jilibay casino login register

MARY Lou McDonald says she hopes to meet with Micheal Martin - despite accusing the Fianna Fail leader of “looking down his nose” at Sinn Fein voters. Fianna Fail ended up top dog in the recent General Election, securing 48 out of 174 seats - well ahead of Sinn Fein on 39 and Fine Gael on 38. As coalition talks ramp up, a new Fianna Fail and Fine Gael coalition remains the likeliest outcome along with the support of a number of Independents. Sinn Fein , which suffered the biggest drop in support for any party at the election, is facing into another five years on the opposition benches. But defiant Mary Lou is refusing to throw in the towel. The SF supremo accused FF boss Martin of “looking down his nose at the 400,000 plus people who voted for Sinn Fein”. And Mary Lou declared Fianna Fail has a decision to make as to whether it wants to put Fine Gael back into government. She claimed Sinn Fein in government would mean “a better outcome for lots of issues - housing, investment in communities, getting immigration right.” McDonald maintained: “The last government got it terribly, terribly wrong, in a way that was divisive.” Despite a major post-mortem into their own slump, McDonald said the latest election result shows that Sinn Fein’s success in 2020 was “not a flash in a pan” and “confirms SF as a significant political force south of the border”. Mary Lou told how she will be meeting with other party leaders - and hopes to meet with FF leader Martin. But Fianna Fail TD Jim O’Callaghan yesterday insisted he would prefer his party and Fine Gael combine with Independents to form a government . O’Callaghan said that there is a group of “reliable Independents” which he thinks could be relied on to form a stable government. He said the fact that Fianna Fáil won more seats in the election should be reflected in the composition of the government. O’Callaghan also believes his party should hold the office of Taoiseach for longer if the post is rotated as “that would have to be reflected by the proportionality of the strength of each party in the Dáil”. He added that the new government should be formed before US President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated in Washington on January 20. Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris are also due to meet.

Meta to build $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana as Elon Musk expands his Tennessee AI facilityPete Hegseth's mother says The New York Times made 'threats' by asking her to comment on a storyNone

Thanksgiving is almost upon us, and given that we're fresh off one of the most contentious and politically divisive election seasons of our time, it's probably not realistic to expect a holiday totally free of drama. If you're one of the lucky few whose family is united around political issues, treasure those peaceful conversations at the Thanksgiving table; for the rest of us, it can be challenging to know how best to talk to loved ones (or, to be real, tolerated-out-of-necessity ones) about anything substantive. Beides, for many of us, these issues aren't “just politics”; they directly affect the way we live our lives and the safety and happiness of our families and friends. While tapping out of such conversations doesn't feel like a responsible or realistic option in 2024, it feels equally dismal to simply accept a tense or outright hostile environment during what should be a joyful and grateful time of year. So, for some expert guidance on this issue, Vogue spoke to Dr. Audra Nuru, a professor of communication and family studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, about how to engage loved ones with differing views in a productive way (and, just as importantly, how to set boundaries when it feels like engagement is no longer good for you and your mental health). Find her thoughts—and some sample scripts she's provided for different conversations—below. Vogue : How do you recommend preparing for an event or gathering that might include viewpoints you disagree with or find harmful? Dr. Audra Nuru : It's true that those kinds of encounters can benefit from a bit of preparation. I like to think of it like packing for a trip to a new and unfamiliar place—you want to be prepared for the expected, but also pack with an open mind for the unexpected. So, before heading into that event, take some time to reflect on what topics might feel a bit sensitive for you, almost like checking the weather forecast so you can pack accordingly. Remember, everyone is coming to the table with their own unique experiences and perspectives. Embrace those differences with curiosity and kindness. And of course, it's always wise to set healthy boundaries—that's like having a good map and a reliable guide to help you navigate any unfamiliar territory. Is there a subtle, useful way to redirect a political conversation that's starting to feel upsetting? First and foremost, prioritize the relationship. Remember that the person you're talking to matters more than proving a point. Ask yourself, “How can I express my views while still showing respect and valuing this person?” Part of showing respect is acknowledging that you may have different perspectives. If a conversation starts to feel a little uncomfortable, try gently saying something like, “I hear you, and I hold a different perspective.” This lets the other person know you're listening and that their views matter, even if you don't agree. Secondly, listen with your heart, not just your head. Truly try to understand where they're coming from, even if you disagree. What experiences have shaped their beliefs? What emotions are they expressing? And remember, even when it's tough, try to see things from their perspective. Stepping into another's shoes, even for a moment, can foster understanding and empathy. Third, look for points of connection. Even in the midst of disagreement, there's often some shared experiences or common ground to connect on. It can also be valuable to sense when a conversation needs a pause. If things are starting to feel tense, it's completely fine to suggest taking a break or shifting to a different topic. Ultimately, navigating difficult conversations with respect is about how we connect, even when we disagree. It's about building bridges of understanding by making space for different perspectives. What's a respectful yet firm way to let someone know their comments have crossed a line? Using “I” language is such a powerful tool for navigating difficult conversations. Instead of pointing fingers, “I” language lets us shift the focus to our own experience. Imagine saying something like, “I felt uncomfortable when I heard that comment.” It's honest, it's respectful, and it avoids making the other person feel attacked. When we own our feelings, it invites the other person to do the same. It creates this space for empathy and understanding, even when we might disagree.Sake is perhaps more Japanese than the world-famous sushi. It's brewed in centuries-old mountaintop warehouses, savored in the country’s pub-like izakayas, poured during weddings and served slightly chilled for special toasts. The smooth rice wine that plays a crucial role in Japan's culinary traditions was enshrined on Wednesday by UNESCO on its list of the “intangible cultural heritage of humanity." At a meeting in Luque, Paraguay, members of UNESCO’s committee for safeguarding humanity's cultural heritage voted to recognize 45 cultural practices and products around the world, including Brazilian white cheese, Caribbean cassava bread and Palestinian olive oil soap. Unlike UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which includes sites considered important to humanity like the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Intangible Cultural Heritage designation names products and practices of different cultures that are deserving of recognition. A Japanese delegation welcomed the announcement in Luque. “Sake is considered a divine gift and is essential for social and cultural events in Japan,” Kano Takehiro, the Japanese ambassador to UNESCO, told The Associated Press. The basic ingredients of sake are few: rice, water, yeast and koji, a rice mold, which breaks down the starches into fermentable sugars like malting does in beer production. The whole two-monthlong process of steaming, stirring, fermenting and pressing can be grueling. The rice — which wields tremendous marketing power as part of Japan's broader cultural identity — is key to the alcoholic brew. For a product to be categorized Japanese sake, the rice must be Japanese. The UNESCO recognition, the delegation said, captured more than the craft knowledge of making high-quality sake. It also honored a tradition dating back some 1,000 years — sake makes a cameo in Japan’s famous 11th century novel, “The Tale of Genji,” as the drink of choice in the refined Heian court. Now, officials hope to restore sake's image as Japan's premier alcoholic drink even as the younger drinkers in the country switch to imported wine or domestic beer and whiskey. “It means a lot to Japan and to the Japanese,” Takehiro said of the UNESCO designation. "This will help to renew interest in traditional sake elaboration.” Also, Japanese breweries have expressed hope that the listing could give a little lift to the country's export economy as the popularity of sake booms around the world and in the United States amid heightened interest in Japanese cuisine. Sake exports, mostly to the U.S. and China, now rake in over US$265 million a year, according to the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, a trade group. Japan's delegation appeared ready to celebrate on Wednesday — in classic Japanese style. After the announcement, Takehiro raised a cypress box full of sake to toast the alcoholic brew and cultural rite.Bathinda: The Ambala district administration has asked members of farmer forums Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) gearing up to march to Delhi from Thursday to obtain permission from Delhi Police for any demonstration and from Haryana for moving in jathas as prohibitory orders were in place. The Ambala administration on Wednesday put up notices at the Shambhu protest site in Punjab, cautioning protesting farmers about their proposed plan to move towards Delhi through Haryana. The notices — put up under the name of Ambala deputy commissioner Parth Gupta and addressing morcha coordinator Sarvan Singh Pandher — mention that obtaining permission for the protest demonstrations is mandatory. “As per Section 69 of Haryana Police Act, 2007, appropriate police officials have been designated to coordinate and look into demonstrations at public places. The protesters will have to inform the police and the demonstrations could be held after the satisfaction of police officials as prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC were in place and if any demonstration has to be taken place, permission from the office is mandatory,” the notices stated. Pandher called the move unfair, pointing out that earlier Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu and Haryana agriculture minister Shyam Singh Rana had allowed them to move on foot without tractors. “We have planned a march without causing any inconvenience to public. The ministers should stick to their words. If the authorities are issuing notices, they are not ready to listen to vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar who has been raising his voice for better facilities to farmers,” he added. Haryana farmer organisation BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) leader Tejveer Singh said that the Ambala administration should provide farmers safe passage and should have sent the notices through Punjab authorities. Earlier, the Supreme Court, while taking up a special leave petition on July 24, had directed to maintain status quo at Shambhu so that law and order situation was not compromised and urged both sides to resolve the issue through dialogue. We also published the following articles recently Farmers apprise Ambala SP of peacefully Delhi march plan Farmer groups SKM NP and KMM met with Ambala SP to discuss their planned foot march to Delhi. They assured police of a peaceful march, without disruptions or protests during PM Modi's upcoming visit. The farmers aim to cover 15 km daily in batches. Farmer jathas gear up for march to Delhi, set to start moving from Shambhu on December 6 Farmer groups in Punjab are planning a march to Delhi starting December 6th, demanding guaranteed minimum support prices and debt relief. Protesters will walk daily from Shambhu to the capital, urging Haryana farmers to join their cause. Farmers claim Haryana minister adopts different tone on farmers march to Delhi Farmer leader Sarvan Singh Pandher criticized Haryana's agriculture minister, Shyam Singh Rana, for claiming that protests hinder development. Pandher questioned the BJP's pre-2014 movements and the government's dialogue with farmers if their agenda was irrelevant. He highlighted losses due to the 10-month blockade and emphasized the need for talks. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

This past fall, multidisciplinary artist Clotilde Jiménez debuted La Gruta: Una Ópera en Dos Actos ( The Grotto: An Opera in Two Acts) at El Museo Jumex in Mexico City. Spun from magical realism and a pointedly self-reflective engagement with “Mesofuturism,” the two-part experimental production and adjoining exhibition directs its viewers toward a cosmological reorientation of space and time that expands beyond the orthodoxy of traditional opera. The Grotto follows the journey of Leopoldo, a young boy from the Mexican village of La Garra, who experiences a supernatural encounter with a group of chaneques , Aztecan anthropomorphic spirits, while playing in a river. These primordial forces beckon Leopoldo beyond conventional sentience and into an otherworldly lore. What seems like just a few minutes in the grotto is in actuality a decade away from his family. In the darkened performance hall that amplified the show’s ominous musical score, digital screens projected film and black-and-white imagery of La Garra and Leopoldo’s enigmatic experience. Masked chaneques with blackened eyes and unmoving wooden mouths both echoed and challenged a colonial distrust of animism, underscoring the friction between spirituality and land—between the actual and the metaphysical. Raffia-adorned dancers vibrated before the digital screens, while a live cellist accompanied the part-Nahuatl, part-Spanish production. Upon Leopoldo’s miraculous return, his family is unable to contend with the profundity of his mystical survival, and he is forced from home once again. Thus, a new odyssey of temporal solitude commences with Leopoldo’s journey to the United States as an undocumented minor. The avant-garde show has brought forth a distinct, syncretic vernacular that confronts the thorny relationship between migration, imperialism, and indigeneity. In this moment of political disquietude, The Grotto emerges with a refreshing honesty that might help us better contend with the catastrophe of colonialism. I’M THE KIND OF ARTIST that does not really label myself; I simply say I’m an artist. So when I go to the studio, I’m not limited to just painting or sculpting, for example. This time I chose opera as my medium. When I was a kid growing up in Philadelphia, I played the clarinet, which wasn’t the coolest thing to do. So I’m not foreign to reading music. And sometimes in the studio, I listen to opera when I work. In this sense, my exploration of the form felt like a natural transition. When I first heard the story of The Grotto , which is based on a true experience that my wife had while on a trip as a young girl, I was inspired and immediately knew I wanted to do something. The opera has to take the audience through, beginning to end. Sometimes it can end on a happy note, but it is always fundamentally a tragedy. So I thought about how the story from my wife’s childhood needed to be developed to reflect this. I knew that I was crossing boundaries, especially as a visual artist, but I had a strong conviction that this story needed to be told as an operatic tragedy. The story begins when my wife visited her family in a village about eight and a half hours west of Mexico City. Upon arrival, my wife and her cousins went down to the river to swim. As it got dark everybody left to go home, but her cousin Leopoldo kept playing. Suddenly, two silent, nude figures emerged from the water. Leopoldo explained they had the bodies of children but the heads of old people. They beckoned for him and then walked to a grotto where they all played hide-and-seek behind stalagmites for what seems to be just fifteen minutes before Leopoldo left. When Leopoldo arrived back home his mother cried out hysterically, like she’d seen a demon. He asked her what’s wrong and she responded, “Poldo, you’ve been missing for so long we thought you were dead.” Once a village elder realized that Leopoldo had been playing with chaneques, he was exiled and sent to the United States for fear that he was now cursed. But explaining this story is like trying to describe a new flavor to someone who hasn’t yet tried it. It’s difficult. When I was writing and producing the show, I wasn’t thinking about visual artwork at all until the chief curator of Museo Jumex, Kit Hammonds, said, “So what about the art?” I’m like, “What art? The opera is the art.” He’s like, “Well, you have all this space.” So ultimately, I realized that the inclusion of visual art would only enhance the story. That realization led to a giant video-based triptych echoing the three screens in the opera, which is used as the background and the set design. They tell the story of the Mass that the village has when they believe that Leopoldo is dead because he’s been missing for so long. It’s this beautiful scene of the village people walking by candlelight at night in the jungle, and they sing an a cappella hymn that was originally written to be accompanied by a musical score. Opera is traditionally seen as a European art form, but my work challenges this by embracing rich non-European influences. I wrote the libretto in Spanish and Nahuatl, one of Mexico’s sixty-eight Indigenous languages, aiming to resonate with Mexican, Indigenous, and African diasporic communities. Designing the dancers’ costumes, I delved into Mexico’s history with ixtle fibers. Produced on Mexican soil by enslaved people, the fibers connect to Mexico’s role in the slave trade and to my Afro-Latino heritage. Further inspiration came from Polynesian palm weavings, which evoke my birthplace in Honolulu. This exploration revealed shared aesthetics, spirituality, and identity among these cultures. The journey led me from Afrofuturism to Mesofuturism, providing me with the tools to tell a universally resonant story rooted in the dynamic culture of the region.

Christopher Nolan's Next Film Is Officially The Odyssey, a 'Mythic Action Epic Shot Across the World'Isaac Guerendo gets his shot as lead runner in 49ers’ decimated backfieldNone

The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answersPowell: Fed's independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions WASHINGTON (AP) — Chair Jerome Powell said the Federal Reserve’s ability to set interest rates free of political interference is necessary for it to make decisions to serve “all Americans” rather than a political party or political outcome. Speaking at the New York Times’ DealBook summit, Powell addressed a question about President-elect Donald Trump’s numerous public criticisms of the Fed and of Powell himself. During the election campaign, Trump had insisted that as president, he should have a “say” in the Fed’s interest rate policies. Despite Trump’s comments, the Fed chair said he was confident of widespread support in Congress for maintaining the central bank’s independence. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the US but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk Wednesday became a mystery that riveted the nation. Police say it was a targeted killing. Thompson was 50. He had worked at the company for 20 years and had run health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s insurance business since 2021. It provides health coverage for more than 49 million Americans and brought in $281 billion in revenue last year. Thompson's $10.2 million annual compensation made him one of the company’s highest-paid executives. Trump nominates cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins as SEC chair President-elect Donald Trump says he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. Atkins is the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner. Trump calls Atkins a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. The SEC oversees U.S. securities markets and investments. If confirmed next year by the new Republican-led Senate, Atkins would replace Gary Gensler, who's been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Atkins was widely considered the most conservative SEC member during his tenure and known to have a strong free-market bent. Australia is banning social media for people under 16. Could this work elsewhere — or even there? It is an ambitious social experiment of our moment in history. Experts say it could accomplish something that parents, schools and other governments have attempted with varying degrees of success — keeping kids off social media until they turn 16. Australia’s new law was approved by its Parliament last week. It's an attempt to swim against many tides of modern life — formidable forces like technology, marketing, globalization and, of course, the iron will of a teenager. The ban won’t go into effect for another year. But how will Australia be able to enforce it? That’s not clear, nor will it be easy. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered the new details Wednesday about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that a number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. Pete Hegseth's mother says The New York Times made 'threats' by asking her to comment on a story A basic tenet of journalism — calling someone for comment on a story — was seen as a threat by defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth's mother. Penelope Hegseth appeared on Fox News Channel to talk about her son, whose nomination by President-elect Trump to lead the Pentagon is threatened by a series of stories about his past behavior. One came this past weekend, when The New York Times wrote about a private email Penelope Hegseth sent to her son about his treatment of women. She said on Fox News that she felt threatened when the Times called her about the email, which she had quickly regretted sending. The Times said they were engaging in routine journalism. District of Columbia says Amazon secretly stopped fast deliveries to 2 predominantly Black ZIP codes The District of Columbia is alleging in a lawsuit that Amazon secretly stopped providing its fastest delivery service to residents of two predominantly Black neighborhoods in the city. The district says the online retailer still charged residents of two ZIP codes millions of dollars for a service that provides speedy deliveries. The complaint filed on Wednesday in District of Columbia Superior Court revolves around Amazon’s Prime membership service. The lawsuit alleges Amazon in mid-2022 imposed what it called a delivery “exclusion” on the two low-income ZIP codes. An Amazon spokesperson says the company made the change based on concerns about driver safety. The spokesperson says claims that Amazon's business practices are discriminatory are “categorically false.” Biden says 'Africa is the future' as he pledges millions more on the last day of Angola visit LOBITO, Angola (AP) — President Joe Biden has pledged another $600 million for an ambitious multi-country rail project in Africa as one of the final foreign policy moves of his administration. He told African leaders Wednesday that the resource-rich continent of more than 1.4 billion people had been “left behind for much too long. But not anymore. Africa is the future.” Biden used the third and final day of his visit to Angola to showcase the Lobito Corridor railway. The U.S. and allies are investing heavily to refurbish train lines in Zambia, Congo and Angola in a region rich in critical minerals to counter China's influence. The end of an Eras tour approaches, marking a bittersweet moment for Taylor Swift fans NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end after the popstar performed more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years. Since launching the tour in 2023, Swift has shattered sales and attendance records. It's even created such an economic boom that the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy. It's become a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. US senators grill officials from 5 airlines over fees for seats and checked bags A U.S. Senate subcommittee is taking aim at airlines and their growing use of fees for things like early boarding and better seats. Members of the Senate Permanent on Investigations say airlines have raised billions of dollars by imposing fees that are getting hard to understand and even harder to avoid paying. The senators and the Biden administration call them “junk fees,” and they say the extra charges are making travel less affordable. Some senators expressed frustration during a hearing on Wednesday hearing when airline executives couldn't explain how they set various fees. Airlines say fees let consumers pay for things they want, like more legroom, and avoid paying for things they don't want.

Kate Middleton sends message about ‘love’ and ‘forgiveness’ after tough yearLandmark lawsuit brought on behalf of thousands of survivors of child sexual abuse images and videos (CSAM) traded on Apple platforms CUPERTINO, Calif. , Dec. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This weekend, a class action lawsuit was filed against Apple on behalf of thousands of survivors of child sexual abuse for knowingly allowing the storage of images and videos documenting their abuse on iCloud and the company's defectively designed products. The lawsuit alleges that Apple has known about this content for years, but has refused to act to detect or remove it, despite developing advanced technology to do so. The plaintiffs are being represented by Marsh Law Firm. Additionally, Heat Initiative is providing some support for this lawsuit as part of the organization's broader Ignite program , which provides legal and advocacy support for victims of child sexual abuse through referrals, research, and funding to empower them to use their voices and hold technology companies accountable. The images and videos of the plaintiffs' childhood sexual abuse, which have been stored thousands of times, would have been identified and removed had Apple implemented its 2021 "CSAM Detection" technology. However, Apple terminated the program after its announcement. Other leading technology providers have been proactively detecting and reporting illegal child sex abuse images and videos for more than a decade. Apple's belated efforts, and subsequent cancellation, leave it among the very few major platforms that do not engage in proactive detection and removal. The full complaint, as well as a fact sheet and other supporting materials, can be found HERE . "The knowledge that images of my abuse are still out there is a never-ending nightmare – Apple could have stopped this, but has chosen not to act," said Jane Doe , a plaintiff in the lawsuit. "Apple has the technology to stop this from continuing, yet they knowingly turn a blind eye. This isn't just about my story – it's about standing up for every survivor who deserves safety and dignity. Apple has a responsibility to protect us, and I'm here to demand that they fulfill it." "Today, thousands of brave survivors are coming forward to demand accountability from one of the most successful technology companies on the planet. Apple has not only rejected helping these victims, it has advertised the fact that it does not detect child sex abuse material on its platform or devices thereby exponentially increasing the ongoing harm caused to these victims," said Margaret E. Mabie , Partner at Marsh Law Firm, representing the plaintiffs. "Our clients have endured unimaginable abuse, and yet Apple's top executives continue to ignore their pleas, fully aware that this illegal contraband remains on their platform. By abandoning their state-of-the-art detection program without offering an alternative, Apple has chosen to prioritize its own corporate agenda over the lives and dignity of survivors. This lawsuit is a call for justice and a demand for Apple to finally take responsibility and protect these victims." "Apple wants people to think they are the 'responsible' tech company, and this lawsuit demonstrates clearly that, on this issue, they are not," said Sarah Gardner , Founder and CEO of the Heat Initiative, an organization dedicated to encouraging leading technology companies to combat child sex abuse on their platforms. "The plaintiffs and countless other survivors of child sexual abuse are forced to relive the worst moments imaginable because Apple refuses to implement common sense practices that are standard across the tech industry. They will argue that this is a privacy issue, but they are failing to acknowledge the privacy and basic humanity of the children being raped and sexually assaulted in the videos and images Apple stores on iCloud." In August 2021 , Apple announced it would implement a new "CSAM Detection" feature, which would have identified known child sexual abuse material in iCloud using NeuralHash, a type of hashing technology that Apple developed. However, after the program was announced, Apple executives reversed their decision and ultimately killed the implementation of the program . At the same time, in 2023, five major tech companies collectively reported more than 32 million pieces of child sexual abuse images and videos on their platforms– Apple reported only 267 . The lawsuit is seeking injunctive relief for Apple to implement basic child safety measures on behalf of the plaintiffs. The claim of negligence and failing to fulfill their duty of care resulting in harms to the plaintiffs stems from two main factors: Marsh Law Firm focuses its legal practice exclusively on representing survivors of sexual abuse and online exploitation. They are a survivor-focused, trauma-informed, and justice-oriented law firm that advocates for clients both in and out of the courtroom to secure justice and hold perpetrators and the institutions that enable abuse accountable. Heat Initiative is a collective effort of concerned child safety experts and advocates encouraging leading technology companies to combat child sexual abuse on their platforms. Heat Initiative sees a future where children's safety is at the forefront of any existing and future technological developments. The Heat Initiative's Ignite program catalyzes impact litigation to hold technology companies accountable to their duty to prevent and address the sexual exploitation of children on their platforms. Contact: press@heatinitiative.org View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/apple-sued-for-knowingly-hosting-child-sexual-abuse-material-on-its-products-failing-to-protect-survivors-302325571.html SOURCE Heat Initiative

Rams don't dominate, but they're rolling toward the playoffs with superb complementary footballMumbai: For some, Christmas came a fortnight earlier. The $4.1-billion Vishal Mega Mart listing earlier this month turned out to be the biggest payday for its key shareholder, Partners Group, in its 10-year-old India presence, but the public issue also set records for another unique distinction. The discount retailer's share sale also marks the highest capital gains for any private equity investor ever in the country. At $3.1 billion, gains in the six-year-old investment for Partners exceed Carlyle's $2-billion profits from SBI Cards by more than 50%, data culled from publicly available sources showed. Across VC and PE funds, though, Tiger Global still tops the charts: it made a total of $3.5 billion in gains from its phased selloff of equity in Flipkart, which was among the most it had generated from a single company globally. In the PE space now, Partners has taken the crown-another testament of the depth of the Indian capital markets and its ability to generate stratospheric returns for patient investors. Agencies Partners Invested $420M Stock Trading Point & Figure Chart Mastery: A Comprehensive Trading Guide By - Mukta Dhamankar, Full Time Trader, 15 Years Experience, Instructor View Program Stock Trading ROC Made Easy: Master Course for ROC Stock Indicator By - Souradeep Dey, Equity and Commodity Trader, Trainer View Program Stock Trading Stock Markets Made Easy By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Options Trading Made Easy: Options Trading Course By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Stock Trading Ichimoku Trading Unlocked: Expert Analysis and Strategy By - Dinesh Nagpal, Full Time Trader, Ichimoku & Trading Psychology Expert View Program Stock Trading Algo Trading Made Easy By - Vivek Gadodia, Partner at Dravyaniti Consulting and RBT Algo Systems View Program Stock Trading Derivative Analytics Made Easy By - Vivek Bajaj, Co Founder- Stockedge and Elearnmarkets View Program Stock Trading RSI Trading Techniques: Mastering the RSI Indicator By - Dinesh Nagpal, Full Time Trader, Ichimoku & Trading Psychology Expert View Program Stock Trading Candlesticks Made Easy: Candlestick Pattern Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Commodity Markets Made Easy: Commodity Trading Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading A2Z of Stock Market for Beginners: Stock Market Course For Beginners By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Advanced Strategies in Stock Market Mastery By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Stock Trading Renko Chart Patterns Made Easy By - Kaushik Akiwatkar, Derivative Trader and Investor View Program Stock Trading Market 103: Mastering Trends with RMI and Techno-Funda Insights By - Rohit Srivastava, Founder- Indiacharts.com View Program Stock Trading Options Trading Course For Beginners By - Chetan Panchamia, Options Trader View Program Stock Trading Market 101: An Insight into Trendlines and Momentum By - Rohit Srivastava, Founder- Indiacharts.com View Program Stock Trading Heikin Ashi Trading Tactics: Master the Art of Trading By - Dinesh Nagpal, Full Time Trader, Ichimoku & Trading Psychology Expert View Program In the summer of 2018, the Switzerland-based Partners Group joined hands with India-focused Kedaara Capital to buy Vishal Mega Mart from a consortium of TPG Capital and Shriram Group for ₹5,000 crore. Partners alone invested ₹3,000 crore ($420 million) in the transaction. Subsequently, a small tranche of capital was infused during Covid, said people in the know, but it was largely unused. TPG in 2010 had taken over a debt-ridden Vishal Retail for a paltry ₹70 crore. After investing ₹750 crore to turn Vishal around, TPG and Shriram Group flipped the asset to a new set of owners, making 4X dollar returns and 6X rupee returns in eight years. The ₹8,000 ($944 million)-crore IPO saw purely secondary sale of shares by the two sponsors via an offer for sale. The retailer's shares closed at ₹111.93 apiece on listing day, a gain of 44% over the initial share sale price. The sale drew bids for over 27 times the shares offered. At IPO, Partners Group realised a part of its beneficial shareholding in Vishal for $633 million (₹5,380 crore). At that closing price, the rest of Partners Group's stake is worth $2.9 billion (₹25,700 crore). Partial Exit Therefore, the combined value of its ownership - both realised and unrealised - stands at around $3.5 billion (₹29,750 crore). Subtracting the initial investment, the capital gains, or profits, stand at $3.1 billion (₹26,350 crore). Some of this is unrealised profits. But given that Vishal is now listed and its shares liquid and saleable, with the equity ownership tied to the actual trading price, the gains will be easier to calculate, believe analysts, unlike unrealised profits for a private company. In the past 12-18 months, PEs have exited large positions via open market trades (block deals). These include KKR's mega exit from Max Healthcare or EQT's decision to exit its entire 26.63% stake in Coforge Ltd (formerly NIIT Technologies) for ₹7,684 crore to multiple investors through bulk deals. "Even if you assume a slight discount to current market price, if Partners chooses to sell its residual shares (76% is still owned by Partners and Kedaara), the capital gains would still be higher than other PE investments in India," said an official in the know. "Given the large position, this might not be saleable in a single tranche. But if you assume that these will be realised over some years, then the shares will also benefit from appreciation in price as the company's earnings grow. On the flipside, it may also drop." Since listing, the share has dropped 9.14%. However, investor expectations of a gain in the share price in the future have been baked into the decision making of current institutional buyers, such as JP Morgan, HSBC, Axis Mutual Fund, among others. They expect 15%+ gains per annum for any new investments they are making, given the cost of capital, said an institutional investor who bought into the stock during the IPO. 'Great Team, Robust Growth' "The successful outcome was due to the backing of one of the best management teams, addressing a very large and under-penetrated market," said Manas Tandon, partner, Partners Group. "I had the benefit of having a ringside view during TPG's journey and had the conviction in 2018 that a lot of the lego blocks were in place for the business to take off. Based on this conviction, we were able to back it with a very large cheque at the time." The big gains in Vishal, a 23-year-old retailer, have come from the company's revenue and Ebitda growth. That, in turn, was possible due to a strong rollout with new stores generating profits soon after opening. The continued double-digit same store sales growth, barring a brief period during Covid, and improved operating efficiency allowed for stable Ebitda margins. Focus on private labels also helped, believe industry players. Vishal Mega Mart reported sales of Rs 8,900 crore in FY24 — one-fifth of DMart’s sales, the market leader and India’s most valuable listed retailer. Half of the sales come from apparel, while general merchandise and FMCG contribute 25% each. Partners has invested $2.5 billion in the last decade in Indian and India-affiliated businesses. This, in turn, has generated returns of approximately $8.5 billion for the asset manager. In 2024, equity capital market transactions in India exceeded $11.5 billion. ET Year-end Special Reads An Indian's guide to moving abroad as the world looks for 'better' immigrants The year of the HNIs: How India's rich splurged in 2024 (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel )Soccer-Kompany sees promise in Bayern’s performance despite Cup exit