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ATLANTA — As she checked into a recent flight to Mexico for vacation, Teja Smith chuckled at the idea of joining another Women’s March on Washington. As a Black woman, she just couldn’t see herself helping to replicate the largest act of resistance against then-President Donald Trump’s first term in January 2017. Even in an election this year where Trump questioned his opponent’s race, held rallies featuring racist insults and falsely claimed Black migrants in Ohio were eating their neighbors’ pets, he didn't just win a second term. He became the first Republican in two decades to clinch the popular vote, although by a small margin. Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris hold their fists in the air after she delivered a concession speech after the 2024 presidential election Nov. 6 on the campus of Howard University in Washington. “It’s like the people have spoken and this is what America looks like,” said Smith, the Los Angeles-based founder of the advocacy social media agency, Get Social. “And there’s not too much more fighting that you’re going to be able to do without losing your own sanity.” After Trump was declared the winner over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, many politically engaged Black women said they were so dismayed by the outcome that they were reassessing — but not completely abandoning — their enthusiasm for electoral politics and movement organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote in their communities. They had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Harris, who would have been the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to win the presidency. Harris' loss spurred a wave of Black women across social media resolving to prioritize themselves, before giving so much to a country that over and over has shown its indifference to their concerns. AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy in the United States was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, with Trump set to return to office in two months, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. “America is going to have to save herself,” said LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter. She compared Black women’s presence in social justice movements as “core strategists and core organizers” to the North Star, known as the most consistent and dependable star in the galaxy because of its seemingly fixed position in the sky. People can rely on Black women to lead change, Brown said, but the next four years will look different. “That’s not a herculean task that’s for us. We don’t want that title. ... I have no goals to be a martyr for a nation that cares nothing about me,” she said. Supporters cheer during a community rally with Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris on Oct. 27 in Philadelphia. AP VoteCast paints a clear picture of Black women's concerns. Black female voters were most likely to say that democracy was the single most important factor for their vote, compared to other motivators such as high prices or abortion. More than 7 in 10 Black female voters said they were “very concerned” that electing Trump would lead the nation toward authoritarianism, while only about 2 in 10 said this about Harris. About 9 in 10 Black female voters supported Harris in 2024, according to AP VoteCast, similar to the share that backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Trump received support from more than half of white voters, who made up the vast majority of his coalition in both years. Like voters overall, Black women were most likely to say the economy and jobs were the most important issues facing the country, with about one-third saying that. But they were more likely than many other groups to say that abortion and racism were the top issues, and much less likely than other groups to say immigration was the top issue. Despite those concerns, which were well-voiced by Black women throughout the campaign, increased support from young men of color and white women helped expand Trump’s lead and secured his victory. Politically engaged Black women said they don’t plan to continue positioning themselves in the vertebrae of the “backbone” of America’s democracy. The growing movement prompting Black women to withdraw is a shift from history, where they are often present and at the forefront of political and social change. One of the earliest examples is the women’s suffrage movement that led to ratification in 1920 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. Black women, however, were prevented from voting for decades afterward because of Jim Crow-era literacy tests, poll taxes and laws that blocked the grandchildren of slaves from voting. Most Black women couldn’t vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Black women were among the organizers and counted among the marchers brutalized on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, during the historic march in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery that preceded federal legislation. Decades later, Black women were prominent organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police and vigilantes. In his 2024 campaign, Trump called for leveraging federal money to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government and discussions of race, gender or sexual orientation in schools. His rhetoric on immigration, including false claims that Black Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs, drove support for his plan to deport millions of people. Tenita Taylor, a Black resident of Atlanta who supported Trump this year, said she was initially excited about Harris’ candidacy. But after thinking about how high her grocery bills have been, she feels that voting for Trump in hopes of finally getting lower prices was a form of self-prioritization. “People say, ‘Well, that’s selfish, it was gonna be better for the greater good,''' she said. “I’m a mother of five kids. ... The things that (Democrats) do either affect the rich or the poor.” Where can Black women feel supported and flourish financially? When posed that question, Dr. Lori Martin, a professor of African and African American studies and sociology at Louisiana State University, had this to say: "A livable place for Black women is safe, and for women with children, it is home to schools where all students have access to an excellent education. It would also be diverse, with a visible and thriving Black community, including Black businesses." While the socioeconomic realities of our current time touch all corners of the country, there are pockets of the U.S. where the wealth gap narrows and Black women have more opportunities. MoneyGeek analyzed data on income, the cost of crime , homeownership , and poverty levels from 164 cities across the United States to rank the best — and worst — cities for Black women to live and financially flourish in. MoneyGeek ranked 164 cities with populations greater than 65,000 from the best to the worst for Black women. The ranking includes analysis of income, poverty rate, homeownership, educational attainment and health insurance gaps between Black women and the entire population nationally and locally. The size of the local Black population and the cost of crime in the area were included in the ranking to reflect the presence of the Black community and safety, respectively. Southfield — a suburb of Detroit — and Pearland — a Houston suburb — ranked as the top two cities in the analysis. Notably, Southern cities make up the majority of cities in the top 25, with 13 located in this region. In contrast, Minneapolis, Minnesota, ranked as the worst city for Black women. In Minneapolis, Black women face high poverty rates in absolute and relative terms and have low rates of health insurance coverage compared to the cities analyzed. Meanwhile, Miami ranks as the second least favorable city, with a significant local income gap — there, white men earn almost triple the income of Black women. Income disparity is a key measure of how well Black women are doing today. For each city in the analysis, we calculated the local Equal Pay Day — the day in the following year when Black women would make an equivalent amount as white men — using the median income of Black women working full time and the median income of white men working full time in each locality. In Carson, California, the median pay of Black women is higher than the median pay of white men. However, in Evanston, Illinois, Black women make just over a third of white men's earnings, meaning they would need to work until September 24, 2024, to earn the equivalent of a white man's 2022 pay. Economic challenges faced by Black women include restricted career advancement opportunities, insufficient health insurance, and inadequate retirement savings. Survey data from Goldman Sachs indicates that 42% of Black women perceive limited career growth opportunities compared to 35% of U.S. adults, and merely 43% are able to obtain health insurance through their employer, in contrast to 53% nationwide. Additionally, 71% of Black women feel they are living paycheck to paycheck, compared to 63% of the general population. The intersection of racial and gender bias contributes to these challenges, resulting in low-wage jobs and a considerable wealth gap. Our analysis validates this, demonstrating that Black women who work full-time, year-round, earn 64 cents for every dollar white men earn working full-time, year-round. Less access to economic opportunities puts Black women at a disadvantage in building wealth. The FDIC's National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households found that 11.3% of Black households were unbanked compared to just 2.1% of white households. Unbanked households are credit invisible — that is, they don't have a credit history and, therefore, can't build credit. Having no credit history makes it difficult to utilize credit cards to manage cash needs and mortgages to buy homes. Advocating for economic opportunities for Black women The struggle for economic equity remains a persistent challenge for Black women in America, who have historically faced systemic wage disparities and employment obstacles. However, there are tools and resources that can provide Black women with economic opportunities and empowerment. Dr. Ukanwa shares additional solutions, such as: 1. Invest in education: Research has already shown that degrees increase lifetime earnings, close some societal gaps, and increase job security. But if degrees are not your path, it also means continuing to build that knowledge and expertise in something you can be the best at. Figure out your expertise and what you bring to the table. 2. After building your expertise in a field, build your reputation and personal brand: With an excellent reputation and personal brand, people will start to seek you out rather than the other way around. This increases the worth of your expertise. 3. Find out what your expertise is worth: Educate yourself on how to negotiate . Negotiate to be paid what you are worth. 4. Get into the habit of ownership: Build your own equity, which decreases the dependence on someone else for your income. For example, this could be your own business, stocks , or real estate. To rank the best cities for Black women, MoneyGeek analyzed data from the American Community Survey , MoneyGeek's Safest Cities and Safest Small Cities and Towns studies, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The analysis started with over 500 places in America with populations of 65,000 or more. Places without granular data about Black women or lacking other data points for the analysis were removed to get to the final set of 164 cities. The ranking of the best cities for Black women was based on eight factors: safety, Black population, educational attainment, poverty rates, income, employment, health insurance, and homeownership. Each factor was weighted equally and scaled to a score between 0 and 1. The factors were calculated as follows: Safety (full weight): This metric equally comprises two metrics. Percent of local population that is Black (full weight): This percentage represents the proportion of Black individuals within a city's total population, as reported by the United States Census Bureau's five-year American Community Survey (ACS) from 2021, the most recent data available. Educational attainment (full weight): This metric equally comprises two metrics. Poverty rate (full weight): The percentage point difference between the city's rate of Black women earning at or above the poverty level and the rate of all women living above the poverty level nationally. This finding comes from the 2021 Census ACS five-year data, the latest available source covering over 200 cities. Income (full weight): This factor equally comprises two metrics. Employment (full weight): The difference in percentage points between the Black female employment rate and the white male employment rate in the locality. Health insurance (full weight): This metric reveals the percentage point difference between Black women (ages 19-64) and white men (ages 19-64) with health insurance. This information comes from the Census ACS five-year data from 2021, the most recent data source available. Black female homeownership (full weight): This factor comprises three metrics. The full data set can be found here . This story was produced by MoneyGeek and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Get local news delivered to your inbox!ssbet77.net 。

Drew McIntyre On Being Left Out of WWE Raw on Netflix Trailer, Says He’ll ‘Step Up In 2025’

Amid the ongoing allegations of crypto scam against Hailey Welch, the 22-year-old woman who rose to fame with the viral 'Hawk Tuah' clip, a bizarre claim has surfaced on social media that Welch is dead. Despite there being no confirmation of the same, several X accounts are posting that Welch has passed away. "Breaking News: Hailey Welch has been found deceased at the age of 22 years old," one user, with over 24,000 followers on X, posted. Other accounts also made similar posts, such as this one: What Is The Basis Of The Rumours? The rumors likely surfaced from the fact that Hailey Welch has not been posting on social media since the alleged scam around her $HAWK cryptocurrency broke out. Her last post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, dates back to December 5. She has since been attacked on social media over the alleged scam, which she has refrained from addressing beyond the initial statement. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US Buzz, World and around the world.The Franklin Institute is demystifying the organs and vessels that make our bodies tick with an $8.5 million exhibit opening Saturday. The "Body Odyssey" features interactive stations that invite kids to build bones, test a bionic hand and fight viruses as a white blood cell — but the centerpiece is a familiar sight for sore eyes. The Giant Heart is back on view after shutting down for seven months. While it is mostly unchanged, visitors can now add their heartbeats to the model's thumping soundtrack. The collection is divided into three sections: The first focuses on biological systems, offering brain teasers that demonstrate cognitive functions along with a full-body avatar that visualizes our skeletons and all the squishier components between them. Another section examines the future of health care through AI diagnostic tools and other cutting-edge technology. One station challenges visitors to pull a peg out of a board with a robotic arm used in surgery. Visitors control a robotic arm used in surgery through these joysticks. The final hub explores mental health. By tapping moods like "worried" or "peaceful," guests instantly change the colors on a screen representing brain waves. Other stations invite guests to draw their feelings or improve their sleep hygiene. "At a time when our information ecosystem often gives rise to misconceptions and misinformation about health, 'Body Odyssey' is a space where you'll find accurate, up-to-date information that's also relevant and inspiring," Jayatri Das, chief bioscientist at the Franklin Institute, said at a conference Wednesday. "... We hope that 'Body Odyssey' helps empower guests with the knowledge and confidence in science to make informed decisions about their health." The "Body Odyssey" collection spans over 8,500 square feet, combining the space previously occupied by the Giant Heart and an exhibit on electricity. And this weekend, i t's not the museum's only big reveal. The Franklin Institute is also unveiling the Hamilton Collections Gallery. This exhibit focuses on technological advancements, using another museum staple as the star attraction. The Baldwin 60000 locomotive has a new cutaway floor that shows its structural support. The 350-ton train has been at the Franklin Institute since 1933. The Baldwin 60000 locomotive, a 350-ton train the institute acquired in 1933, anchors this collection. Visitors can peak at the vehicle's new cutaway floor, which shows the steel and concrete bridges supporting it, or browse the 200 objects around it encased in glass displays. They include an early movie projector that incurred the wrath of Thomas Edison and a reproduction of the Strasbourg astronomical clock , which John Wanamaker displayed at his department store. Touchscreens invite visitors to explore even more objects in this collection. "These imaginative exhibits invite us to look inward — at the complexity of the human body — and outward, at the ingenuity of scientific innovation," Franklin Institute President Larry Dubinski said. "They exemplify our commitment to sparking curiosity and inspiring discovery, ensuring the Franklin Institute continues to be a place of wonder for generations to come." The museum has once again partnered with Federal Donuts on a custom treat to mark the occasion. The Body Odyssey doughnut mimics the red muscles and blue veins of the Giant Heart with its strawberry glaze and blueberry cream drizzle. It'll be available at all Federal Donuts locations through Nov. 27. A post shared by Federal Donuts & Chicken (@federaldonutsandchicken) Follow Kristin & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @kristin_hunt | @thePhillyVoice Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Have a news tip ? Let us know.Banque Cantonale Vaudoise reduced its stake in shares of The Hershey Company ( NYSE:HSY – Free Report ) by 85.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 439 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,594 shares during the quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise’s holdings in Hershey were worth $84,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in HSY. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its position in shares of Hershey by 6.5% in the first quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 1,487,565 shares of the company’s stock valued at $289,327,000 after purchasing an additional 90,329 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Hershey by 66.7% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 972,836 shares of the company’s stock valued at $186,571,000 after purchasing an additional 389,404 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Hershey by 3.4% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 787,377 shares of the company’s stock valued at $144,743,000 after purchasing an additional 25,780 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Hershey by 23.2% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 783,128 shares of the company’s stock valued at $143,962,000 after purchasing an additional 147,215 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Confluence Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Hershey by 297.9% in the second quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC now owns 717,831 shares of the company’s stock valued at $131,959,000 after purchasing an additional 537,419 shares during the last quarter. 57.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Hershey Stock Performance Shares of HSY stock opened at $174.81 on Friday. The Hershey Company has a 12 month low of $168.16 and a 12 month high of $211.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.14, a P/E/G ratio of 4.08 and a beta of 0.38. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $184.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $191.01. Hershey Announces Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently issued reports on HSY. UBS Group lowered shares of Hershey from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $226.00 to $209.00 in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered shares of Hershey from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $230.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Citigroup downgraded shares of Hershey from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $195.00 to $182.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 27th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Hershey from $205.00 to $183.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Hershey from $188.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have given a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Hershey presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $189.33. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Hershey Hershey Profile ( Free Report ) The Hershey Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of confectionery products and pantry items in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International. It offers chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products; gum and mint refreshment products, including mints, chewing gums, and bubble gums; protein bars; pantry items, such as baking ingredients, toppings, beverages, and sundae syrups; and snack items comprising spreads, bars, snack bites, mixes, popcorn, and pretzels. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Hershey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hershey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

IMC Campus held its annual graduation ceremony recently (14) at BMICH, Colombo in affiliation with the IIC University of Technology. The Chief Guest was Prof. G.A.Sanjeewanie Ginigaddara (Former Vice Chancellor of Rajarata University. Also present were Dr. Kavya Jayakody (Founder/Director of IMC Campus), Dr. Engineer. Priyantha Morapitiya (Senior Lecturer), Dr. Pradeep Edward (Director/General Manager of Hemas Capital Hospital), Dr Dhanushka Wickramarathne (Head of Business Development, International Relations, Climate & Geospatial Engineering of CESL) and Dr. Keerthi Nawarathne (Deputy Director General of Sri Lanka Institute of Advance Technological Education). Over 160 students were awarded their Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral Studies by the dignitaries present. The ceremony organization led by Dr. Amal Wijenayaka (Head of Academics), Sarala Udadewaarachchi (Center Manager) and Pragashene Sivalingam (Executive Administration).Bright Future: Natchez Early College student joins esteemed honor society

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Europe's struggling industries are bracing for a new gas price shock over the coming winter months, as colder weather depletes stocks, competition with Asia for liquefied natural gas intensifies, and the prospect of reduced Russian supplies looms. Since the energy crisis of 2022, when gas prices peaked at nearly 350 euros per megawatt hour (MWh), dozens of firms across Europe have closed factories and cut activity and jobs as high gas prices undermined their competitiveness. Many are maintaining reduced demand and lower manufacturing activity, with negative implications for Europe's sluggish growth. European Union gas demand is 17 percent below the five-year average observed during pre-pandemic years. At the same time, gas prices are at their highest level in over a year and analysts predict they will rise further. "The concern is that we are laying our guard down because energy prices are lower now than what we saw in 2022," Svein Tore Holsether, CEO of Oslo-listed Yara, a fertiliser company, told Reuters in October. "It's important to remind ourselves that we're still at much higher levels than other key regions like the US, the Middle East, and Russia." Nervousness about the expiry at the end of the year of a Russian transit deal to supply gas to Europe via Ukraine has helped to drive buying. Francisco Blanch, the head of commodity and derivatives research at Bank of America, said it could push EU gas prices as high as 70 euros/MWh next year from nearly 50 euros/MWh now. That compares with average EU gas prices of 17.58 euros/MWh over five years before the pandemic, LSEG data showed. EU-wide gas inventories are 85 percent full, some 10 percentage points lower than a year ago, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe data. That makes the current winter already feel uncomfortable, said Barbara Lambrecht, an analyst at Commerzbank, as cold snaps would cause storage levels to fall faster than during the last two relatively mild winters. To try to safeguard supplies, the European Commission last week increased its storage filling target, potentially adding to the upward pressure on prices. Dozens of factories in Europe closed and nearly a million manufacturing jobs were lost over the last four years, Bernstein data showed. In a report on Europe's competitiveness in September, former ECB chief Mario Draghi said the loss of relatively cheap Russian gas following the 2022 outbreak of war in Ukraine had a "huge cost" to the economy and that fossil fuels would be needed at least for the remainder of the decade. "Even though energy prices have fallen considerably from their peaks, EU companies still face electricity prices that are 2-3 times those in the United States. Natural gas prices paid are 4-5 times higher," the report said. Current EU prices are nearly five times higher than US gas, which trades at $3.095/mmBtu, equivalent to 10.02 euros/MWh. A survey by Germany's chambers of commerce (DIHK) in August found that high energy prices and a lack of reliable energy supplies were hindering industrial production and prompting some German firms to consider relocating abroad. Yara's CEO also told Reuters the company was "shifting our energy exposure away from Europe". German industry lobby group, the BDI, has cited high energy prices as among the factors that threaten the competitiveness of Europe's biggest economy. "The risk of de-industrialisation due to the silent migration and abandonment of many small and medium-sized enterprises in particular is constantly increasing," BDI President Siegfried Russwurm, who also sits on the board at German industrial conglomerate Thyssenkrupp, said in September. In France, industries expect to operate at 70-80 percent of capacity this winter due to high energy prices, especially in the chemical sector, Nicolas de Warren, president of French industrial lobby group Uniden, told Reuters. "With industry still in the dumps, there is no reason to believe gas demand from that sector will stage a comeback this year," said analysts at Rabobank, adding that some increase in demand was possible from the heating sector. EU's current storage levels, meanwhile, are some 10 billion cubic metres (bcm) lower than last year in absolute terms and the difference will be covered mainly by imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), Helge Haugane, the head of gas and power trading at Norway's Equinor, EU's biggest gas supplier, said. That will come at a price as competition intensifies for available supplies. Although the European Union has avoided imposing sanctions on Russian gas, which some members rely on heavily, it has restricted Russian LNG deliveries. The European Parliament voted in April to pass rules allowing European governments to ban Russian LNG imports by preventing Russian firms from booking gas infrastructure capacity. That could increase storage withdrawals and push the EU to compete harder with Asia for US and Middle Eastern LNG. Europe imported 11.3 bcm, or around 170 cargoes, of LNG in November, mainly from the United States and the Middle East, according to LSEG data.By Ifham Nizam Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT-MOBITEL), as the National Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Solutions Provider has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment through its initiatives. In this interview, SLT Chief Executive Officer Janaka Abeysinghe sheds light on the visionary strategies behind the company’s impactful projects, such as the annual calendar program. These calendars not only highlight the nation’s rich cultural and natural heritage but also actively contribute to community upliftment and environmental conservation. Q: How does SLT-MOBITEL’s annual calendar initiative promote Sri Lanka’s heritage and culture? A: As the National ICT Solutions Provider, SLT-MOBITEL recognizes the responsibility to create meaningful initiatives that benefit society and the environment. The annual calendar serves as a distinctive platform to showcase Sri Lanka’s rich natural and cultural heritage through carefully curated themes. The initiative was inspired by the country’s abundant environmental, cultural, and artistic treasures, as well as the desire to establish a unique corporate identity by celebrating the county’s national heritage. Q: How does Sri Lanka Telecom ensure authentic representation of cultural elements in the annual calendar while maintaining contemporary relevance? A: Cultural heritage is a source of national pride, valued and celebrated even in today’s modern context. Globally, we have seen that these efforts are highly appreciated. Locally, they serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving and celebrating our cultural identity. SLT-MOBITEL ensures authenticity in the calendar through thorough research, collaboration with subject-matter experts, and customer feedback, guided by the theme ‘Preserving Heritage for Tomorrow.’ This approach has been extremely successful for our calendars. Q: How does SLT-MOBITEL annually select specific calendar themes related to heritage, culture, and nature? What is the process or collaboration involved? Themes are decided internally by the Marketing group based on the prevailing environmental, social, and economic climate. Over the past 19 years, after finalizing a theme, SLT-MOBITEL collaborates with resource persons who are experts in the chosen field and artists capable of executing the creative vision. The process also includes academic consultation to ensure the calendars are visually appealing and educationally accurate. Q: How do these calendar initiatives support local communities and preserve cultural heritage? These calendars serve as educational tools and collectors’ pieces while their impact extends far beyond print. Notable examples undertaken by SLT-MOBITEL include, · 2024: ‘Mangrove Ecosystem in Sri Lanka’ – Restored 4.2 hectares of abandoned shrimp farms in Pubudugam and awarded scholarships focused on blue carbon ecosystems. · 2017: ‘Traditional Rice of Sri Lanka’ – Launched a large-scale initiative promoting traditional rice cultivation by empowering farmers with seeds and organic fertilizer. SLT-MOBITEL also published a comprehensive book titled “Ape Uruma Vee Rata Saru Karavee” to explore the nutritional and cultural significance of traditional rice. · 2016: ‘Wild Fruits of Sri Lanka’ – Distributed fruit plants across the island to encourage conservation. · 2013: ‘Rush and Reed Craft of Sri Lanka’ – Empowered rural craftsmen by sourcing corporate gift items from their creations. These initiatives demonstrate SLT-MOBITEL’s commitment to actively engaging and uplifting communities, educating the public while nurturing an appreciation for Sri Lanka’s cultural and natural heritage. Q: How does SLT-MOBITEL incorporate eco-friendly practices in the production of these calendars? Are there any efforts to reduce the carbon footprint? SLT-MOBITEL is committed to sustainability and adopts eco-friendly practices in calendar production. Since 2015, all calendars are printed on FSC-certified paper, ensuring responsible sourcing. In addition, annual digital e-calendars complement our print editions, reducing material usage and the carbon footprint. Q: How does the annual calendar highlight nature conservation, and what role SLT-MOBITEL plays in promoting environmental awareness through its publications? SLT-MOBITEL’s annual calendar consistently promotes nature conservation by showcasing Sri Lanka’s biodiversity. The 2025 calendar features ‘Dragonflies of Sri Lanka,’ highlights these ‘Guardians of the Watersheds’ and their role in promoting the ecosystem’s health. Beyond the calendar, we raise environmental awareness through our monthly in-house journal ‘Amathuma,’ along with various corporate communications, all aimed at educating stakeholders about conservation and sustainability. Q: How does SLT-MOBITEL collaborate with governmental or non-governmental organizations dedicated to preserving heritage or promoting cultural initiatives in Sri Lanka? SLT-MOBITEL’s calendars consistently feature themes that highlight the importance of environmental conservation. We have ensured scientific accuracy and impact through partnerships with key organizations including the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL), the National Museum, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Department of Forest Conservation Q: How has the public responded to these initiatives? Do you receive feedback from individuals or organizations who have benefited or felt inspired by the calendar’s themes? The public’s response to these initiatives has been very positive, especially from schools, universities, and media institutions. Our calendars have become valued educational tools, inspiring both individuals and organizations. It also particular appealing to the younger audiences who value their informative content and as collectibles Q: What role does the calendar play in educating the younger generation about Sri Lanka’s cultural and natural heritage? The calendar serves as a vital educational tool among the younger generation. While it is recognized as a collectible item, it also provides indepth information helping students understand and connect with their heritage through engaging visual and informative content. It also inspires young people to appreciate and protect our cultural and natural treasures. Q: What is SLT-MOBITEL’s role in further enhancing the visibility of Sri Lanka’s heritage and culture? Are there any upcoming projects that you can share? Looking ahead, SLT-MOBITEL remains committed to integrating technology with heritage and environmental conservation. As a responsible corporate citizen, the company, envisions launching more projects that drive awareness and action for cultural and natural preservation. Our upcoming projects will continue to enhance the visibility of Sri Lanka’s heritage and culture while ensuring relevance in the modern world.

ASX set to slide, Wall Street hits more records

Like Kylie Minogue, Cathy Freeman or AC/DC, Australia has its fair share of icons. And one of the most unique might just be a little fat cat from Victoria who loves to meow. Bender is the enigma known as 'Huh Cat' — a cat who skyrocketed to fame after a clip of him meowing was transformed into a viral meme, a piece of media that's usually funny in nature and spread rapidly by internet users. It's not quite clear how and why Bender was chosen by the internet, but the celebrity cat now boasts a combined four million followers across TikTok and Instagram. The reason for his fame? 'Saying' the word 'huh?'. Huh Cat became a viral meme seemingly overnight. A video posted in 2021 showed Bender making a confused and shocked-looking face as he meowed. The video was later dubbed in 2023 with the now famous 'huh?' sound quickly going viral and gaining millions of views and fans. A legend was born. But what you might not have realised is that this 15-year-old celebrity cat lives in an apartment in the foothills of Victoria's Dandenong Ranges. Yep, Australia has its very own famous cat. 'An overnight success' Bender's owner is the 73-year-old Nellie Cage. She lives inside a little unit in Tecoma, 35km east of Melbourne. While she might never have envisioned herself becoming a content creator in her 70s, Cage has taken to the creator life and runs the Huh Cat social media pages. Huh Cat has 3.2 million followers on TikTok and over 700,000 followers on Instagram. "I started with bits and pieces and then one day I just posted him meowing a few things, and his meow just went viral," Cage told SBS News. "It was an overnight success. "I don't know who did the dubbing of the 'huh'. There were two videos. One went viral when he was by the... Alexandra Koster

Northwestern University engineers are the first to successfully demonstrate quantum teleportation over a fibreoptic cable already carrying Internet traffic. The new research advance opens door for fast, secure quantum applications without specialized infrastructure. This is based on activity inside Internet cables. Internal to the cable, photons needed for teleportation are lost within the millions of light particles required for classical communications. Now scientists have quantified light scattering to find exact areas to place photons to keep them safe from other particles. This approach has successfully worked in experiments carrying regular Internet traffic. The discovery introduces the new possibility of combining quantum communication with existing Internet cables — greatly simplifying the infrastructure required for distributed quantum sensing or computing applications. Commenting on the research, Northwestern’s Prem Kumar , outlines why the research is important : “This is incredibly exciting because nobody thought it was possible...Our work shows a path towards next-generation quantum and classical networks sharing a unified fibreoptic infrastructure. Basically, it opens the door to pushing quantum communications to the next level.” Only limited by the speed of light, quantum teleportation enables a new, ultra-fast, secure way to share information between distant network users, wherein direct transmission is not necessary. The process works by harnessing quantum entanglement, a technique in which two particles are linked, regardless of the distance between them. Instead of particles physically traveling to deliver information, entangled particles exchange information over great distances — without physically carrying it. “In optical communications, all signals are converted to light,” Kumar explains. “While conventional signals for classical communications typically comprise millions of particles of light, quantum information uses single photons.” By performing a destructive measurement on two photons — one carrying a quantum state and one entangled with another photon — the quantum state is transferred onto the remaining photon, which can be very far away. The photon itself does not have to be sent over long distances, but its state still ends up encoded onto the distant photon. In other words, teleportation allows the exchange of information over great distances without requiring the information itself to travel that distance. By examining how light scatters within fibreoptic cables, the researchers found a less crowded wavelength of light to place their photons. Then, they added special filters to reduce noise from regular Internet traffic. To test the new method, the researchers set up a 30 kilometre-long fibreoptic cable with a photon at either end. Then, they simultaneously sent quantum information and high-speed Internet traffic through it. Finally, they measured the quality of the quantum information at the receiving end while executing the teleportation protocol by making quantum measurements at the mid-point. The researchers found the quantum information was successfully transmitted — even with busy Internet traffic whizzing by. The study, “Quantum teleportation coexisting with classical communications in optical fiber,” appears in the journal Optica . Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

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