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Kuwait City: Lauding the hard work, achievement and contribution of the Indian community to the development of Kuwait, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended an invitation to diaspora members to participate in Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Maha Kumbh events to be held next month while spotlighting that India of the future will be the hub of global development and the growth engine of the world. Addressing a massive gathering of Indian diaspora at a special ‘Hala Modi’ event held at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex in Kuwait City, PM Modi praised their significant contributions and vital role played by the Indian community in fostering India-Kuwait ties. “I am not here today just to meet you, but to celebrate your achievements. Just a little while ago, I had the opportunity to meet Indian workers here who are engaged in various professional sectors. They are involved in construction work, and many others are contributing their hard work in other sectors as well. Indian doctors, nurses, and paramedics are a significant strength in Kuwait’s medical sector. Those of you who are teachers are helping shape the next generation of Kuwait. The doctors, architects, and other professionals among you are building the future of Kuwait’s workforce. The citizens of Kuwait highly respect you all because of your hard work, honesty, and skills,” said PM Modi. Addressing Indian nationals representing a cross-section of the community in Kuwait, the Prime Minister outlined India’s approach as a ‘Vishwabandhu’ (a friend to the world) and elaborated upon the country’s rapid progress and transformation, especially in the fields of technology, infrastructure and sustainability. “You all came from India and stayed here, but you have kept the spirit of Indianness in your hearts. India is moving forward with a new attitude. India is the fifth-largest economy in the world. India has the number one fintech ecosystem in the world,” he said. Prime Minister Modi also highlighted achievements such as financial inclusion, women-led development and inclusive growth besides spotlighting the shared aspirations of the two countries – of ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘New Kuwait’ – emphasising that there were huge opportunities for India and Kuwait to work together. He thanked the leadership of Kuwait for the welfare of the Indian community and reflected on India’s strong commitment to support Indian workers in Kuwait and elsewhere in the Gulf with technology-based initiatives undertaken by the government such as E-Migrate portal among others. “India has the potential to become the world’s skill capital. For many decades to come, India will remain the youngest country in the world. In this scenario, India has the capacity to meet the global demand for skills. To achieve this, India is aligning its skill development programmes with global needs. In recent years, India has signed migration and employment agreements with nearly two dozen countries. These include Gulf countries, as well as Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Mauritius, the UK, and Italy. Countries around the world are opening doors to India’s skilled manpower,” he mentioned. Sharing achievements and growth trajectory with the diaspora, Prime Minister Modi asserted that India of the future will be the hub of global development and the growth engine of the world. “India is continuously becoming digitally smart, and this is just the beginning. The future of India will be shaped by innovations that will guide the entire world. The future India will be a hub for global development. It will be the growth engine of the world,” he said. Prime Minister Modi, who is the first Indian PM to visit the Gulf nation in 43 years, specifically mentioned that the relationship between India and Kuwait is one of civilizations, of the sea, of affection, and of trade with both countries situated on the two shores of the Arabian Sea. “India is one of the first countries to have recognised Kuwait’s independence. And that is why coming to a country and a society with so many memories attached to it, and with which our present is connected, is truly memorable for me... “Today, personally, this moment is very special for me. After more than four decades, after 43 years, an Indian Prime Minister has come to Kuwait. It takes four hours to travel from India to here, but it took the Prime Minister four decades,” he stated. During his address, PM Modi stated the warmth and affection of the Indian diaspora in Kuwait is extraordinary. “I arrived in Kuwait just two and a half hours ago and since stepping here, I have felt a unique sense of warmth and closeness. People have come from various states of India, and looking at all of you, it feels as if a ‘Mini India’ has gathered before me,” he said. Prime Minister also extended an invitation to diaspora members to participate in Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Maha Kumbh to be held in India in January 2025. “The first month of the new year, January 2025, is going to be a month full of many national celebrations. This year, from January 8 to 10, the ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’ will be held in Bhubaneswar (Odisha). People from around the world will attend, and I invite all of you to this event. After that, please come to Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) to join the Maha Kumbh, which will be held from January 13 to February 26,” said PM Modi.Pride, bragging rights and more than $115M at stake when final college playoff rankings come outPride, bragging rights and more than $115M at stake when final college playoff rankings come outTarget made big changes to Santa Claus and women are going “crazy”
Dallas (3-7) at Washington (7-4) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL Odds: Commanders by 10 1/2 Against the spread: Cowboys 2-8; Commanders 7-4 Series record: Dallas leads 78-48-2. Last meeting: The Cowboys clinched the NFC East title last season by beating the Commanders 38-10 at Washington on Jan. 7. Last week: Cowboys lost to the Texans 34-10 on Monday; Commanders lost to the Eagles 26-18 on Thursday, Nov. 14. Cowboys offense: overall (20), rush (31), pass (T-7), scoring (T-24) Cowboys defense: overall (27), rush (31), pass (19), scoring (31) Commanders offense: overall (6), rush (6), pass (15), scoring (4) Commanders defense: overall (18), rush (30), pass (5), scoring (T-14) Turnover differential: Cowboys minus-11; Commanders plus-5 Star pass rusher Micah Parsons has six of his 43 1/2 career sacks against Washington, more than any opponent. But Jayden Daniels is the biggest threat Parsons has faced at QB with this opponent. There’s no question the Dallas pass rush suffered in the four games Parsons missed with a sprained ankle and has been substantially better in the two games since the two-time All-Pro’s return. Parsons making life difficult for Daniels might be the only way for the Cowboys to stay close. Rookie CB Mike Sainristil held his own against A.J. Brown despite being at a sizeable height disadvantage. With trade deadline pickup Marshon sidelined again with a hamstring injury, Sainristil could be counted on to do more of the same against CeeDee Lamb, who is still productive no matter who the Cowboys quarterback is. Commanders rushing offense vs. Cowboys rushing defense. Dallas allowed Houston RB Joe Mixon to pick up 109 yards and three TDs and the ground and has struggled against the run all season. Brian Robinson Jr. returned last week after missing the previous two games with a hamstring injury, and Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols provide some depth for Washington. Cowboys: Perennial All-Pro RG Zack Martin and promising young LG Tyler Smith sustained ankle injuries on the same drive in the fourth quarter for the Cowboys against the Texans. Martin, who is also battling a shoulder issue, is doubtful, and Smith is questionable while also dealing with a knee injury. ... Rookie LT Tyler Guyton re-injured a shoulder trying to run with a fumble after QB Cooper Rush had the ball knocked out of his hand on a throw. He is expected to play. ... TE Jake Ferguson was ruled out after sustaining a concussion in the first quarter against the Texans. ... CB Jourdan Lewis (neck) and RB Hunter Luepke (calf) missed the Houston game but are listed as available this week. ... Dallas might get some reinforcements in WR Brandin Cooks (knee), rookie DE Marshawn Kneeland (knee), CB DaRon Bland (foot) and T Chuma Edoga (toe). Cooks last played in Week 4 and Kneeland in Week 5. They are questionable along with Edoga, who hasn't played all season. Bland also hasn't played this year after having surgery for a stress fracture late in the preseason, but it appears he will make his season debut after setting an NFL record in 2023 with five interception returns for touchdowns. ... DB Markquese Bell, a key special teams player, is set for season-ending surgery after injuring a shoulder covering a kickoff against the Texans. Commanders: Lattimore was on the field Wednesday but didn't take part in practice all week. He will miss a third consecutive game since being acquired at the deadline from New Orleans. ... K Austin Seibert appears to be trending toward returning from the right hip injury that sidelined him the past two games. The Cowboys have won five of the past six meetings. Washington's only victory in that span was in the 2022 season finale when Dallas had nothing to play for once it was clear Philadelphia would finish first in the NFC East. ... The Cowboys are 16-4 against NFC East opponents since 2021 and haven’t lost consecutive division games since 2020, when they finished 6-10. Dallas lost to Philadelphia two weeks ago and plays the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day. ... This is Commanders coach Dan Quinn's first game against the Cowboys since spending the past three seasons as their defensive coordinator. ... Washington with a win would have its best start through 12 games since 1996 and first 3-1 division record since 2012. The Cowboys are on a five-game losing streak, their longest since a seven-game skid in 2015. Mike McCarthy has matched the longest losing streak of his coaching career. He lost five in a row in 2008, late in the third of his 12-plus seasons in Green Bay. McCarthy is on an expiring contract and the possibility of returning to the Cowboys diminishes with each loss. ... Dallas is 3-2 on the road. ... Rush has lost three consecutive starts as an injury replacement for Dak Prescott after winning his first five. He is 0-2 this season with a touchdown, an interception and three fumbles lost. Prescott had season-ending surgery on his torn hamstring last week. ... Lamb needs 81 yards receiving to become the fastest Dallas wideout to reach 6,000 yards. ... WR KaVontae Turpin had a career-long touchdown catch of 64 yards against the Texans. It’s the only TD at home for Dallas since Week 3. ... K Brandon Aubrey has 10 field goals of at least 50 yards this season. That’s one behind Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn, who has already tied Daniel Carlson’s single-season NFL record from 2022. ... Daniels has thrown for 10 TDs and three INTs, including one of each against the Eagles. He has four rushing TDs but none since Week 4. He's 18 yards away from being the first rookie QB since Kyler Murray in 2019 to run for 500. ... Robinson's seven TD runs through eight games match his first two professional seasons combined. ... Ekeler had a season-high eight catches for 89 yards at Philadelphia. ... WR Terry McLaurin had just one catch on two targets last week. ... Zach Ertz's 428 yards receiving are his most in a season since 2021. He's 35 away from moving into the top 10 among tight ends in league history. ... LB Bobby Wagner is nine tackles away from joining London Fletcher as the only players with 100-plus tackles in 13 consecutive seasons since 2000. ... LB Frankie Luvu sacked Jalen Hurts twice to tie a career high with seven. McLaurin will almost certainly be targeted more often than last week, especially after he, Daniels and the offense got a full week of practice. Washington's top receiver could be in for a big game. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflAnthony Albanese (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas) LEAVING NOTHING ON THE FIELD As the final sitting week of the year enters its last few days, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been telling his MPs he’ll “leave nothing on the field” to ensure Labor wins another majority government next year. The Australian reports the PM said in his end-of-year address to caucus on Tuesday there would only be a short break over Christmas as he prepares for the upcoming federal election. The paper also highlights that Coalition leader Peter Dutton reckons the government is faltering and making decisions that will make life harder for Australian families. As we’ve mentioned all week, there’s still A LOT the government hopes to get passed before Parliament rises and The Australian flags Labor MPs have been told there might be an extra sitting day to try and get as much done as possible. One of the bills the government wants to get over the line is, of course, the social media ban. AAP flags the Senate inquiry into legislation banning under 16s from most platforms, which ran for just one day, has recommended the bill should be passed as the government hopes to get it rushed through despite a chorus of objections. The Australian says the legislation looks set to pass with Dutton in support of the plans, although it has divided the Coalition partyroom with “Nationals Senator Matt Canavan and Liberal Senator Alex Antic prepared to cross the floor and others reserving their right to do so”. The paper also quotes a Labor MP raising concerns over the speed at which the legislation is being pushed through — though they were not talking about crossing the floor. “It’s the wrong way to go about it. It’s simplifying a very complex issue.” In addition, the Oz reports Albanese is unlikely to be able to establish an environmental watchdog before next year’s election and he continues to eye a deal with the Greens on his Future Made in Australia agenda. As flagged in yesterday’s Worm , the government’s controversial migration bills are set to be debated today. AAP says with independents, the Greens, legal experts and human rights advocates condemning the legislation, the government is hoping to use Coalition support to get the bills across the line. The Sydney Morning Herald reports Immigration Minister Tony Burke has been holding talks with the opposition over the government’s plans to “pay countries to accept convicted criminals it has been unable to deport and revive its travel ban on nations that don’t take back citizens against their will”. The paper explains how the immigration package allows the government to put non-citizens back into detention once another country agrees to take them, and those who do not cooperate with moves to deport them face five years in jail. More than 80,000 people could be affected by the plans, an inquiry has said, but the Department of Home Affairs claims it will impact around 5,000 people on bridging visas and another 1,000 in immigration and community detention, AAP says. Immigration barrister Jason Donnelly is quoted by the newswire as saying: “These measures, in combination, raise substantial risks of undermining procedural fairness, individual rights and government accountability.” CHALMERS URGES CALM Donald Trump’s latest threat to hit China, Mexico and Canada with new tariffs on the first day of his presidency generated plenty of attention yesterday with the Australian Financial Review leading overnight on the fact the Australian dollar dropped to a four-month low after Trump’s comments while Treasurer Jim Chalmers attempts to calm everyone down . To recap, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform he would be imposing a 25% tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada, plus an additional 10% on goods from China. The BBC reports Trump said the tariffs on Canada and Mexico would remain in place until the countries clamped down on drugs, particularly fentanyl, and migrants illegally crossing the border. The broadcaster said he added “we will be charging China an additional 10% tariff, above any additional tariffs” until it cracked down on fentanyl smuggling. The AFR said on Tuesday the Australian dollar dropped to US64.32c in response — the lowest since early August — before recovering to just under US65c. The paper flagged the Australian dollar “has slumped US5c in just two months, and banks are warning that its future looks bleak”. Meanwhile, The Age reckons “the Australian economy has been destabilised” by Trump. ANZ chief economist Richard Yetsenga is quoted as saying Tuesday’s events marked “only the beginning” of what could be four years of economic uncertainty. “This is the United States increasing tariffs on its three largest trading partners. That represents a discrete change in global trade policy,” Yetsenga said. “He [Trump] does take a transactional approach to many things, so this may be the first sense of what we will see under Trump 2.0.” Responding to Tuesday’s events, Chalmers said : “The incoming US administration will bring a different suite of policies and we’re confident in our ability to navigate that change. “Our economic plan is all about making Australians big beneficiaries of the shifts that are shaping the global economy. We’re well placed and well prepared to work with the incoming administration in the US.” Elsewhere, the ABC flags China’s ambassador to Australia said yesterday there was “no reason” that Trump’s second stint in the White House should damage the relationship between Canberra and Beijing. “There are reasons for us to be responsibly managing relations bilaterally, well enough, maturely enough, so that our two peoples can continue to benefit,” Xiao Qian said. “There is no reason to compromise our respective interests for the sake of a third party.” ON A LIGHTER NOTE... An editor I once worked with banned coverage of the death of the world’s oldest person, because inevitably the stories never end — there’s always someone who takes over as the oldest person alive. That’s a fair point, but I think regardless we should pause and reflect on the life lessons John Tinniswood , who passed away on Monday aged 112, had for us. Tinniswood, from Merseyside, England, previously told the Guinness World Records his longevity was down to “pure luck”, CNN reports. “You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it,” he said. As The Guardian points out he also suggested moderation was key. “If you drink too much or you eat too much or you walk too much, if you do too much of anything, you’re going to suffer eventually,” he said. The paper said Tinniswood managed his own finances and kept up with the news every day. His family said in a statement: “He was intelligent, decisive, brave, calm in any crisis, talented at maths and a great conversationalist. His last day was surrounded by music and love.” Say What? This word captures what many of us feel is happening to the world and to so many aspects of our lives at the moment. Macquarie Dictionary We’ve flagged previous words of the year in the Worm and today it’s Macquarie Dictionary’s turn — the dictionary has declared “enshittification” its word of 2024. The dictionary defines the word as: “The gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided, especially of an online platform, and as a consequence of profit-seeking.” CRIKEY RECAP Australia’s teen social media ban loophole means kids can still use TikTok and YouTube Shorts CAM WILSON Videos from TikTok and YouTube Shorts (Image: Crikey) Australia’s teen social media ban won’t require TikTok or YouTube to stop children from using their algorithmically driven short-video platforms, significantly undermining the government’s major motivations for the policy. Experiments by Crikey show that TikTok and YouTube Shorts users are algorithmically recommended videos by both platforms without needing to log in — meaning that these services won’t be affected by the Albanese government’s bill which seeks to regulate only logged-in users. Among the government’s justifications for a blanket ban on children under the age of 16 using social media are fears about the impact of social media algorithms on young Australians. Greens declare victory on housing and go home, mission accomplished BERNARD KEANE Nonetheless, by stymieing much of Labor’s housing agenda for the past two years, the Greens can rightly feel it’s mission accomplished. Their goal, like it or not, has been to delay or prevent the government from doing anything noticeable to address housing affordability, such as encouraging the construction of more housing or reducing migration, enabling the Greens to campaign against Labor at the election for failing on housing. You can object to the ruthlessness of the Greens’ tactic, but not the electoral calculation behind it, or its success. A last-minute backflip to allow two relatively modest additions to the policy suite on housing won’t do anything to change those political dynamics. Labor will continue to denounce the “Greens political party” (drink!) as obstructionist and “the party of protest”, but there’s no denying the Greens’ success in preventing reform on housing. To be fair, Adam Bandt might have pushed the whole charade a bit too far, though, when he declared he would “take the fight to the next election, where we’ll keep Peter Dutton out and then push Labor to act on unlimited rent rises and tax handouts to wealthy property investors”. Keep Peter Dutton out? The Greens? Consider the seats the Bandt has explicitly said the Greens will target at the next election: Sydney, Macnamara, Wills, Cooper, Richmond. All Labor seats. The Greens will keep Dutton out by... taking seats off Labor. Makes sense. The entire Greens project is to take seats off Labor, understandably. The extent to which a hard-left party cannibalises the vote of a notionally left party, however, matters little to the electability of a right-wing party, beyond the extent to which it makes it easier for the right-wing party to become the largest grouping in Parliament and thus best-placed to form government. Australian powerbrokers’ debut event aims for (and gets) five out of ten DAANYAL SAEED Asked by Spencer to first identify themselves on a political sliding scale of 1-10, with 1 being nominally left and 10 being nominally right, Aly opened proceedings by saying he liked to think he exists “on a third axis ... I’ve previously argued in print that left and right are meaningless terms”. “I would, however, say I’m contractually obliged to be a 5,” he joked. Lehmann, however, was more forthcoming, describing herself as “probably a seven”, later describing herself as “centre-right”. It was in contrast to Kelty, a key figure in the establishment of the Keating-era Accords , who said he stopped referring to binary left-right scales “when he was 13 or 14”. Kelty went on to describe himself as “unashamedly socialist”. READ ALL ABOUT IT Eight men detained over suspected Laos methanol poisoning that killed six backpackers (ABC) Netanyahu urges cabinet to approve ceasefire with Hezbollah ( The New York Times ) ($) Five survivors rescued day after tourist boat sank in Red Sea — as search for missing ‘intensifies’ (Sky News) Fugitive on FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list arrested in UK (CBS News) No 10 dismisses Russia spy claims as ‘baseless’ (BBC) Relevance! Relevance! Relevance! Microsoft at 50 is an AI Giant — and still hell-bent on domination ( WIRED ) THE COMMENTARIAT What has happened to gambling reform under Labor? It’s simple — the government has been cowed by vested interests — Tim Costello (Guardian Australia): I had a visit on Sunday this week from a secondary school teacher who was asking how he can help his students who are all underage and who have sports betting apps and accounts. He is distressed that they have absorbed the gambling ad message and that their passion for sport is expressed through gambling. I assured him that given Labor and the Coalition would legislate a ban on social media for 16-year-olds they cannot enforce, it was surely a fait accompli that we would see a gambling ad ban which they can enforce. Exactly the same anxiety that parents feel about social media, they feel about gambling ads grooming their kids. Just a few hours later I saw the news that the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese , seems to have squibbed any gambling ad reform at all. I was profoundly shocked. A year ago, I had witnessed the emotion of the PM when he spoke at Peta Murphy’s funeral and I had been assured that Labor would honour her groundbreaking legacy on gambling reform. I honestly believed that. Mr Trump, do you realise how much the world has changed since you were president? — Thomas L. Friedman ( The New York Times ): President-elect Trump, you may think that your second term will be judged by how many tariffs you impose on China. I beg to differ. When it comes to US-China relations, I think your legacy — as well as President Xi Jinping’s — will be determined by how quickly, effectively and collaboratively the United States and China come up with a shared technical and ethical framework embedded in each AI system that prevents it from becoming destructive on its own — without human direction — or being useful to bad actors who might want to deploy it for destructive purposes. History will not look kindly on you, President-elect Trump, if you choose to prioritise the price of toys for American tots over an agreement with China on the behaviour of AI bots.Tamannaah joins Salman for Dabangg Reloaded Dubai
Sales growth of drugs slowed down in fiscal year 2023-24 ending last June, which could be an effect of high inflationary pressure prevailing in the country over the last two years. Meanwhile, prices of drug products of several companies have increased. The Bangladesh pharmaceutical market recorded a moderate sales growth of 7.2 percent in the fiscal year. It was an exceptional 15.3 percent in the preceding fiscal year. Last fiscal year's growth rate is lower than the average of 9 percent recorded by the industry in the past four years. The market sales amounted to Tk 32,870 crore in the year ending on June 30 this year, according to IQVIA, a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry. It was Tk 30,660 crore in the preceding fiscal year. Sales growth of drugs dropped mainly due to a reduction in the purchasing capacity of people amid high inflation for more than two years, said Jubayer Alam, company secretary at Renata PLC. Inflation rose to 11.38 percent in November, the highest in four months, owing to the soaring prices of food, especially the staple rice and vegetables, according to the state-run Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. It has remained over 9 percent since March 2023. Due to ongoing inflationary pressure, real income reductions have pushed at least 78 lakh people into poverty, according to a study of the Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID). This includes 38 lakh people who have become extremely poor. Besides, around 1 crore more are at risk of slipping below the poverty line due to continued inflationary pressures, the private research firm said. If people, especially lower middle income and financially insolvent people, do not feel an extreme need for medicine, they avoid going to pharmacies, said Alam. They prioritise other basic needs, such as food, over medication, he said. Among the different drug groups, antibiotics witnessed a 10.16 percent growth. It was 11.20 percent in the previous fiscal year. Rising awareness of self-care has driven the growth of certain medicines that currently require prescriptions but have the potential to become over-the-counter drugs. These include antihistamines and expectorants, which saw sales growths of 16.23 percent and 12.92 percent respectively. A few therapeutic class drugs like proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), calcium and vitamins saw minimum growths of 5.72 percent, 6.63 percent and 4.89 percent respectively. PPIs represent a class of drugs most prominently known for their use in acid-related disorders. The pharmaceutical sector usually grows at a handsome rate every year, but the growth might not be high, especially when the country's GDP growth rate is projected to fall, said MA Razzaque, chairman of the RAPID. On the other hand, there is persistent inflationary pressure, for which people's purchasing power has dropped, he said. So, there is a possibility that people reduced their consumption of drugs. It is true that prices of drugs rose, so people are facing difficulties to afford medicine, he added. A top official of a listed drug company said every company could not adjust prices in spite of a rise in raw material costs due to the depreciation of the local taka against the US dollar. Apart from raw material costs, energy costs also experienced a notable increase, driven by a 10 percent increase in electricity prices and a 2.3 percent average increase in diesel prices in FY24. Company-wise, Square Pharmaceuticals saw a sales growth of 15 percent to reach Tk 7,010 crore while Beximco Pharmaceuticals 13 percent to Tk 4,439 crore and Renata PLC 14.4 percent to Tk 3,771 crore, according to their financial reports. Although the growth in consolidated sales, meaning sales including those of subsidiaries, was high, standalone sales growth of the companies were comparatively low. Regarding the industry's lower growth rate, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, in its annual report, said it reflects the broader economic challenges of the year, including persistent inflationary pressures, macroeconomic instability, and reduced GDP growth. These factors have posed significant challenges for the pharmaceutical industry, and prolonged inflation coupled with subdued economic conditions may continue to constrain market expansion in the coming year, it added. Bangladesh is largely self-sufficient in pharmaceuticals, producing 98 percent of the medicines needed for the domestic market. The industry is home to around 300 companies and has grown to become one of the country's top export sectors, supplying generic medicines to over 150 countries. Sales growth of drugs slowed down in fiscal year 2023-24 ending last June, which could be an effect of high inflationary pressure prevailing in the country over the last two years. Meanwhile, prices of drug products of several companies have increased. The Bangladesh pharmaceutical market recorded a moderate sales growth of 7.2 percent in the fiscal year. It was an exceptional 15.3 percent in the preceding fiscal year. Last fiscal year's growth rate is lower than the average of 9 percent recorded by the industry in the past four years. The market sales amounted to Tk 32,870 crore in the year ending on June 30 this year, according to IQVIA, a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry. It was Tk 30,660 crore in the preceding fiscal year. Sales growth of drugs dropped mainly due to a reduction in the purchasing capacity of people amid high inflation for more than two years, said Jubayer Alam, company secretary at Renata PLC. Inflation rose to 11.38 percent in November, the highest in four months, owing to the soaring prices of food, especially the staple rice and vegetables, according to the state-run Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. It has remained over 9 percent since March 2023. Due to ongoing inflationary pressure, real income reductions have pushed at least 78 lakh people into poverty, according to a study of the Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID). This includes 38 lakh people who have become extremely poor. Besides, around 1 crore more are at risk of slipping below the poverty line due to continued inflationary pressures, the private research firm said. If people, especially lower middle income and financially insolvent people, do not feel an extreme need for medicine, they avoid going to pharmacies, said Alam. They prioritise other basic needs, such as food, over medication, he said. Among the different drug groups, antibiotics witnessed a 10.16 percent growth. It was 11.20 percent in the previous fiscal year. Rising awareness of self-care has driven the growth of certain medicines that currently require prescriptions but have the potential to become over-the-counter drugs. These include antihistamines and expectorants, which saw sales growths of 16.23 percent and 12.92 percent respectively. A few therapeutic class drugs like proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), calcium and vitamins saw minimum growths of 5.72 percent, 6.63 percent and 4.89 percent respectively. PPIs represent a class of drugs most prominently known for their use in acid-related disorders. The pharmaceutical sector usually grows at a handsome rate every year, but the growth might not be high, especially when the country's GDP growth rate is projected to fall, said MA Razzaque, chairman of the RAPID. On the other hand, there is persistent inflationary pressure, for which people's purchasing power has dropped, he said. So, there is a possibility that people reduced their consumption of drugs. It is true that prices of drugs rose, so people are facing difficulties to afford medicine, he added. A top official of a listed drug company said every company could not adjust prices in spite of a rise in raw material costs due to the depreciation of the local taka against the US dollar. Apart from raw material costs, energy costs also experienced a notable increase, driven by a 10 percent increase in electricity prices and a 2.3 percent average increase in diesel prices in FY24. Company-wise, Square Pharmaceuticals saw a sales growth of 15 percent to reach Tk 7,010 crore while Beximco Pharmaceuticals 13 percent to Tk 4,439 crore and Renata PLC 14.4 percent to Tk 3,771 crore, according to their financial reports. Although the growth in consolidated sales, meaning sales including those of subsidiaries, was high, standalone sales growth of the companies were comparatively low. Regarding the industry's lower growth rate, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, in its annual report, said it reflects the broader economic challenges of the year, including persistent inflationary pressures, macroeconomic instability, and reduced GDP growth. These factors have posed significant challenges for the pharmaceutical industry, and prolonged inflation coupled with subdued economic conditions may continue to constrain market expansion in the coming year, it added. Bangladesh is largely self-sufficient in pharmaceuticals, producing 98 percent of the medicines needed for the domestic market. The industry is home to around 300 companies and has grown to become one of the country's top export sectors, supplying generic medicines to over 150 countries.
Blogging Platforms Market to See Booming Growth 2024-2031 12-21-2024 06:51 PM CET | Media & Telecommunications Press release from: Coherent Market Insights Blogging Platforms Market According to the latest research from Coherent Market Insights, the Blogging Platforms Market is projected to experience significant growth between 2024 and 2031. This market intelligence report offers in-depth analysis based on thorough research, highlighting current trends, financial performance, and historical data evaluation. The company profiles within the report are derived from the current performance of the Blogging Platforms market, considering key factors such as drivers, trends, and challenges, as well as global market share, size, and revenue forecasts for comprehensive insights. To provide a clear understanding, the report examines leading companies, types, applications, and the factors contributing to a positive future outlook. The Blogging Platforms market report includes detailed charts, tables, and data analysis, with clear objectives aimed at potential stakeholders. It offers a comprehensive study of the Blogging Platforms market, providing valuable insights to support strong growth in the future. This report is designed for a wide range of interested parties, including stakeholders, market participants, investors, researchers, and other individuals associated with the business. ✅ Purchase This Research Report and Get Upto 45% Discount at : https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/promo/buynow/102441 📈 Overview and Scope of the Report: The Global Keword Market Analysis Report offers a comprehensive overview of the market size across various segments and countries, including historical data and future forecasts. The report outlines the competitive landscape of the global market, discussing market dynamics, drivers, and segmentation by application, type, region, and manufacturer. It provides both qualitative and quantitative insights into the industry for the regions and countries covered. Additionally, the report highlights key opportunities in the Keword market, identifying the factors driving growth and expected to continue fueling expansion. It also considers past growth trends, current drivers, and future market developments. The financial standings of key players, including gross profits, sales volumes, revenue, manufacturing costs, and other financial ratios, are accurately assessed. Additionally, analytical tools such as investment evaluation, SWOT analysis, and Porter's Five Forces analysis have been employed to examine the production and distribution capabilities of market participants. Deep-dive Analysis: The Report provides deep-dive qualitative and quantitative analysis on Blogging Platforms Market for all the regions and countries covered below: • North America (the United States, Canada, and Mexico) • Europe (Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, SCANDIVAN, Benelux, Russia, and Rest of Europe) • Asia-Pacific (Japan, South Korea, India, China, Southeast Asia, and Australia) • South America (Brazil, Argentina, and Rest of South America) • Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, South Africa, and Rest of the Middle East & Africa) • Each Country is covered in detail, and report provides qualitative and quantitative analysis on Blogging Platforms Market on each country. Highlights of Our Report: ⏩Extensive Market Analysis: A deep dive into the manufacturing capabilities, production volumes, and technological innovations within the Blogging Platforms Market. ⏩ Corporate Insights: An in-depth review of company profiles, spotlighting major players and their strategic manoeuvres in the market's competitive arena. ⏩Consumption Trends: A detailed analysis of consumption patterns, offering insight into current demand dynamics and consumer preferences. ⏩Segmentation Details: An exhaustive breakdown of end-user segments, depicting the market's spread across various applications and industries. ⏩ Pricing Evaluation: A study of pricing structures and the elements influencing market pricing strategies. ⏩ Future Outlook: Predictive insights into market trends, growth prospects, and potential challenges ahead. ✅ Purchase This Research Report and Get Upto 45% Discount at : https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/promo/buynow/102441 Reason to Buy this Report: ■ Study of the impact of technological developments on the market and the emerging trends shaping the industry in the coming years. ■ Analysis of the regulatory and policy changes affecting the market and the effects of these changes for market participants. ■ Summary of the competitive landscape in the Blogging Platforms market, including profiles of the key players, their market share, and strategies for growth. ■Identification of the major challenges facing the market, such as supply chain disruptions, environmental concerns, and changing consumer preferences, and analysis of how these challenges will affect market growth. ■Assessment of the potential of new products and applications in the market, and analysis of the investment opportunities for market participants. Questions Answered by the Report: (1) Which are the dominant players of the Blogging Platforms Market? (2) What will be the size of the Blogging Platforms Market in the coming years? (3) Which segment will lead the Blogging Platforms Market? (4) How will the market development trends change in the next five years? (5) What is the nature of the competitive landscape of the Blogging Platforms Market? (6) What are the go-to strategies adopted in the Blogging Platforms Market? Author of this marketing PR: Alice Mutum is a seasoned senior content editor at Coherent Market Insights, leveraging extensive expertise gained from her previous role as a content writer. With seven years in content development, Alice masterfully employs SEO best practices and cutting-edge digital marketing strategies to craft high-ranking, impactful content. As an editor, she meticulously ensures flawless grammar and punctuation, precise data accuracy, and perfect alignment with audience needs in every research report. Alice's dedication to excellence and her strategic approach to content make her an invaluable asset in the world of market insights. ☎ Contact Us: Mr. Shah Senior Client Partner - Business Development Coherent Market Insights Phone: US: +12524771362 UK: +442039578553 AUS: +61-2-4786-0457 India: +91-848-285-0837 Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Website: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com About Us: Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. We are known for our actionable insights and authentic reports in various domains including aerospace and defense, agriculture, food and beverages, automotive, chemicals and materials, and virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients. This release was published on openPR.
Baltimore City’s lucrative network of fiscal sponsorships is heavily tied to liberal foundations and donors, most notably billionaire George Soros, according to a Spotlight on Maryland investigation. Organizations providing fiscal sponsorship thrive in Baltimore by overseeing the finances and operations of numerous nonprofits that are not registered with the IRS. This system allows smaller nonprofits to avoid filing public tax disclosures, even if they receive taxpayer dollars. Fiscal sponsors often charge sponsored organizations fees for their services. The Baltimore City government has helped grow fiscal sponsorships in recent years, as previously reported by Spotlight on Maryland. The city has spent millions in taxpayer dollars on fiscal sponsors such as Fusion Partnerships and the Foundation for Educational Excellence (FFEE) via the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund (BCYF). The funding from Baltimore City comes as these same organizations welcome contributions from influential liberal philanthropy groups. Contributions to fiscal sponsors typically fall into one of two categories: payments for operational support or grants earmarked for fiscally sponsored organizations. Soros appears to be the most significant donor to fiscal sponsors in Baltimore through his Open Society Institute, which was the Open Society Foundations’ only U.S. field office until it closed last year after 25 years of operation. Open Society Foundations has sent roughly $8 million to Fusion Partnerships since 2016, according to its public database, a large portion of which came from Alliance for Open Society International Inc. Another roughly $7 million went to FFEE since 2016. Open Society Foundations has also funded two other local fiscal sponsors, sending over $1 million since 2020 to the Maryland Philanthropy Network and more than $300,000 since 2021 to Bmore Empowered. Hana Pugh, the operations director for Bmore Empowered, is married to Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a Baltimore-based grantmaking organization that primarily donates to liberal causes, also funds local fiscal sponsors. Since 2020, the Casey Foundation has given more than $1 million to Fusion Partnerships, more than $5 million to FFEE, nearly $1 million to the Maryland Philanthropy Network and more than $100,000 to Bmore Empowered, according to its public tax forms. OSI Baltimore and the Casey Foundation issued a study in August 2021 titled “Mapping Baltimore’s Fiscal Sponsorship Landscape.” Researchers for the project interviewed local nonprofit and fiscal sponsor staff. The report concluded that grant distributors, such as government entities, need to provide more money to fiscal sponsors. “These cash reserves could be done as one-time direct investments into specific fiscal sponsors, such as BCYF did with Fusion Partnership,” the report recommended, likely referencing Fusion Partnership’s $1.5 million contract with BCYF in June 2021, revealed in a public information request by Spotlight on Maryland. Baltimore City has given over $500,000 in taxpayer dollars to Fusion Partnerships over the past two years, according to the Baltimore City Board of Estimates website. The grants were specifically awarded for fiscally sponsored organizations. Open Society Foundations and the Annie E. Casey Foundation did not respond to questions about why taxpayer dollars are needed to fund fiscal sponsors while they receive millions from prominent foundations. The Casey Foundation largely distributes grants to liberal-leaning organizations, according to Influence Watch. Similarly, Open Society Foundations funds efforts in the U.S. to reduce incarceration rates, boost equity initiatives and establish lenient drug use laws. BCYF is fully funded by Baltimore City taxpayer dollars and provides grants to local nonprofits for youth-focused programming. The group gave $2 million to FFEE in December 2021, followed by another $3.85 million in subsequent years, according to documents obtained by Spotlight on Maryland. David Williams, president of the nonpartisan Taxpayer Protection Alliance, said there is reason for concern when heavily political foundations are tied to local community projects. “These foundations are giving out hundreds of billions of dollars a year, and they have a political agenda,” he told Spotlight on Maryland. “When you’re doing city services, you really have to be careful about where the money is coming from because you’re supposed to be agnostic. If you’re cleaning the streets, if you’re trying to keep kids out of jail, if you’re trying, whatever you’re trying to accomplish as a nonprofit, you really need to be agnostic and not have any sort of political bias or any perceived political bias.” FFEE has received $20.8 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and $1.75 million from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation since 2020. Baltimore City Public Schools announced in December 2023 that it received a $12.2 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with FFEE to help 9th graders graduate high school. FFEE touts on its website that it raised more than $60 million over the past six years for Baltimore City Public Schools initiatives. It removed a mention on its website this year about how it helped secure grants from the U.S. Department of Education. FFEE listed nearly $1 million in travel expenses, almost $800,000 for supplies, about $400,000 for meals, nearly $300,000 for printing and publications and nearly $6 million for grants on its fiscal year 2023 tax form. The Bainum Family Foundation, tied to billionaire Stewart Bainum Jr., a former elected Democrat in the Maryland statehouse, gave $125,000 to Fusion Partnerships from 2021 to 2022. The foundation gave another $100,000 to the Maryland Philanthropy Network in 2023. The Children’s Equity Fund, also tied to the Bainum family, gave $550,000 to Fusion Partnerships since 2022.
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Hafed Al-Ghwell In recent years, European policy concerning Africa has surged, with no shortage of flamboyant plans from Brussels to engage with the fastest growing continent, a region teeming with promise yet overshadowed by persistent woes. However, what is glaringly absent from these plans is a sense of urgency in the need to pivot away from a model dominated by aid dependency and reactive, overly securitized measures. The EU’s current trajectory leans too heavily upon tools of enforcement and too lightly on strategic, diplomatic, and policy ingenuity. With rumors swirling about Donald Trump’s intentions when he returns to the White House in January, there is speculation that fears of a resumption of his “America First” agenda might prompt the EU to take urgent action. Yet, the facts paint a different picture. European engagement with Africa is shackled by fundamental flaws and misconceptions. The misguided belief that Europe’s role is chiefly reactive, filling any voids left by US withdrawals, is not only ineffective but emblematic of broader missteps. This reactive stance perpetuates a cycle of dependency and demonstrates a lack of strategic vision that overlooks the unique strengths Europe could offer through genuine partnerships rather than paternalistic tactics. Africa, a continent with some of the world’s fastest growing economies, and a youthful demographic poised to drive future global growth, requires collaboration on equal footing. This misalignment is further compounded by Europe’s own internal crises and its singular focus on countering external geopolitical threats. Rather than acting as a supplementary force to American policy, Europe should recognize the dynamic shifts in Africa’s geopolitical landscape, marked by growing assertiveness and diversified global partnerships, and engage with the continent’s leaders to tackle shared challenges such as climate change, migration, and sustainable development. This approach necessitates a move beyond the superficial engagements that only serve Europe’s interests to embrace a forward-looking partnership aimed at mutual benefit and shared prosperity. Brussels often touts ambitious frameworks such as the European Green Deal but these are frequently overshadowed by more immediate concerns such as migration and security threats, which are managed through a narrow lens. Such an approach neglects Africa’s potential as a partner in efforts to address shared global challenges such as an overdue global energy transition and the intensification of climate-driven disasters, challenges that require collaborative, long-term commitments rather than short-sighted “Band-Aid” solutions. The varying strategies among EU member states reflect fragmented efforts more rooted in colonial legacies and immediate national interests than a coherent, unified policy. France’s deep, historically entrenched ties with Africa through military, economic, and cultural networks might set a precedent but they often fail to move beyond a neocolonial posture. Meanwhile, Germany and Italy, despite ramping up engagement, still appear driven by their own internal agendas rather than any unified European vision. This disjointed approach not only weakens Europe’s geopolitical stance but also misses the strategic opportunity to build meaningful, forward-looking partnerships with African nations. As Europe’s patchwork of policies oscillates between development aid and security priorities, there remains a glaring lack of the genuine partnership frameworks which are needed in order to tackle global challenges. Historical hangovers from Europe’s approach to Africa continue to undermine meaningful policies, since most tend to be mired in a paternalistic mindset that creates significant barriers to forming the kind of coequal partnerships that Africa desperately seeks. In addition, the European view of Africa as a mere recipient of aid rather than a key strategic partner reflects a deep-seated reluctance to adopt more radical approaches. This is evident in the political manifestos of European political parties, which continue to focus on security, migration control, and resource extraction, rather than championing economic growth and sustainable development. The European People’s Party, for instance, emphasizes security-led narratives and border management, yet offers little on establishing strategic partnerships. Furthermore, the European Parliament’s apparent disinterest during electoral debates in Africa-EU relations reflects woeful neglect, partly spurred by immediate crises and dismally low policy bandwidth for a radical transformation of EU-Africa engagement. This crisis-driven approach cripples long-term strategic planning and neglects the deeper interactions with African nations that are required to drive a shared agenda forward. An example of this is the cancellation of key meetings between leaders of the African Union and the EU, reflecting the strained relations over divergent policy stances. These systemic issues represent a failure to evolve beyond colonial-era dynamics and mindsets, which impedes the EU’s potential to gain influence through real, collaborative partnerships. For the EU to truly recalibrate its relationship with Africa, superficial policy updates are woefully insufficient; a comprehensive strategic reevaluation is paramount. This begins with acknowledging the emergence of Africa as a vital geopolitical force, not a mere beneficiary of European tutelage. The EU must utilize its soft power more effectively through equitable trade, robust cultural exchanges, expansive educational programs, and advanced technological cooperation. Such measures must aim to empower African nations, encouraging growth from within, rather than sustaining a cycle of dependency through exploitative trade practices and one-sided agreements. Concrete steps toward fostering self-sufficiency involve more than just economic incentives; they require sustainable investments in infrastructure, education, and technology that enable African countries to develop independently. This includes the recognition of African priorities in international dialogues and decision-making processes, to ensure policies are shaped by those they impact the most. For instance, integration of insights from African leaders into European policy frameworks could lead to more effective and relevant initiatives. The EU must abandon its paternalistic stance and engage with Africa as an equal partner, placing value on African perspectives and expertise to help forge policies that are genuinely collaborative. By broadening its focus beyond security and migration, the EU can capitalize on emerging opportunities in sectors such as renewable energy, digital innovation, and education. Such initiatives would not only improve Africa’s infrastructure and economic prospects but also strategically benefit Europe. Investing in digital innovation in Africa could facilitate the growth of technological hubs akin to Silicon Savannah in Nairobi, which serve as nurturing economic environments for the incubation of local startups and help attract global ventures. Furthermore, educational partnerships could address skills deficits and the development of the skilled workforces essential for sustainable development and the demands of an interconnected world. The continent’s free-trade agreement, despite its challenges, signals a strong commitment to economic integration that Europe can reinforce by providing support for regional infrastructure projects. It is essential that the EU recognizes its engagement with the continent is not merely a goodwill gesture; it is a strategic imperative to help the bloc secure a foothold in the world’s fastest-growing regions. This course correction should have taken place two decades ago. Yet even now there is a pivotal opportunity to realign. Africa is not merely a neighbor in need but a vital partner, one whose progress is intertwined with Europe’s own future. There is no better time than the present to embrace this partnership with vision, respect, and a commitment to shared prosperity. Courtesy: arabnews
shailee.dogra@htlive.com Himachal Pradesh government has once again raised the issue of exempting state’s share in railway projects with Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Technical education minister Rajesh Dharmani, in a pre-budget meeting held at Jaisalmer, urged the finance minister that the ongoing railway — Bhanupalli-Bilaspur rail project and Chandigarh Baddi railway projects— should be purely implemented by the central government in place of joint ventures and Himachal being a hilly state and having International Border (IB) with China should be exempted from paying its share. It may be mentioned that Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had recently informed the Lok Sabha that two new rail line projects — Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri (63.5 km) and Chandigarh-Baddi (30 km) — have been affected due to non-fulfilment of commitments by the Himachal Pradesh government as ₹ 1496.75 crore is outstanding with the state government. This was stated in response to a question by MP Suresh Kumar Kashyap. The Union minister said the two new line projects falling fully/partly in Himachal Pradesh have been sanctioned on cost cost-sharing basis with the state government. Dharmani also urged the minister to provide at least 50% central share to acquire land for expansion of Kangra Airport. In the pre-budget meeting, the minister also advocated for continuing special central assistance (SCA) and enhancing RDG grants and central road infrastructural fund (CRIF), which has been decreased from ₹ 11,140 crores in 2020-21 to ₹ 3,256 crores in 2025-26. Apart from this, he also requested the Union minister to include ropeways under the PMGSY scheme and also provide the 10% state share and five five-year maintenance cost of PMGSY works and emphasised establishing skill university in the state with multi-disciplinary institutions of technical, and vocational education and research with special focus on geometrics engineering, geosciences, environment engineering, disaster-related studies, new age technology courses etc. He also urged the finance minister to increase customs duty from 50% to 100% on the import of apples to protect the interest of apple growers. ‘Compensate state as per ‘Kyoto Protocol’ norms’ In the 55th meeting of the GST council, Dharmani raised the issue of compensating the state on the analogy of the “Kyoto Protocol’, which provides for compensating low carbon emission countries in comparison to the nations with high carbon emissions. He also argued in favour of factoring in low population density. Dharmani took up the issue of GST compensation and urged to introduce some arrangements so that hilly states like Himachal could be compensated for the loss of revenue due to GST implementation. He also took up the issue of ₹ 200 crore demand notices issued by CGST authorities to toll lessees of Himachal Pradesh. As the council deliberated extensively on easing the tax burden in the insurance sector before, where Dharmani strongly advocated in favour of exempting individual health and term insurance policies, especially for women, children and senior citizens. He also argued in favour of exempting GST on research and development for an initial ten to fifteen years including for public as well as private entrepreneurs.live Updated 4m ago Bill Belichick agrees to deal to become UNC football head coach: Sources Bill Belichick, the longtime New England Patriots coach who won six Super Bowls but has not led a team in a year, will be the next football coach at the University of North Carolina, sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic on Wednesday. Belichick, who left the Patriots after the 2023 season, will move to the college ranks after spending his entire coaching career in the NFL . He agreed to fill the vacancy left by Mack Brown, the winningest coach in North Carolina’s history, who was fired just before the end of a tumultuous 2024 regular season in Chapel Hill. Read more here on the deal and stay tuned to this live blog covering more developments of Belichick's move to Chapel Hill. GO FURTHER Bill Belichick agrees to deal to become UNC football head coach: Sources Highlights of Belichick's NFL career: Winning Super Bowl LIII (Getty Images) If winning Super Bowl XXXVI was Bill Belichick’s coming-out party, then winning Super Bowl LIII was his magnum opus. Even after 19 years of befuddling offenses at the helm of New England’s defense, Belichick proved he was still the league’s grandest chessmaster on Feb. 3, 2019. The 2019 Rams rode Sean McVay’s innovative system to the league’s second-highest-scoring offense. But the Los Angeles team that scored 30-plus points 13 times that season found itself in a defensive battle in the Super Bowl. Belichick stymied McVay’s rhythm by jamming the line of scrimmage and limiting Los Angeles’ potent inside run game. On the outside, Belichick had his secondary switch from man coverage to zone, forcing young Rams quarterback Jared Goff to hunt for mismatches while facing constant pressure. Goff struggled, completing just 19 of 38 passes for 229 yards before throwing the game-sealing interception after a zero-blitz call by defensive play caller Brian Flores (another key Belichick hire). The Patriots won 13-3, the lowest-scoring Super Bowl in history. Advertisement Length of Bill Belichick's goes against norm in college? (Getty Images) Three years after extra-long, mega contracts for head coaches were all the rage in college football, North Carolina just gave six-time Super Bowl Bill Belichick a deal that will be half the length of Dillon Gabriel’s playing career. The three-year contract Belichick, 72, agreed to Wednesday, according to multiple people briefed on the terms, is two years shorter than the extension former Tar Heels coach Mack Brown received in 2023, which ran through 2028. The super long deals were all the rage in 2021. Michigan State was among the first to dive in, giving 10 years, $95 million guaranteed to Mel Tucker. What followed was 8-10 year deals for James Franklin at Penn State, Mario Cristobal at Miami, Brian Kelly at LSU and Lincoln Riley at USC. The industry standard nowadays is six and up for big programs. Conventional wisdom is coach contracts need to have at least four or five years remaining on them at all times so recruits can feel assure they will have the same coach throughout their careers. But with players so transient these days because of free transfers, does that even matter anymore? Bill Belichick and his father's connection with UNC (Submitted photo) The other connection worth noting here is Bill Belichick's father, Steve, served as an assistant coach at UNC in the 1950s. Steve is pictured above in the middle in a November 1953 program from a UNC-Notre Dame game. Former UNC QB Drake Maye supportive of Bill Belichick’s arrival in Chapel Hill (Getty Images) Count Drake Maye among those excited for Bill Belichick’s arrival in North Carolina. The quarterback, who is in the weird spot of just missing Belichick at both UNC and with the Patriots, said he was excited for the move on Wednesday. “Obviously a legendary coach with the success he had here, and what a great place Chapel Hill is. So any time you have a legendary NFL coach going back to college, I think it’s cool,” Maye said Wednesday afternoon before the move was finalized. “...I think coach Belichick would love Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill is a great spot. So nothing official, but a cool thing for a Hall of Fame coach to go back and coach some college kids.” Maye arrived in New England just a couple months after Belichick’s split from the Patriots. Now the two-year starter at UNC is looking forward to watching some of his former teammates play for Belichick. “I’m sure they’ll be excited,” Maye said. “Coach Belichick, defensive mind, I’m sure he’ll get that defense rolling. I think it’s a great spot and a great coaching job. I can’t blame him. It’s an awesome place.” Could Bill Belichick handled today's college football landscape? Damien Harris speaks on Until Saturday Is Bill Belichick a fit for today's college football? David Ubben, Chris Vannini, and Damien Harris, who played under Belichick, kibbitz about Belichick's fit in today's college environment. Could Belichick handle NIL, recruiting, and coaching young CFB athletes? WATCH HERE Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy when told that Bill Belichick is going to be coaching at the University of North Carolina: “Wow, that’s great. That’s a beautiful place. No, I’m serious. I think it’s cool, I really do. Coaching is coaching. “I’ll say one thing, they’ll be someone to be reckoned with. I have a lot of respect for Bill and the job that he’s always done. He was always very difficult to compete against. ... Congratulations to him. I’m happy for him.” Advertisement This isn’t to say this will work. But Belichick has been at every Georgia pro day that I can remember, often conducting drills himself, and always spending time with Kirby Smart. You can imagine that Belichick knows how modern college football programs are run, especially given his relationship with Nick Saban. He shouldn’t go into this unprepared or overconfident. There was a whiff of that in his comments on the Pat McAfee show, when he talked about his hypothetical college program being an NFL prep program, with Belichick listing all the things that entailed. That won’t make North Carolina unique, especially compared to most SEC and Big Ten programs, and a few in the ACC. The question is whether Belichick considers that a starting point, which would be good, or a separator, which it would be a bad indicator. We'll miss out on Belichick vs. O'Brien in Boston in 2025 (Getty Images) Too bad UNC isn’t scheduled to play Boston College in 2025. What an event it would be if the Tar Heels were playing the Eagles at Chestnut Hill next fall. Still more questions to answer for Bill Belichick and UNC (Getty Images) My biggest question about UNC in this hire is what exactly is the medium-term plan here? The Athletic reports Belichick is expected to sign a three-year deal, which is unheard of in this sport, where most coaches have deals between four and six years. Belichick will be 73 years old when the 2025 season kicks off, and it’s no secret he still wants to get back to the NFL. None of this is indicative of someone who plans to be there for a long time. So... then what? He’ll have to recruit players whom he likely won’t coach very much if at all. What is that pitch like? How much of his so-called organization and plan will actually be implemented? Is this all so his son Steve can take over? When previous splash hires were made, like Charlie Weis at Notre Dame, Herm Edwards at Arizona State or Lovie Smith at Illinois, it was at least under the idea that they would reshape the program in their image over a long period of time. Will Belichick have enough time to do that? Does he even want to? Is Bill Belichick's deal too short? Some might think a three-year deal is too short in college football, but considering how much change rosters go through on a yearly basis these days, it may not matter much. Former UNC WR Dyami Brown: 'It's a different ballgame out there now' Count former North Carolina WR and current Washington Commander Dyami Brown as one of the many who are curious how this marriage between Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels will work. Advertisement What Bill Belichick accomplished in the NFL During his 24 seasons with the Patriots, Belichick won six championships while paired with Tom Brady at quarterback, a run that cemented Belichick as one of the NFL’s most decorated coaches. He has 333 wins, including games in the regular season and playoffs, and is 14 victories away from tying Don Shula for the NFL career record for head coaches. What's next for Bill Belichick's media career? Asked how this will impact Bill Belichick's assignments with ESPN, the network declined comment to The Athletic . But something to keep in mind. ESPN has one ManningCast left (the wildcard game) so it would be easy for Belichick to fulfill that assignment. His deal with Pat McAfee is separate from ESPN proper. There is also precedent here: ESPN used Nick Saban while he was still coaching Alabama. So expect Belichick to continue to do some ESPN and keep this in mind: ESPN has a big investment in the ACC and North Carolina doing well helps them. What will Bill Belichick’s contract look like? Per myself and Ralph D. Russo, Bill Belichick’s contract with UNC is expected to be a three-year, $30 million deal. GO FURTHER Bill Belichick agrees to deal to become UNC football head coach: Sources I keep coming back to one thing with Bill Belichick headed to college: Control. The NFL seemed unlikely to give him the full say over the roster he hoped for (and had with the Pats). In college, he gets that.
Arsenal investigating kit man after complaint over 'antisemitic' posts on social media - The MirrorArtificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are revolutionising electrical engineering by offering transformative solutions for renewable energy integration, electric vehicle innovation and sustainable development, emphasised the experts at Osmania University’s two-day international conference on “Current Challenges – Innovations in Electrical Engineering.” The conference, which began on Friday, brought together leading academics, researchers and industry experts to explore how AI and ML are shaping the future of electrical engineering. These technologies were highlighted as essential tools in tackling global challenges, from enhancing energy efficiency to enabling breakthroughs in quantum computing. Renowned academic and guest speaker Prof. Suresh Chandra Srivastava, former deputy director of IIT Kanpur, highlighted Osmania University’s potential to revolutionise the field through cutting-edge research, including quantum computing. His insights sparked discussions on the integration of AI, ML and emerging tools to address the pressing demands of the industry. Osmania University’s vice-chancellor Prof. Kumar Molugaram, in his inaugural address, called for a technology-driven approach to education and research. He stressed the urgent need to embed sustainable practices into engineering, stating, “In today’s world, a society without electricity is unimaginable, even for five minutes.” He pointed to the growing electric vehicle sector as a prime area for AI and ML-driven innovations, offering vast opportunities for research and employment. Adding to the discourse, OU alumnus Gopal T.K. Krishna described the conference’s role as a collaborative platform to generate new ideas and proposals. “This is where academia meets industry to drive meaningful innovation,” he observed.Footy great turned reality TV star David Zaharakis makes stunning sporting switch - and now he's competing in the world championships David Zaharakis played 226 career games for Essendon Midfielder also had a stint on the Survivor TV show By ANDREW PRENTICE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA and AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 18:14 EST, 11 December 2024 | Updated: 18:15 EST, 11 December 2024 e-mail 9 shares View comments Former Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis has done so well in his transformation into an Ironman competitor that he will face off against the 'elite of the elite' in the sport's world championship this weekend. Zaharakis played 226 games across 13 AFL seasons for the Bombers before retiring in 2021. He was a fan favourite of supporters decked out in red and black, and in 2013 snared the Anzac Day Medal following a commanding performance against Collingwood as well as the being crowned the club's best and fairest player in 2011. The 34-year-old has found a new sporting passion over the past year, competing in Ironman events across five Australian states and Colorado in the US. He told Trizone that his move to endurance racing from chasing Sherrins evolved naturally. 'Honestly, after leaving AFL, I realised my passion for football was waning,' he said. Former Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis (pictured playing for the Bombers) will tackle the 'elite of the elite' in the Ironman 70.3 world championship this weekend After retiring from footy in 2021, Zaharakis needed a new sporting focus - and it came via competing in triathlons 'I always enjoyed swimming and cycling during my AFL career, and I guess it was a natural progression. The idea hit me during a family holiday, and I just went for it.' Zaharakis secured a coveted call-up for this weekend's world championship in the picturesque town of Taupo, where he will compete as an ambassador athlete. He will attack the gruelling race that features a 1.9km swim in Lake Taupo, 90km bike ride and a 21.1km run. 'I still feel very green in the sport, I'm learning new things every single day, with each of the three disciplines,' Zaharakis said. 'You're 12 months in and you realise there is still so much to learn and so much to improve on. 'I'm loving the sport and loving the fact that I've found a new passion, this is still years in the making to become the level that I want to get to. 'I'm willing to work at it every single day to get there. 'A world championship is the elite of the elite, as an athlete you want to be around those people, the best ... hopefully I'm out there putting in a good performance and proving that I belong out there.' Zaharakis also appeared on Australian Survivor in 2022 as part of the Heroes vs Villain aspect of the show. He eventually had his torch snuffed and admitted the experience in Samoa was brutal at times. Zaharakis (pictured with partner Amy Pejkovic) secured a coveted call-up for this weekend's world championship in the picturesque town of Taupo, competing as an ambassador athlete 'It definitely brought back old emotions watching it [on TV],' he told Woman's Day last year. 'It took me a month after leaving the game to really pick over everything and play out different scenarios in my head. 'It's a very unique experience. Playing football, you watch your game back and then you move on. 'For months after I exited [the show] and went home to Australia, I thought about it.' AFL Colorado Share or comment on this article: Footy great turned reality TV star David Zaharakis makes stunning sporting switch - and now he's competing in the world championships e-mail 9 shares Add comment