NoneAjman [UAE], November 30 (ANI/WAM): Marwan Hussein Al Shaali, Member of Ajman Chamber's Board of Directors, participated in the 13th Arab-Hellenic Economic Forum held in Athens, Greece. The forum aimed to enhance economic cooperation, increase the volume of Arab-Hellenic investments, and explore partnership opportunities, with a focus on developing mutual investments in the energy and construction sectors. Also Read | Relations with India Changed After August 5, Says Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Mohammed Touhid Hossain. The forum was attended by officials and representatives from government and economic institutions of Arab countries and Greece, along with leaders of companies, entrepreneurs, experts, and specialists in the fields of energy, construction, and related sectors. Al Shaali commended the UAE-Greece relations, emphasising the mutual commitment of both countries to diversifying areas of cooperation, increasing bilateral trade, and promoting mutual investments. Also Read | Pakistan Government and PTI Spar Over Casualties, Fresh Row Over Plans To Ban Imran Khan's Party. He reiterated Ajman Chamber's commitment to enhancing and expanding cooperation with Greece and organising future forums between the business communities of Ajman and Greece to support the growth of trade and mutual investments. Al Shaali also emphasised the importance of the forum as a strategic platform for strengthening Arab-Hellenic economic relations, particularly highlighting the energy and construction sectors as some of the fastest-growing and most impactful in promoting sustainable economic development and increasing joint investment opportunities. He noted that these sectors hold strategic significance in the UAE, particularly in Ajman, stressing that the emirate offers an ideal environment for investment growth in both sectors. This is due to Ajman's strategic location and advanced infrastructure, which supports the aspirations of investors and entrepreneurs. Al Shaali further pointed out that the real estate, building, and construction sectors contributed 29 per cent to the GDP of Ajman in 2023. The forum focused on a series of sessions covering a range of topics, including "Successive Changes and Opportunities for Traditional Energy Alternatives," "Electrical Interconnection Projects," "Capabilities and Investment Opportunities in Energy," "Green Energy Project Map," "Clean Energy," "Infrastructure and Construction Projects," "Opportunities for Cooperation in Energy and Infrastructure Projects," "Sustainability, Innovation, and Smart Technology in City Development and Future Cities," as well as "Green Buildings and Construction Industry Technologies." On the sidelines of the forum, Al Shaali held a series of bilateral meetings with Greek officials and representatives from Arab countries participating in the forum. The discussions centred on ways to enhance joint cooperation, expand investment opportunities in the energy and construction sectors, and explore possibilities for organising future bilateral forums. (ANI/WAM) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
MALAGA, Spain (AP) — No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner won matches in singles and doubles to lead defending champion Italy to a 2-1 comeback victory over Argentina on Thursday, earning a return trip to the Davis Cup semifinals. “I’m here trying to do the best I can in the singles,” Sinner said. “If they put me on the court in doubles, I’ll also try my best.” On Saturday, Italy will face Australia in a rematch of last year's final, but this time it will only be for a chance to play for the championship. Australia eliminated the U.S. 2-1 earlier Thursday to reach the final four at the team competition for the third consecutive year. The other semifinal, to be contested Friday, is the Netherlands against Germany. The Dutch got past Rafael Nadal and Spain in the quarterfinals earlier in the week, sending the 22-time Grand Slam champion into retirement. Italy fell behind 1-0 in the quarterfinals when Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-1 on an indoor hard court at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martina Carpena in southern Spain. But then in stepped Sinner, whose season already includes two Grand Slam trophies — at the Australian Open and U.S. Open — plus the title at the ATP Finals last weekend in Turin, Italy. First he overwhelmed Sebastián Báez 6-2, 6-1. Then Sinner teamed with 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini in the deciding doubles match to win 6-4, 7-5 against Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez. “He carried me today,” Sinner said about Berrettini. After arriving late to Malaga from Turin, Sinner did not get a chance to practice on the Davis Cup competition court before taking on Báez and stretching his streak to 22 sets won in a row. “In three minutes, he was perfectly comfortable on court,” Italy captain Filippo Volandri said. “He’s a special one.” Volandri swapped out his original doubles team, Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, for Sinner and Berrettini, and the change paid dividends. Australia, the Davis Cup runner-up the last two years, advanced when Matt Ebden and Jordan Thompson beat the surprise, last-minute American pairing of Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-4 in that quarterfinal's deciding doubles match. The Shelton-Paul substitution for Paris Olympics silver medalists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram was announced about 15 minutes before the doubles match began. Ebden and John Peers beat Krajicek and Ram in the Summer Games final in August. The Australians broke once in each set of the doubles. In the second, they stole one of Shelton’s service games on the fourth break opportunity when Ebden’s overhead smash made it 5-4. Thompson then served out the victory, closing it with a service winner before chest-bumping Ebden. The 21st-ranked Shelton made his Davis Cup debut earlier Thursday in singles against 77th-ranked Thanasi Kokkinakis, who emerged from a tight-as-can-be tiebreaker by saving four match points and eventually converting his seventh to win 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (14). No. 4 Taylor Fritz , the U.S. Open runner-up, then pulled the Americans even with a far more straightforward victory over No. 9 Alex de Minaur , 6-3, 6-4. When their match finally ended, on a backhand by Shelton that landed long, Kokkinakis dropped onto his back and pounded his chest. After he rose, he threw a ball into the stands, then walked over to Australia’s sideline, spiked his racket and yelled, before hugging captain Lleyton Hewitt. “I don’t know if I’ve been that pumped up in my life. I wanted that for my team,” said Kokkinakis, who won the 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles title with Nick Kyrgios. “It could have gone either way, but I kept my nerve.” AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennisDusty May, No. 14 Michigan try to continue strong start vs. Arkansas
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Insurer vows audit after report finds it denied 77% of hurricane claimsBEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian opposition war monitor and a pro-government media outlet say government forces have withdrawn from much of the central city of Homs. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. Losing Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Syria’s embattled leader, Bashar Assad. The city stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. Its capture is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria gained speed on Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and with the government forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only four of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Homs, Latakia and Tartus. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. No details were immediately available. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. Syria’s military, meanwhile, sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and are sending reinforcements to Homs, where a battle loomed. If the insurgents capture Homs, they would cut the link between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where the president enjoys wide support. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.Blue Mountain Humane Society Bissell Pet Foundation is partnering with Blue Mountain Humane Society for the annual Holiday Hope event. The nationwide event’s focus is to empty animal shelters across the country and provide pets with a permanent home. From Sunday, Dec. 1, to Tuesday, Dec. 17, all adoptions at the Blue Mountain Humane Society, 7 E. George St., are $50 or less. For more information about the empty-the-shelter efforts, visit bissellpetfoundation.org/programs/empty-the-shelters . Fort Walla Walla Museum The Fort Walla Walla Museum has announced its new exhibit, which opened Friday, Nov. 29. It features the Pacific Theater during World War II and is meant to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. The exhibit titled “Capturing the Pacific” also will focus on Walla Walla’s connection to the war including advancements made during the 1940s that are still around today, such as the transformation of the Walla Walla Regional Airport. The Museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center An official for the Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center has announced a new general manager will oversee the historic hotel. Justin Robbins previously served as the general manager of Sage Lodge in Pray, Mont. The official said the hotel's former general manager, Ted Hawksford, stepped down from his role to be closer to family. Key Technology Key Technology , a Walla Walla-based company and a member of Duravant's food sorting and handling solutions group, announced on Thursday, Nov. 21, the release of a new conveyor belt for raw poultry processing and packaging. In a news release, Jack Lee, the Duravant group president of food sorting and handling solutions, said, “By replacing traditional belt conveyors with vibratory systems, we're also helping processors improve food safety and prevent costly product recalls.” For more information about the company and its machinery, visit key.net .
Retailers coax Black Friday shoppers into stores with big discounts and giveaways NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers in the U.S. have used giveaways and bigger-than expected discounts to reward shoppers who ventured out on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving still reigns for now as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season even if it’s lost some luster. Analysts reported seeing the biggest crowds at stores that offered real savings. They say many shoppers are being cautious with their discretionary spending despite the easing of inflation. Stores are even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there are five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Online sales figures from Thanksgiving Day gave retailers a reason to remain hopeful for a lucrative end to the year. Inflation rose to 2.3% in Europe. That won't stop the central bank from cutting interest rates FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency rose in November — but that likely won’t stop the European Central Bank from cutting interest rates as the prospect of new U.S. tariffs from the incoming Trump administration adds to the gloom over weak growth. The European Union’s harmonized index of consumer prices rose 2.3 percent, up from 2.0% in October, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. However, worries about growth mean the Dec. 12 ECB meeting is not about whether to cut rates, but by how much. Market buzz says there could be a larger than usual half-point cut in the benchmark rate, currently 3.25%. The ruble's in a slump. For the Kremlin, that's a two-edged sword Russia’s ruble is sagging against other currencies, complicating the Kremlin’s efforts to keep consumer inflation under control with one hand even as it overheats the economy with spending on the war against Ukraine with the other. Over time a weaker ruble could mean higher prices for imports from China, Russia's main trade partner these days. President Vladimir Putin says things are under control. One wild card is sanctions against a key Russian bank that have disrupted foreign trade payments. If Russia finds a workaround for that, the ruble could regain some of its recent losses. From T-shirts to thongs, how indie film merchandise became a hot commodity LOS ANGELES (AP) — Merchandise is nothing new. But in recent years, movie-inspired streetwear has exploded in popularity among film buffs, thanks in part to viral marketing campaigns put on by independent film studios. Take the hourslong line for one-day-only “Anora” pop-up in Los Angeles, for instance. Clothes are promoted as trendy and in limited supply and are often made in collaboration with popular brands. The experience of watching movies has become a less collective one in recent years. For many fans, repping their favorite films in public is a way to combat that. Stock market today: S&P 500 and Dow post gains and close out best month of 2024 NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks closed with solid gains as Wall Street put the finishing touches on one of its best months of the year. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 188 points, or 0.4%. The Nasdaq added 0.8%. Friday was an abbreviated trading day, with stocks closing at 1 p.m. ET and the bond market an hour later. Investors were looking to see how much shoppers are willing to spend on gifts for the holidays. Black Friday unofficially kicked off the holiday shopping season, although retailers had been offering early deals for weeks. Macy’s and Best Buy each gained around 2%. Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway project between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has approved the construction of a high-speed railway connecting the capital Hanoi in the north with the financial capital of Ho Chi Minh in the south. It is expected to cost $67 billion and will stretch 1,541 kilometers (957 miles). The new train is expected to travel at speeds of up to 350 kph (217 mph), reducing the journey from the current 30 hours to just five hours. The decision was taken by Vietnam’s National Assembly on Saturday. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and Vietnam hopes that the first trains will start operating by 2035. But the country has been beleaguered by delays to its previous infrastructure projects. Massachusetts lawmakers push for an effort to ban all tobacco sales over time BOSTON (AP) — A handful of Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping to persuade their colleagues to support a proposal that would make the state the first to adopt a ban meant to eliminate the use of tobacco products over time. Other locations have weighed similar “generational tobacco bans.” The bans phase out the use of tobacco products based not just on a person's age but on birth year. Lawmakers plan to file the proposal next year. If approved, the bill would set a date and ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after that date forever, eventually banning all sales. Santa's annual train visit delivers hope and magic to one corner of coal country ON BOARD THE SANTA TRAIN (AP) — Since 1943, the people of Appalachian Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee have looked forward to Santa’s arrival. Not in a sleigh on their rooftops, but on a train. At each stop of the CSX Santa Train there are dozens to hundreds of people. Many crowd around the back, where Santa and his helpers toss stuffed animals. Meanwhile groups of volunteer “elves” fan out with gifts, making sure every child goes home with something. Many of the children who line the tracks on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, waiting for Santa, are the third, fourth or fifth generation to do so. Sandra Owens has been coming for 43 years and now brings her grandchildren. She says, “The faces of the kids, that’s what makes me happy. You can’t see anything better.” Donald Trump's call for 'energy dominance' is likely to run into real-world limits WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is creating a National Energy Council that he says will establish U.S. “energy dominance” around the world. It will be key in Trump’s pledge to sell more oil to allies and his intent to move away from President Joe Biden’s focus on climate change. But the president-elect’s energy wishes are likely to run into real-world limits. For one, U.S. oil production under Biden is already at record levels. And Trump’s bid to boost oil supplies and lower U.S. prices is complicated by his threat to impose 25% import tariffs on Canada and Mexico, two of the largest sources of U.S. oil imports. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau flies to Florida to meet with Trump after tariffs threat WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has flown to Florida to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Trump's picks for commerce secretary, interior secretary and national security adviser, and the three men's wives. From the Canadian side, the dinner guests included Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security. Trump’s transition did not respond to questions about what they had discussed or whether the conversation alleviated Trump’s concerns about the border. A smiling Trudeau declined comment upon returning to his West Palm Beach hotel late Friday.Ahmedabad/Patan, (Gujarat) [India], November 30 (ANI): From aiding disaster rescue to playing badminton and dancing, robots are redefining possibilities. Tech enthusiasts explore the cutting-edge world of robotics at regional science centres across Gujarat, discovering how innovation is shaping the future. Also Read | Cyclone Fengal Update: Cyclonic Storm Induced Rains Cause Heavy Inundation, People Park Vehicles on Flyovers. Gujarat Science City in Ahmedabad is a state-driven initiative to foster curiosity and promote scientific awareness. This vibrant hub features interactive exhibits, live demos, and immersive experiences for all ages. Also Read | Sabrina Krasniqi Suicide-Murder Case: US Model Shoots Husband to Death, Later Dies by Suicide in Florida. Key attractions include the robotics gallery, energy park, hall of science, IMAX 3D theatre, and fish tunnel, offering hands-on learning in robotics, space, and environmental science. Gujarat Science City is crucial in advancing science education and innovation. Dr Narottam Sahoo, advisor and member secretary, Gujarat Council on Science & Technology said, "When Narendra Modi ji was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he clearly identified science, technology, and innovation as key drivers for development. To achieve this, Gujarat Science City was developed, where scientific temperament will be nurtured, starting with children and extending to community members, women in villages, and rural labourers. This has become a hub for fostering such an environment. Now, it has become the best science centre in the world". To promote science, the Gujarat government has launched an initiative to establish District Science Centers across the state. Currently, 33 centres are operational under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Four regional centres in Pattan, Bhavnagar, Bhuj, and Rajkot are seeing significant footfall, with four more under construction in Vadodara, Surat, Jamnagar, and Junagadh. These centres are enhancing students' skills and preparing them for national and international competitions, fostering a culture of innovation and scientific excellence. Bhavesh Joshi, a visitor and student said, "I learned that robots can be fun and fascinating. I also learned how space works and had a great experience with robots at Science City. Robots, technology, space, and science are all amazing fields. I want to become an astronomer when I grow up". Another student visitor, Krishnavi said, "By coming here, I learned many things about science. In the Robotics Gallery, I got to know the history of robots. We went to the Hall of Science, where we saw the mechanism of rockets". Nature Parks at Science Centres provide an eco-friendly space focused on environmental conservation. They feature dinosaur displays, allowing visitors to explore the prehistoric world. The parks also raise awareness about biodiversity, climate change, and environmental protection, offering a peaceful, educational experience for all ages. These initiatives at Gujarat's Regional Science Centres are transforming science education, bridging the gap between theory and practice, and fostering a scientifically enlightened society. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)Police deny sitting on evidence as Netflix doc brings renewed attention to JonBenet Ramsey's killing