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'No Sinn Fein surge' says Fine Gael leader Simon Harris as he tops the poll in WicklowZEELAND, MI - Zeeland Public Schools had two middle school robotics teams square off during a December state championship event in Muskegon, where dozens of teams battled. The competition is one of Michigan’s largest for K-12 robotics, and requires students to design, build and program a robot with the guidance of coaches and mentors. After emerging victorious, one of the Zeeland teams - from Creekside Middle School - will now head in April to the FIRST Championship robotics event in Houston, TX, according to a Dec. 16 press release from the Ottawa County school district. Creekside’s Head Coach Andrew Quick said “it was not always easy, but (both teams) remained positive and supported each other even when they played against each other for the state championship.” Creekside and Cityside robotics teams competed at the December state championship for the northwest region, alongside 72 middle school robotics teams from across the state. Cityside Middle School's robotics team was one of two Zeeland middle school teams to compete in a state robotics championship, held in Muskegon, in December. Photo courtesy of Zeeland Public Schools. Zeeland Public Schools Teams were made entirely of middle school students, and were both school-based and formed within non-profit organizations, scout troops, home school groups and neighborhoods. Using a standard, reusable kit of parts, team members used their robot to compete in games. Awards were presented for robot build, design and performance, and for community outreach and other real world accomplishments. Prior to the state championship, both Creekside’s “RoboDux” team and Cityside’s “Overclucked Bots” finished second in their division and made it through elimination rounds, earning them spots competing against each other in two state matches. Both teams displayed “outstanding skill and sportsmanship, cheering each other on in the finals,” according to a Dec. 16 release sent out by the district. Ultimately, Creekside’s “Robodux” emerged victorious and claimed the state championship title, also setting a new world record high score in the final championship match alongside a partner team from Saline. Creekside’s team will in Texas for t he FIRST event , scheduled for April 16-20. In total, eight Michigan teams will advance to the Houston competition. Students from Hartland Middle School (Hartland, Livingston County), Saline Middle School (Saline, Washtenaw County), Boulan Park Middle School (Troy, Oakland County), Novi Middle School (Novi, Oakland County) and Ferndale Middle School (Ferndale, Oakland County) are also eligible to compete in Houston. Quick praised Zeeland’s dedication and teamwork, and expressed gratitude for the many parent volunteers and supporting coaches who played an essential role in the team’s success. “It was an amazing weekend, and both middle schools should be proud of their teams and kids for the work they have done this season,” Quick said. “Zeeland really does have something special with their robotics teams, and it was amazing to watch our kids perform throughout the weekend.” The two middle school teams have previously teamed up, setting a world record for most points in a single match during a competition held in November 2023. Creekside’s team also received a 2018 state award for robotics excellence, and won the state competition back in 2016. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Grand Rapids” daily newsletter.

BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of Syrian insurgents took over most of Aleppo on Saturday, establishing positions in the country's largest city and controlling its airport before expanding their shock offensive to a nearby province. They faced little to no resistance from government troops, according to fighters and activists. A war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seized control of Aleppo International airport, the first international airport to be controlled by insurgents. The fighters claimed they seized the airport and postefd pictures from there. Thousands of fighters also moved on, facing almost no defense from government forces, to seize towns and villages in northern Hama, a province where they had a presence before being expelled by government troops in 2016. They claimed Saturday evening to have entered Hama city. The swift and surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for Syria's President Bashar Assad and raised questions about his armed forces' preparedness. The insurgent offensive launched from their stronghold in the country's northwest appeared to have been planned for years. It also comes at a time when Assad's allies were preoccupied with their own conflicts. Turkey, a main backer of Syrian opposition groups, said its diplomatic efforts had failed to stop government attacks on opposition-held areas in recent weeks, which were in violation of a de-escalation agreement sponsored by Russia, Iran and Ankara. Turkish security officials said a limited offensive by the rebels was planned to stop government attacks and allow civilians to return, but the offensive expanded as Syrian government forces began to retreat from their positions. The insurgents, led by the Salafi jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and including Turkey-backed fighters, launched their shock offensive on Wednesday. They first staged a two-pronged attack in Aleppo and the Idlib countryside, entering Aleppo two days later and securing a strategic town that lies on the highway that links Syria's largest city to the capital and the coast. By Saturday evening, they seized at least four towns in the central Hama province and claimed to have entered the provincial capital. The insurgents staged an attempt to reclaim areas they controlled in Hama in 2017 but failed. Syria’s armed forces said in a statement Saturday that to absorb the large attack on Aleppo and save lives, it redeployed troops and equipment and was preparing a counterattack. The statement acknowledged that insurgents entered large parts of the city but said they have not established bases or checkpoints. Later on Saturday, the armed forces sought to dispel what it said were lies in reference to reports about its forces retreating or defecting, saying the general command was carrying out its duties in “combatting terrorist organizations.” The return of the insurgents to Aleppo was their first since 2016, following a grueling military campaign in which Assad's forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters after 2011 protests against Assad’s rule turned into an all-out war. After appearing to be losing control of the country to the rebels, the Aleppo battle secured Assad’s hold on strategic areas of Syria, with opposition factions and their foreign backers controlling areas on the periphery. The lightning offensive threatened to reignite the country's civil war, which had been largely in a stalemate for years. Late on Friday, witnesses said two airstrikes hit the edge of Aleppo city, targeting insurgent reinforcements and falling near residential areas. The Observatory said 20 fighters were killed. Insurgents were filmed outside police headquarters, in the city center, and outside the Aleppo citadel, the medieval palace in the old city center, and one of the largest in the world. They tore down posters of Assad, stepping on some and burning others. The push into Aleppo followed weeks of simmering low-level violence, including government attacks on opposition-held areas. The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, primarily Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which has backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battles at home. A ceasefire in Hezbollah’s two-month war with Israel took effect Wednesday, the same day that Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Israel has also escalated its attacks against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets in Syria during the last 70 days. Speaking from the heart of the city in Saadallah Aljabri square, opposition fighter Mohammad Al Abdo said it was his first time back in Aleppo in 13 years, when his older brother was killed at the start of the war. “God willing, the rest of Aleppo province will be liberated" from government forces, he said. There was light traffic in the city center on Saturday. Opposition fighters fired in the air in celebration but there was no sign of clashes or government troops present. Journalists in the city filmed soldiers captured by the insurgents and the bodies of others killed in battle. Abdulkafi Alhamdo, a teacher who fled Aleppo in 2016 and returned Friday night after hearing the insurgents were inside, described “mixed feelings of pain, sadness and old memories." “As I entered Aleppo, I kept telling myself this is impossible. How did this happen?” Alhamdo said he strolled through the city at night visiting the Aleppo citadel, where the insurgents raised their flags, a major square and the university of Aleppo, as well as the last spot he was in before he was forced to leave for the countryside. “I walked in (the empty) streets of Aleppo, shouting, ‘People, people of Aleppo. We are your sons,’” he told The Associated Press in a series of messages. Aleppo residents reported hearing clashes and gunfire but most stayed indoors. Some fled the fighting. Schools and government offices were closed Saturday as most people stayed indoors, according to Sham FM radio, a pro-government station. Bakeries were open. Witnesses said the insurgents deployed security forces around the city to prevent any acts of violence or looting. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Friday Aleppo's two key public hospitals were reportedly full of patients while many private facilities closed. In social media posts, the insurgents were pictured outside of the citadel, the medieval palace in the old city center, and one of the largest in the world. In cellphone videos, they recorded themselves having conversations with residents they visited at home, seeking to reassure them they will cause no harm. The Syrian Kurdish-led administration in the country's east said nearly 3,000 people, most of them students, had arrived in their region after fleeing the fighting in Aleppo, which has a sizeable Kurdish population. State media reported that a number of “terrorists," including sleeper cells, infiltrated parts of the city. Government troops chased them and arrested a number who posed for pictures near city landmarks, they said. On a state TV morning show Saturday, commentators said army reinforcements and Russia’s assistance would repel the “terrorist groups,” blaming Turkey for supporting the insurgents’ push into Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Russia’s state news agency Tass quoted Oleg Ignasyuk, a Russian Defense Ministry official coordinating in Syria, as saying that Russian warplanes targeted and killed 200 militants who had launched the offensive in the northwest on Friday. It provided no further details. Associated Press writer Albert Aji in Damascus contributed to this report.President IlhamAliyev signed a law on amendments to the law "On Customs Tariff", reports. According to the information, the amendment stipulates that, onthe basis of an identity document of an authority (institution)determined by the relevant executive authority, the import oftechnological equipment and installations by individualentrepreneurs and legal entities that produce electricitygeneration projects with a public procurement obligation not lowerthan the amount established by the authority (institution)determined by the relevant executive authority, exempt from customsduties for a period of, defined by an electricity purchase and saleagreement concluded in accordance with the law "On the Use ofRenewable Energy Sources in Electricity Generation", but not formore than 30 years (including the construction period). At the same time, import of machinery, technological equipmentand installations, as well as raw materials and materials byindividual entrepreneurs and legal entities that are privatepartners in the framework of public-private partnership projectsshall be exempt from customs duties, but for a period not exceeding30 years (including the construction period) on the basis of asupporting document of the state partner, determined in accordancewith the law “On Public-Private Partnership”, carried out for theperiod established by the contract of public-privatepartnership. Under the law, in order to assess the impact of benefits andexemptions from customs duties on state budget revenues, benefitsand exemptions from customs duties will be classified according tothe procedure established by the Cabinet of Ministers. The law comes into force on January 1, 2025. ============================================================= БАКУ /Trend/ - Президент Ильхам Алиев подписал закон о внесенииизменений в закон "О таможенном тарифе". Как сообщает ,изменением предусмотрено, что на основании документа,удостоверяющего личность органа (учреждения), определяемогосоответствующим органом исполнительной власти, импорттехнологического оборудования и установок индивидуальнымипредпринимателями и юридическими лицами, являющимисяпроизводителями по проектам производства электроэнергии собязательством государственного закупа не ниже суммы, установленнойорганом (учреждением), определенным соответствующим органомисполнительной власти, освобожден от таможенных пошлин на срок,определенный договором купли-продажи электроэнергии, заключенным всоответствии с законом "Об использовании возобновляемых источниковэнергии в производстве электроэнергии", но не более чем на 30 лет(включая период строительства). Вместе с тем импорт техники, технологического оборудования иустановок, а также сырья и материалов индивидуальнымипредпринимателями и юридическими лицами, являющимися частнымипартнерами в рамках проектов государственно-частного партнерства,освобождается от таможенных пошлин, но на срок не более 30 лет(включая период строительства) на основании подтверждающегодокумента государственного партнера, определенного в соответствии сзаконом "О государственно-частном партнерстве", осуществляемого насрок, установленный договором государственно-частного партнерства,заключенным в соответствии с законом Азербайджанской Республики "Огосударственно-частном партнерстве". Согласно закону, в целях проведения оценки влияния льгот иосвобождений по таможенным пошлинам на доходы государственногобюджета льготы и освобождения от таможенных пошлин будутклассифицироваться в порядке, установленном Кабинетомминистров. Закон вступает в силу с 1 января 2025 года. Глава государства подписал об исполнении соответствующего закона.

Despite Mary Lou McDonald’s confidence around shaping a coalition without Fine Gael and Fianna Fail – the two parties that have dominated the landscape of Irish politics for a century – the pathway to government for Sinn Fein still appears challenging. With counting following Friday’s election still in the relatively early stages – after an exit poll that showed the main three parties effectively neck-and-neck – there is some way to go before the final picture emerges and the options for government formation crystalise. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris, has dismissed talk of a Sinn Fein surge and said he was “cautiously optimistic” about where his party will stand after all the votes are counted. Meanwhile, Ireland’s deputy premier and Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, insisted his party has a “very clear route back to government” as he predicted seat gains. The counting process could last days because of Ireland’s complex system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV), where candidates are ranked by preference. The early indications have turned the focus to the tricky arithmetic of government formation, as the country’s several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockey for a place in government. Ms McDonald told reporters at the RDS count centre in Dublin that she would be “very, very actively pursuing” the potential to form a government with other parties on the left of the political spectrum. The smaller, left-leaning parties in Ireland include the Social Democrats, the Irish Labour Party, the Green Party and People Before Profit-Solidarity. Ms McDonald said her party had delivered an “incredible performance” in the election. “I think it’s fair to say that we have now confirmed that we have broken the political mould here in this state,” she said. “Two party politics is now gone. It’s consigned to the dustbin of history and that, in itself, is very significant.” She added: “I am looking to bring about a government of change, and I’m going to go and look at all formulations. “If you want my bottom line, the idea of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for another five years, in our strong opinion, is not a good outcome for Irish society. “Obviously, I want to talk to other parties of the left and those that we share very significant policy objectives with. So I’m going to do that first and just hear their mind, hear their thinking. But be very clear, we will be very, very actively pursuing entrance into government.” In Friday night’s exit poll, Sinn Fein was predicted to take 21.1% of first-preference votes, narrowly ahead of outgoing coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fail at 21% and 19.5% respectively. Prior to the election, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael both ruled out entering government with Sinn Fein. Fine Gael leader Mr Harris rejected suggestions Sinn Fein had broken new ground. He told reporters in his count centre in Greystones, Co Wicklow: “Certainly we haven’t seen a Sinn Fein surge or anything like it. “I mean, it looks likely, on the figures that we’ve seen now, fewer people, many fewer people would have voted Sinn Fein in this election than the last one. “In fact, I think they’re down by around 5% and actually the parties, particularly the two parties, the two larger parties in government, are likely to receive significant support from the electorate. So definitely, politics in Ireland has gotten much more fragmented.” He said it was too early to tell what the next government would look like. “I think anybody who makes any suggestion about who is going to be the largest party or the construct of the next government, they’re a braver person than I am,” he said. “Our electoral system dictates that there’ll be many, many transfers that will go on for hours, if not days, before we know the final computations at all. “But what I am very confident about is that my party will have a very significant role to play in the years ahead, and I’m cautiously optimistic and excited.” Fianna Fail’s Mr Martin told reporters at a count centre in Cork he was confident that the numbers exist to form a government with parties that shared his political viewpoint. Mr Martin said it “remains to be seen” whether he would return to the role of Taoiseach – a position he held between 2020 and 2022 – but he expressed confidence his party would outperform the exit poll prediction. “It’s a bit too early yet to call the exact type of government that will be formed or the composition of the next government,” he said. “But I think there are, there will be a sufficiency of seats, it seems to me, that aligns with the core principles that I articulated at the outset of this campaign and throughout the campaign, around the pro-enterprise economy, around a positively pro-European position, a government that will strongly push for home ownership and around parties that are transparently democratic in how they conduct their affairs.” Asked if it would be in a coalition with Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Social Democrats, he said that would be “racing a bit too far ahead”. The final result may dictate that if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are to return to government, they may need more than one junior partner, or potentially the buy-in of several independent TDs. Mr Martin said it was unclear how quickly a government can be formed, as he predicted his party would gain new seats. “It will be challenging. This is not easy,” he added. The junior partner in the outgoing government – the Green Party – looks set for a bruising set of results. Green leader Roderic O’Gorman is in a fight to hold onto his seat, as are a number of party colleagues, including Media Minister Catherine Martin. “It’s clear the Green Party has not had a good day,” he said. The early counting also suggested potential trouble for Fianna Fail in Wicklow, where the party’s only candidate in the constituency, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, is considered to have a battle ahead, with the risk of losing his seat. Meanwhile, there is significant focus on independent candidate Gerard Hutch who, on Saturday evening, was sitting in fourth place in the four-seat constituency of Dublin Central. Last spring, Mr Hutch was found not guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court of the murder of David Byrne, in one of the first deadly attacks of the Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud. Mr Byrne, 33, died after being shot six times at a crowded boxing weigh-in event at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. A Special Criminal Court judge described Mr Hutch, 61, as the patriarchal figurehead of the Hutch criminal organisation and said he had engaged in “serious criminal conduct”. The constituency will be closely watched as other hopefuls wait to see if transfers from eliminated candidates may eventually rule him out of contention. In the constituency of Louth, the much-criticised selection of John McGahon appeared not to have paid off for Fine Gael. The party’s campaign was beset by questioning over footage entering the public domain of the candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub in 2018. The Social Democrats have a strong chance of emerging as the largest of the smaller parties. The party’s leader, Holly Cairns, was already celebrating before a single vote was counted however, having announced the birth of her baby girl on polling day.We’re just days away at this point from putting 2024 in our rearview mirror — which, for those of us who cover all things streaming, means that it’ll soon be time to turn our attention to what all the major streamers have teed up for the year to come. In this post, I’m going to take a closer look at three upcoming that will be available on in 2025. They don’t have official release dates yet, but what’s already certain is that all three of these will dominate the cultural conversation once they arrive. HBO has already teased a look at its jam-packed release slate for 2025, via a sizzle reel that offered sneak peeks of new seasons of and , in addition to shows like , , and . For the moment, there are the three upcoming HBO titles that I’m most excited for — arranged in no particular order, we’ll start things off with a return to Westeros. is getting another highly anticipated addition to the franchise in the coming year, via the spinoff . In terms of what we know about it so far: The story is set a century before the events of the OG series, in an age when the Targaryen line still controls the Iron Throne and “the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory.” At the story’s center are two unlikely heroes wandering Westeros — a naive but courageous young knight named Ser Duncan the Tall and his diminutive squire Egg. Creator George R.R. Martin has given interviews in the past in which he’s talked about wanting to tell more “small” stories like this one within the larger world of — in the style of , which took two minor characters from and focused on them rather than the bigger and more familiar story. This new spinoff, needless to say, promises an exciting return to the franchise’s world of politics and power struggles. Sign up for the most interesting tech & entertainment news out there. By signing up, I agree to the and have reviewed the for this next upcoming HBO series, which dropped back in September, has already whetted the appetites of fans craving the new season of . The relationship between Pedro Pascal’s Joel and Bella Ramsey’s Ellie will obviously continue to be core to the show. Season 2 will also bring us the continued presence of the fearsome Clickers, as well as the Seraphite religious sect. The story will pick up after the dramatic first season finale, which saw Joel and Ellie reach Salt Lake City and the latter being resolute in accepting that her immunity might be the only path toward a cure for the show’s pandemic. New characters who will join the show this season include Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby, as well as Ellie’s love interest Dina, played by Isabela Merced. The luxury hotel chain at the center of this next popular HBO series will expand its fictional footprint to Thailand for the third season of , following the brand welcoming guests to Hawaii and Sicily in Seasons 1 and 2. The great draw of the show from creator Mike White is how it uses a luxurious setting as the backdrop for slice-of-life stories about both guests and hotel staff, mixing dark humor and social satire to create one of the most memorable TV releases of the last several years. The cast for Season 3 will include Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Michelle Monaghan, and Parker Posey, with Blackpink member and Thailand native Lisa (credited as Lalisa Manobal) also making an appearance. Beyond that, we know almost nothing of the new season’s plot. Both previous seasons, of course, opened with a shot of an unidentified body, setting up a mystery that propelled each season’s story. Meanwhile, there’s already been talk of a potential fourth season in the works, even before HBO gives us a release date for Season 3.

Billionare Gautam Adani today addressed the 51st India Gem & Jewellery Awards in Jaipur. During his speech, Mr Adani responded to the legal matter involving the US Department of Justice. He also spoke about how he made his first commission of Rs 10,000. Here is his full speech: "It is an honour to stand before you today at the 51st India Gem & Jewellery Awards. This is a celebration of India's remarkable heritage in craftsmanship and innovation. My sincere congratulations to all the awardees whose exceptional efforts have carried forward India's rich legacy in jewellery. 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. My dear friends, 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. My dear friends, 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 enthusiastically shared his vision, confident this was the start of a revolution in the jewellery 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: - 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 Indian 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. Wish you all the best, Thank you. Jai Hind"A social-media tribute to Coptic Christians. A billboard in Amish country. A visit to a revered Jewish gravesite. While Donald Trump’s lock on the is legendary, he and his campaign allies also wooed smaller religious groups, far from the mainstream. As it turned out, Trump won by decisive margins, but his campaign aggressively courted niche communities with the understanding that every vote could be critical, particularly in swing states. Voter surveys such as exit polls, which canvass broad swaths of the electorate, aren’t able to gauge the impact of such microtargeting, but some backers say the effort was worth it. Just one week before the election, Trump directed a post on the social-media platform X to Coptic Christians in the United States —- whose church has ancient roots in Egypt. He saluted their “Steadfast Faith in God, Perseverance through Centuries of Persecution and Love for this Great Country.” “This was the first time seeing a major U.S. presidential candidate address the community in this manner,” said Mariam Wahba, a Coptic Christian and research analyst with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based research institute. “It was really a profound moment.” She said many Copts share the conservative social views of other Christian groups in the Republican constituency, and they may already have been Trump supporters. But the posting reinforced those bonds. Coptic bishops sent the president-elect congratulations after his victory and cited their “shared social and family values.” Some Assyrian Christians — another faith group with Middle Eastern roots — similarly bonded with Trump, whose mispronunciation of created a viral video moment and drew attention to their support. Sam Darmo, a Phoenix real estate agent and co-founder of Assyrians for Trump, said many community members cited the economy, illegal immigration and other prominent voter issues. They echoed other conservative Christians’ concerns, he said, on issues such as abortion, gender identity and religious expression in public. But he said Trump supported various Middle Eastern Christians recovering from the Islamic State group’s oppressive rule. Darmo also credited Massad Boulos, father-in-law to Trump’s daughter Tiffany, for mobilizing various Middle Eastern Christian groups, including Chaldean Catholics, and other voters, particularly in Michigan, such as Muslims. “He brought all these minority groups together,” he said. “We’re hoping to continue that relationship.” But members of Middle Eastern-rooted Christian groups, and their politics, are far from monolithic, said Marcus Zacharia, founder of Progressive Copts, a program of Informed Immigrants, an organization that promotes dialogue on sensitive topics among such groups in the United States and Canada. He said many younger community members question Trump’s stances on issues such as immigration, and sense that conservatives sometimes tokenize them by focusing on the plight of persecuted Christians in the Middle East while neglecting wider issues of repression in countries there that the U.S. supports. He said there needs to be more informed dialogue across the political divide in these communities. “There is no more high time than these next four years to have that way of conducting conversations,” he said. Republicans also made an aggressive push for , particularly in the swing state of Pennsylvania, where they are most numerous at about 92,000 (many below voting age). The GOP has made similar efforts in the past, even though researchers have found that less than 10% of them typically vote, due to their separatism from society. But Republicans used billboards, mailers, ads and door-to-door campaigner to drive turnout in Lancaster County, home base to the nation’s largest Amish settlement. On Election Day, Amish voters Samuel Stoltzfus and his wife Lillian Stoltzfus said they were supporting Trump, citing their anti-abortion beliefs. “We basically look at it as murder,” Stoltzfus, 31, said outside a polling center in the Lancaster County community of New Holland, where dozens of other members of the local Amish community voted. Trump has wavered on the issue, dismaying some abortion opponents, though many have said Republicans still align more closely to their views. Stolzfus added: “Make America great again and keep the moral values,” he said. “Let’s go back to the roots.” Steven Nolt, a history professor at Elizabethtown College in Lancaster College who studies the Amish and their voting patterns, said that while it’s too early to say definitively without further research, he doesn’t see evidence of a larger turnout this year. Lancaster County as a whole — most of which is not Amish — is a GOP stronghold that Trump won handily, though both parties’ votes edged up from 2020, according to unofficial results posted by the Pennsylvania Department of State. Trump’s biggest increases were in urban or suburban areas with few Amish, while some areas with larger Amish populations generally saw a modest increase in the Trump vote, said Nolt, director of the college’s Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. “Bottom line, percentage-wise, not much change in the parts of Lancaster County where the Amish live,” he said. Trump directly reached out to members of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of Orthodox Judaism. On Oct. 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, Trump made a symbolically resonant the burial site of the movement’s revered late leader, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. Wearing a yarmulke, the traditional Jewish skullcap, Trump, who has Jewish family members, brought a written prayer to the Ohel and laid a small stone at the grave in keeping with tradition. The site in New York City, while particularly central to Chabad adherents, draws an array of Jewish and other visitors, including politicians. About two-thirds of Jewish voters overall supported Trump’s opponent, Democrat Kamala Harris, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. But the Trump campaign has made a particular outreach to Orthodox Jews, citing issues including his policies toward Israel in his first administration. Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowitz of Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida said it was moving for him to see images of Trump’s visit. “The mere fact that he made a huge effort, obviously it was important to him,” he said.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) stock image. Picture: Aodhan Roberts/Belfast Telegraph. A fire at a block of flats on the Larne Road area of Ballymena early on Sunday morning is being treated as deliberate ignition. Although no injuries were reported, the blaze caused significant scorch and smoke damage to the building’s communal areas The PSNI are now appealing for information and witnesses. Detective Sergeant Crothers said: “Shortly after 6.30am, officers responded to a report of a fire at the property. Colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were already in attendance, and had extinguished the blaze, which has resulted in substantial scorch and smoke damage being caused throughout the communal areas of the building. “Fortunately, there were no reports of any injuries as a result of the incident, which at this stage is being treated as deliberate ignition. “Our enquiries are continuing, and we are asking anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed any suspicious activity, or who has any information which might assist, to get in touch. “The number to call is 101, quoting reference number 383 of 08/12/24, or alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org .”11 states sue three largest institutional investors for anticompetitive trade practicesAn Ottawa driver has been charged with impaired driving after he "chose to drink and drive” Saturday night, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). The driver was stopped while a winter travel advisory issued by Environment Canada was in effect for Ottawa. Police say he was “putting himself and others at risk." The driver is facing a three-day driving suspension and vehicle impoundment. Police note that Saturday night was busy for them in the capital, as they responded to multiple collisions due to the heavy snowfall the city received. "Ottawa OPP are busy responding to multiple collisions in the city tonight, including this one, which involved a snowplow. The snowfall is heavy and accumulating quickly. If you don’t need to go out, stay home,” police said on X. Officers had asked drivers to adjust to winter driving conditions and drive safely earlier in the day. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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A freezing rain warning is in effect for Regina and other parts of southern Saskatchewan on Saturday, as a system moving through the province also prompted a winter storm warning further north including Saskatoon. Sask. woman killed after vehicle crashes into bottom of embankment: RCMP A 50-year-old woman from Hudson Bay, Sask. was killed after the vehicle she was in left the roadway on Highway 9 on Friday. Saskatoon Saskatoon under winter storm warning with freezing rain, heavy snow forecasted A winter storm warning has been issued for the city of Saskatoon and parts of west central Saskatchewan by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Sask. RCMP investigating homicide on Onion Lake Cree Nation Saskatchewan RCMP is investigating a homicide on Onion Lake Cree Nation after a 37-year-old man died early Friday morning. 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That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Stay Connected

By MAE ANDERSON A recent survey shows small business owners are feeling more optimistic about the economy following the election. The National Federation of Independent Businesses’ Small Business Optimism Index rose by eight points in November to 101.7, its highest reading since June 2021. The Uncertainty Index declined 12 points in November to 98, following October’s pre-election record high of 110. NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said small business owners became more certain about future business conditions following the presidential election, breaking a nearly three-year streak of record high uncertainty. “Owners are particularly hopeful for tax and regulation policies that favor strong economic growth as well as relief from inflationary pressures,” he said in a statement. “In addition, small business owners are eager to expand their operations.” The net percent of owners expecting the economy to improve rose 41 points from October to a net 36%, the highest since June 2020. Some owners are also hoping 2025 will be a good time to grow. The percent of small business owners believing it is a good time to expand their business rose eight points to a 14%. This is also the highest reading since June 2021. While inflation has eased, it remains a top concern for owners. Twenty percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business (higher input and labor costs). It surpassed labor quality as the top issue by one point. Related Articles Business | Mayor Karen Bass and business leaders discuss homelessness, politics, Olympics Business | Rare coin issued after California Gold Rush sells at auction for $1.4 millionDelaware judge reaffirms ruling that invalidated massive Tesla pay package for Elon Musk

EA establishes Ghaf Tree Reserve in South Sharqiyah