaters Dec. 13, running 1in Chicago Dec. 13-19 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.; siskelfilmcenter.org Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.None
To play Maria Callas, Angelina Jolie had to learn how to breathe again
NEW YORK (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Jose D. Hernandez was suspended for next year's Arizona Complex League season on Wednesday following a positive test for boldenone and nandrolone under baseball's minor league drug program. The 21-year-old Hernandez hit .302 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 26 games this year for the ACL Dodgers. The Venezuelan agreed to a contract with the Dodgers in 2019 that included a $10,000 signing bonus. Twenty players have been suspended this year for positive drug tests, including nine under the minor league program and nine under the new program for minor league players assigned outside the United States and Canada. Two players have been suspended this year under the major league drug program. Noelvi Marté , a 22-year-old infielder who was considered Cincinnati's top prospect, missed the first 80 games following a positive test for boldenone. Toronto infielder Orelvis Martínez was suspended for 80 games on June 23 following a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug clomiphene, an announcement made two days after his major league debut . AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. Support Hyperallergic’s independent arts journalism for as little as $8 per month. Become a Member Recently, I’ve entered my 11th year as a gallery guard at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). Since 2022, I’ve also been a member of the SAM Visitor Service Officers (VSO) Union , where we have been working to organize gallery guards to achieve better wages, restoration of our retirement benefits, and greater worker protections at the museum. In recent weeks, after 27 months of contract delays by SAM, negotiations have reached a breaking point, and workers have had no choice but to take drastic measures. Our union is independent, which means we are worker-run and organized, but this was not by choice. The National Labor Relations Board, even under the Biden administration, failed to protect our right to affiliate with a national union. The museum’s Board of Trustees took advantage of a legal loophole around “security workers” in the National Labor Relations Act to stop our affiliation with International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 116 in 2022. This move deprived us of the funds, legal support, and infrastructure that partnering with a large union provides. On the positive side, this also more quickly exposed that the Board’s interests and incentives run counter to the needs of SAM employees. Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities We know that the SAM Board comprises some of the wealthiest people in Seattle, and that they derive benefits from being on the Board. For example, Board members profit financially from their association with museums in numerous ways , one of which is increasing the value of their personal art collections. Several also leverage their so-called “ philanthropy ” at our arts institutions to launder their corporate reputations and ties to environmentally damaging industries . This reputation of benevolence is then often exploited for political power . Additionally, donors have a huge amount of control over how their funds are used, meaning that in many cases, personal projects can be pursued through the museum’s nonprofit structure. Museums offer some of the best “bang for your buck” in benefits, as far as philanthropy goes. However, the situation is changing with the growth of the museum union movement , which has responded to income inequality and the housing crisis nationwide. In the past, many donors could earmark donations exclusively for personal museum projects, and worker compensation stayed out of their sight. But because conditions in the US have worsened for working people, museum employees no longer do it as a “fun, part-time job,” but rather for survival. This year, the cost of living in Seattle has become unmanageably expensive. It costs about $33 per hour to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Seattle in 2024, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Amid these conditions, why won’t the SAM Board of Trustees support their employees? The museum’s bargaining rep stated in November of 2023, via an emailed response to the VSO Union request for information, “The Employer has never asserted, nor will it ever assert, either a present inability to pay, or a prospective inability to pay during the life of the contract being negotiated.” Rather, they explained that while SAM has ample finances (assets of around $360 million, according to the 2021 IRS form 990), it has difficulty maintaining existing properties, and property upkeep will continue to take precedence. This explanation would have carried more weight if the museum had not announced in January they would be pursuing further expansion. SAM’s most recent five-year strategic plan includes plans to “develop” the collection, exhibition programs, and gallery spaces. Board Member Jon Shirley, a major art collector and former president, CEO, and director of the tech giant Microsoft, said in a 2018 interview that showcasing his Alexander Calder collection “takes a lot of room,” and suggested “taking down the floors above it” to create additional space “because we own those floors.” Shirley also led the development of the Olympic Sculpture Park (OSP) in 2007, one of SAM’s most ambitious expansions which also became the city’s largest greenspace. But as SAM’s operations expanded to include OSP during this same period, the institution dealt its workers a blow they have yet to recover from. Around 2006, the museum Board terminated the pension program for SAM’s frontline workers. Shirley, who was Board president at the time, allocated his donations toward his passion: creating a space to display his Calder collection. And the workers suffered greatly for it. In prior years, we had earned a pension benefit that allowed workers to retire with dignity, instead of being forced to work past retirement age. Sadly, the Board continues to chip away at our current, insufficient retirement benefits. In the bargaining room, SAM continues to claim that with further expansions and upgrades, the museum may someday become more profitable; and if it does, security guards should trust that these future benefits will be passed on to its workers. But instead of waiting for those benefits to trickle down, our union authorized a strike vote last month, with 96% of votes in favor. We plan to go on strike beginning this Friday, November 29, unless SAM’s Board of Trustees changes course and offers a contract that allows its workers to survive in Seattle. For two years, the Board has refused outright to meet with us, so now we take the argument directly to them. On November 19, we held a rally at our museum during the VIP preview of Shirley’s second Calder show this year. We sent our message to the Board loud and clear: Art institutions need to stop acting “symbolically,” and start supporting their employees for real. We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn Facebook
Take a step back in time and enjoy footage from past newscasts showing shoppers during the holiday rush in the late 70s, 80s and mid-90s. (Credit: FOX) Shoppers are ready to drop some cash this holiday season as total spending this year is expected to be at least $24 billion higher than last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Online shopping is still the biggest hit, but in-person shopping is making a comeback and the NRF predicts nearly half of all shoppers will head to department and discount stores to knock out their shopping lists. Store owners at the Galleria at Sunset in Henderson, Nevada, said it just gets busier each year. CYBER MONDAY SPENDING HITS RECORD $13.3 BILLION " Black Friday was great. We hit goal. We actually passed goal, so that was good. It's better than last year. So that was good for us. Everybody always likes to try on stuff, too. So I think that's what keeps the malls open," said Bring it Back owner Brandon Nova. Shoppers carry Macy's and Nordstrom bags at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek, California on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Credit: Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images Some spots at the Galleria at Sunset are seeing a flood of visitors, especially during the holiday season. Store owners and employee said the customers want that in-person experience. SENDING HOLIDAY GIFTS? HERE ARE THE DEADLINES TO GET THEM OUT IN TIME " Most of the families have the reason to come here and make their kids come here. This is the big reason for them, you know, to come to the mall," said Crazy Bungee owner Duygu Beg. STOP OVERSPENDING OVER THE HOLIDAYS AND START THE NEW YEAR OFF FINANCIALLY STRONG The mall's general manager said it hasn’t been this busy since the pandemic. "I would say since COVID, it's been the first holiday season where ... we're feeling the holiday spirit. The customers, you can just feel that they're happy to be out shopping, happy to be out, you know, experiencing the holiday season," said Galleria at Sunset general manager Heather Cox. There has been a huge rebound in in-person shopping over the last four years as consumers start to enjoy the social aspect of going to the mall again, according to the NRF. "We, as consumers, don't shop just because we need something," said Mark Mathews, NRF's executive director of research. "One of the main reasons that people go out is for deals, but it's also to be with family and friends and be engaged and a fun activity. And for a lot of people, shopping is a fun activity. So, you know, I don't think we're going to ever see an end of in-store shopping." Gift cards are the most popular item on people’s wish lists this year, followed by clothes and accessories, then books and other media, according to the NRF. Find more updates on this story at FOXBusiness.com.Two major automakers are joining forces to survive
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Manchester United continue to make inroads in the Europa League table, climbing into the automatic qualification spots with a comeback win over Viktoria Plzen. Former Burnley striker Matej Vydra fired the Czechs ahead early in the second half. United substitute Hojlund equalised just after the hour mark and then thumped home a late winner following a well-worked free-kick with two minutes left to give new boss Ruben Amorim his first away win. United sit seventh in the table on 12 points with two fixtures left to play. However, Spurs were unable to complete their own comeback win at Rangers after also going behind early in the second half. Substitute Dejan Kulusevski eventually levelled matter, but Spurs are left in ninth spot after six games, five points off leaders Lazio and Athletic Bilbao. Follow all the Europa League action LIVE with Standard Sport!Is he serious? Trump stirs unease with Panama, Greenland ploys
Letters for Nov. 26: Transparency needed from Shoe Lane task forceHornets, Bulls come off four-day break seeking a turnaround
Dodgers shortstop Jose Hernandez suspended for 2025 ACL season under minor league drug programNunavik entrepreneur and aviator Johnny Adams was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada during a ceremony Thursday at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. Adams, who is from Kuujjuaq, was one of 12 appointees named to the second-highest level of the Order, which recognizes achievement and merit of a high degree for service to Canada. “Entrepreneur and pilot Johnny Adams has helped transform Nunavik’s economic and social development as co-founder of several regional air services,” said Ken MacKillop, secretary to the governor general, while addressing the roomful of appointees and guests. “His dedication to Indigenous-owned organizations is reflected in his many endeavours.” Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, who is also from Nunavik, placed the red and white snowflake-shaped insignia of the Order on Adams. Adams served in the merger between First Air and Canadian North and is currently executive chairman of Canadian North. He is co-founder of several regional air services, including Atai Air Charters, Helicopters-Ungava, Nunavik Rotors Inc., and InnuKoptéres Inc. He also held several elected positions in Kuujjuaq, serving as a hamlet councillor in 1987 and mayor between 1991 and 1997. In 2006, Adams was appointed a knight of the National Order of Quebec, bestowed by the province’s lieutenant-governor. Other Indigenous people appointed as members to the Order of Canada on Thursday included Savage Bear from Montreal Lake Cree Nation, John William Beaucage from Wasauksing First Nation, Harley Crowshoe from Piikani Nation, and Patricia Ningewance Waabi-bizhikiikwe from Lac Seul First Nation.
