Black Ice Studios Partners with Intel Gaming to Debut XeSS 2 Technology in Ashes of MankindMahakumbh Nagar, Dec 29 (IANS): The 2025 Mahakumbh will take place in Prayagraj from January 13, and special preparations are underway for the same. For the first time, an AI chatbot will be used during this major religious congregation, providing information in 11 Indian languages. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mentioned the Constitution Day and Mahakumbh in the 117th episode of his radio programme Mann Ki Baat. In a special conversation with IANS, Ravindra Puri, President of the All India Akhada Parishad, and Yoganand Giri, Mahant of the Juna Akhada, discussed the significance of the event. In Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi emphasised that participating in the Kumbh should be an opportunity to resolve to eliminate division and hatred from society. Ravindra Puri commented: "We believe our Prime Minister is a great protector of Sanatan Dharma. All Hindus take pride in him, and I would like to say that after Jagatguru Shankaracharya, it is PM Modi who has contributed immensely to reviving Sanatan Dharma. Saints and the work being done for religious gatherings and fairs deserve high praise for PM Modi." Ravindra Puri further stated: "We have always tried to eliminate caste and discrimination, and we will continue to do so. We have provided leadership positions to people from all castes. However, once we become sanyasis, we do not discuss caste; we are all sanyasis. All castes have representation in our leadership, and we strive to remain united. We want to ensure no negative messages are sent from Prayagraj that would harm the interests of saints and the government." This year's Kumbh will also have a digital dimension, offering pilgrims many conveniences. Ravindra Puri said: "This is the first time the Mahakumbh is going digital. Our Mahakumbh is now divine, grand, and clean. We now also have digital services. We have walkie-talkies, mobile phones, and drones monitoring the entire fairground. If we need anything or want to know where something is, we can use the app that provides all the information. The administration has worked tirelessly to make this possible." Ravindra Puri concluded: "I urge pilgrims from India and abroad to come to Prayagraj, bathe in the holy waters, and take advantage of this beautiful opportunity for atonement. Bathing in the sacred Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers will purify you and bring you closer to salvation. Whatever wishes you bring will be fulfilled, we believe." Meanwhile, Dr. Yoganand Giri, speaking with IANS, expressed his gratitude for Prime Minister Modi's mention of the Kumbh in Mann Ki Baat. "The way Prime Minister Modi has brought up the Kumbh with respect to its divinity, grandeur, cleanliness, and modernisation is praiseworthy. The integration of AI technology and complete digitalisation of the Kumbh is a commendable step. A digital ‘Lost and Found’ centre is also being created. The way the Kumbh is being digitised is highly appreciated." Yoganand Giri also pointed out that the Kumbh Mela promotes unity in society, fostering harmony and goodwill. He said: "The Kumbh Mela is all about eliminating animosity and encouraging mutual love and respect. The saint community has always worked towards uniting society. Even those communities that society has marginalised have found a place among the saints. We have made them Acharyas and Mahamandaleshwars. Since ancient times, saints have worked towards societal unity, and today Prime Minister Modi acknowledged this in Mann Ki Baat. He deserves all the praise for his deep understanding of our Sanatan traditions. We thank him immensely."
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MUNCIE — Ball State University is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Charles W. Brown Planetarium, the largest and most technologically advanced planetarium in Indiana. Since its opening in November 2014, the planetarium has inspired more than 180,000 visitors of all ages, offering a gateway to the wonders of space through innovative and educational programming. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto appears on a timetable to decide on where to sign either before or during baseball's winter meetings in Dallas, which run from Dec. 8-12. Soto met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations said last week, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details were not announced. Soto's agent, Scott Boras, asked teams to submit initial offers by Thanksgiving, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because it was not announced. Soto is the top player available among this year's free agents . A four-time All-Star, Soto finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven major league seasons. Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from Washington in 2022, prompting the Nationals to trade him to San Diego, which then dealt him to the Yankees last December. Soto then combined with Aaron Judge to lead New York to the World Series, where the Yankees lost to the Dodgers . In his pitch to teams, Boras highlighted that Soto joined Mickey Mantle as the only players with seven RBIs in a World Series at age 21 or younger when he was with Washington, and at 20 became the youngest player with five postseason homers. Soto's .906 postseason OPS through age 25 topped Mantle (.900) and Derek Jeter (.852). Soto is likely to seek a record contract, topping Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. That might not mean Soto gets more than $700 million, though. Because Ohtani's deal included $680 million in deferred money payable through 2043, it can be valued by different methods. For instance, Ohtani's contract is valued at $46.1 million per season ($461 million total) under MLB's luxury tax system, which used a 4.43% discount rate. The players' association uses a 5% rate, which puts Ohtani's contract at $43.8 million per year. For MLB's regular payroll calculations, a 10% discount rates values Ohtani's deal at just $28.2 million. Which means if Soto gets even $462 million without deferred payments, there's an argument that his deal is the most valuable in MLB history. By average annual value, pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are tied for second in baseball history at $43.33 million as part of contracts they signed with the New York Mets, deals that expired at the end of the 2024 season. In terms of total value, Ohtani surpassed outfielder Mike Trout’s $426.5 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels through 2030. MLB’s longest contract is outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14-year deal with the San Diego Padres through 2034. The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies all are likely to enter 2025 having paid luxury tax for three straight years, putting them at the highest rate: a 50% surcharge on payroll between $241 million and $261 million, 62% from $261 million to $281 million, 95% from $281 million to $301 million and 110% for each dollar above $301 million. Toronto may have dropped below the initial tax threshold this year, pending final figures next month. If the Blue Jays did fall under, their rates next year would reset to 20%, 32%, 62.5% and 80% for the four thresholds. If Soto reaches or announces an agreement at the winter meetings in Dallas' Hilton Anatole, it would be a familiar location for a big Boras deal. Alex Rodriguez's record $252 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers was announced in December 2000 at what then was called the Wyndham Anatole Hotel. A-Rod's deal more than doubled MLB's previous high, a $121 million, eight-year contract between pitcher Mike Hampton and Colorado that was announced just two days earlier. “In two days, we’ve doubled a new highest salary,′′ said Sandy Alderson, then an executive vice president in the commissioner’s office. ”I don’t like the exponentiality of that." Rodriguez was 25 at the time of the agreement with Texas, a free agent before entering his likely prime, like Soto. Third baseman Alex Bregman, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, and outfielders Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández are among the significant bats available to pursue and likely would interest some of the teams who fail to sign Soto. Bregman and Alonso, like Soto, are represented by Boras. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Published 7:54 pm Sunday, December 29, 2024 By Data Skrive Ranked teams are on the Monday college basketball schedule in eight games, including the Monmouth Hawks playing the Auburn Tigers. Watch men’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up. Get the latest news sent to your inbox Catch tons of live college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.Native American students miss school at higher rates. It only got worse during the pandemic
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HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron's new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand's tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. This story was corrected to fix the spelling of Ken Lay’s first name, which had been misspelled “Key.” Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70
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