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Genadij Krajevskij, a boxer who once fought , has died at the age of 37. The Lithuanian boxer, who faced Tommy Fury in November 2020, became a beloved character during his eight-year stretch as a pro fighter. The British Boxing Board of Control's Midlands Area Council shared their deepest condolences, stating: "We would like to pass our condolences and thoughts to Genadij Krakevskij's family and friends at this time." They highlighted how "The Baltic Bomber graced the away corner in the midlands area on numerous occasions. He was always a delight to be around in and out of the ring." VIPBoxing Promotions shared their "deep sorrow" when they learned of Krakevskij's death, acknowledging the privilege of having him on their shows multiple times. His career spanned 76 fights, most recently squaring off against Levi Vaughan in Birmingham in August, reports . Social media has seen fans and clubs alike expressing their sadness, with one fan saying: "Terrible sad news. RIP Genadij Krakevskij a true warrior, and a lovely fella." Stockbridge Amateur Boxing Club paid their respects, too, labelling him "a proper fighter." Krakevskij's in-ring record belies the significant mark he made on the sport, fondly remembered for his vibrant personality that outshone his fight outcomes. Ring announcer Phil Seymour summed it up by calling him a "great presence at fight shows up and down the country". After a hard-fought win against Ryan Broten, the only victory in his pro career, promoters VIP Shows tweeted out footage showing the fighter's emotional reaction as he celebrated the win. They said: "We had the honour of featuring him in the VIP Shows on multiple occasions. Our videographer, Lee Hogan, was fortunate enough to capture his sole professional victory during his 68th fight on a Frank Duffin show." They further added a touching tribute: "This moment was incredibly significant for him, as he conveyed the message 'Never give up' to the camera. Rest in peace, Baltic Bomber."Smart Manufacturing And Mobility Leaders: Adapt With Tech In 2025 Asset-intensive industries like manufacturing and transportation quickly feel the pain when energy prices rise, raw materials are harder to access, or borrowing money for capital projects becomes more expensive. They were hit by all of those and more in 2024, forcing leaders to focus even more than usual on managing costs and improving efficiency. In the mobility sector, the seemingly inevitable transition from fossil fuels to electrification slowed in many countries, as a combination of declining subsidies, high up-front costs, patchy infrastructure, and looming tariffs made buyers pause. We don’t anticipate any dramatic improvement in the global macroeconomic situation in 2025, but we see plenty of opportunity for leaders across manufacturing and mobility to use technology to adapt to the tricky environment in which they and their customers find themselves. For 2025, we predict that: Over 25% of big last-mile service and delivery fleets in Europe will be electric. It’s hard to miss frequent headlines about a dramatic fall in sales of electric vehicles during 2024, especially in Germany and some other European countries. There’s a lot to unpack about the short- and longer-term trends at play, but this wobble in the car market masks a good news story in the electrification of larger fleets of small vans. One-third of DPD’s last-mile fleet in the UK is fully electric, rising to 90% in cities like London. UK energy company British Gas aims to electrify its entire van fleet in 2025. Amazon operates more than 1,000 electric vans in Germany (and over 15,000 in the US). Across the continent, parcel delivery firms, utility companies, and local governments operating large fleets of small vans over relatively short distances see electrification as an opportunity to manage costs while lowering carbon emissions. Less than 5% of the robots entering factories and warehouses will walk. Investors, analysts, journalists, bloggers, and sci-fi fans just love geeking out about robots that walk, but the compelling use cases for their legs are less common — or obvious — than most of these individuals believe. ANYbotics and Boston Dynamics offer four-legged robotic dogs for inspection, safety, and mapping use cases; Agility Robotics’ bipedal robots can be seen in some Amazon warehouses; and Boston Dynamics, Figure, and Tesla have all tested their humanoid robots in automotive plants. These robots have a wow factor, but they may not have the best form factor for addressing industry’s dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks. We should all focus more on the task we’re trying to complete and less on how cool the robots look. Save Up To 75% With The Best Black Friday Clothing Deals That Are Still Running 10 Unofficial Hoka Cyber Week Sales You Don’t Want To Miss A major carmaker will make significant cuts to its digital team. The automotive sector is struggling to cope with electrification, fast-moving new entrants to the market, and the rise of the “software-defined vehicle,” which more tightly integrates hardware and software within the car. Established carmakers invested billions of dollars in building digital practices that were meant to help transform 20th-century excellence in physical engineering into 21st-century excellence in digital engineering. On balance, it’s not going particularly well. General Motors announced plans to cut 1,000 employees from its software and services division this year, and its competitors are likely to follow suit. Cars are becoming more connected and more digital, and they’re able to add new features with over-the-air updates. Ecosystems underpin the future of mobility, and today’s carmakers must adapt to a future in which they might not create — or even control — the digital experiences within their cars. Download our complimentary Predictions guides, which cover our top predictions for 2025 across a variety of areas. Get additional complimentary resources, including webinars, on the Predictions 2025 hub . This post was written by VP, Principal Analyst Paul Miller and it originally appeared here .
Tetairoa McMillan, one of the best wide receivers in Arizona history, will skip his final year of eligibility and enter the 2025 NFL Draft, he announced on social media on Thursday. Projected as a top-10 draft pick, the 6-foot-5, 212-pound McMillan finished his illustrious career at Arizona with 3,423 receiving yards, breaking the mark set by Bobby Wade (3,351). In three seasons, the Hawaii native also posted the fourth-most catches (213) and third-most touchdowns (26) in school history. "Wildcat Nation, this journey has been everything I dreamed of and more," McMillan wrote on Instagram. "From the moment I committed to the University of Arizona, to every second spent wearing that Arizona jersey ... it's been an absolute honor. "The University of Arizona has provided me with the platform to grow and chase my dreams. ... Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To the best fans in the country, I appreciate you for all of the love and support you have given me these last 3 years. I will always be a Wildcat." In 2024, McMillan totaled 84 grabs (ninth in Division I) for 1,319 yards (third in Division I) and eight touchdowns for the 4-8 Wildcats. He also ranked third in Division I with 109.9 receiving yards per game. McMillan is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the most outstanding receiver in college football. --Field Level Media
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University of Texas, MIT and others announce free tuition for some undergraduates{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-12-02T21:43:39+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-12-02T21:43:39+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-12-02T21:43:37+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22298/news/africa/how-digitalisation-is-transforming-trade-in-africa", "headline": "How digitalisation is transforming trade in Africa", "description": "The digitalisation of trade has increased efficiencies in trade processes and changed how trade is conducted on the continent. However, a number of...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22298/news/africa/how-digitalisation-is-transforming-trade-in-africa" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/02/65402.jpg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/02/65402.jpg" }, "articleBody": "The digitalisation of trade has increased efficiencies in trade processes and changed how trade is conducted on the continent. However, a number of challenges need to be addressed in order to streamline digital trade and ensure its benefits are realised and shared inclusively. The New Times’ Tesi Kaven spoke to David Beer, the CEO of TradeMark Africa on the challenges, opportunities, and the future of digital trade in Africa. Below are the excerpts: How is digitalisation changing trade in Africa? We have seen improvements in the reduction of cost and time of trading across borders after digitalising many trade processes. At TradeMark Africa, we have implemented over 100 digital trade processes in conjunction with our government and private sector partners across Eastern Africa and even further. We have seen the average time to complete trade processes come down by around two thirds or 66 hours. That makes a big difference to exporters and increases their margins and makes them more profitable. We have worked with the government of Rwanda to put in place the electronic single window, which has reduced the time taken to complete those trade processes by half. We have also worked with the government of Kenya to put in place their integrated customers management system that reduced the time to clear air freight from about four days to just a couple of hours. In Uganda, we did the same thing and saw annual costs come down by about $26 million. So, digitisation is making a real difference in trade on the continent. How can digital trade grow and thrive amidst a widening digital divide? TradeMark developed an app for traders at the bottom of the pyramid to be able to access market information across borders. If I'm producing avocados in Uganda, I can look at price information across the border of Kenya, so I can sell my goods at a higher price. The app also provides a simple bookkeeping function that enables business owners run their businesses effectively. Products like these are making a difference, but there are some challenges. If traders are in rural areas and have trouble accessing the internet or accessing electricity, then the rapid digitalisation of trade across Africa risks leaving them behind. We need to look at the digital infrastructure and connectivity and ensure that more people have access to the internet. Digital literacy is also critical, helping people use and benefit from digital tools. There is work to be done at many levels. Apart from the digital divide, what other challenges are hampering the growth of digital trade in Africa? The digitalisation of trade processes has been a challenge. However, we have seen a real demonstration of proof of concept as far as digital tools are concerned and a rapid up-take by both governments and businesses, because it is a win-win for everybody. Businesses win because it's cheaper and quicker to export their products and governments win because they get their revenues from increased exports. There is also much work to be done to make e-commerce seamless on the continent. There are issues around data governance, cross-border payment systems and interoperability between countries. These can be solved if governments work together to create the regulatory frameworks that will enable e-commerce to really take off. What policy changes are needed to make digital trade seamless? We need policy shifts at the regional and continental level. For example, there is a need to harmonise regulations for cross-border payments. There's been some good initiatives already including the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) as well as the East African Payments System (EAPS) by the East African Community (EAC). But we really need to see how to make these systems work, especially for people at the bottom of the pyramid, who are using mobile money for cross-border payments and not just central banking. Also, harmonisation of data governance and intellectual property protection and making sure that those standards are at least mutually recognisable between countries is going to be really important. What's the future of digital trade? I think there is a future for digitised trade across Africa and there's a real opportunity to position Africa as a pioneer in green trade. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has had its digital trade protocol ratified, and we're really excited by that because that will create a harmonised framework across the continent. But the future is also one of new technology. Trademark has been working with the government of Kenya and the IOTA Foundation to develop a blockchain-based trade logistics platform so that you can put all of the documentation you need for a trade process in one place. The beauty of blockchain or distributed ledger technology is that it's non-falsifiable, so you can guarantee the genuineness of all documents. We're expecting this technology to dramatically reduce the need for verification and the number of checks, and therefore reduce on costs and time. We are also seeing customs agencies starting to use artificial intelligence to put in place better risk-based verification and management of goods that are coming in. Again, that increases accuracy of checks and reduces the number and burdensome nature of checks as well.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tesi Kaven" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }
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Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, leads fan balloting for the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Games after one week of voting, the league announced on Monday. Ravens superstar Jackson set the overall pace with 44,681 votes followed by teammate Derrick Henry, the running back leader, in second overall at 40,729 votes. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was third overall at 40,602, only 127 votes behind Henry in the rusher's race, with Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen fourth overall on 36,574 and Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs fifth on 35,637. The Detroit Lions lead all clubs in total votes received, followed by the Ravens, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL's revamped all-star event will be staged in Orlando, Florida, for the second consecutive year. In all, 88 players will gather on February 2 in skills competitions and a flag football showdown with coaches Peyton and Eli Manning. While other vote totals were not revealed, Washington rookie Jayden Daniels was the top NFC quarterback in the fan voting and top receivers were Minnesota's Justin Jefferson in the NFC and Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase in the AFC. NFL fans can vote as often as they wish through December 23 with selections decided by a consensus of ballots by players, coaches and fans with each group counting for one-third of every player's final total. NFL players and coaches will cast votes on December 27. js/rcwStoli vodka files for bankruptcy in the United StatesNico Ponce actor and singer, is known for his charisma and talent on screen, but on this occasion, the protagonist of ‘Poor Boyfriend’ offers us a closer look at his life and career. In this interview for The Republic Ponce speaks candidly about his experiences in the world of acting, his love for music, and his most recent projects. From his work with ‘Dad in trouble’ until his participation in the soap opera ‘Poor boyfriend’ Nico continues to demonstrate his versatility as an actor. In the midst of his growing popularity, the actor continues to pay attention to what is happening in the industry, and that includes the competition strategies that television channels use to keep the audience captive. Recently, the premiere of ‘Poor Boyfriend’ coincided with that of the new América Televisión series, ‘Nina de Sugar’, which generated great expectations in the media. Here, Ponce offers his perspective on this competition between channels and how he handles the situation. Coincidence in both premieres Nico Ponce spoke about the coincidence of the premieres of ‘Poor Boyfriend’ and ‘sugar girl’ two series that air on the same day, creating great competition between the channels: Latina and América Televisión. For the actor, this situation is nothing new. “It’s the old trick, right?” Ponce said with a smile. “Competition strategies that are valid, but honestly, I don’t work thinking about competing. My focus is on giving my best in each project: soul, heart and life,” said the actor. ‘Nina de Azur’ and ‘Poor Boyfriend’: what it’s about, trailer, characters, and everything about the new soap operas from America TV and Latin America. Although the coincidence of the premieres generated great media attention, Ponce made it clear that he does not feel pressure from the competition. “My focus is on the work I do and on the character of Santiago, which is what really matters,” he added. For the actor, the important thing is to continue working with commitment and dedication in what he does, regardless of the tactics other channels use. Ponce also expressed his admiration for the work done by Latina, the channel that produces ‘Poor boyfriend ‘. “Latina is clear about her path and continues to follow a defined line, without deviating from what other channels do. That clarity is essential for success,” said the actor. In this way, he made it clear that he feels supported by the channel and his work team, which allows him to focus on his character without distractions. Nico Ponce’s opinion on the panels of “Pamela...you were unfaithful to me” A topic that generated a great stir at the time were the “Pamela... you were unfaithful” panels, used to promote the soap opera, in which a situation of infidelity is shown that has provoked multiple comparisons with media reality, especially after that many users linked it to the cases of Christian Cueva and Pamela Franco. Regarding this phenomenon, Ponce shared his opinion: “I thought it was spectacular that it went viral because the novel talks precisely about how social networks turn everything into something viral. It was fun to see that the unfaithful Pamela thing also went viral in real life. “I think fiction mixed with reality a little bit, and that’s great,” he said. The actor also highlighted how the soap opera reflects the impact of social networks and the immediate consumption of information today. “Latina is doing a great job with communication and support for its artists. That motivates me a lot to get involved and collaborate, because I know that there is support from the channel,” said Ponce, who feels supported by the production team. . The evolution of ‘Pobre Novio’ and the change in his career Nico Ponce He not only talked about the competition, but also about the technical evolution of ‘ poor boyfriend ‘. According to the actor, the series has an impressive level of quality, especially in the first chapters. “The technical quality is incredible. The first chapter has a very strong dramatic charge, full of emotions and twists that will surprise the audience,” he said. For Ponce, ‘Poor Boyfriend’ is a series that not only talks about love, but also about family, personal relationships and improvement, elements that make it attractive to a diverse audience. Furthermore, Ponce highlighted the differences between his character ‘Poor boyfriend ‘, Santiago, and the one he played in ‘ Dad in trouble ‘, Matías. According to him, while Matías was a stronger and more confrontational character, Santiago is calmer, tender and positive. “Santiago is a guy who is always there for his family and friends, and although he feels that what happens to him is to blame, he always works from the heart,” Ponce explained. Nico Ponce’s connection with his character Santiago García Nico Ponce reflected on the similarity between his character ‘Poor boyfriend ‘, Santiago, and himself. “I always try to put something of myself in my characters. Santiago is a simple, humble, familiar boy, who loves his mother very much and hates lies. I share those characteristics,” he commented. Throughout the series, Santiago faces complicated situations, but always acts from the heart, which Ponce finds close to his own personality. Furthermore, the actor acknowledged that, like him, his character is also sensitive: “I am very sensitive. I compose songs, I play guitar at dawn, and I have come to write albums inspired by my ex-partners. That sensitivity is something that I have also put into Santiago,” he explained. However, Ponce highlighted some differences. “I think I’m more extroverted than him and I’m more used to being in front of cameras. Santiago, on the other hand, is not like that, but the similarities between us are in sincerity and aversion to lies and double-faced people,” he added. Nico Ponce reveals his love for music Outside of acting, Nico Ponce He is passionate about music. Although his career is focused on acting, Ponce has composed songs and even written albums inspired by his personal experiences. “Music has always been with me. It is something that connects me with my emotions and allows me to express myself differently,” confessed the actor. Although music is an important part of his life, Ponce made it clear that his main focus remains acting. “I don’t see myself dedicating myself exclusively to music, but I would definitely like to compose for other artists or productions,” he said. The actor also said that his songs are usually romantic, inspired by love and the emotions he goes through. Her love life and her rejection of reality shows Regarding his love life, Ponce seemed relaxed and optimistic. “I don’t think I’m unlucky in love, I just think the right person hasn’t arrived yet,” he commented. For him, the most important thing is to focus on his own growth and being the best version of himself. “I once heard someone say something wise: become the person who deserves the person you seek. If I want a humble, sincere, and down-to-earth partner, I must work on being someone who deserves that person. That’s why I try of living with discipline and humility, always seeking to grow,” said the protagonist of ‘ poor boyfriend ‘. Finally, when asked about his participation in an international reality show, such as Nicola Porcella in ‘The House of the Famous’, Nico was clear in his response. “They have told me what my friend Nicola had to do to achieve that fame, and the truth is, it’s not my thing. Maybe something more related to love, like what Flavia Laos did, I could consider it if it were something light and friendly , but no more,” he said. The actor explained that he is not interested in reality shows because he does not feel comfortable with the dynamics of these programs, which often mix the real with the fictitious: “I don’t identify with reality shows. If I had wanted to dedicate myself to that, I would have built my career based on them. I don’t like it because they usually handle stories that are not real. You are not acting or being a character, but you are not really you either; you end up selling something false. “, Nico concluded. Join our entertainment channel
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