10jili download

10jili download

Jets say it looks ‘promising’ RB Breece Hall will play vs. JaguarsVeteran college football coach expects former boss Bill Belichick to turn North Carolina around

Almost three quarters of Scottish businesses are confident about their prospects next year, a survey has suggested. The Bank of Scotland’s business barometer poll showed 73% of Scottish businesses expect to see turnover increase in 2025, up from 60% polled in 2023. Almost a quarter (23%) of businesses expect to see their revenue rise by between six and 10% over the next 12 months, with just over a fifth (21%) expecting it to grow by even more. The poll found that 70% of businesses were confident they would become more profitable in 2025, a two per cent increase when compared with the previous year. Revenue and profitability growth was firms’ top priority at 52%, though 40% said they will be targeting improved productivity, and the same proportion said they will be aiming to enhance their technology – such as automation or AI – or upskill their staff (both 29%). More than one in five (22%) want to improve their environmental sustainability. Other areas businesses are hoping to build upon AI-assisted technology (19%), and 24% will be investing in expanding into new UK markets and 23% plan to invest in staff training. The business barometer has surveyed 1,200 businesses every month since 2002, providing early signals about UK economic trends. Martyn Kendrick, Scotland director at Bank of Scotland commercial banking, said: “Scottish businesses are looking ahead to 2025 with stronger growth expectations, and setting out clear plans to drive this expansion through investments in new technology, new markets and their own teams. “As we enter the new year, we’ll continue to by their side to help them pursue their ambitions and seize all opportunities that lie ahead.”Kangkan Kalita is a reporter with The Times of India and covers issues on health, education, stories of human interest while keeping a close watch on political developments and student movements. Reporting on environment and forest related issues and concerns of the northeast interest him equally. Read More Morning habits that can help improve concentration and performance at work Graceful snaps of Helly Shah Statement wedding jewellery inspired by ardent gemstone lover Nita Ambani Elegant snaps of Malavika Mohanan 10 simple ways you can boost productivity at work Vaani Kapoor's winter formal styling sets the next big fashion trend 10 authors who went viral on social media in 2024 Rasha Thadani's all-black look exudes chic elegance 8 tips to protect home garden in winters

Is There a Squid Game Season 3 Release Date & Is It Coming Out?Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. If ever a year deserved to be summed up in a cheap meme, it was 2024. It was the year that felt like being awake during surgery . Sometimes the social media chuckle gallery hits the nail right on the head, but for all the spot-on accuracy of that assessment, it’s also a year that warranted a search for its better angels; a sifting through the flotsam and jetsam for the fairy dust and joy. And there were halos to be found if you looked hard enough. “This is the biggest show we’ve done on this tour or any tour,” Taylor Swift told the crowd of 96,000 at the MCG. Credit: Jason South There was, for instance, a moment back in February when the MCG – traditionally a place that brings the feels during footy in September or the cricket on Boxing Day – seemed to swallow the entire city in a joyous embrace as host to the largest crowd of Taylor Swift’s entire 149-show Eras Tour . It was a tour, and a show, unlike anything Australia or Swift herself had ever seen. “You’re making me feel like I get to play a show for 96,000 beautiful people in Melbourne tonight,” a visibly stunned Swift told the heaving crowd, which was boosted by several thousand more fans “Taylor-gating” outside the stadium. “This is the biggest show that we have done on this tour, or any tour, ever.” The Swiftian joyfest then moved north to Sydney, where the total turnout was even bigger (320,000 across four shows). “Sydney, you are making me feel absolutely phenomenal,” she declared. The feeling was clearly mutual and spread far beyond the venues. As she had done on other stops on the Eras tour, Swift proved a human tonic to everything that ails us — from economic worries (Swiftonomics became a subject worthy of study) to general social malaise. We spend much of our time worrying about the yoof; especially young women. Well, in 2024 Taylor Swift turned up to show us that the kids are alright. And she wasn’t alone. Swiftmania was the herald of what would become the year that “girl power” – a worn and slightly tatty ’90s concept – received a fresh, ferocious update for the 21st century as something deeper, stronger and powered by a kind of worldly-wise joy. Year of the brat Forget sense and sensibility; 2024 was all sass and sensibility. Sabrina Carpenter parlayed her supporting status on the Eras Tour into a blockbuster year that elevated her to near the very top of the tree with no need for Swift’s booster seat. In Carpenter, pop music added another voice that was savvy, sassy, sexy and smart — from the unavoidable bop of Espresso to the come-to-bed brashness of her smash album Short n’ Sweet . Charli XCX took things a step further. The British singer staked her claim to the year by giving 2024 a word, a colour and an attitude all wrapped up in one album – Brat . She summed it up like this: “You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. Who feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown. But kind of like, parties through it, is very honest, very blunt. A little bit volatile. Like, does dumb things. But it’s brat. You’re brat. That’s brat.” Was 2024 the year of the brat? Charli XCX fans certainly thought so. If it doesn’t make sense to you, that’s probably because it isn’t meant to. But as a sensibility, it rode a cultural wave – the joy wave – so adroitly Kamala Harris even hitched her (ill-fated) Joy Wagon to the phenomenon. On a similar train was American Chappell Roan – dubbed the Joy Rebel of the Year – whose success confirmed young women were increasingly sailing different seas from the rest of the culture, and landing in happier places. Gold medal to Celine Dion’s Paris Olympics performance. Credit: Screengrab by IOC via Getty Images In July, it was a diva of a different era who elevated the Paris Olympics, as a wet and occasionally weird opening ceremony gave way to the thing we mostly remember about it – the moment we heard the voice and then spotted the figure of a glistening Celine Dion perched within the Eiffel Tower . It was a moment of extraordinary power – of personal resilience and vocal artistry – that lifted the event out of the damp Paris streets and elevated it to a moment of genuine collective emotion. Paris in summer was where we went looking for hope during the Australian winter, and our team delivered. Well, the women did anyway, bringing home 13 of the 18 gold and 27 of the 45 medals overall for our greatest Games ever. Alongside the usual heroics in the pool ( Kaylee McKeown became the first Australian to win four individual gold was one stand-out among a team of them) there were more eccentric goings-on elsewhere in the Olympic city. You could, if you so chose, react to Rachael “Raygun” Gunn’s zero-point car crash with a scowl and a sneer, and many did, but the open-hearted were able to see the funny side. As were comedians around the world, who found in the Australian breakdancer one of the year’s true unifying comedic moments . In a year of much misery, this achievement should not be underappreciated. There were happy cultural warriors elsewhere, too. In Hollywood, Nicole Kidman seemed to star in every other movie and series – as Steve Martin quipped at the Emmys , “when I see an actor I don’t know, I just say, ‘I loved your scene with Nicole Kidman’, and nine times out of 10, I’m right”. Our Nic took time out from starring in everything to win everything. This included inhaling the very rare air of an American Film Institute Life Achievement Award . Flying the flag for the younger generation, Adelaide’s Sarah Snook carted home an Emmy and a Golden Globe and warmed up for her 2025 Broadway run in The Picture Of Dorian Gray with a Laurence Olivier Award for the same tour de force in London. Ms Everywhere: It was a big year for Nicole Kidman. Credit: Dave Benett/WireImage Loyalty to royalty Acting royalty elevated us to higher planes. Garden variety royalty also played its part. Mary Donaldson, erstwhile of Hobart and Sydney, became Queen of Denmark in January, giving hope to everyone who met someone in a bar during the Sydney Olympics almost 25 years ago. You don’t have to love royalty to breathe the occasional sigh of relief at the distraction they provide from the daily grind, and you don’t have to be a monarchist to be pleased that the Princess of Wales faced and emerged from a cancer diagnosis in strong and dignified spirit. In the natural world, bad news abounds when it comes to climate change – but there were bright spots. Did you know Britain closed its last coal power station in September ? Or that renewables surged even in the US, where wind generation outpaced coal for the first time? Or that in the Amazon, deforestation reached record lows this year? It did. All is not lost yet. For some old-fashioned cheer from Mother Nature, you could wallow in dog and cat videos on social media (and millions of us did) – or you could turn your gaze to another heroine we didn’t know we needed, the Tay Tay of the Choeropsis liberiensis world. In September, the world fell in love with Moo Deng , a pygmy hippo, a girl whose social media fame drew attention to the plight and past of her species. Who knew the pygmy hippo came with a history this rich, star of a Liberian legend in which Moo Deng’s kind find their way through the forest at night by carrying diamonds in their mouths to light the way? This pigmy hippo has become a viral sensation. Credit: Khao Kheow Open Zoo Now we know, and we are the better for it. Closer to home, Pesto the king penguin gained global fame as a social media superstar , famous on TikTok as the largest chick Melbourne’s Sea Life aquarium has ever seen. Big, beautiful and comfortable in his own skin, Pesto was the kind of hero – “calm, curious and friendly” – we needed in a year when male humans to admire were thin on the ground. For other bright lights in the darkness, we needed look no further than our own southern skies, with the return on several occasions of the Aurora Australis , which made rare and spectacular appearances as far north as Queensland in May, September and October. Scientists and citizens alike were dazzled by a liquid light show of pinks and whites and purples and greens. Was there a better symbol of hope than this – a phenomenon named for Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn, announcing the arrival of a new day? It was as if we had been given a celestial preview of what would become the year’s biggest cultural event, one that also asked us to look skyward – or in the words of the song of the year, Defying Gravity , “look to the western sky”. Bright lights, all right. Aurora Australis seen in Victoria. Credit: Facebook/Travis Carroll The screen adaptation of Wicked landed in cinemas in mid-November, amid one of the strangest promotional tours in memory and hot on the heels of an American political earthquake two weeks earlier. The weird on-camera adventures of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were at times almost as entertaining as the film they starred in. And the movie’s storyline, adapted from the 2003 stage musical, could have been taken as a contemporary riff on the state of the world , very specifically, at the end of 2024. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo star in Wicked. Credit: Out.com Wicked is a tale of defiance and friendship forged in the most difficult of circumstances; of surmounting challenges and differences; of flying, literally, in the face of a world that seeks to define you. It was, as so many of the hopeful things were in 2024, a message delivered by and to young women startling in their confidence and talent, happy to defy the doom with which the times seek to burden them. The song that ends the film became the year’s musical battle cry – a moment when art and heart met irresistible force, and art and heart won. If ever a year needed an anthem , it was this one – and in Defying Gravity it found it. In a year that insisted we be sad and scared – or summed up in a cheap meme – it was proof there was still space for hearts and minds to soar. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .

Developers will have to show that their project either helps reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste going to landfill, or replaces an older, less efficient incinerator. The move forms part of the Government’s drive to increase recycling rates, which have held at about 45% of household waste since 2015. Environment minister Mary Creagh said: “For far too long, the nation has seen its recycling rates stagnate and relied on burning household waste, rather than supporting communities to keep resources in use for longer. “That ends today, with clear conditions for new energy from waste plants – they must be efficient and support net zero and our economic growth mission, before they can get the backing needed to be built.” Developers will also have to ensure their incinerators are ready for carbon capture technology, and demonstrate how the heat they produce can be used to help cut heating bills for households. The Government expects that its “crackdown” on new incinerators will mean only a limited number are built, while still reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and enabling the country to process the waste it produces. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the country was almost at the point where it had enough waste facilities to handle non-recyclable rubbish, and so had limited need for new incinerators. But the proposals stop short of the plans included in the Conservatives’ 2024 manifesto, which committed to a complete ban on new incinerators due to their “impact on local communities” and declining demand as recycling increased.Boom Supersonic's new jet, Overture, is set to slash transatlantic flight times, promising a London to New York trip in just three and a half hours. The Colorado -based company aims to have the aircraft operational by 2030, marking a return to supersonic passenger flights since the retirement of Concorde. Earlier this month, a scaled-down prototype, dubbed "Baby Boom," successfully completed its maiden test flight over California 's Mojave Desert. During the 12-minute flight, the XB-1 prototype hit speeds of 283 mph and climbed to 7,000 feet, testing its cutting-edge design and carbon-fibre construction. CEO Blake Scholl announced: "This is the most significant step yet in bringing supersonic travel back to passengers." With a cruising speed of Mach 1.7, the Overture may not match Concorde's pace but will still fly twice as fast as standard aircraft. It's expected to halve the current New York journey time and whisk passengers from London to Miami in under five hours. Designed to seat up to 80 people and cover nearly 5,000 miles, the jet will primarily serve over-water routes to avoid sonic boom restrictions. Over 600 routes are feasible, with carriers like United, American Airlines, and Japan Airlines already on board, having ordered 130 jets. Supersonic flight has laid dormant since the iconic Concorde ceased operations in 2003, notorious for its swift travel time but marred by issues of high expenses, flagging interest, and safety worries underscored by a deadly accident in 2000. Boom Technology is poised to sidestep these pitfalls with cutting-edge tech and an eco-conscious approach, positing that its Overture aircraft could revolutionize expedient, long-haul trips. Test aviator Bill Shoemaker extolled the XB-1's maiden voyage, declaring: "This is a proud moment for the team and a big step forward in making supersonic travel a reality again."

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Governor Newsom and most democratic lawmakers are preparing to protect California's progressive policies in the courts like they did during the first Trump administration. "California won 80% of those lawsuits, so this is a man who has no issues violating the law and we want to send a very clear message not just to Donald Trump but the people of California that we have people's back here in California," State Senator Scott Wiener said. "Of course, we should and we will work with the President-elect on areas where we agree and there are always going to be some agreements. It's not about fighting for the sake of fighting." This time, lawmakers anticipate there will be more on the list of possible lawsuits. "It could be things like climate action, reproductive freedom, civil rights, immigrant families. But also one part of this, that is important as well is protecting California taxpayers," Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel said. MORE: Newsom asks state legislature for $25M legal defense fund before Trump takes office Protecting California taxpayers means that if Californians pay their share of taxes to the federal government, then President-elect Trump should not withhold any kind of federal disaster funds as he threatened to do last October. On the flip side, one may argue that necessity is the mother of "political innovation." New York State Senator Liz Krueger recently suggested some liberal Northeast states could withhold billions of dollars in federal taxes if President-elect Trump goes through with his plans for mass deportations. California already gets back less in federal taxes than it pays. 2022 data reveals that California and 12 other states received proportionately less in federal funds. That means California and the other wealthier states are subsidizing the rest of the states. In Fiscal year 2022, California sent about $692 billion to the federal government and only got back around $620 billion in federal funds, which is about a $72 billion deficit. MORE: Newsom meets with Biden as part of effort to 'Trump-proof' California By comparison, that is about three times the state's $27 billion 2023-24 budget deficit. We've known about this deficit for some time because, in 2003, then-Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger complained that the federal funding system was unfair and that he would fight for that money. He was quoted then as saying, "For each dollar that we pay, we only get 77 cents back. So there's a lot of money we can get from the federal government." Would California lawmakers today have the political will to intensify it's pressure on the Trump administration? "I think if you are going to start threatening the federal government with withholding, demanding that individuals withhold their federal taxes, that isn't a rhetoric that doesn't actually work well. You don't want to to be in that battle," said Corey Cook, Provost at Saint Mary's College. John Perez was Speaker of the Assembly near the end of Schwarzenegger's administration and says there are ways to get more money for California. "One of the things that I think are going to be the most successful strategies to draw down more federal money is to keep more here at home," Perez said. "How do we do that? We do that by working on a bipartisan basis to overturn the limits on deductibility of California state and local taxes." MORE: A look at change in Silicon Valley as tech industry shifts to support Trump Tax reforms passed last time President Trump was in office limited tax deductions to $10,000. He has indicated he may reverse those limits on things like the cap on your mortgage interest deduction. Voters have also indicated they want government to work for them and as the national election showed us, here in California there was voter frustration over some of the state's progressive policies. That's one reason why Republicans gained ground in almost all counties in the state. "Our constituents, they don't feel that the state of California is working for them," said the new Speaker of the California Assembly, Robert Rivas. Rivas suggested that we set certain issues aside and focus on charting a new path forward and renew the California dream by focusing on affordability. "They're anxious because they feel it, they feel it at the grocery stores, where they have to pay their bills, they feel it every time they fill up their gas tanks for their long commutes from work to home," he said. "The democratic party has not effectively addressed the rising costs of living, has not addressed economic concerns," Cook said. "So certainly if you are going to talk about the agenda for the legislature, for the coming year, addressing affordability, the cost of living, housing, those related set of issues that we know are priorities for voters is critical for the legislature to address."

Principal Financial Group Inc. Decreases Position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR)

In our latest episode , we sit down with John Smee, Global Head of Wireless Research at Qualcomm, as we explore the future of global connectivity with the upcoming 6G network. Smee offers a fascinating look into the technological evolution that will shape industries, enhance artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, and revolutionize communication and innovation. Also, check out our subscription plans to discover Interesting Engineering’s premium features. From LTE to 5G John Smee, who has been with Qualcomm for over 25 years, begins by highlighting the company’s longstanding role in pioneering wireless generations. “We like to say Qualcomm’s in the G business,” he explained, referencing their contributions to 3G, 4G, 5G, and now 6G. According to Smee, these wireless “generations” represent leaps forward in technological capability. “Each generation brings gains for users, efficiency, and the underlying technologies, from wireless to computing and now AI,” he added. Smee notes that each generational shift occurs roughly every decade. “The 4G era began around 2010, followed by 5G in 2020. We expect 6G to roll out between 2030 and 2040,” he told us. Smee said this kind of timescale would enable technology standardization and ensure interoperability. Will 6G be a game-changer? When asked how 6G will differ from 5G, Smee explained that the difference will “not just [be] about delivering more megabits per second,” he explains. “It’s about creating a smarter network that integrates advanced computing and generative AI. These technologies will fundamentally change how we use wireless networks,” he added. Smee describes how evolving consumer behaviors drive demand for more sophisticated networks. “Think about how applications like Zoom, streaming video, or real-time uploads were not common five years ago,” he says. “Now, they’re integral to daily life. 6G will enable even more transformative use cases,” he added. How we get to 6G Smee outlines the meticulous process behind 6G development. “We’re currently discussing use cases and performance indicators,” he told IE. “In about 12 months, we’ll begin the Release 20 study item, culminating in formalized standards by 2029,” he added. Smee also explained the importance of global collaboration through international bodies like the 3GPP. This, he explained, will be vital to ensure seamless device and network interoperability across the globe. Cost-effectiveness and reusability are also critical. “We’re focusing on making upgrades cost-effective for vendors and operators while delivering the significant benefits 6G promises,” Smee explained. AI and 6G: a dream partnership According to Smee, artificial intelligence (AI) will play a transformative role in 6G development and advancement. He explained, “AI isn’t just enhancing applications; it’s improving cellular systems. From predictive algorithms to network optimization, AI will make networks smarter, more adaptive, and more efficient.” One particularly exciting area is on-device AI. “At Qualcomm, we’re implementing large language models with billions of parameters directly on devices,” he added. “This creates a more intelligent edge, reducing reliance on cloud computing and enabling real-time decision-making,” he added. Everyone gets internet Addressing concerns about rural connectivity, Smee assures that 6G will focus on improving coverage and capacity in underserved areas. “6G will transform connected agriculture and other rural use cases by bringing advanced computing closer to the devices,” he states. He also highlights the role of satellite integration. “The intersection of satellite and cellular is growing stronger. Technologies like non-terrestrial networking (NTN) will complement traditional networks, providing global coverage even in remote areas,” he added. Fast and sustainable Energy efficiency is a major focus for 6G, with Qualcomm striving to reduce energy consumption while enhancing performance. “We measure energy per bit to optimize how much energy is used for data transmission,” Smee explains. “AI plays a key role here, enabling networks to operate more efficiently during periods of low activity,” he added. Smee describes innovations like advanced device sleep modes and smarter network scheduling. “By synchronizing timing and optimizing bandwidth, we’re making both devices and networks more sustainable,” he told us. 6G will change some industries forever 6G’s impact will extend far beyond personal devices. “Industries like healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing will see profound changes,” Smee predicts. For example, 6G will enable real-time data sharing between patients and healthcare providers. “It’s not just about video calls,” he noted. “Imagine sensors providing continuous health data, creating a more immersive and effective medical experience,” Smee added. Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) will also benefit. “The merging of physical, digital, and virtual worlds will be far more significant by 2030,” Smee says. “From education to entertainment, 6G will drive previously unimaginable applications,” he said. The future is bright; the future is 6G When asked to share his vision for 6G, Smee emphasizes flexibility and collaboration. “It’s about designing an evolutionary and revolutionary system,” he explains. “We’re solving known problems while building flexibility to adapt to unknown future needs,” he added. Smee is optimistic about the global cooperation that underpins 6G development. “Countries and companies are coming together to create a unified standard. This ensures that 6G can meet diverse needs, from boosting GDP to improving healthcare and education,” he said. He concludes with a hopeful outlook: “6G will transform how we connect, compute, and collaborate, creating opportunities we can only begin to imagine today.”

Government to block incinerators that do not contribute to green plansPhilippines Prepares For International Tourism Surge With New Measures

Jaland Lowe flirted with a triple-double as Pitt improved to 6-0 with a 74-63 win over LSU on Friday afternoon at the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Lowe finished with a game-high 22 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists for the Panthers, who have won their first six games of a season for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign. It would have been the second straight triple-double for Lowe, who had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against VMI Monday. Ishmael Leggett chipped in 21 points and Cameron Corhen supplied 14, helping Pitt outshoot the Tigers (4-1) 44.4 percent to 37.3 percent overall. Vyctorius Miller and Jalen Reed recorded 14 points apiece for LSU, with Reed also snatching seven boards. Cam Carter contributed 11 points. Pitt took control in the first four-plus minutes of the second half, opening the period on a 13-0 run to build a 40-28 lead. The Tigers were held scoreless following the break until Carter converted a layup with 13:13 to go. It was still a 12-point game after Zack Austin hit a pair of free throws with 12:50 remaining, but LSU then rallied. Corey Chest, Reed and Jordan Sears each had a bucket down low for the Tigers during an 8-1 spurt that made it 43-38. However, Lowe stemmed the tide, answering with back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Panthers up 49-38 with 9:31 left. Miller did everything he could to keep LSU in contention, scoring eight points in a span of 1 minute, 23 seconds, with his four-point play getting the Tigers within 56-52 with 6:03 to play. But Pitt never let LSU get the upper hand, and it led by at least six for the final 5:05 of the contest. The Tigers had a 28-27 edge at intermission after ending the first half on an 8-2 run. LSU overcame a quick start by the Panthers, who raced out to a 12-6 advantage and led by as many as eight in the first 20 minutes of action. --Field Level MediaOral Model Resin Market Outlook and Future Projections for 2030

One day, you’re an all-powerful CEO, star wife, and mother, and the next day you're eating out of your young intern’s hand, quite literally. How is this contradiction possible, if it is a contradiction at all? The answer for both Nicole Kidman’s character in Halina Reijn’s film Babygirl and for many others who identify as BDSM submissives lies in the elusive concept of subspace: a metaphorical space and altered state one submits to during a kink scene, thanks to arousal and exchange of consent. The notion is very new to Romy Mathis (Kidman, whose performance won her the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at this year's Venice Film Festival). She's the sharply dressed big boss with her hair always pinned up, until she meets Samuel (Harris Dickinson): a much younger, cocky, and borderline rude intern wearing a suit twice his size, filling it with ego. Romy finds herself trembling when Samuel controls a stray dog about to jump on her in the street with a mere whistle and a nod. From this seemingly passing interaction, the flows of her desire steer the narrative into the unknown waters of ambivalent wants and surrender, as Romy and Samuel begin an affair based on the exploration of dominance and submission. "Scene" and its double meaning Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in "Babygirl." According to Lina Dune , kink educator and host of the Ask a Sub podcast , a Dominant/submissive (D/s) relationship affords "a ritual space," where equal, consenting adults negotiate, establish boundaries and safe words, and create "a container where things can transform and alchemize." The set-up is called a "scene" and within the kink scene, the submissive can experience subspace. In theatre, cinema, or kink, we associate the word "scene" with a curated experience and performance. Speaking to Mashable, director Halina Reijn champions this dual meaning, adding that for her, Babygirl is about performing. "Of course, in a BDSM setting, there’s a lot of performing," she says, "but sex in general can also be very performative." As a result, this theme informed the script and conversations with Kidman, becoming an instrument to explore the character's authentic self. "Romy thinks she has to perform the perfect mother, lover, wife, leader," says Reijn, "and we are all a little bit like that — what we forget to do is be ourselves and accept whoever we are." But what makes Babygirl stand out is that it shows dominance and submission as a process of negotiation, trial and error, rather than a textbook example or a polished act. Babygirl ’s kink scenes feel real and inviting because they lay bare the mechanisms in the inner workings of control exchange. In each scene, Samuel umms and ahhs, trails off, laughs in the middle of his commands, while Romy is shown to resist, back out, and change her mind. For the actors, this means an extra layer of performance that incorporates flippancy and respect for consent; for the viewer it means relatability. Not every scene is a "scene" but subspace is a space Subspace is a term used within the D/s and BDSM communities, according to Dune, to talk about "the altered state that comes about through the experience of submission." She insists that it is a wide category that encompasses individual experiences that may differ from one another, like that of intoxication or alcohol intake, for example. Scientifically , the state is a reaction to adrenaline, oxytocin, and endorphins rushing into the brain, but what does subspace feel like? Dune explains that for some people it may be "a floaty, dreamy, quiet disconnected feeling," while others might giggle or cry. "I like to refer to it as 'getting high on your own supply,'" she says, "because you're not on anything, but the experience of crossing over a taboo." Thinking of cinematic representations of liminal states — hallucinations ( Enter the Void ), drug-induced trips ( Queer ), or drunkenness ( Another Round ) — perhaps film is the most suitable medium to portray a subjective, heightened state of mind. The key is in the spatial metaphor: one "goes into" or "inhabits" a space. Unlike other films, Babygirl doesn’t rely on classical point-of-view shots showing a dizzy, spell-binding world seen through the protagonist's eyes. Instead, the handheld work of Reijn’s long-time collaborator, cinematographer Jasper Wolf is more subtle. Lights, camera, submission! Halfway through the film, Romy and Samuel decide to meet at a cheap hotel. No wonder, their affair belongs to clandestine spaces, the four walls of every office, bathroom stall, and hired bedroom swelling with desire. When it’s just the two of them, they can be free from the outside world’s demands. In that sequence, Romy storms out and comes back, Samuel wrestles her to the ground, and their power dynamics become a source of play: a scene begins. The camera sinks down with her, framing her face in a close-up, while Samuel becomes a blur in the background: where he touches her and how is not as important as Romy’s reactions. Discussing that part of the film, Wolf tells Mashable that the camera is like a third character in the room with them. Instead of story-boarding the shots, he would film long, single takes to capture the erotic flow of power exchange. The camera often remains still and fixed on Romy, letting the viewer accompany her throughout the cascade of emotions coloring her face with arousal: from surprise through shame to blissful release, we partake in her surrender. "It's like an honest and sometimes relentless gaze on what is going to happen between the two," he says. Coordinating subspace Why can’t words accurately describe subspace? "If we lived in a matriarchal utopia, perhaps we would have more words for it," jokes Dune. But in today’s individualistic Western world, she points out that people "are expected to actualize themselves in a way that’s masculine-coded. Submission, in contrast, is understood to be very vulnerable which is more female-coded." In cinema, pop culture, or daily life, the derogatory stereotype for men in power who want to be dominated and/or humiliated is often presented as a point of humor. Admitting a submissive desire costs a lot: "I'll receive at least one phone call per week from someone who says they want to be a sub, but stress on the fact that they are not submissive in their day-to-day life," says Dune. What’s novel about Babygirl is that not only does it show the characters’ vulnerability, but also how much they are willing to reveal to one another. In cinematographic terms, this exchange of consent is translated by panning movements linking Romy and Samuel's faces as they look at each other. "Put simply," says Wolf, "the camera is often a representation of her inner world: it becomes more free and fearless alongside Romy." On set, the cast and production team worked with intimacy coordinator Lizzy Talbot ( No Hard Feelings , Dead Ringers ) to ensure there were no surprises. Dickinson, who had previously worked with Talbot on the TV series A Murder at the End of the World , underscored the importance of clear communication. "If you approach [sex] scenes with too much trepidation and sensitivity, it can be anxiety inducing; you need an intimacy coordinator to be very direct and pragmatic about it," he tells Mashable's Anna Iovine . Reijn also brainstormed with Talbot when writing the intimacy scenes, saying that the work with a coordinator "goes much further than just being on set with her." Facing subspace Later in the film, there is a second hotel room scene, where Samuel "directs" Romy from across the lavish suite. He commands her to strip, tells her where to put her hands and how to pose. Even when both are naked, the camera doesn’t linger on the nudity of their bodies, but their faces. When sharing subspace, they see each other anew, and their newfound intimacy translates into the visuals. To channel the ebb and flow, Wolf used a mix of camera lenses, shifting between spherical and anamorphic. As for the visible effect, "it’s not in your face and it shouldn’t be," he says, "but a slight change of perspective [makes you] suddenly see them with different eyes." The game of letting your guard down plays out on their faces. Unlike films like Steven Shainberg's Secretary, which relates submissive kink to trauma, Babygirl succeeds in telegraphing to a wider audience the message that these are real people, and their desires — even when dangerous to their status quo — don’t have to be as destructive or severely punished. "The BDSM community,” says Dune in relation to Secretary, "wants to see more empowered people portrayed as submissive and break that stereotype." But she is optimistic: "I think we’re getting closer to better representation of BDSM on screen. Obviously, I would be a lot more excited about films that hire sex workers as consultants, but for example, a film like Sanctuary had less research done into the BDSM community, but what I saw on screen rang true to me." Dune admits that she doesn’t expect education from cinema, or at least not the kind that sex and kink educators like herself offer, adding that "film should be about fantasy." By setting Babygirl’ s subspace explorations against a corporate, hetero-mono-normative backdrop, Reijn also makes a political point. However ephemeral, subspace is a consent-bound altered state that resists categorization. Perhaps a way for some of us to survive the capitalist hell is to surrender — to desires or to films like Babygirl — and take Dune’s advice: "Let the film dominate you." Babygirl is now showing in cinemas.With a focus on human rights, US policy toward Latin America under Jimmy Carter briefly tempered a long tradition of interventionism in a key sphere of American influence, analysts say. Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, defied the furor of US conservatives to negotiate the handover of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control, suspended aid to multiple authoritarian governments in the region, and even attempted to normalize relations with Cuba. Carter's resolve to chart a course toward democracy and diplomacy, however, was severely tested in Central America and Cuba, where he was forced to balance his human rights priorities with pressure from adversaries to combat the spread of communism amid the Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union. "Latin America was fundamental and his global policy was oriented toward human rights, democratic values and multilateral cooperation," political analyst Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank in Washington, told AFP. During his 1977-1981 administration, which was sandwiched between the Republican presidencies of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the Democrat sought to take a step back from US alignment with right-wing dictatorships in Latin America. An important symbol of Carter's approach was the signing of two treaties in 1977 to officially turn over the Panama Canal in 1999. "Jimmy Carter understood that if he did not return the canal to Panama, the relationship between the United States and Panama could lead to a new crisis in a country where Washington could not afford the luxury of instability," said Luis Guillermo Solis, a political scientist and former president of Costa Rica. Carter called the decision, which was wildly unpopular back home, "the most difficult political challenge I ever had," as he accepted Panama's highest honor in 2016. He also hailed the move as "a notable achievement of moving toward democracy and freedom." On Sunday, Panamanian President Jose Mulino praised Carter for helping his country achieve "full sovereignty." During his term, Carter opted not to support Nicaraguan strongman Anastasio Somoza, who was subsequently overthrown by the leftist Sandinista Front in 1979. But in El Salvador, the American president had to "make a very uncomfortable pact with the government," said Shifter. To prevent communists from taking power, Carter resumed US military assistance for a junta which then became more radical, engaging in civilian massacres and plunging El Salvador into a long civil war. Carter took a critical approach to South American dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, suspending arms deliveries and imposing sanctions in some cases. But his efforts "did not achieve any progress in terms of democratization," said Argentine political scientist Rosendo Fraga. The American president also tried to normalize relations with Cuba 15 years after the missile crisis. He relaxed sanctions that had been in force since 1962, supported secret talks and enabled limited diplomatic representation in both countries. "With him, for the first time, the possibility of dialogue rather than confrontation as a framework for political relations opened up," Jesus Arboleya, a former Cuban diplomat, told AFP. But in 1980, a mass exodus of 125,000 Cubans to the United States, with Fidel Castro's blessing, created an unexpected crisis. It "hurt Carter politically with the swarm of unexpected immigrants," said Jennifer McCoy, a professor of political science at Georgia State University. Castro continued to support Soviet-backed African governments and even deployed troops against Washington's wishes, finally putting an end to the normalization process. However, more than 20 years later, Carter made a historic visit to Havana as ex-president, at the time becoming the highest-profile American politician to set foot on Cuban soil since 1959. During the 2002 visit, "he made a bold call for the US to lift its embargo, but he also called on Castro to embrace democratic opening," said McCoy, who was part of the US delegation for the trip, during which Castro encouraged Carter to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Cuban All-Star baseball game. "Castro was sitting in the front row and we were afraid he would rise to give a long rebuttal to Carter's speech. But he didn't. He just said, 'Let's go to the ball game.'" Cubans "will remember with gratitude his efforts to improve relations," the island's current leader Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Sunday. In the years following Carter's presidency, Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) would go on to resume a full-frontal confrontation with Cuba. Decades later, Barack Obama (2009-2017) opened a new phase of measured normalization, which Donald Trump (2017-2021) brought to an end. US President Joe Biden promised to review US policy toward Cuba, but hardened his stance after Havana cracked down on anti-government protests in 2021. "Carter showed that engagement and diplomacy are more fruitful than isolation," McCoy said. bur-lp-rd-jb/lbc/mlr/bfm/sst/bbk/nro/acb