Talent Management Software Market Future Innovations and Forecast 2024-2031

Before he was president, candidate Jimmy Carter stopped in Hickory in 1976Annapolis City Council eyes delaying gas-powered leaf blower ban penaltiesNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge took Diego Pavia 's request for a limited preliminary injunction under advisement at the end of a hearing Wednesday as the Vanderbilt quarterback seeks to play at least another season while his lawsuit against the NCAA plays out in court. U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell asked attorneys how quickly they could be ready for trial. He also asked about the upcoming transfer portal, which opens Monday and closes Dec. 28. Attorney Ryan Downton argued during a 2 1/2-hour hearing that Pavia wants “the narrowest injunction possible” to keep his time in junior college from counting against his NCAA Division I eligibility using older guidelines. Their best hope is for a quick ruling by Monday. “I get the sense from him today that he’s looking at the date the portal closes and trying to give enough time to react before it closes,” Downton said of the judge's timing after the hearing. Campbell peppered attorneys with questions. The judge noted prep schools play against junior colleges, including Pavia's, without starting their NCAA eligibility clock. He also noted junior colleges don't allow redshirt seasons. The judge also said the NCAA has changed its rules over the past 50 years, including allowing freshmen to play and later added the redshirt rule. Campbell sounded surprised when told a player who redshirted this season could play a total of nine games if on the team that wins the College Football Playoff. Pavia filed Nov. 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville. His request for a temporary restraining order was denied giving him two more seasons of eligibility allowing a redshirt season “to avoid additional harm.” His lawsuit also asks that Vanderbilt, or any other college, not be punished for complying with orders from the court. Pavia filed a declaration Monday that he is applying to the masters' program for legal studies at Vanderbilt starting in January if he is granted the preliminary injunction. Attorneys Tamarra Matthews Johnson and Max Warren argued for the NCAA that Pavia had done exactly what the organization wants athletes to do earning a bachelor's degree at New Mexico State before being a graduate transfer to Vanderbilt earlier this year. They also argued Pavia easily can seek another degree without playing football. Warren disputed the idea of irreparable damages noting Pavia can receive economic damages at trial without an injunction. Warren also questioned the lawsuit's timing with Pavia quoted that this was his last year of college football. “His best opportunity to earn a living is playing college football ...,” Downton said in court. “This is his chance.” Pavia did not get an offer from a Football Bowl Subdivision school coming out of Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He went to New Mexico Military Institute in 2020 and led the junior college to the 2021 national championship. He went to New Mexico State in 2022 and won 10 games in 2023. The Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year then followed his head coach, Jerry Kill, and offensive coordinator Tim Beck to Vanderbilt this offseason. Matthews Johnson argued that Vanderbilt simply will find another quarterback. Vanderbilt hasn't had many quarterbacks like Pavia who had a handful of his teammates sitting behind him in court. Pavia is a big reason why Vanderbilt is 6-6 and bowl eligible for the first time since 2018. He led the Commodores to their best start in decades, ranked twice in the AP Top 25 and posted their biggest win ever beating then-No. 1 Alabama. That snapped a 60-game winless skid over over AP top-5 teams. Wednesday’s hearing coincided with the early signing period . Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea supported his quarterback’s initial filing and has talked of how much he has meant to the Commodores. That didn’t stop Vanderbilt from signing a quarterback Wednesday out of an Illinois high school in Jack Elliott. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football .

Bond Vigilantes Upend France’s Debt Market: Credit WeeklyPercentages: FG .455, FT .750. 3-Point Goals: 7-18, .389 (T.Thomas 4-5, Camara 1-2, Carralero Martin 1-3, Willoughby 1-3, Rouzan 0-1, Ward 0-1, Freeman 0-3). Team Rebounds: 5. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 3 (Carralero Martin 2, Willoughby). Turnovers: 9 (Carralero Martin 2, Freeman 2, T.Thomas 2, Ward 2, Rouzan). Steals: 13 (Camara 3, Carralero Martin 3, Freeman 3, Ward 3, Love). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .373, FT .625. 3-Point Goals: 7-31, .226 (Eaglestaff 3-10, Panoam 1-3, R.Thomas 1-3, King 1-5, Woodson 1-7, Kuljuhovic 0-1, Mara 0-1, Natsvishvili 0-1). Team Rebounds: 4. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 3 (Woodson 2, King). Turnovers: 17 (Eaglestaff 5, Kuljuhovic 3, Panoam 3, King 2, Woodson 2, Mara, Mayar). Steals: 7 (R.Thomas 2, Eaglestaff, King, Mara, Mathews, Natsvishvili). Technical Fouls: None. A_123 (1,000).

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An undemocratic outcome

Mikel Arteta hailed the best away European performance of his Arsenal reign after watching his side dismantle Sporting Lisbon 5-1. The Gunners delivered the statement Champions League victory their manager had demanded to bounce back from a narrow defeat at Inter Milan last time out. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track, lifting them to seventh place with 10 points in the new-look 36-team table. It was Arsenal’s biggest away win in the Champions League since beating Inter by the same scoreline in 2003. “For sure, especially against opposition we played at their home who have not lost a game in 18 months – they have been in top form here – so to play with the level, the determination, the purpose and the fluidity we showed today, I am very pleased,” said Arteta. “The team played with so much courage, because they are so good. When I’m watching them live they are so good! They were all exceptional today. It was a big performance, a big win and we are really happy. “The performance was there a few times when we have played big teams. That’s the level that we have to be able to cope and you have to make it happen, and that creates belief.” A memorable victory also ended Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season, a streak of 17 wins and one draw, the vast majority of which prompted Manchester United to prise away head coach Ruben Amorim. The Gunners took the lead after only seven minutes when Martinelli tucked in Jurrien Timber’s cross, and Saka teed up Havertz for a tap-in to double the advantage. Arsenal added a third on the stroke of half-time, Gabriel charging in to head Declan Rice’s corner into the back of the net. To rub salt in the wound, the Brazilian defender mimicked Viktor Gyokeres’ hands-over-his-face goal celebration. That may have wound Sporting up as they came out after the interval meaning business, and they pulled one back after David Raya tipped Hidemasa Morita’s shot behind, with Goncalo Inacio netting at the near post from the corner. But when Martin Odegaard’s darting run into the area was halted by Ousmane Diomande’s foul, Saka tucked away the penalty. Substitute Trossard added the fifth with eight minutes remaining, heading in the rebound after Mikel Merino’s shot was saved. A miserable night for prolific Sporting striker Gyokeres was summed up when his late shot crashed back off the post.Northridge's Scholl comes close to triple-double

STILLWATER, Oklahoma: What do Blackpink’s Rose, a coastal town in Perak and a sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur have in common? All of them were recently at the centre of disinformation in Malaysia, no thanks to the viral nature of social media. In August, after a tourist fell into an 8m-deep sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur and disappeared, false claims surfaced on social media alleging that the city was built atop a “giant cave” and was unsafe for residents and visitors. A viral TikTok post even tagged this content as “AI-generated news for entertainment” accompanied by manipulated images of the skyline perched over a cavernous void. Despite geologists and the authorities dismissing these claims as impossible, such misinformation fuelled public fear and distrust, allowing sensationalism to overshadow factual reporting. In October, Malaysia’s Health Ministry refuted reports that it had called Rose's and Bruno Mars’ song APT “morally harmful”, saying that statements attributed to the ministry by K-pop entertainment sites were not issued by the government. And just earlier this month, the Manjung Municipal Council in Perak filed a police report over allegations in a viral video on TikTok that claimed it cruelly captured, shot and dumped stray dogs into a rubbish pit. DISINFORMATION AN ENTRENCHED ISSUE Disinformation is an entrenched issue in Malaysia, and polarisation remains a major concern. This is especially rampant during elections. For instance, during Malaysia’s 2022 general election, politically motivated falsehoods spread rapidly through social media platforms, stirring up ethnic and religious tensions. TikTok became a hotbed for ethnoreligious hate speech, with incendiary narratives targeting different communities. Alongside this, the usual rhetoric and recycled misinformation about “ghost voting” (undi hantu) circulated without any solid evidence, while baseless allegations of corruption against various politicians flooded social media platforms. A study by Kuala Lumpur-based non-profit Centre for Independent Journalism found that, during the peak of the election period between October and November 2022, the number of social media posts containing hate speech nearly doubled, with over 99,000 unique messages compared to 55,000 in the previous period. This shows how disinformation thrives on social media, often in local languages, making it harder to combat false narratives. The spread of misleading narratives during election campaigns can create an environment where facts are increasingly obscured by racially charged rhetoric. This damages both the integrity of elections and social cohesion, making it more challenging for the public to discern what is true amidst a sea of manipulated information. PLAYING CATCH-UP Malaysia’s regulatory framework has struggled to keep pace with the rapid spread and sheer volume of digital disinformation. While the country has a rather robust set of laws to address false information, including the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the newly introduced Cyber Security Act 2024, the enforcement of these laws has historically been slow. Legal cases often take years to process, while false information can spread on social media in a matter of minutes and hours, which makes these laws less effective in real-time. Another problem is that state affiliated fact-checking agencies like Sebenarnya.my and MyCheck have explicitly stated that they do not verify political content, which leaves a big gap in countering political disinformation. While independent fact-checking groups attempt to bridge this gap during politically charged events like elections, the sheer volume of information across multiple languages and dialects makes it extremely difficult for fact-checkers to keep up, leaving these efforts insufficient and often ineffective. This is particularly concerning in the fast-paced context of elections. During these times, rapid verification of political claims is crucial to ensure informed public discourse. Yet, without real-time fact-checking and given the sluggish pace of legal enforcement, false political narratives can spread unchecked, shaping public perception and potentially swaying electoral outcomes. Additionally, the lack of comprehensive media and information literacy training across different age groups exacerbates the problem. Without the skills to critically evaluate digital content, individuals are more vulnerable to disinformation, especially as AI-driven technologies continue to advance. With deep fakes and manipulated images becoming increasingly sophisticated, the risk grows that public trust in the media and democratic institutions will erode because people won’t know how to distinguish between real and fabricated content. THE DEBATE OVER PLATFORM RESPONSIBILITY As Malaysia navigates the challenges of disinformation, the spotlight has turned onto the role social media platforms play in moderating user-generated content. Platforms like Telegram and X have adopted a “hands-off” approach to content moderation, prioritising free speech over the control of harmful content. This laissez-faire attitude allows disinformation, hate speech and divisive narratives to flourish. In a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society like Malaysia, where sensitive issues can easily escalate, this hands-off approach can fuel social instability and exacerbate polarisation. To address this, Malaysia will from January 2025 require social media companies with at least eight million users in the country to apply for an annual operating licence . Conversely, there is also perceived bias in content moderation by tech giants like Meta. In August, Meta faced criticism in Malaysia when it removed posts by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressing condolences over the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, labelling the content as problematic. While Anwar’s posts were later restored, the incident highlights broader concerns about selective censorship, particularly when politically or religiously charged content is involved. In a society like Malaysia’s, where discussions around race, religion and politics are both common and sensitive, the perception of bias in content moderation can deepen societal divisions. On one hand, the removal of certain politically significant content could stifle one side of the conversation, further polarising public opinion. On the other hand, platforms like Telegram and X that allow inflammatory content to go unchecked could fan the flames of ethnic or religious discord, leading to greater instability. BALANCING DISINFORMATION MITIGATION AND FREE EXPRESSION The ongoing debate over social media accountability in Malaysia is particularly urgent, as disinformation and hate speech pose serious threats to public trust and social cohesion. Social media platforms wield significant power in shaping narratives, yet their inconsistent approaches to content moderation - whether hands-off or perceived as biased - complicate efforts to maintain balanced public discourse. The preservation of free expression is essential in any democracy, but so is protecting society from the damaging effects of disinformation. Striking the right balance between these two goals remains a critical challenge for Malaysia as it contends with the complex dynamics of its diverse society. Dr Nuurrianti Jalli is Visiting Fellow at the Media, Technology and Society Programme at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute and Assistant Professor at the School of Media and Strategic Communications at Oklahoma State University.

Michigan, Ohio State fight broken up with police pepper spray after Wolverines stun Buckeyes 13-10

The city has enlisted the services of East Chicago-based contractor Midwestern Electric, which will start work on city-owned lights during the week of December 16, prioritizing those on Gary's main Broadway corridor. Gary's poor street lighting has long been a concern of city residents. An audit conducted by the contractor TWiG Technologies earlier this year found that of 1,996 municipally-owned lights, 1,293 had less efficient non-LED bulbs, 868 were non-functional, and 77 had been downed by weather or vehicle accidents. Mayor Eddie Melton, who took office last December, announced plans for an overhaul of the city's lighting infrastructure during his inaugural State of the City address in May. The following month, the Gary Common Council voted unanimously to set aside just under $3.5 million from the city's federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to replace street lights. In a statement released at the time, the Melton administration announced that all of the city's street lights would be repaired and upgraded with LED bulbs "by early 2025." That timeline has since been revised, Allen told The Times, and the city now expects to see all street lights fixed by the end of next year. " Once the materials were ordered, the submittal process took longer than anticipated," he wrote in a statement. "We are installing 16 different types of streetlights across the city and needed to make sure we got the requirements right for each streetlight. Confirming details like the anchor bolt pattern dimensions and locations for all the pole variations took some time to finalize. We had to make sure everything would fit perfectly when the materials arrived." Allen said that work on Broadway's lights should be done by February. The city also plans to repair 58 lighting fixtures at Gleason Park that have been non-functional since a transformer was damaged in a massive 2008 flood. Allen added that the ARPA appropriation will allow the city to purchase reserve materials, including poles and other street light components, to allow the city to more quickly address future damage to lighting infrastructure. City Council President Tai Adkins, D-4, asked Allen during Tuesday's council meeting to develop a more specific timeline for residential street light repairs that includes benchmarks for certain percentages of completion, "because the council members will be the ones that will be getting that call." Allen told Adkins that his office will do so and will provide the information to the council.

The global economy is navigating uncharted waters. Geopolitical conflicts, supply chain disruptions and political uncertainties dominate headlines, casting a shadow over economic growth and stability. As policy-makers worldwide grapple with these challenges, a Donald Trump has re-entered the global stage as US president-elect. However, it would be short sighted to believe that the geopolitical landscape is being shaped by one leader. Across continents, governments are responding to their electorates’ concerns by embracing strategies like friendshoring and nearshoring. While these approaches address local anxieties about globalization, they also raise the spectre of trade wars, an often-ineffective solution to deeply rooted challenges. Local anxiety driving global decisions Globalization, once seen as a driver of prosperity, is increasingly viewed with suspicion by many, with electorates becoming more vocal about job security, fair trade and national sovereignty. These concerns have prompted leaders to pivot towards more domestically-oriented economic strategies. Policies encouraging companies to move production closer to home or to allied nations reflect this shift. While such moves may alleviate voter concerns in the short term, they often come at a high cost. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that increasing trade restrictions could reduce global economic output by a staggering $7.4 trillion. The stakes are too high to let reactionary policies undermine long-term global growth. Trade wars: A misguided solution Trump’s imminent return to the White House now brings renewed attention to the topics of tariffs and trade wars as policy tools. Trump’s rhetoric on tariffs as a panacea for economic disparities resonates with segments of the electorate, but risks igniting economic conflicts that hurt all parties involved. During his first term as president, the US-China trade war disrupted supply chains, raised costs for businesses and imposed billions of dollars in economic damage on both sides. US farmers alone faced estimated losses exceeding $12 billion annually, prompting federal subsidies to offset the impact. Meanwhile, tariffs on Chinese goods drove up production costs for US manufacturers and consumer prices. The US Federal Reserve estimated the trade war reduced US GDP by 0.3% – equivalent to $62 billion – while global supply chain networks struggled to adapt, leading to higher prices and market volatility. Trump’s proposed trade policies for his second term, including broad tariffs on imports, could amplify these effects. While intended to protect US industries, such measures risk increasing inflation and hurting consumer spending power. The broader economic implications include heightened tensions with trade partners and potential retaliatory measures, exacerbating further global economic fragmentation. The question we face is this: Can we establish stronger frameworks to promote stability and sustainable growth in an era of rising protectionism? The answer lies in balance. We must heed the electorate’s concerns without dismantling the systems that underpin global prosperity. If we fail to address these issues, the consequences will be severe. Rising trade barriers and economic fragmentation could lead to a prolonged global recession. The IMF warns that reduced trade opportunities could hinder productivity, suppress wages and stifle technological advancement. For emerging economies, the impacts would be particularly devastating. Reduced trade opportunities could undermine industrialization efforts, exacerbate inequality and slow poverty reduction. Many developing nations rely heavily on export-led growth; disruptions to global supply chains would compromise their access to critical markets, increasing unemployment and social unrest. The broader implications are geopolitical as well as economic. Fragmented trade relationships risk deepening divides between nations, fostering mistrust and competition. In an interconnected world, such outcomes threaten the collective ability to address global challenges like climate change and energy transitions. To chart a sustainable path forward, we must embrace policies that strike a balance between local and global interests. Friendshoring and nearshoring can coexist with global cooperation if implemented thoughtfully. The goal should not be to isolate but to adapt – reshaping globalization to meet the needs of today’s interconnected world. Policy-makers must resist the allure of quick fixes. Instead, they should pursue policies that promote inclusivity, resilience and innovation. The global economy’s momentum can only be maintained through collaboration and shared responsibility. The current landscape is fraught with challenges, but it is also an opportunity to redefine the rules of engagement in the global economy. By addressing the root causes of voter anxieties and fostering international cooperation, we can build a more resilient and equitable system. As we navigate this era of uncertainty, let us remember that long-term growth is the ultimate prize. To secure it, we must better understand and navigate the interconnected nature of global shocks, electorate concerns and the need for cooperation. The path forward is complex, but with pragmatic leadership and a commitment to shared prosperity, it is within reach. Source: World Economic ForumNoneIsrael and Lebanon's Hezbollah agree to a ceasefire to end nearly 14 months of fighting

Share this Story : World juniors: Former Ottawa 67 scores in OT as Finland upsets U.S.A. at a packed CTC Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links Sports Hockey Junior Hockey World Juniors World juniors: Former Ottawa 67 scores in OT as Finland upsets U.S.A. at a packed CTC The crowd of 16,433 erupted when former Ottawa 67's winger Tuomas Uronen scored to give the Finns a 4-3 overtime victory. Author of the article: Don Brennan Published Dec 29, 2024 • 2 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. Tuomas Uronen (15) of Team Finland celebrates his overtime goal with teammate Mitja Jokinen against Team USA at the Canadian Tire Centre on Dec. 29, 2024 in Ottawa. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Article content FINLAND 4, U.S. 3 (OT) Article content We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or tap here to see other videos from our team . World juniors: Former Ottawa 67 scores in OT as Finland upsets U.S.A. at a packed CTC Back to video Article content Fans at an almost-full Canadian Tire Centre were strong and loud in their support of Finland in its Sunday matinée match against the Americans. They should have been more careful about what they wished for. The crowd of 16,433 erupted when former Ottawa 67’s winger Tuomas Uronen scored to give the Finns a 4-3 overtime victory over the U.S.A. that squeezed the interesting Group A standings. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content The Americans, who took one point from the game, are still in first place with seven, while Finland now has five as Canada had four heading into its battle against the Germans on Sunday night. Had Finland won in regulation time, it would have shot up to first place, getting the nod over the U.S. in the tie-breaker based on head-to-head record. Team Finland celebrates an overtime victory against Team USA at the Canadian Tire Centre on Dec. 29, 2024 in Ottawa. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Canada would have moved into the top spot with seven points by beating Germany, but the stage could have been set for a New Year’s Eve showdown with the U.S. that would likely have seen the winner finish first and the loser third. As it stands, Canada can move into first by defeating the Germans in regulation time, two points up on the Finns, like the U.S. Uronen, whose 2023-24 campaign with Dave Cameron’s 67’s was limited to 11 games by a knee injury that required surgery, now toils for the Kingston Frontenacs. The sixth-round Vegas Golden Knights pick is third in Frontenacs scoring with 39 points on 16 goals and 23 assists. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Uronen said of scoring the winner. “It’s nice to be back here.” Among the goal scorers for the Americans on Sunday was defenceman Cole Hutson, the brother of Montreal Canadiens D-man Lane Hutson, as a follow-up to his five-assist game against the Germans on Friday. Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Ryan Leonard of Team USA skates face first into the mask of goaltender Petteri Rimpinen of Team Finland in the first period. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images “They were ready to go and we weren’t,” Cole Hutson said of the Finns. “We took a few undisciplined penalties, including myself, and just got away from our game, and we can’t be doing that.” Of the partisan crowd, Hutson said: “They hate us out there and we were ready for it. They’re going to root against us all tournament. We love it.” American captain Ryan Leonard said his team is looking forward to the Tuesday showdown with Canada. “It’s going to be cool, especially being in Canada,” he said. “The world is against us, and we see it with any team that we play, but it’s definitely going to be a different breed when we play in Canada. It’s going to be a fun game, and we’re just going to embrace it.” Recommended from Editorial World Juniors: Easton Cowan assumes ownership of Canada's failure to score more World juniors: Reinforcements on way as Canada moves forward from devastating loss to Latvia Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : World juniors: Former Ottawa 67 scores in OT as Finland upsets U.S.A. at a packed CTC Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Comments You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments. 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Adani said that India is the jewel in the global crown of the cut-and-polished diamond market, holding 26.5% of the share, and silver jewellery at 30%. However, he said that the recent 14% decline in exports is more than just a statistic — it serves as a wake-up call. Jaipur: Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adan delivered a speech at the 1st Gem and Jewellery Awards in Rajasthan’s Jaipur where he said that India is the jewel in the global crown of the cut-and-polished diamond market, holding 26.5% of the share, and silver jewellery at 30% but the recent 14% decline in exports is more than a statistic — it is a wake-up call. Here is the full text of his speech: For centuries, India has been recognized as the undisputed leader in the space of gemstones and as the nation of unmatched artisans. Jewellery in our culture is not just ornamental — it is deeply symbolic, a marker of heritage, emotion, and aspiration. Your work has kept this tradition alive and relevant in an ever-changing world. This industry is a powerhouse, providing employment to over five million Indians — a figure comparable to the workforce of our IT sector. Surat, as the global epicentre of diamond cutting and polishing, employs over a million skilled workers. This industry is not just an economic driver; it is a source of pride for our nation. However, with great success comes an even greater responsibility: to innovate, expand, and lead courageously in the face of disruption. India is the jewel in the global crown of the cut-and-polished diamond market, holding 26.5% of the share, and silver jewellery at 30%. But the recent 14% decline in exports is more than a statistic — it is a wake-up call. It signals a turning point where challenges, both temporary and permanent, demand that we reimagine our approach. We are at the start of a revolution. Sustainability and technology — two forces reshaping industries worldwide — are now at our doorstep. The rise of lab-grown diamonds, the demand for transparency and ethical practices, shifting consumer priorities, and the digital wave are not just disrupting the status quo; they are creating a new blueprint necessary for success. This is therefore our moment to lead. The industry must think differently, act urgently, and innovate courageously. Today’s inflection point must be turned into an era of unprecedented opportunity for growth. Allow me to narrate a story to set some context. Over a decade ago, during a trip to California, I saw my first lab-grown diamond. The founder had enthusiasticall shared his vision, confident this was the start of a revolution in the jeweller industry. And he was right. As we now know, lab-grown diamonds have evolved from a scientific wonder to a market disruptor. Today, they are officially recognized by the US Federal Trade Commission as real diamonds. These diamonds now cost significantly less than the natural diamonds. Advances in Artificial Intelligence and material science are pushing their quality and precision even further. It’s not far-fetched to imagine a future where we design our own diamonds — specifying every detail, from cut to colour, clarity, and carat weight — making each piece uniquely personal. This is the future we must embrace. Also, beyond traditional gems, the concept of jewellery itself is shifting. Watches, smartphones, and wearables are becoming the new personal status symbols, redefining luxury. Younger generations, in particular, are preferring technology and experiences over conventional luxury goods. Another trend reshaping the market is the growing demand for unique, customized pieces, sparking a rise in custom design services. With technologies like 3D printing, CAD software, Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality, the process of designing, manufacturing, and experiencing jewellery is on the brink of transformation. These trends force us to rethink what we produce. They challenge us to create deeper emotional and traditional connections in line with changing consumer needs and behaviours. It is this spirit of transformation that I want to explore today — what it truly means to Break the Status Quo. Only by challenging the status quo can we unlock new opportunities and shape the future. My dear friends, Let me start with a personal story about the first time that I broke the status quo. This story holds a very special place in my heart. It laid the foundation of who I was to become. Diamond trading was my entry point into the journey I took to become an entrepreneur. In the year 1978, at the age of 16, I left my school, left my home in Ahmedabad, and took a one-way ticket to Mumbai. I had no idea what I would do but I was clear that I wanted to be an entrepreneur. And I believed Mumbai was the city of opportunities that would give me this chance. I got my first opportunity at Mahendra Brothers, where I learned the art of diamond assorting. Even today, I recall the joy of closing my first deal. It was a transaction with a Japanese buyer and I got a commission of 10,000 rupees. That day marked the start of a journey that would shape the way I would live my life as an entrepreneur. I also learned that trading makes a great teacher. What I learned, as a teenager, was that trading does not come with safety nets. In fact, it is a discipline where you must find the courage to fly without any protective nets. You must learn to take the jump and trust your own wings. In this field, hesitation is the difference between winning and losing. Each decision is a test, not just against the market, but against the limits of your own mind. Trading also taught me another priceless lesson. Too much of an attachment to outcomes limits your ability to challenge the status quo. Therefore, my dear friends, To accept the status quo is to settle for a destiny where you stop questioning, stop dreaming, and stop exploring your own potential. The Adani Group stands where it is today because we are not afraid to challenge ourselves. We continuously redefined our boundaries, refused to accept limits, and were comfortable with the discomfort of change. Our journey has been built on the foundation of grit, and a relentless drive to overcome challenges. As I said earlier, I got to Mumbai when I was 16. But, in 1981, just as I turned 19, I was called back to Ahmedabad to help with my family’s polymer business. India, at that time, faced a great shortage of raw materials given the intense import controls. I saw, first hand, the struggles that every small-scale industry faced. And then, it was in 1985, under the leadership of Shri Rajiv Gandhi, that India began to take its first steps towards economic liberalization. I saw an early opportunity in these changes, especially with the relaxation of import policies for industries facing raw material shortages. While I had no prior experience in trading polymers, I still took a calculated risk and established a trading organization focused on imports. By 1990, my trading venture was performing well, but then India itself faced a critical moment. The massive foreign exchange crisis of 1991 threatened the entire economy, ultimately leading to a wave of economic reforms initiated by Prime Minister Shri PV Narasimha Rao and then Finance Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. These reforms dismantled the License Raj, opened up the economy to foreign investments, and reduced import tariffs. I saw, in this transformation of the Indian business landscape an opportunity to scale further. In 1991 itself, at the age of 29, I established a global trading house, expanding into polymers, metals, textiles, and agricultural products. In just two years, we became India’s largest global trading house, proving that the combination of speed and scale is a powerful driver of growth. However, while the import-export business did very well, I had started questioning the status quo. I began realizing that for the next phase of growth I would need to own assets and build something lasting. In other words, I had to challenge everything I knew. Remember, I had no experience in building anything. We had not even laid a single brick in our life. But opportunities show up for those that seek. And it was in 1995 that a transformative opportunity emerged when the BJP-led Gujarat government announced its port-led industrial development plan under a Public-Private Partnership mode. To summarize a long story, we quickly moved to establish Mundra Port. This transition, about 30 years back, was the start of our journey into the domain of infrastructure. My dear friends, I tell my team all the time that the future belongs to those who dare to see beyond the present and who recognize that today’s limits are tomorrow’s starting points. Therefore: • Be it my leaving home to bet on myself as a young diamond trader, • or believing that we could build the nation’s largest port against the advice of all experts, • to laying India’s first private railway to connect Mundra Port • to being able to establish the world’s largest single-site thermal power generation capacity, • to building the world’s largest coal import terminal, • to being the first in India to build a private HVDC line, • to making India’s largest ever investment in an OECD country, • to operating India’s largest network of airports, • to investing in a port in Israel and making a bet on the future of the India – Middle East corridor, • to the redevelopment of the world’s largest slum — as we took these journeys going beyond our comfort zone, we discovered other new possibilities. Had we remained satisfied with the status quo, these new and adjacent opportunities would have never come our way. Let me now outline a few examples. In the case of logistics, what started as a port jetty, to import coal in 1998, has gone on to become the country’s largest port business. This business today – spans a network of 15 national and 5 international ports and thereby allowing us to expand into building a network of integrated logistic nodes. These nodes now are made up of ports, rail, highways, warehouses, inland container depots, fulfilment centres, and trucking in a way no other company has ever achieved in the world. This journey has taken us deep into the Middle East — all the way into the Mediterranean through Israel — and into the heart of Africa. For me, it is no more just about ports. It is now about leveraging India’s geographic location and doing our part to help make our nation become the centre of the logistics world. Likewise, what started as a single power plant in 2007, has now become not just India’s largest private thermal power generation company but has also allowed us to expand into adjacencies. This expansion has seen us become India’s largest private transmission company, largest private power distribution company, largest mine developer and operator, as well as the only company that successfully took up the challenge of cross-border supply of power to help a neighbouring nation. Furthermore, it has allowed us to move into the area of renewable energy. Today, we are India’s largest solar panel manufacturing company as well as the world’s largest single-site renewable energy facility, well on our way to generate 30 GW of power, spread over a massive single span of land of more than 500 square kilometres. Yet another example of challenging the status quo is our move into the airport business. In less than three years, we became the largest airport operator in the country. We then built our adjacencies that made us the largest airport logistics player with almost 40% of India’s air cargo and have now undertaken the world’s largest slum redevelopment initiative, the Dharavi project. And, I must add here that, for me, Dharavi is not just about slum redevelopment. It is about restoring dignity, creating a sustainable ecosystem, and changing the status quo for over one million residents. My dear friends, Looking back, while we have had our successes, our challenges have been even bigger. However, these challenges have not broken us. Instead, they have defined us. They have made us tougher and give us the unshakeable belief that after every fall, we will rise again, stronger, and more resilient than before. Let me talk about three examples. First – In 2010, when we were investing in a coal mine in Australia, our objective was clear: How to make India energy secure – and replace every two tons of poor-quality coal with one ton of high-quality coal from Australia? However, the resistance from NGOs was huge and lasted almost a decade. In fact, it was so intense that we ended up funding the entire project of 10 billion dollars with our own equity. While we now have a world class operating mine in Australia and it could be seen as a great sign of our resilience, the fact is that 100% equity funding took away over 30 billion dollars of debt financing from our green energy projects. The next example is from January last year, just as we were getting ready to launch our Follow-on Public Offering. We faced a short-selling attack initiated from abroad. This was not a typical financial strike; it was a double hit — targeting our financial stability and pulling us into a political controversy. All of this was further amplified by certain media with vested interests. But even in the face of such adversity, our commitment to our principles remained strong. After successfully raising 20,000 crore rupees from India’s largest-ever FPO, we made the extraordinary decision to return the proceeds. We then further demonstrated our resilience by raising capital from several international sources and proactively reducing our Debt to EBITDA ratio to below 2.5 times, an unmatched metric in the global infrastructure space. Moreover, our all-time record financial results in the same year showcased our commitment to operational excellence. Not a single Indian or foreign credit rating agency downgraded us. Finally, the Supreme Court of India’s affirmation of our actions validated our approach. The third example is very recent. As most of you would have read, less than two weeks back, we faced a set of allegations from the US about compliance practices at Adani Green Energy. This is not the first time we have faced such challenges. What I can tell you is that every attack makes us stronger and every obstacle becomes a stepping stone for a more resilient Adani Group. The fact is that despite a lot of the vested reporting, no one from the Adani side has been charged with any violation of the FCPA or any conspiracy to obstruct justice. Yet, in today’s world, negativity spreads faster than facts — and as we work through the legal process, I want to re-confirm our absolute commitment to world class regulatory compliance. My dear friends, over the years, I have come to accept that the roadblocks we face are the price of pioneering. The more bold your dreams, the more the world will scrutinize you. But it is precisely in that scrutiny that you must find the courage to rise, to challenge the status quo, and to build a path where none exists. To pioneer is to embrace the unknown, to break limits, and to believe in your vision even when the world cannot yet see it. Therefore, as I conclude, let me leave you with three guiding thoughts: First, Embrace technology and sustainability as the twin pillars of progress. These are not just trends — they are the foundation of our future. Your success will depend entirely on how boldly and at what scale you integrate these forces into your work. Technology will accelerate possibilities, while sustainability will ensure that your growth is enduring and responsible. Together, they represent the compass for a better tomorrow. Second, Empower and uplift the skilled workforce at the heart of our transformation. These craftsmen and artisans are the custodians of India’s rich heritage, carrying forward skills passed down through generations. But for their talents to thrive in the modern world, they need access to new tools, digital platforms, and innovative training. Imagine an ecosystem where a craftsman from a small town uses digital design software to create, market, and sell globally. This is the blend of tradition and technology we must champion. And finally, The future belongs to our youth. The younger generation brings fresh ideas, unshakeable energy, and a willingness to disrupt the old ways of thinking. We must nurture them, and equip them to balance tradition with transformation, culture with innovation, and legacy with sustainability. They are not just participants in the future – they are its architects. Together, let us create an India where the wisdom of tradition, and the promise of innovation come together to challenge the status quo. And let us move forward with confidence to create a future where India’s gems illuminate the world with their brilliance. Click for more latest India news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9.When baseball historian Bill Humber first heard about the golden at-bat idea that Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred floated on a recent podcast, he was a little taken aback. "I kind of laughed, actually," Humber said Wednesday. "I thought it was one of the stupidest ideas I'd ever heard." MLB has seen its share of change of late, but the thought of a team using one at-bat each game to send any hitter it wants to the plate — even if it's not their turn in the batting order — was quite a curveball. "This can’t be real," former Blue Jays pitcher and seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens posted on social media. Wild-card playoff tinkering, pitch clocks, shift rules and automatic runners are some of the more significant changes to the game in recent years. All had varying levels of detractors and the golden at-bat discussion is no different. Critics are eyeing it like a meatball thrown across the middle of the plate. "It doesn't really fit within the logic of the game in my mind," said Humber, a Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer. "I look upon it quite askance to be honest with you. I don't see the point of it in a way. "I mean to some extent, the magic of baseball is those unheralded batters who arrive at a situation that one wouldn't have thought that they would ever have been in, and allowing them to bat in place." Humber cited a number of grand baseball moments that might not have happened if a golden at-bat rule were in effect. "One can imagine when Bobby Thomson hit his famous home run against the (Brooklyn) Dodgers in 1951, Willie Mays was on deck," he said of the 'Shot Heard 'Round the World' that gave the New York Giants the National League pennant. "What if they had a golden at-bat and put Mays at bat, maybe he would have struck out or popped up or hit into a double-play or who knows what. There's lots of situations like that." What about the two famous World Series-winning walkoffs? Would the skippers have used a golden at-bat to get their best pure hitter to the plate? Bill Mazeroski went deep to give Pittsburgh the Fall Classic in 1960 and Joe Carter's walkoff blast in 1993 gave the Blue Jays their second straight World Series title. Mazeroski's power numbers were middling while Carter, who led the Blue Jays in homers and RBIs that year, had a mediocre batting average. "I think the magic of the game are those moments that are unpredictable and yet kind of create some of the joy of the game in our memories," Humber said. " I think this kind of runs afoul of that tradition. "I'm not a fan, let me say that. But that's not to say it won't happen." Manfred first mentioned the golden at-bat idea publicly in an interview with John Ourand on Puck's "The Varsity" podcast. The commissioner said the subject came up at a recent owners' meeting. Retired sportswriter Dave Perkins, who covered the Blue Jays for years over his long career at the Toronto Star, said use of a golden at-bat would be "a travesty." "On the surface I say it's absolutely stupid and ridiculous," he said. "But a lot of other things I thought were stupid and ridiculous worked their way into the games and they're even OK with me now." The subject of potential rule changes like the golden at-bat came up when Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins met with the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America earlier this week. "It's interesting to me because we went through so much change over the last couple of years," he said. "Getting to that change was a scratch and a claw and a climb. And then once the change happened, everyone — for the most part — thought, 'OK, that went OK and it seems like there's a better product on the field.' "So now the dialogue around change is with a much more open mind whether it be players, staff, the exchanges, the ideas, even if they seem very difficult to wrap your head around. They're not getting stiff-armed as much as they were the first go-round." Scott Crawford, operations director of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, said he prefers a traditional setup where any player can be a hero at any time. "I like the team aspect of the game where you get your shot," he said. "You can be a No. 8 hitter and you can come up with a big hit and win a World Series and (a superstar like Shohei) Ohtani can strike out." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024. Follow @GregoryStrongCP on X. Gregory Strong, The Canadian PressSex in space 'dolphin-style' is the new frontier as scientists call for snuggies, straddling and Velcro READ MORE: Human couples could soon give birth to babies in SPACE By ELLYN LAPOINTE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 17:58, 28 December 2024 | Updated: 17:58, 28 December 2024 e-mail View comments More than 675 people have traveled to space, but according to NASA , none of them have had sex in the final frontier. Experts believe this will soon change as more civilians pay commercial spaceflight companies, such as Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Richard Branson 's Virgin Galactic , to venture into space—albeit for a hefty price. With this new era of spaceflight, physician, astronaut, and 'space sexology' expert Dr. Shawna Pandya has revealed specific 'moves' and technologies designed to provide an out-of-this-world experience. She suggested trying 'dolphin-style' to overcome the challenges of low gravity . 'Dolphins are kind of in a neutral buoyancy environment,' Dr. Pandya explained on Scientific American's Science Quickly podcast. 'When two dolphins are trying to mate, a third dolphin comes in, takes one for the team, and holds a partner in place so the two dolphins can successfully mate.' Other experts in the field have also proposed Velcro suits to keep couples from drifting apart or even a specially designed suit that fits two people. Dr Pandya said there is good reason for researchers to get serious about testing some of these strategies and investigating others. ' More people are going to want to go to space for fun , for leisure and for pleasure... We need to think about how we approach sexuality, sexual health, reproduction in space in a way that is very considered, mindful, inclusive and ethical,' she said While NASA insists that 'no humans have had sex in space', that could change very soon with the arrival of space tourism (stock image) While NASA doesn't explicitly ban sex in space, its astronaut code of conduct calls for 'relationships of trust' and 'professional standards' to be maintained at all times. The space agency has also banned any married couples from going into space together – although this is mostly due to group dynamics, rather than worries of them having sex. But the issue to why astronauts are not copulating could be low gravity inside the International Space Station (ISS). 'So we need to think about Newton's third law of physics,' Dr Pandya explained during the podcast . 'Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, including thrust, right? You need to figure out the mechanics of how you're going to stay entwined in order to, to be able to actually, successfully, copulate. 'There's people who thought about that,' she added. One such person is the late Vanna Bonta, an American actress and inventor who designed the '2Suit' in 2006. 'It's like a snuggie for two people, but they get to bind together,' Dr Pandya explained . From Star Trek to Passengers (pictured), sex in space has been depicted in science fiction blockbusters for years The 2suit is a flight suit with a large front flap that can be opened and attached to another 2suit using Velcro strips. It can also fasten to a stable surface. Paul Root Wolpe, a former NASA Bioethicist, previously told DW.com : 'Everything on the walls of the space station is covered in Velcro, so you could take advantage of that by velcroing one partner to the wall.' The roominess of the suit can be adjusted from within, and it is lined with inner harnesses that can be used to adjust the alignment of the wearers' bodies. It is even equipped with a 'quick-disrobe' function that removes the garments. In 2008, the History Channel manufactured and tested the first 2Suit, calling it 'one small step for humankind colonizing the universe.' But these futuristic sex suits have yet to be produced or utilized on a larger scale. Another forward-thinking space sexologist was German astronaut Ulrich Walter. In the 1980s, he suggested that humans should look to the animal kingdom for inspiration on how to achieve sex in space. 'So then his suggestion is: Why doesn't an astronaut take one for the team so they can all do it dolphin-style in the name of the greater good, so we can copulate in space,' Dr Pandya said. Read More Can you have sex in space? How astronauts stuck on board the ISS could join the '220-mile-high club' (although NASA insists that no humans have done it before!) But it's not just low gravity that stands in the way. Dr Adam Watkins, associate professor in reproductive and developmental physiology, at the University of Nottingham previously told DailyMail.com that lack of privacy on space stations poses another challenge, as well as difficulty getting and maintaining an erection due to the blood pressure changes that occur while in space. What's more, having sex in space could come with serious consequences. If a non-civilian astronaut get pregnant in space, it would raise a lot of questions that experts are not currently sure how to answer. 'Can we mandate a termination of mission? Can we mandate a termination of that pregnancy if they're on Mars due to the health risks involved? There are so many ethical threads to pull on here,' Dr Pandya asked. And those health risks could be life threatening to both the astronaut mother and her baby. 'DNA damage from the high levels of cosmic radiation is a real concern. Astronauts who spend six months in space are exposed to roughly the same amount of radiation as 1,000 chest X-rays,' Dr Watkins previously said. 'A pregnant woman, and her developing fetus, would also be exposed to that cosmic radiation while in space. This could be harmful to the embryos and the fetus.' A recent study conducted on the ISS found that mice embryos developed for four days on the ISS showed no signs of damage. But an earlier study published in 2020 conversely found that mouse embryos developed in space 'contain severe DNA damage.' Likewise, since only a few people have gone to space we don't have enough data to really know what the effects would be on an unborn child. 'Until recently, reproduction in space has not been a major priority for the different space agencies,' Dr Watkins said. 'Now that there are plans to colonize the moon and even Mars, how we would populate other worlds has become more of a focus and will need to be addressed if we are to establish, maintain and grow human colonies off Earth.' Jeff Bezos Nasa Virgin Galactic Blue Origin Share or comment on this article: Sex in space 'dolphin-style' is the new frontier as scientists call for snuggies, straddling and Velcro e-mail Add comment

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A fight broke out at midfield after Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday as Wolverines players attempted to plant their flag and were met by Buckeyes who confronted them. Police had to use pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves in the melee that overshadowed the rivalry game. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.