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ZURICH — Saudi Arabia was officially confirmed Wednesday by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men's soccer, giving the oil-rich kingdom its biggest prize yet for massive spending on global sports driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi bid was the only candidate and was acclaimed by the applause of more than 200 FIFA member federations. They took part remotely in an online meeting hosted in Zurich by the soccer body's president Gianni Infantino. "The vote of the congress is loud and clear," said Infantino, who had asked officials on a bank of screens to clap their hands at head level to show their support. The decision was combined with approving the only candidate to host the 2030 World Cup. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host in a six-nation project, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay each getting one of the 104 games. People are also reading... The South American connection will mark the centenary of Uruguay hosting the first World Cup in 1930. The decisions complete a mostly opaque 15-month bid process which Infantino helped steer toward Saudi Arabia without a rival candidate, without taking questions, and which human rights groups warn will put the lives of migrant workers at risk. "We look forward to hosting an exceptional and unprecedented edition of the FIFA World Cup by harnessing our strengths and capabilities to bring joy to football fans around the world," Prince Mohammed said in a statement. FIFA and Saudi officials have said hosting the 2034 tournament can accelerate change, including more freedoms and rights for women, with Infantino on Wednesday calling the World Cup a "unique catalyst for positive social change and unity." "I fully trust our hosts to address all open points in this process, and deliver a World Cup that meets the world's expectations," the FIFA president said. An international collective of rights groups said FIFA made a "reckless decision" to approve Saudi Arabia without getting public assurances, and the Football Supporters Europe group said it was "the day football truly lost its mind." A fast-track path to victory was cleared last year by FIFA accepting the three-continent hosting plan for the 2030 World Cup. It meant only soccer federations in Asia and Oceania were eligible for the 2034 contest, and FIFA gave countries less than four weeks to declare a bid. Only Saudi Arabia did. The win will kick off a decade of scrutiny on Saudi labor laws and treatment of workers mostly from South Asia needed to help build and upgrade 15 stadiums, plus hotels and transport networks ahead of the 104-game tournament. Amnesty International said awarding the tournament to Saudi Arabia represents "a moment of great danger" for human rights. "FIFA's reckless decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without ensuring adequate human rights protections are in place will put many lives at risk," said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International's Head of Labor Rights and Sport." One of the stadiums is planned to be 350 meters (yards) above the ground in Neom — a futuristic city that does not yet exist — and another named for the crown prince is designed to be atop a 200-meter cliff near Riyadh. During the bid campaign, FIFA has accepted limited scrutiny of Saudi Arabia's human rights record that was widely criticized this year at the United Nations. Saudi and international rights groups and activists warned FIFA it has not learned the lessons of Qatar's much-criticized preparations to host the 2022 World Cup. "At every stage of this bidding process, FIFA has shown its commitment to human rights to be a sham," Cockburn said. The kingdom plans to spend tens of billion of dollars on projects related to the World Cup as part of the crown prince's sweeping Vision 2030 project that aims to modernize Saudi society and economy. At its core is spending on sports by the $900 billion sovereign wealth operation, the Public Investment Fund, which he oversees. "It's amazing. The infrastructure, the stadiums, the conditions for the fans and everything. After what I see, I'm more convinced that 2034 will be the best World Cup ever," Cristiano Ronaldo said in a recorded package posted on X. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been part of Saudi Arabia's lavish spending on soccer — stunning the sport when agreeing to sign for Al Nassr in 2022 for a record-breaking salary reportedly worth up to $200 million a year. Critics have accused Saudi Arabia of "sportswashing" the kingdom's reputation. The prince, known as MBS, has built close working ties to Infantino since 2017 — aligning with the organizer of sport's most-watched event rather than directly confronting the established system as it did with the disruptive LIV Golf project. The result for Saudi Arabia and FIFA has been smooth progress toward the win Wednesday with limited pushback from soccer officials, though some from women international players. The steady flow of Saudi cash into international soccer is set to increase. FIFA created a new and higher World Cup sponsor category for state oil firm Aramco, and Saudi funding is set to underwrite the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States that is a pet project for Infantino. North American soccer body CONCACAF signed a multi-year deal with PIF, Saudi stadiums host Super Cup games for Italy and Spain, and nearly 50 FIFA member federations have signed working agreements with Saudi counterparts. Lavish spending by PIF-owned Saudi clubs in the past two years buying and paying players – including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mané – put hundreds of millions of dollars into European soccer. That influence could be key in talks to agree which months to play the 2034 World Cup. The November-December slot taken by Qatar in 2022 to avoid extreme midsummer heat is complicated in 2034 by the holy month of Ramadan through mid-December and Riyadh hosting the multi-sport Asian Games. Still, January 2034 could be an option — and likely better for European clubs and leagues —after the International Olympic Committee said it saw few issues in clashing with the Salt Lake Winter Games opening Feb. 10, 2034. The IOC also has a major commercial deal with Saudi Arabia, to host the new Esports Olympics. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!A timeline of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the search for his killer NEW YORK (AP) — The search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer has stretched into a fifth day — and beyond New York City. Police say it appears the man left the city on a bus soon after Wednesday's shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. The suspect is seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Police believe that words found written on ammunition at the shooting scene, including “deny," “defend” and "depose,” suggest a motive driven by anger toward the healthcare company. The words mimic a phrase used by insurance industry critics. Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. He also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” Europe's economy needs help. Political chaos in France and Germany means it may be slower in coming BRUSSELS (AP) — Europe's economy has enough difficulties, from tepid growth to trade tensions with the U.S. Dealing with those woes is only getting harder due to the political chaos in the two biggest European countries, France and Germany. Neither has a government backed by a functioning majority, and France could take a while yet to sort things out. But some problems aren't going to wait, such as what to do about U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's America First stance on trade and how to fund stronger defense against Putin's Russia. ‘Moana 2’ cruises to another record weekend and $600 million globally “Moana 2” remains at the top of the box office in its second weekend in theaters as it pulled in another record haul. According to studio estimates Sunday, the animated Disney film added $52 million, bringing its domestic total to $300 million. That surpasses the take for the original “Moana” and brings the sequel's global tally to a staggering $600 million. It also puts the film in this year's top five at the box office. “Wicked” came in second place for the weekend with $34.9 million and “Gladiator II” was third with $12.5 million. The 10th anniversary re-release of Christopher Nolan's “Interstellar” also earned an impressive $4.4 million even though it played in only 165 theaters. Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok as soon as next month, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Executive of Tyler Perry Studios dies when plane he was piloting crashes in Florida ATLANTA (AP) — The president of Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios has died when the small plane he was piloting crashed on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The studio confirmed on Saturday that Steve Mensch, its 62-year-old president and general manager, had died Friday. The crash happened in Homosassa, about 60 miles north of Tampa. Photos from the scene show the plane having come to rest upside down on a road. Mensch helped advocate for Georgia’s film tax credit of more than $1 billion a year. Perry hired Mensch to run his namesake studio in 2016. Mensch died as Perry released his war drama, “The Six Triple Eight." The film was shot at the Atlanta studio. US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8% to set its own record. Treasury yields eased after the jobs report showed stronger hiring than expected but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass NEW YORK (AP) — In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million to surround CEO Mark Zuckerberg with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. And experts say the task of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them is getting more difficult. One of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to decide what represents a real threat. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.President-elect Donald Trump is positioned to be a pivotal leader in the AI generation, according to OpenAI's Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar. She emphasized the significance of his tenure as critical AI infrastructure, including artificial general intelligence (AGI), is built, marking a potential turning point in technological advancement. Addressing concerns regarding Elon Musk's public criticisms of ChatGPT's corporate evolution, Friar downplayed the issue at the Reuters NEXT conference. She expressed trust in Musk to prioritize national interests despite competitive tensions, highlighting his advisory role in Trump's transition team and his leadership of OpenAI rival, xAI. OpenAI is experiencing substantial growth, with a notable increase in ChatGPT users. Friar reported a surge to 300 million users due to new reasoning models. Additionally, the company is fielding strong demand for its new video tool, Sora, while planning for significant 2024 AI developments amid ongoing partnerships with major tech entities like Microsoft. (With inputs from agencies.)

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SARGODHA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2024) The of new and used warm clothes has significantly increased in and its tehsils, including , , , , and Kotmomin. Various winter essentials, such as gloves, woolen hats, mufflers, pullovers, sweatshirts, and jackets, are prominently displayed outside shops and on stalls in different localities. Markets and weekly bazaars are bustling with crowds of shoppers bargaining with retailers. In addition to clothing, heaps of quilts, bed covers, blankets, and rugs are also available for . The sudden onset of chilly , particularly during the night over the past 10 days, has compelled people to stock up on winter apparel and other necessities. Used winter items, including quilts and blankets, are a popular choice for budget-conscious buyers. A local visitor, Ghulam Rasool, commented, "Although the is taking steps to curb inflation and provide relief to the , a nearly 20pc increase in the of winter clothing compared to last year has been observed." Vendors and shopkeepers are experiencing a surge in , with winter apparel selling rapidly. “Our is thriving these days as the demand for warm clothes has skyrocketed,” said Suleman Ahmed, a second-hand clothing dealer at Shaheen Chowk Bazaar. Another dealer on Station expressed similar sentiments, stating, "Our sales have doubled, and we anticipate further growth in the coming days." Shoppers are becoming increasingly selective, focusing on quality and affordability when purchasing used clothing. “Customers not only look for the quality but also aim to get items at the lowest possible prices,” said Ali Ahmed, a shop owner at Al Munir in . He noted that international brands are particularly popular among buyers, with many seeking slightly used items renowned labels. Traders typically purchase second-hand clothing in bulk, sorted by categories for men, , and children. “Some customers have a keen eye for quality products, picking them out like hawks heaps of used clothing,” Ali Ahmed explained. “Even at fixed-price shops, bargaining is common, as people strive to find affordable yet durable options.” As the cold persists, bazaars across are teeming with shoppers searching for practical and budget-friendly winter essentials, signaling a profitable season for vendors and stall-holders.

The new, 12-team College Football Playoff brings with it a promise to be bigger, more exciting, more lucrative. Perfect or 100% fair? Well, nobody ever believed that. The first expanded playoff bracket unveiled Sunday left a presumably deserving Alabama team on the sideline in favor of an SMU squad with a better record after playing a schedule that was not as difficult. It ranked undefeated Oregon first but set up a possible rematch against Ohio State, the team that came closest to beating the Ducks this year. It treated underdog Boise State like a favorite and banged-up Georgia like a world beater at No. 2. It gave Ohio State home-field advantage against Tennessee for reasons it would take a supercomputer to figure out. It gave the sport the multiweek tournament it has longed for, but also ensured there will be plenty to grouse about between now and when the trophy is handed out on Jan. 20 after what will easily be the longest college football season in history. All of it, thankfully, will be sorted out on the field starting with first-round games on campuses Dec. 20 and 21, then over three succeeding rounds that will wind their way through traditional bowl sites. Maybe Oregon coach Dan Lanning, whose undefeated Ducks are the favorite to win it all, put it best when he offered: "Winning a national championship is not supposed to be easy.” Neither, it turns out, is figuring out who should play for it. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings passes the ball in the first half of the ACC championship game against Clemson on Saturday in Charlotte, N.C. The Big Ten will lead the way with four teams in the tournament, followed by the SEC with three and the ACC with two. The lasting memory from the inaugural bracket will involve the decision that handed the ACC that second bid. Alabama of the SEC didn't play Saturday. SMU of the ACC did. The Mustangs fell behind by three touchdowns to Clemson before coming back to tie. But they ultimately lost 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal as time expired. “We were on pins and needles,” SMU coach Rhett Lashley said. “Until we saw the name ‘SMU’ up there, we were hanging on the edge. We're really, really happy and thankful to the committee for rewarding our guys for their total body of work." The Mustangs only had two losses, compared to three for the Crimson Tide. Even though SMU's schedule wasn't nearly as tough, the committee was impressed by the way the Mustangs came back against Clemson. “We just felt, in this particular case, SMU had the nod above Alabama,” said Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, the chairman of the selection committee. “But it’s no disrespect to Alabama’s strength of schedule. We looked at the entire body of work for both teams.” Oregon offensive lineman Iapani Laloulu celebrates after winning the Big Ten championship game against Penn State on Saturday in Indianapolis. Georgia, the SEC champion, was seeded second; Boise State, the Mountain West champion, earned the third seed; and Big 12 titlist Arizona State got the fourth seed and the fourth and final first-round bye. All will play in quarterfinals at bowl games on Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Clemson stole a bid and the 12th seed with its crazy win over SMU, the result that ultimately cost Alabama a spot in the field. The Tigers moved to No. 16 in the rankings, but got in as the fifth-best conference winner. Automatic byes and bids made the bracket strange The conference commissioners' idea to give conference champions preferable treatment in this first iteration of the 12-team playoff could be up for reconsideration after this season. The committee actually ranked Boise State, the Mountain West Champion, at No. 9 and Big 12 champion Arizona State at No. 12, but both get to skip the first round. Another CFP guideline: There’s no reseeding of teams after each round, which means no break for Oregon. The top-seeded Ducks will face the winner of Tennessee-Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 earlier this year in one of the season’s best games. Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. hits Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton during the second half of the SEC championship game on Saturday in Atlanta. No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, Dec. 21: Clemson is riding high after the SMU upset, while Texas is 0-2 against Georgia and 11-0 vs. everyone else this season. The winner faces ... Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Huh? No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, Dec. 21: The biggest knock against the Mustangs was that they didn't play any big boys with that 60th-ranked strength of schedule. Well, now they get to. The winner faces ... Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Yes, SMU vs. Boise was the quarterfinal we all expected. No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, Dec. 20: Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti thought his team deserved a home game. Well, not quite but close. The winner gets ... Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs got the No. 2 seed despite a throwing-arm injury to QB Carson Beck. But what else was the committee supposed to do? No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State, Dec. 21: The Buckeyes (losses to Oregon, Michigan) got home field over the Volunteers (losses to Arkansas, Georgia) in a matchup of programs with two of the biggest stadiums in football. The winner faces ... Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Feels like that matchup should come in the semifinals or later. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Get local news delivered to your inbox!GUANGZHOU (XINHUA) – At the expansive new 20,000-square-meter plant of Dongguan Evml CNC Equipment Technology, a company located in Dongguan in south China’s Guangdong Province, over 100 workstations are bustling with activity. This homegrown high-end equipment manufacturer initially specialised in the milling heads of Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) machines. The company has since evolved, making its mark by integrating advanced, high-precision CNC machines and emerging as a leading contender in this industry. “Since our relocation to the new facility in March, we’ve expanded our space eight-fold, and yet we’re still facing a situation where demand outstrips supply,” remarked assistant to the general manager of the company Fu Rongting. Fu added that their order books are already filled up to June next year. This company’s star product, the five-axis CNC machine, serves as an example underlining Dongguan’s thriving “industrial mother machines” sector. In the past, the market in this field was dominated by foreign brands. However, the accelerated growth of Chinese private enterprises, such as Evml, is changing this landscape. Industrial mother machines refer to machine tools used for processing metals and other materials or workpieces, and are also known as machines that manufacture other machines. Such machines form the foundation of industrialisation and serve as significant benchmarks in measuring the degree of industrial advancement. Dongguan, in one of China’s main economic powerhouse locations – the Pearl River Delta, once relied heavily on low-margin processing trade and labour-intensive industries, thus gaining fame as the “factory of the world.” Yet, as China’s economic structure shifts, Dongguan’s traditional best-sellers in foreign trade, including clothing, shoes and hats, have lost their glory with the city now turning to scientific and technological innovation as a new blueprint for ensuring the future of its “world factory.” Official data indicates that the manufacturing industry proportion in Dongguan’s gross domestic product has remained steadily above 50 per cent, with the output value of CNC machines for industrial mother machines exceeding CNY10 billion (about USD1.4 billion). In the first half of 2024, Dongguan introduced a package of 20 policies to further activate new quality productive forces via industrial mother machines, making them important engines for promoting a new type of industrialisation. “Demand for precision manufacturing and the enhancement of industrial design levels are precisely what provide opportunities for the development of industrial mother machine enterprises amid the upgrade of China’s manufacturing industry,” said Fu. The company’s revenue exceeded CNY50 million in 2019 and surpassed CNY350 million in 2023 – with a compound annual growth rate of over 60 per cent. “Continuous upgrading of densely packed industrial enterprises in the Pearl River Delta is pushing us to grow step by step,” Fu added. Over the past decade, Dongguan’s industrial foundation has undergone remarkable transformations, shifting from labour-intensive to technology-intensive, while upgrading from automated production lines to fully intelligent factory systems. DPT Electronics Co Ltd a one-stop display solutions provider, has poured in an average annual investment of approximately CNY100 million in tech upgrading in the course of the past three years, noted head of the company Chen Cheng. These efforts have produced tangible returns. For instance, their virtual reality production line has seen its labour productivity more than doubled. From January to October 2024, the company achieved an output value of CNY4.94 billion – marking a rise of 41.17 per cent compared to the same period of 2023. The past decade has seen Dongguan’s investment in technological upgrading soar from CNY12.5 billion in 2014 to CNY67 billion in 2023, logging a compound annual growth rate of more than 18 per cent. The continuous upgrading of Dongguan’s industrial foundation has served as a powerful support in solidifying its status as a “manufacturing powerhouse”. In the first 10 months of this year, Dongguan’s value-added industrial output in terms of companies, each with an annual main business turnover of at least CNY20 million, exceeded CNY435 billion – a robust increase of 7.8 per cent year on year. Advanced manufacturing witnessed double-digit growth rates during this period, with a substantial surge in the output of high-tech products. For example, the production of smartwatches soared by 92.9 per cent, and semiconductor storage device player production experienced a 77.1-per cent increase, while industrial robot output was up by 25.5 per cent, compared with the same period in the previous year.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Justice Shoats had 18 points in Siena's 66-53 victory against Canisius on Sunday. Shoats shot 6 of 15 from the field, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 6 from the free-throw line for the Saints (5-5, 1-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference). Brendan Coyle scored 17 points and added nine rebounds. Major Freeman had 14 points and shot 5 for 9 (2 for 6 from 3-point range) and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line. Paul McMillan IV led the Golden Griffins (0-10, 0-2) in scoring, finishing with 22 points and four assists. Jasman Sangha added 11 points and two steals for Canisius. Tana Kopa finished with six points. The Golden Griffins have lost 11 consecutive games, dating to a 72-56 defeat at the hands of Quinnipiac in the 2024 MAAC Tournament. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .The College Football Playoff seedings have now been released with Alabama set to miss out on the postseason after falling to the 13th seed and being the first team out. The NCAA amended its postseason rules for the first time this season, expanding the playoffs from just four teams to 12 - giving schools more of an opportunity to compete for a national championship - with school's now learning whether they're in and who they'll be coming up against. The CFP selection committee released its final rankings on Sunday afternoon, with the 12-team bracket being confirmed with four schools given a first-round bye as the highest-ranked conference champions. Kirby Smart walks away from interview after choking up at brave Gunner Stockton Steve Sarkisian fumes directly into camera as Texas coach rages at Georgia complaint Here, Mirror U.S. Sports provides everything you need to know about the bracket and the main talking points ahead of the first-round later this month. Alabama had expected to been in the playoffs after being named as the 11 seed last week, looking likely to become the first-ever three-loss team to make the CFP. But shockingly, Bama was named as the 13th seed after Clemson defeated SMU to leapfrog them in the rankings, with the CFP awarding the latter the final place over Alabama. College football fans and analysts didn't think Kalen DeBoer's men should still be in the hunt, with the head coach now likely to be under severe pressure after an embarrassing first season in charge. Cam Ward will now immediately turn his attentions to the NFL Draft with his college football career over. The Miami Hurricanes were named as the 14th seed and the second team out after Alabama. Ward has been sensational in his senior season, making the brilliant move to transfer to Miami rather than going to the NFL Draft as he had first planned, with the quarterback putting in his best season of his career. He'll now compete with Shedeur Sanders to be the first quarterback drafted, while being disappointed he could not further enhance his stocks in the postseason. While Boise State and Arizona State were never even close of cracking the top four at any point this season, the two will be overjoyed to learn that they were placed in third and fourth, respectively. They will both be given bye's to advance to the second round. The playoff teams final rankings were not necessarily guaranteed to match the bracket seeds because of conference champions and byes, with Boise State and Arizona State especially being unclear on where they'd land. Some expected them to potentially be the lower seeds in the playoffs. But the CFP has rewarded them hugely, with Ashton Jeanty hoping to cause further shocks this season after his incredible year with Boise. Arizona State meanwhile will lean on their impressive defense and wide receiver duo of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel - both expected to be second-round draft picks. Ohio State has fallen all the way to the 8th seed, meaning they'll just get one home game in the postseason but they'll come up against the Tennessee Volunteers in what could be a brutal match-up. The Buckeyes suffered a shock defeat to the struggling Michigan Wolverines in the final game of the regular season which proved hugely costly, missing out on the Big Ten Championship game while falling down furtherly in the playoff bracket. They'll face number one seed Oregon should they defeat Tennessee, having a brutal road to the championship. Texas has been defeated by Georgia twice already this season, really struggling in only those two games in what has been an otherwise impressive year for the Longhorns. But it won't see the Bulldogs again this season unless they meet in the National Championship game. Texas did not win a bye in the seedings, but was given the number five seed with them set to face the lowest team in the bracket in Clemson, before coming up against Arizona State in another game they'll be favorited to win. It's a nice slate of games for Quinn Ewers, too, who needs to put in some strong performances if he his to enter the NFL Draft, after struggling in recent weeks with fans asking to see Arch Manning. Want to watch more live sports? Peacock has your favorite sports, shows, and more all in one place. Peacock offers plans starting at $7.99 so you can stream live sports like NFL, Premier League, and Big Ten Football.XCHG Limited Reports Second Quarter 2024 Unaudited Financial Results

Tech Leaders Wary as Global Monopoly Scrutiny Threatens a Major Shake-Up for the Magnificent SevenJordan Peterson is leaving Toronto. Peterson, appearing on his daughter Mikhaila’s podcast in an episode posted Dec. 6, officially announced his move to a sunnier home in the United States, where there “are decided advantages” over living in Toronto. A psychologist who rose to prominence rallying against preferred pronoun use at the University of Toronto, Peterson has become a popular talking head among conservative and right-wing media in recent years. “The issue with the College (of Psychologists of Ontario) ... is very annoying, to say the least,” Peterson said, citing reasons why he decided to leave Toronto. “And the new legislation that the (federal) Liberals are attempting to push through, Bill C-63 (Online Harms Act) — we’d all be living in a totalitarian hellhole if it passes.” “The tax situation is out of hand, the government in Canada at the federal level is incompetent beyond belief. And it’s become uncomfortable for me in my neighbourhood in Toronto.” Peterson’s spat with the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) stems from complaints over social media posts about, among other things, a “not beautiful” plus-size model. The college ordered Peterson to undergo a coaching program on professionalism in public statements. In August, three Superior Court judges comprising a panel of Divisional Court, ruled it was reasonable for the CPO to order Peterson to take a course on professionalism in communications. The governing body for psychologists made the order after receiving numerous complaints over Peterson’s commentary, which has been criticized for attacking feminism and racial diversity. Peterson has repeatedly taken aim at the Online Harms Act, or Bill C-63, which has sparked debate over how Ottawa should best strike the balance between protecting its citizens and their right to express themselves freely. There are seven categories of harm are laid out in the bill — three deal with protecting children from exploitative or harmful content, another category covers the sharing of intimate images without consent, and the remaining categories include content that promotes hatred, content that incites violence, and content that incites violent extremism or terrorism. to ensure the child safety guidelines could be passed into law. Peterson didn’t specify where in the U.S. he has moved to, but mentioned that he was near his daughter, who lives in Arizona. Peterson didn’t say exactly where he lived in Toronto, but that he had “modest semi in Seaton Village.” On the podcast episode he said he lived in a “kind of champagne socialist neighbourhood” and was “less popular in my own neighbourhood than I am anywhere else in the world, literally.” He called the Toronto District School Board “probably the most woke institution in North America, which is really saying something,” over its handling of the COVID pandemic, and said Toronto is “run by the wife (Olivia Chow) of the last leader of the socialist party in Canada (Jack Layton), and so the goal in Toronto was to turn it into Portland or San Francisco. And that’s happening.” He said he moved once he and his son, whom he lived close to, became uncomfortable living in Toronto. “I didn’t ever expect that to be something that happened in Canada. But under Justin (Trudeau) and the woke mob, that’s definitely something that’s happened,” Peterson said. It’s been almost a decade since Peterson rocketed to national consciousness — and controversy — by arguing that being forced to use pronouns such as “ze” and “zir” was a violation of free speech while lecturing at the University of Toronto. He emerged as part public intellectual, part internet celebrity and a fighter against perceived political correctness. He was author of the bestselling book, “12 Rules for Life: Antidote to Chaos,” which urged readers to seize responsibility for their own lives, sparking speaking tours, lucrative crowdfunding and official merchandise and launched him into global fame. Peterson also parted ways with U of T, writing in the National Post in 2022 that he’d resigned from the full-time, tenured position. There were a few reasons, he wrote. Chief among them was the “appalling ideology currently demolishing the universities and, downstream, the general culture.” He has since and regularly appears on conservative media, rallying against and . Then, testifying under oath at a public inquiry into foreign interference in October, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared to reference recent American allegations that RT — a media mouthpiece for the Russian government — had been covertly bankrolling right-wing influencers, allegedly , according to the prime minister. Peterson denied those claims, telling the National Post, “I don’t think it’s reasonable for the prime minister of this country to basically label me a traitor and I don’t find it amusing.” He has said he is considering legal action.When the third goal from Brenden Aaronson arrived that guaranteed Leeds would be going top of the Championship, Daniel Farke danced down the touchline and punched the air so much his hair jiggled. When the teams met at Elland Road in August, in the Carabao Cup, Middlesbrough had left with a 3-0 win and Elland Road was filled with jeers. Leeds were losing games and players back then. It has not been easy to get a team defeated in the play-off final a season after relegation to get going again. Farke’s exuberance spoke of his relief. He was still punching the air when he walked to greet his players at full-time. No one was afforded a bigger hug from the boss than Daniel James. He was outstanding, creating the first goal, and scoring the second, with the game level and in the balance in the closing stages, before Aaronson’s clincher.

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