
S&P, Nasdaq hit new highs after ‘Goldilocks’ US jobs reportThe Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) is preparing to announce the results for the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) 2024-25, which was conducted on October 22, November 19, and December 12, 2024. Students who participated in the exam can access their results by logging into the official SOF website using their roll number and other required details. The IMO exam, aimed at promoting mathematical talent among students from grades 1 to 12, challenges participants with a series of mathematical problems designed to enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. To check their results, students can follow these steps: The IMO 2024-25 results will display a detailed report that includes the student’s marks, international rank, zonal rank, and school rank. Awards and recognition for pop performers Top scorers in the IMO will be awarded prestigious prizes, including cash awards, medals, and certificates. The top three national rank holders will receive the following: In addition, the top three zonal rank holders will be awarded cash prizes of Rs 10,000, Rs 5,000, and Rs 2,500, respectively. The highest rank holders in each school will also receive cash awards of Rs 2,500, Rs 1,500, and Rs 1,000. About the Science Olympiad Foundation Founded by distinguished academicians, scientists, and media personalities, the Science Olympiad Foundation aims to foster a scientific attitude and promote excellence in education across subjects like Mathematics, Science, English, General Knowledge, and more. With over 25 years of experience, SOF continues to offer innovative educational activities and use technology to enhance learning, engaging students from schools across the globe. Marathi actor Urmila Kothare car runs over labourers in Mumbai, 1 killed Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
NoneFears grow over invasion of 'unusually brainy' dog-sized lizards 'that eat everything in sight' By JAMES CIRRONE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 16:15, 14 December 2024 | Updated: 16:18, 14 December 2024 e-mail View comments The invasion of a lizard species that is the size of a dog has sparked concern as it wreaks havoc on ecosystems across the South. Central to experts' fears is the fact the roughly five-foot-long Argentine black and white tegu eats 'truly anything,' University of Florida wildlife professor Frank Mazzotti told The Palm Beach Post . They devour quail, chicken, turtle and even alligator eggs as well as turkeys, gopher tortoises and ground-nesting birds. They also feast on gopher fruit, vegetables, plants and pet food. This insatiable appetite poses a threat to native wildlife, and now the beast has spread to more states, including Florida, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina and even Maryland. 'Because they can live in many more places and eat everything, there is not going to be a whole lot to stop them,' Mazzotti warned. It is not known precisely how many of these highly intelligent creatures are currently in the United States, but there have been nearly 10,000 sightings since 2002, according to a database created by the University of Georgia's Center of Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. The vast majority of reports were in Florida, specifically in the Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area, which is south of Miami. There was one sighting in Maryland and five in Texas . The Argentine black and white tegu lizard can reach up to five feet long, have a varied diet and can exist in a wide variety of environments Pictured: The Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area, where tegu lizards are thriving While the Southern Glades Wildlife park seems to be their primary hangout, they have also been spotted in Miami itself and even the upscale city of West Palm Beach, where one resident found the lizard in a parking lot. And as Mazzotti and others have pointed out, tegus can thrive in a variety of different environments, which makes controlling their numbers nearly impossible. In 2019, Bryan Falk, who was the supervisory invasive species biologist at Everglades National Park at that time, called them ' do-everything lizards .' 'They are happy in many different environments, whether that is a natural or disturbed habitat. We once had a report of a tegu living in a dryer vent in someone’s house in Homestead,' said Falk, who is now a program analyst for the National Invasive Species Council, an agency contained within the US Department of Interior. Another reason why tegus have been able to move so far north is because they can sustain their body temperature during different seasons. This discovery was made by group of Brazilian and Canadian biologists at São Paulo State University in 2016, and scientists have since deemed the tegu the only warm-blooded lizard on earth. All other reptiles are strictly cold-blooded, meaning they can neither generate body heat nor sustain their metabolism without being in a warm environment. That's why when temperatures drop, alligators and snakes will either migrate to warmer places or hibernate to conserve energy. Your browser does not support iframes. A 115.2-pound female Burmese python is seen devouring a 77-pound white-tailed deer somewhere in Everglades National Park Contractors with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission show off a Burmese python caught Tuesday, August 13, 2024, in the Everglades Tegus don't have this same limitation, demonstrated by the fact that they can raise their body temperature up to 10 degrees Celsius above the ambient temperature during their mating season in the spring. The extreme threat to local wildlife posed by tegus comes at a time when Burmese pythons are also steamrolling Florida . Like tegus, Burmese pythons are an invasive species. Pythons, though, are on average 16 feet long and can devour foxes, bobcats, raccoons and other animals. A recent study by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida discovered that pythons can also whole deer and certain alligators. Both pythons and tegus are believed to have made landfall in the US through the exotic pet trade, with pythons being exported in the early 1980s. Tegus only started seriously proliferating in the wild about 15 years ago, so experts believe their introduction came later. Some measures have been taken by state authorities to limit the tegu populations, including banning residents from keeping them as pets. Florida and South Carolina outlawed the reptiles a pets in the spring of 2021, while Georgia banned any tegus not registered with the Department of Natural Resources before December 4, 2023. Those wetlands are just south of the Miami metro area (pictured) The creatures have also been sighted in the upscale city of West Palm Beach (pictured) Scientists can now track the movements of tegus and other animals through their environmental DNA deposits in water or soil samples This discovery will allow wildlife officials to better control the populations of invasive species like tegus and Burmese pythons All three states have grandfather clauses for current owners, and based on tegus' approximately 20-year life span, they're likely to be around in captivity for some time. But when it comes to controlling tegus who have either escaped captivity or were born in the wild, scientists now believe they have discovered a much more reliable way to track them. And it has to do with DNA. Environmental DNA (eDNA), which is constantly shed by all living organisms, can now be more precisely detected than ever before. New technology, known as a tetraplex digital PCR assay, was developed by researchers with the University of Florida, and it can successfully detect the eDNA of four different species in a single water or soil sample. University of Florida invasion ecology specialist Melissa Miller, the lead author of the study , told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that her team was able to see Burmese python DNA in a soil sample two weeks after the snake was removed from an outdoor enclosure. This breakthrough was developed in the hope that if the tech was successful, it could be used to effectively track all of the more the 500 non-native species in Florida, including tegus. Miller said eDNA tests will offer wildlife officials who engage in removal efforts of invasive species a cost-effective way to ensure that they are indeed gone, instead of having to periodically check large swathes of land for physical sightings. 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THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, is getting a brand new subway system that will showcase archaeological discoveries made during construction that held up the project for decades. The 9.6-kilometer inaugural line will officially open on Nov. 30, using driverless trains and platform screen doors. Construction began in earnest in 2003 and unearthed a treasure trove of antiquities in a vast excavation beneath the densely populated city of a million residents. “This project offers a remarkable blend of the ancient and modern, integrating archaeological heritage with metro infrastructure,” Christos Staikouras, the transport and infrastructure minister, told reporters Friday on a media tour of the subway. Tunneling followed ancient commercial routes through the center of the port city that has been continuously inhabited since ancient times. It exposed a Roman-era thoroughfare, ancient Greek burial sites, water and drainage systems, mosaics and inscriptions and tens of thousands of artifacts spanning centuries, also through Byzantine and Ottoman rule. The tunnels had to be bored at a greater depth than originally planned, adding cost and delays, to preserve the ancient discoveries. Key pieces of what was found have been put on display along the underground network of 13 stations including a section of the marble-paved Roman thoroughfare at the central Venizelou Station. “The project faced substantial delays and many challenges, including over 300,000 archaeological finds, many of which are now showcased at various stations along the main line,” Staikouras said. The Thessaloniki metro was first conceived more than a century ago and its completion has been greeted with quiet amazement by residents who for years used the metro project as a punchline for bureaucratic delays and undelivered promises. Government officials said the cost of the metro so far has reached 3 billion euros ($3.1 billion) for the completed first line of the subway system and most of a second line which is currently under construction and due to be delivered in a year. The construction consortium was made up by Greece’s Aktor, Italy’s Webuild and Japan’s Hitachi Rail.Beyoncé wins the holidays with an ultra-clever Netflix jokeThe Montreal Canadiens received a bit of good news this week when their starting goaltender, Sam Montembeault was named to the Team Canada roster for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. Canada's roster for the #4Nations Face-Off is set! pic.twitter.com/9W9lw6LR40 However, like a bad soap opera, there is rarely a day without some kind of controversy around the Canadiens. This time, it is being stirred up from outside the city with questions swirling around why Montembeault was added to Team Canada. Yet, the 28-year-old goaltender does have the pedigree to warrant such a position. Team Canada Controversy During a podcast with Bob Stauffer on Oilers Now, NHL insider John Shannon said that he believes that Hockey Canada’s decision to include the Canadiens’ starter might have been politically motivated. His reasoning? That Hockey Canada is politically motivated and that because there was no representation from Quebec, they had to add one player to the roster to cover that region. While more than half of the games of the Four Nations Face-off tournament are scheduled to be played in Montreal, that doesn’t mean there was a need or any consideration that went into having a Montreal Canadiens on the roster. Even if it were, there was representation on Team Finland (Patrik Laine and Joel Armia) and Team Sweden (Canadiens’ 2024 seventh-round pick Rasmus Bergqvist). The host of the Edmonton-based podcast, David Staples, had argued against the selection due to the lack of star quality coming out of Quebec, despite some very good NHL talent currently available. Even arguing that Mackenzie Blackwood (San Jose Sharks) is a better selection, which is somewhat ironic as there was hope last season for the local Edmonton Oilers to trade for Montembeault to solidify their goaltending situation. However, the longstanding language issue seen in Quebec is likely why Shannon felt that this was a politically-motivated selection. That would likely be the only reason he would feel Hockey Canada would need to play politics to placate an entire region. It is true that the Canadiens are a cultural touchstone for the Quebec culture, that they are expected to represent the French language as well, and selecting a Quebec-born player from their roster would definitely check off all the boxes. Also, Canada is putting a team together they feel can win the mini best-on-best tournament, not to fulfil some language requirement. According to several well-placed sources, Montembeault’s selection being fill a political agenda is patently false. Canadiens Goaltender Earned Position Citing unnamed sources close to Hockey Canada, Marco D’Amico of RG.Org wrote that Montembeault’s French Canadian roots had nothing to do with his selection. “If this kid was from Ontario, he’d still be on the team. To watch people dissect this on the basis of politics is deflating for hockey and for that young man,” the source told RG.org. The same source highlighted the 28-year-old’s standout performance at the 2023 World Championships, where he posted an impressive .939 save percentage (SV%) and 1.42 goals against average (GAA), adding that Montembeault has been on the national side’s “radar for a while now”. That’s confirmation the position was earned, not gifted. Something that should be remembered is that Hockey Canada tends to pass over players who have turned down playing for them in the past. Darren Dreger confirmed this on TSN690 when discussing the fact Canadiens’ start forward Nick Suzuki didn’t even get a call about being left off the roster. One of the sources scoffed, stating that they had seen fans and media alike blaming Montembeault for why Montreal didn’t finish even lower in the standings last season. Of note is that he had performed at a high level in the most pressure-packed NHL environment, Montreal. The two Team Canada goaltenders selected above Montembeault are Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues) and Adin Hill (Vegas Golden Knights). Both have a .900 SV%, sport a 2.87 and 2.67 GAA respectively, and both are starters on better teams than the Canadiens at the moment. Likely also a major factor in the selections is that they are proven performers, having both won the Stanley Cup. As for Montembeault, who backstopped Canada to a World Championship gold medal in 2023, has got a .906 SV%, a 2.86 GAA, and a record of 8-10-2 in 20 games, which includes three shutouts, the latest one coming on the heels of his addition to the Team Canada Roster. He is the starter on a team in a full rebuild. Because of this, he has the youngest, and most inexperienced blueliners in front of him of the three, and has somehow found a way to equal or outperform them statistically. One statistic that can level the playing field somewhat among goaltenders is the goals saved above expected (GSAx). Hill is 11 th in the NHL with a 5.6 GSAx, Montembeault is 15 th in the NHL with a 5.1 GSAx. Lagging far behind them is Binnington with a 1.6 GSAx, placing him 32 nd . It does look as though he fits right in with them on stats, international experience. and winning pedigree. It’s hard to look at their numbers and state that Montembeault was less worthy than his two counterparts. This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.
NoneINDIANAPOLIS ( MIRROR INDY ) — Indianapolis college counselors are urging families to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as soon as possible. The 2025-26 form was scheduled to launch Dec. 1, but the federal government announced students could access it Nov. 18. The form is in the testing stage, though, meaning officials could make adjustments depending on performance. When the new FAFSA form launched last year, there were widespread issues almost immediately — the most serious of which was a glitch that blocked many parents who immigrated here . Counselors are hopeful that filing will run more smoothly this year, but they’re prepared to weather the worst. “Our staff will remain calm, cool, collected and supportive,” said Austin Dodd , who oversees postsecondary programs at IPS. “We’re ready to stand there and walk alongside the students and families for every step of the process.” Indiana high school students are required to fill out FAFSA or opt out by April 15. Counselors recommend creating your Federal Student Aid account as soon as possible, because it can take several days to process. “We cannot stress enough how important it is: If you know you’re going to be filing, get that done right away,” said Bill Wozniak, vice president of marketing at INvestEd , a nonprofit that offers free financial aid assistance to Indiana families. “If it takes 10 minutes, great, but if there are glitches and problems, you don’t want to be doing that at the last moment.” You can create your student aid username and password online anytime by following this checklist . You will need to provide your name, date of birth and Social Security number. Monique Ware , executive director of financial aid at Ivy Tech Indianapolis, recommends having your 2023 tax information on hand when filling out the FAFSA. You should also have records of untaxed income such as child support, as well as the balances of your checking and savings accounts. This winter, IPS will prioritize helping seniors who plan to graduate early. Starting in the spring, they’ll begin helping all other college-bound students. “We want to make sure that it’s getting processed quickly so that they can get a turnaround financial aid package,” said Dodd. “We’re hopeful that this year those can be a little bit more timely as opposed to last year.” IPS also recently restructured its Future Centers to have a counselor at each school focused solely on enrollment and FAFSA. All its college specialists were also given cell phones to better communicate with families. At Ivy Tech Indianapolis, counselors will use shortcuts and tips they’ve learned over the last year. “We know how to navigate some of the things that may still exist or haven’t been resolved yet that we can help students through,” Ware said. “We’re here to help, and we just want to make it as smooth as possible for families and students.” INvestEd Indiana experts offer free financial aid help by phone or email. Call 317-715-9007 or email Outreach@INvestEdIndiana.org . INvestEd is also hosting free events across the state to help people create student aid accounts and will begin hosting free FAFSA completion workshops in December. Ivy Tech, IPS and other Indianapolis colleges and school districts will host events this winter and spring to help students and families complete their forms. Contact your school or college of choice for more information. Learn More Indiana , an initiative led by the state Commission for Higher Education, has a FAFSA assistance tool. Fill out this form to be connected with an Indiana-based expert. You can call 1-800-433-3243 to be connected with a government representative for FAFSA help in English or Spanish. Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire at claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org or on Instagram / X @clairerafford .
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Adviser to Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad visited Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) to discuss strategies for enhancing the depth and performance of capital markets. During his meeting with PSX Chief Executive Officer Farrukh Sabzwari and senior management of the stock market, Schehzad was provided a comprehensive overview of the strategic initiatives aimed at unlocking the potential of capital markets. The PSX CEO emphasised that despite challenges, Pakistan's capital markets had immense potential, adding that through a well-formulated strategy, the bourse could realise the potential and significantly contribute to the economy. Schehzad reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting the capital market's growth and recognised its role in stabilising and underpinning growth of the country's economy. He urged the PSX management to formalise recommendations for structural changes and privatisation of state-owned enterprises, which could advance the government's goals and boost market capitalisation. Furthermore, he recommended the rebranding and repositioning of the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) board that could function as a platform for venture capital and startup fund raising. Several key initiatives were planned and discussed during the meeting, which included concrete steps for high-value listings to increase market capitalisation and attract foreign investment, setting an ambitious target to widen investor base to 2% of the national population within three years and engaging brokers and mutual funds in the campaign. It was agreed to introduce new investment products such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options markets and derivatives to enhance market attractiveness. Among modern trading strategies, algorithmic trading and robo-advisory services will be explored while drawing insights from successful implementations in countries like China. Schehzad called on the PSX and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to jointly develop a roadmap, aimed at increasing Pakistan's weight in the MSCI Frontier Markets index, ultimately leading to its inclusion in the Emerging Markets index. It was agreed to form a formal committee comprising the PSX, SECP, and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to leverage each entity's strengths. This initiative will foster financial inclusion, enhance public awareness and promote seamless digitalisation. The FinMin adviser praised the re-launch of cash-settled futures as a significant step towards developing the derivatives market. He stressed that collaboration with Chinese capital markets was critical to facilitate cross-border investment opportunities, broaden market access and stimulate investor participation. With these initiatives, Pakistan's capital markets will achieve significant growth and drive economic development and stability. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our
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Dana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Sandeep Kumar Mishra's Poem Ashes and Echoes to Shine in a Netherlands Exhibition Celebrating Human Rights 12-23-2024 09:24 PM CET | Media & Telecommunications Press release from: ABNewswire In a remarkable moment for literature and human rights advocacy, Sandeep Kumar Mishra's evocative poem Ashes and Echoes will soon grace a travelling exhibition throughout the Netherlands, thanks to Utrecht University's groundbreaking initiative. The poem was shortlisted in the university's prestigious Poems for Human Rights international competition, a celebration of poetic creativity and social justice. Sandeep's powerful verse, which weaves vivid imagery with a resonant human rights message, has captivated the jury and secured its place among the six exceptional poems chosen from a sea of global entries. The competition received submissions spanning diverse poetic traditions, making the final selection a challenging but rewarding task for the panel of distinguished judges. The jury, comprising luminaries such as Geert Buelens, Antoine Buyse, Hanneke van Eijken, and others, commended the shortlisted poems for their depth, originality, and ability to inspire. " Ashes and Echoes stood out for its rich symbolism and profound impact," the jury noted. "Its haunting reflections on human rights violations resonate deeply in today's world." Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/99812fe64533f4ac6874148cca12d130.png A Showcase of Global Talent The competition will celebrate two ex aequo winners-one poem in English and one in Dutch-alongside four commendable works. The shortlisted poets include Marieke Vreeken ( Human Treaty ), Vicky Breemen ( Universe Declaration ), Sandeep Kumar Mishra ( Ashes and Echoes ), Safiya Lall Mohamed ( True Colours ), Alessandra Spadaro ( It Rains Bombs ) and Elyse Touron - van der Roer ( Wie Schrijft Dan Nog - Ongehoord Soedan ) The three winning poets will receive cash prizes, supported by the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights, the Freudenthal Institute, and Institutions for Open Societies. They will also perform their works during Impact Night 2024: Human Rights, for Present and Future Generations on Human Rights Day in December and at the Faculty Club in February 2025. An Exhibition across Utrecht and Beyond Ashes and Echoes , along with the other shortlisted poems, will be showcased in a travelling exhibition across the city of Utrecht. The exhibition schedule and places includes Janskerkhof 3, Utrecht: December 10-17, 2024, University Library City Centre, Drift 27: Mid-December 2024 to mid-January 2025 and Bibliotheek Neude, Neude 11: January 30 - February 5, 2025 The exhibition aims to amplify the voices of poets who have transformed human rights advocacy into a poignant art form. Utrecht University's efforts reflect a commitment to fostering dialogue on human rights issues through creativity. Global Recognition for Sandeep Kumar Mishra Sandeep's triumph extends beyond the exhibition. His poem will also be featured on the competition's website and in an anthology that promises to share these powerful works with a global audience. This recognition solidifies his position as a compelling literary voice and a fierce advocate for human rights. When asked about the honor, Sandeep expressed gratitude: "It's a privilege to have my poem included in such an important initiative. Poetry has the power to bridge divides, and I hope Ashes and Echoes resonates with audiences, inspiring empathy and action." As the world prepares to celebrate Human Rights Day, Sandeep Kumar Mishra's Ashes and Echoes stands as a beacon of creativity and compassion, reminding us of the enduring power of words to ignite change. Media Contact Company Name: Sandeep Kumar Mishra Contact Person: Sandeep Kumar Mishra Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=sandeep-kumar-mishras-poem-ashes-and-echoes-to-shine-in-a-netherlands-exhibition-celebrating-human-rights ] Country: India Website: https://www.sandeepkumarmishra.com/ This release was published on openPR.That pink-and-green movie about the two witches subsumed social media and the box office during the last weeks of 2024. So much so it could be easy to forget that "Wicked" is, in many ways, the apotheosis of a year in which the movie musical genre returned from the celluloid grave. The is-it or isn't-it quandary Early in 2024, the movie version of the musical adaptation of Tina Fey's "Mean Girls" was released. It was both loved and loathed and much discussion was had about the studio's marketing of the movie, in which the trailers gave no indication that this newest "Mean Girls" was indeed a musical. That was despite recent precedent for the box-office triumph of a movie musical. "Despite the success of movies such as 'Wonka' and 'The Greatest Showman,' studios seemed nervous to advertise the musical elements of their song-and-dance extravaganzas," said Ryan Faughnder at the Los Angeles Times . As 2024 ticked on, the is-it-or-is-it-not musical releases swelled: the Joker sequel, "Joker 2: Folie à Deux;" the Timothée Chalamet -led Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown;" the award-grabbing drug cartel caper "Emilia Pérez." By year's end, "Moana 2," the prequel to "The Lion King," "Mufasa," and the blockbuster "Wicked" all showed their hand, not pretending one bit they were anything but musicals. As Faughnder said, "If anyone went into 'Wicked' not knowing it was a musical, that's on them." Why song-and-dance right now? Production on movies, obviously, begins long before a film's release. Trying to pin the filmmaker's intent on the current societal or political moment is folly. Still, movies resonate with the time of their birth into the cinematic world, whether the artists aim them to or not. During a fraught economic and political present, when it "seems like we've been fractured beyond repair," the musical can bring a "utopian message of hope and resilience," said Desirée J. Garcia, an associate professor at Dartmouth College and author of "The Movie Musical," to the Los Angeles Times . The genre lends itself to finales of "coming together" and surmounting "division and conflict." Many of the movie musicals of 2024 are intricate; they embrace darkness, as the movie musicals of Old Hollywood did not. Where once there was froth, there are now suds, yes, but also shadows. The "stars of this new cycle" deserve praise because the characters they play are "vastly more complex (and confused) than those of the old musicals," said Peter Bart at Deadline . "Gene Kelly in 'Singing in the Rain' and Fred Astaire in 'Top Hat' were essentially airheads." Movie trends can evaporate as quickly as they appear, so the movie musical boom could soon disintegrate. It is near-certain this vanishing will not occur in 2025. Come next November, the second installment of "Wicked," called "Wicked: For Good," will be released, another likely box-office victory.Lahore [Pakistan] December 28, (ANI): The All Pakistan Lawyers Action Committee (APLAC) has reaffirmed its call for a full hearing by the Supreme Court regarding the petitions challenging the 26th Amendment. In a statement released on Friday, leaders from both current and former bar councils and associations emphasised that the demand is not politically motivated but is a constitutional imperative to uphold public trust in the judiciary's independence. Also Read | Azerbaijan Airline Plane Crash: Russian President Vladimir Putin Apologises to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev After Fatal Flight 8432 Crash. The APLAC also criticised a press statement from the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA), calling it misleading and factually incorrect, particularly in response to the legitimate concerns raised by the APLAC regarding the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) and judicial independence the news international reported. The action committee asserted that the SCBA's assertion, which labeled the lawyers supporting the APLAC as 'unelected representatives,' was blatantly false. Also Read | Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Successfully Completes 'Hotfire Test’ Paving Way for Its Launch. The APLAC statement clarified that key signatories of its demand, including Abid S Zuberi, Tahir Faraz Abbassi, Munir Kakar, Shafqat Mehmood Cohan, Maqsood Buttar, Asad Manzoor Butt, Riasat Ali Azad, Salman Mansoor, Haider Imam, Rahib Buledi, Naeem Qureshi, Abdul Hafeez Lashari, and Rehman Korai, were all elected representatives who had served as office bearers of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and various bar associations nationwide. Their voices, the statement emphasised, represented the collective will of the legal community. The APLAC stated that any effort to undermine the legitimacy of such senior lawyers was both unnecessary and harmful to the unity and integrity of the legal profession. The statement emphasized the importance of recognizing that all members of the PBC and SCBA, whether past or present office holders, were democratically elected representatives of the legal community. It highlighted that the voices of these leaders reflected the trust and confidence of the legal fraternity, and undermining their legitimacy would directly challenge the core principles of democracy and representation upheld by the bar associations. The APLAC stated that the SCBA had traditionally been an institution that supported the rule of law and judicial independence. According to the report, however, it expressed regret that the current SCBA leadership had chosen to overlook the contributions of its former presidents and legal icons. The action committee noted that the SCBA had always recognized, respected, and valued its former presidents as champions of the bar's principles and ideals. "This tradition should be preserved, not diminished," the statement emphasized. The APLAC stated that the SCBA's support for the executive-driven extension of the constitutional bench overlooked historical lessons and weakened judicial independence. They recalled that during the 2007 lawyers' movement, it was this very kind of executive interference that had triggered a judicial crisis. The APLAC stated that the 26th constitutional amendment and its implementation by an executive-dominated Judicial Commission directly violated the constitutional principle of judicial independence outlined in Article 175(3) of the Constitution. They expressed disappointment and concern over the SCBA's failure to recognize this constitutional violation. The action committee reaffirmed its commitment to upholding Pakistan's constitutional framework, ensuring judicial autonomy, and protecting the rule of law. On Thursday, SCBA President Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta had condemned the APLAC's statement regarding the Judicial Commission's meeting on December 21. He called the statement from the APLAC representatives "unfounded and reprehensible," labeling their actions as a politically motivated campaign aimed at undermining and politicizing the fair and transparent proceedings of the JCP. Atta further claimed that the APLAC was attempting to tarnish the reputation of prestigious institutions. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | San Francisco’s fentanyl deportations show rare unity with Donald Trump National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Calmes: A peaceful transfer of power — you can thank Biden National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | Bill Clinton is hospitalized with a fever but in good spirits, spokesperson says But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.IBN Named Official Media Partner of Podfest Expo 2025
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