Baselala’s journey of perseveranceMr Biden told African leaders the resource-rich continent of more than 1.4 billion people had been “left behind for much too long”. “But not anymore,” Mr Biden added. “Africa is the future.” Mr Biden used the third and final day of a visit to Angola – his long-awaited, first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president – to travel to the coastal city of Lobito and tour an Atlantic port terminal that’s part of the Lobito Corridor railway redevelopment. Mr Biden described it as the largest US investment in a train project outside America. The US and allies are investing heavily in the project that will refurbish nearly 1,200 miles of train lines connecting to the mineral-rich areas of Congo and Zambia in central Africa. The corridor, which likely will take years to complete, gives the US better access to cobalt, copper and other critical minerals in Congo and Zambia that are used in batteries for electric vehicles, electronic devices and clean energy technologies that Mr Biden said would power the future. China is dominant in mining in Congo and Zambia. The US investment has strategic implications for US-China economic competition, which went up a notch this week as they traded blows over access to key materials and technologies. The African leaders who met with Mr Biden on Wednesday said the railway corridor offered their countries a much faster route for minerals and goods – and a convenient outlet to Western markets. “This is a project that is full of hope for our countries and our region,” said Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, whose country has more than 70% of the word’s cobalt. “This is not just a logistical project. It is a driving force for economic and social transformation for millions of our people.” The leaders said the corridor should spur private-sector investment and improve a myriad of related areas like roads, communication networks, agriculture and clean energy technologies. For the African countries, it could create a wave of new jobs for a burgeoning young population. Cargo that once took 45 days to get to the US – usually involving trucks via South Africa – would now take around 45 hours, Mr Biden said. He predicted the project could transform the region from a food importer to exporter. It’s “something that if done right will outlast all of us and keep delivering for our people for generations to come,” he said. The announcement of an additional $600 million took the U.S.’s investment in the Lobito Corridor to 4.0 billion dollars (£3.15 billion).
Oloavu Village in Kairuku District, Central Province, became a hub of excitement and sportsmanship from December 24 to 27, 2024, as it hosted the Allan Siala Aika Memorial Volleyball Tournament. The four-day event brought together talented men’s and women’s teams, showcasing high-stakes volleyball action that captivated players and spectators alike. The tournament followed a structured format that added to the drama and anticipation. Round-robin games for Pools A and B were held on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by intense quarterfinal and semifinal crossover elimination rounds on Thursday. The grand finale, along with the third-place playoffs for both the men’s and women’s divisions, took center stage on Friday, closing the tournament on a high note. Women’s Division: Team Green Shines Against All Odds The women’s tournament saw an incredible underdog story unfold. Team Red 1, sponsored by Digicel Pacific, was the team to beat, cruising through the round-robin and elimination rounds undefeated. Their dominance set up a much-anticipated clash in the grand final against Team Green, a side they had previously defeated in a thrilling 3-2 match during the normal rounds. However, Team Green refused to back down. They reworked their strategy and approached the final hungrier and more determined. Their grit paid off as they shocked Team Red 1 with a decisive 3-0 victory in the grand final, completing one of the most memorable upsets in the tournament’s history. Men’s Division: Underdogs Prevail in a Nail-Biting Finale In the men’s division, Blue Ocean Team 1 emerged as the dominant force from Pool A, advancing to the grand final without a single defeat. Meanwhile, Team Red, also sponsored by Digicel Pacific, overcame a rocky start, including a loss to Blue Ocean Team 1 during the round-robin games, to fight their way into the final. The grand final was a clash of titans, with both teams battling fiercely. Each side claimed two sets, pushing the match into a decisive fifth set. In a nail-biting conclusion, Team Red edged out Blue Ocean Team 1 with a 16-14 victory, sealing the game 3-2 and crowning themselves champions in the most dramatic fashion. A Model of Sportsmanship and Organization The Allan Siala Aika Memorial Volleyball Tournament was not just about competition but also about community and sportsmanship. Under the meticulous leadership of POMCVC Vice President Henry Aika and Match Chairman Nuga Dick, the tournament was a resounding success. Transparent management of draws, pools, refereeing, and points tallying ensured smooth operations, earning praise from players and spectators alike. The Oloavu community, thrilled by the event’s success, embraced the festive spirit and eagerly look forward to the next edition of the tournament in 2025. This year’s Allan Siala Aika Memorial Volleyball Tournament was a testament to the power of sport to unite and inspire, leaving a lasting legacy in Oloavu Village and beyond.CLEVELAND, Ohio — Should Dorian Thompson-Robinson start the Browns ’ season finale next week in Baltimore? Coach Kevin Stefanski declined to answer after Sunday’s 20-3 loss to the Dolphins , but third-stringer Bailey Zappe should get the nod against the 11-5 Ravens, who are already installed as 18 1/2-point favorites at home next weekend. The Browns have seen what they need to see from Thompson-Robinson, who went 24 of 47 for 170 yards with no touchdowns and one interception en route to a 50.8 rating. He also gave the ball away on a strip-sack, turned it over on downs four times by going 0-for-4 on fourth down, and was flagged three times for intentional grounding. “Ultimately, I’m the one with the ball in my hand,” Thompson-Robinson said. “I have to make better decisions. I can’t have those two turnovers.” More Cleveland Browns coverage Why Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy left Sunday’s game frustrated, even after career high in targets Dorian Thompson-Robinson on loss to Dolphins, Jerry Jeudy, Tyler Huntley, and more: Transcript Kevin Stefanski on loss to Dolphins, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, injuries, and more: Transcript Week 18 NFL Preview: Find everything you need to know with our Week 18 NFL preview. The turnovers on downs certainly weren’t all his fault, but the interception in the second quarter was an ill-advised throw, and he failed to secure the ball on the strip-sack by Emmanuel Ogbah in the third quarter. That’s four turnovers in his two starts, including two fourth-quarter interceptions in last week’s 24-6 loss to the Bengals with the Browns trailing only 17-6. All told, he’s thrown 0 TDs and 6 INTs on the season, and only 1 TD and 10 INTs in his five career starts, including 1-4 last season. “Can’t remember the last game we had where we didn’t have a turnover,” Thompson-Robinson said. “So that’s really frustrating, especially on my part after harping on ball security all week and Coach has been harping on ball security all year. So, it’s definitely a point of emphasis and it didn’t get done today.” Jameis Winston had already been benched two games ago for throwing interceptions, 12 in his seven starts, and Thompson-Robinson knew that ball security was paramount. But it’s easier said than done without a full complement of skill players. Thompson-Robinson didn’t have starting tight end David Njoku (knee) or receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion) on hand, and had to rely far too much Jerry Jeudy, who was targeted a game-high 18 times and caught 12 for 94 yards. Jeudy also dropped three passes, including a crucial short third down pass in the third quarter with the Browns trailing only 6-3. “DT threw some great balls today,” Jeudy said. “I’ve just got to make a play on it, I’ve got to catch it. I thought he did a great job, I’ve just got to play better for him.” Jeudy was the only receiver with more than one catch in the game, and that’s a problem. It will be a problem again next week in Baltimore if Njoku and Tillman don’t play, regardless of who starts at quarterback. It was an issue at times for Winston, and for Deshaun Watson before him. But most of Thompson-Robinson’s interceptions have been poor decisions or throws, including the one Sunday when he failed to see linebacker Tyrel Dodson dropping to the middle right in front of Jeudy. “Our running back didn’t get out,” Thompson-Robinson said. “He got caught up in the line coming through the middle of the line and one of the D-linemen grabbed him so he wasn’t able to occupy that backer. Again, that falls on me and decision making. They were playing two-high shell, l snapped my eyes back and really just locked in on Jerry instead of seeing out in front of him.” After the pick, Thompson-Robinson got coached up on the sidelines by Stefanski, but once again, he never considered replacing him with Zappe, who served as the No. 2 with Jameis Winston still suffering from a sore right shoulder. “Obviously every play, you’re looking at it and thinking about the decision and the accuracy and all those things and just making sure that he’s understanding in those roles when you have to locate defenders,” Stefanski said. “That was really the biggest thing there on that play.” The Browns could certainly let Thompson-Robinson, who lost his first career start to the Ravens 28-3 last season, finish out the season and see if he can make some progress. He certainly wants the chance. “Obviously this year isn’t where we wanted it to be but for me personally, I love this game of football,” he said. “I love being out there with that group of men in the locker room, coaches and players and everybody else included. So for me to be able to get another shot, it’s going to click eventually and that’s all I can say.” He also never thought about getting benched, and thought he made progress from last week. “Ultimately I thought I executed for the most part in terms of doing my job. Yes,” he said. But the Browns have decisions to make in their quarterback room for next season, and it can’t hurt to see what Zappe can do. Winston won’t start because of the shoulder, and because, like he said after his last start, “the leadership said my time was up.” He’s not only likely taken his last snap of the season, but possibly for his career here. Thompson-Robinson, the Browns’ fifth-round pick last season out of UCLA, on the other hand, has enough physical traits that the Browns might want to bring him back next season and continue to develop him. He viewed these starts as a chance to compete with Deshaun Watson and whoever else for the starting job, and he wasn’t able to show enough to be under serious consideration. It doesn’t mean, however, that the Browns are ready to give up on him. But with another quarterback in the house in Zappe, it can’t hurt to give him a shot and see if he can generate some offense. The Browns have decreased in points in each of the past three weeks, from 7 to 6 to 3, and Zappe can’t do any worse. Sunday was the first time all season the Browns failed to score a touchdown. With starting running back Jerome Ford suffering an ankle injury against the Dolphins, the Browns might not have much of a running game. With nothing at stake except for draft position, starting Zappe makes sense. At 3-13, the Browns currently have the No. 3 pick in the draft behind the Patriots and Titans because of strength of schedule tiebreakers. Needing a new QB1, there’s a good chance they’ll draft a quarterback with their first-round pick, and the higher the selection, the better. Beside, Zappe, a fourth-round pick of the Patriots in 2022 out of Western Kentucky, has gone 4-4 in career, meaning he has three more victories than Thompson-Robinson and three more career starts, including a 300-yard win over the Browns as a rookie in New England. He also knows the Browns offense well from having spent the offseason with former Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt in New England. The Browns had high hopes for Thompson-Robinson heading into the season, even making him the co-backup with Winston coming out of training camp. But this dysfunctional offense has been hard on quarterbacks this season, and a start in Baltimore might be too much of a confidence-buster for a young QB like him. He looked glum as he left the podium, but showed he still has plenty of fight in him. “Go Browns,” he said. That should be the end of his story for this season. Football Insider newsletter free trial: Take a minute and sign up for a free trial of our Football Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive content from cleveland.com's Browns reporters.
Wall Street's holiday cheer ended abruptly on Friday, with all three main benchmarks closing lower in a broad-based sell-off affecting even tech and growth stocks that had driven markets higher through much of the shortened trading week. The decline ended the Dow Jones Industrial Average's five-session winning streak that had followed a 10-session decline, its worst losing stretch since 1974. According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 lost 65.34 points, or 1.08 per cent, to end at 5,972.25 points, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 294.69 points, or 1.47 per cent, to 19,725.67. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 321.73 points, or 0.74 per cent, to 42,992.58. "Today feels like there is quite a bit of profit-taking across the board," said Michael Reynolds, vice president of investment strategy at Glenmede. "We are more than two years into a pretty strong bull market ... so it's really not surprising to see some people taking their profits and rebalancing their portfolios ahead of the new year." The sell-off thwarted the seasonal Santa Claus rally, in which stocks traditionally rise during the last five sessions of December and the first two of January. Since 1969, the S&P 500 has climbed 1.3 per cent on average, according to the Stock Trader's Almanac. Thursday's session hinted at momentum stalling, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posting marginal losses to end multi-session winning runs. Rising US Treasury yields had been catching investors' attention, with the benchmark 10-year note hitting a more than seven-month high in the previous session. The yield hovered close to that mark on Friday, at 4.62 per cent. Higher yields are seen as hampering growth stocks, as they raise borrowing costs for business expansion. These stocks, especially the so-called Magnificent Seven technology megacaps which had been key drivers of the market's 2024 rally, were also caught up in Friday's sell-off. For the second successive day, Tesla led decliners among the group. "We have a higher cost of capital whenever rates go up like this, and they have gone up pretty significantly over the last month or so," said Glenmede's Reynolds. "Investors may just be reassessing the bets they are taking when the cost of capital is higher, perhaps looking at some of the valuations on the Mag 7 and wondering whether they can find better value elsewhere." Most of the 11 major S&P sectors fell. The worst performers on Friday were the three indexes which have been 2024's leading lights: consumer discretionary, information technology and communication services. Despite Friday's travails, all three indexes recorded weekly gains. News events helped some stocks to buck the market sell-off. Amedisys gained after the home health service provider and insurer UnitedHealth extended the deadline to close their $US3.3 billion ($A5.3 billion) merger. Lamb Weston climbed after a filing showed activist investor Jana Partners is working with a sixth executive to push for changes at the French fry maker, a move which could result in a majority of the company's board being replaced. Trading volumes in this holiday-shortened week have been below the average of the last six months and are likely to remain subdued until January 6. The next major focus for markets will be the December employment report due on January 10.(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Wednesday, Dec. 18 AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE 7 p.m. NHLN — Providence at Lehigh Valley COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) 6:30 p.m. CBSSN — Creighton at Georgetown 7 p.m. ESPN2 — Memphis at Virginia FS1 — Xavier at UConn 8 p.m. SECN — The Citadel at Vanderbilt 9 p.m. CBSSN — Alabama at N. Dakota ESPN2 — Michigan vs. Oklahoma, Charlotte, N.C. FS1 — Butler at Marquette 10 p.m. BTN — CS Northridge at Southern Cal 11 p.m. FS1 — Washington St. at Washington COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S) 6:30 p.m. ESPNU — North Carolina vs. Florida, Charlotte, N.C. 7 p.m. ACCN — Wofford at Duke 8:30 p.m. ESPNEWS — Tennessee at Memphis COLLEGE FOOTBALL 5:30 p.m. ESPN — The Boca Raton Bowl: W. Kentucky vs. James Madison, Boca Raton, Fla. 8:30 p.m. ESPNU — NJCAA Tournament: Hutchinson Community College vs. Iowa Western Community College, Championship, Canyon, Texas 9 p.m. ESPN — The Art of Sport L.A. Bowl: California vs. UNLV, Los Angeles GOLF 3:30 a.m. (Thursday) GOLF — DP World Tour: The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, First Round, Mont Choisy Le Golf, Grand-Baie, Mauritius NHL HOCKEY 7 p.m. TNT — Philadelphia at Detroit TRUTV — Philadelphia at Detroit (DataCast) 9:30 p.m. TNT — Florida at Minnesota SOCCER (MEN'S) 2:40 p.m. CBSSN — EFL Carabao Cup: Brentford at Newcastle United, Quarterfinal TENNIS 6 a.m. TENNIS — Next Gen ATP Finals: Round Robin 11 a.m. TENNIS — Next Gen ATP Finals: Round Robin 6 a.m. (Thursday) TENNIS — Next Gen ATP Finals: Round Robin The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV .NEW YORK , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This holiday season, Monport Laser is redefining the spirit of giving with its highly anticipated "Christmas Laser Bonanza" . 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ROSEN, HIGHLY RECOGNIZED INVESTOR RIGHTS COUNSEL, Encourages MGP Ingredients, Inc. Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action – MGPIDec. 27—Christmas came late for the Boiling Springs boys basketball team. In Friday's Bubbler Alumni Holiday Tournament opener opposite Dover, the hosts stuffed their proverbial stockings with nine 3-pointers, 17 steals and a whole lot of confidence. The myriad gifts placed the Bubblers on the basketball gods' nice list and steered them on the path of a 84-40 victory atop Coach Dieter Court. Bubbletown (8-2) draws Hershey, a 68-54 winner over Carlisle in Friday's adjacent opener, in Saturday's title tilt at 8 p.m. The Herd and Eagles will duel in a 3:30 p.m. consolation. "I think it definitely set a tone," Boiling Springs senior Eli Kimmel said. "I think a lot of our misses on opportunities, they weren't coming out as hard, and so we were able to set the tone real quick, rolling with a steady pace. I think that was good for us." The Bubblers fostered a steady pace, to the tune of a 26-9 first quarter and a 15-2 spree in the third quarter. Riley Lucido led the charge with 15 points while Brandon Ascione contributed 14, Ethan Yenser drained 13 and Mason LaBuda added nine. The quartet didn't play in the final frame with the Bubblers inducing a running clock and booming to a 64-32 third-quarter advantage. "It doesn't matter who you play," Boiling Springs head coach Brett Sheaffer said, "when you coach long enough, you're on both sides of the coin, and it's just about getting better. Dover is in the same boat as we are. They're just trying to get better, and everybody's on a different level. Some years you're up, and some years you're down, and we were just trying to get better." While the Bubblers' first-half output bested their second-half performance, Sheaffer highlighted key reserve minutes as another foundation of growth. Noah Mandell deposited four 3-pointers for 12 points, Jon Wonders cashed in for six and Timmy George kicked in four. In all, Bubbletown featured 11 scorers. "It creates more of a team kind of family," said Kimmel, who also tacked on four tallies, "maybe some more camaraderie. It meant more because we did it as a team. Rather than the starting five just scoring, it helped that the bench scored." Dover struck a pair of 7-0 spurts in the second and fourth quarters, utilizing six 3-pointers to generate some energy. Logan Stites paced the Eagles with 11 points while Jay Grant and Nathan Cooper crashed the defenders for eight points apiece. But the Bubblers' 17 steals and six blocks compounded Dover's lack of momentum. "Transition is a lot of how we get our energy up," Lucido said. "And so every time we get a transition bucket, I feel like the energy keeps going up — it keeps piling up." The Trojans will provide a test Saturday. Leading Carlisle 31-26 at halftime Friday, Hershey erupted for a 17-point third quarter to pull away from the Herd. Carlisle's Parker Smith led all scorers with 28 points. Meanwhile, 10 of Cam Sweeney's 18 points ignited the Trojans' upswing, and double-digit efforts from Jack Zakovitch (15), James Campbell IV (11) and Drew Grana (10) also played their role. "Hershey is one of the standard programs in the area," Sheaffer said. "And (head coach Paul Blackburn) is one of the best that's done it in the area a long time. He has that program humming, and it's going to be a challenge, a huge challenge, for us tomorrow. But I told the guys, it's an opportunity. If you're not excited to play on your home court for the championship game against a good team like that, then you're never going to get up for a game." Christian Eby is a sports reporter for The Sentinel and cumberlink.com . You can contact him at ceby@cumberlink.com and follow him on Twitter at: @eby_sports (c)2024 The Sentinel (Carlisle, Pa.) Visit The Sentinel (Carlisle, Pa.) at www.cumberlink.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Air Canada to bar carry-on bags for lowest-fare customers
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — As spontaneous celebrations rippled throughout the Los Angeles Chargers' locker room after their resounding 40-7 win over the New England Patriots, coach Jim Harbaugh grabbed general manager Joe Hortiz and wrapped him up in a bear hug. “Love you!” Harbaugh said. “Love you!” Hortiz responded. “Great job! Let's keep it going,” Harbaugh replied, finally loosening his grasp. The Chargers (10-6) are back in the playoffs. But the message is clear: They have their eyes on achieving much more. Justin Herbert threw three touchdown passes and Los Angeles locked up its second playoff appearance in three seasons with Saturday's victory. “We had a good opportunity tonight and we went out and took it," Herbert said. “We had a good plan. All week we knew how big of a game this was for us. Guys were dialed in, focused and we executed today.” It also secured the fourth postseason appearance in Harbaugh’s five seasons as an NFL coach, adding to the three he made during his stint with the San Francisco 49ers. “You talk to them and there's more to do,” Harbaugh said. “There's no coach who could have it better than to be coaching these players. Nobody. Maybe the only person would be future us, could have it better than us.” Herbert finished 26 of 38 for 281 yards to become the third player in NFL history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first five seasons. He joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson. Ladd McConkey had eight catches for 94 yards and pulled in TD throws of 6 and 40 yards. With a 10-yard reception in the second quarter, he passed 1,000 yards receiving for the season, making him the third Chargers rookie receiver to reach that milestone. JK Dobbins rushed 19 times for 76 yards and a TD. The Patriots (3-13) have lost six straight games, their second such losing streak of the season. They are now 2-14 the last two seasons at home. “We just didn’t play well enough in any phase of the game,” coach Jerod Mayo said. “No complementary football, and that’s what you get.” Asked if he thinks he is coaching for his job, Mayo said it comes with the territory. “I’m always under pressure and it’s been that way for a very long time, not just when I became the head coach of the Patriots," he said. New England quarterback Drake Maye finished 12 of 22 for 117 yards and a touchdown. He became the first rookie quarterback in franchise history with a TD pass in eight straight games. But he was sacked four times, and a second-quarter fumble marked his eighth straight game with at least one turnover. Los Angeles outgained New England 428-181 for the game. Maye briefly left the game to be evaluated for a head injury following a blow to his helmet in the first quarter. He was scrambling near the sideline on third down of the Patriots’ first possession when he was hit by Chargers cornerback Cam Hart, jarring the ball loose as Maye spun out of bounds. No flag was thrown on the play and Maye stayed down on the turf for several seconds before eventually getting up and jogging off the field. He initially sat on the bench before going to the medical tent for evaluation. He was replaced by backup Jacoby Brissett in the next series, which ended in a punt. But after further evaluation in the locker room and a Cameron Dicker 27-yard field goal put the Chargers in front 10-0, Maye returned to the game for the Patriots’ third series, at the 10:15 mark of the second quarter. Maye scrambled for 9 yards on his first play back, ending with him being hit by linebacker Junior Colson as he slid to the ground. Colson was flagged for unnecessary roughness. Five plays later, Maye mistimed a toss to Demario Douglas, causing a fumble that was recovered by Derwin James. The Chargers took over on the New England 24 and nine plays later, Herbert connected with McConkey for a 6-yard touchdown pass to put Los Angeles in front 17-0. Injuries Chargers: WR Joshua Palmer left the game in the third quarter with a heel injury. DB Elijah Molden limped off the field after a collision in the third quarter. He returned but was later driven off the field on a golf cart because of a shin injury. Patriots: In addition to Maye, CB Christian Gonzalez left the game in the second quarter to be evaluated for a head injury and was later ruled out with a concussion. Rookie record McConkey, a second-round draft selection, also set a Chargers rookie record for catches, surpassing Keenan Allen, who had 71 in 2013. Up next Chargers: Visit Las Vegas in their regular-season finale. Patriots: Host Buffalo next Sunday in their season finale. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Kyle Hightower, The Associated PressStream It Or Skip It: ‘Ronny Chieng: Love To Hate It’ On Netflix, Spreading Aloha To The Baby Boomers, His Parents Included
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Max Green's 16 points helped Holy Cross defeat Regis (MA) 82-46 on Sunday. Green also had nine rebounds and six assists for the Crusaders (8-5). Aidan Richard scored 13 points, going 4 of 6 (3 for 5 from 3-point range). Declan Ryan went 6 of 8 from the field to finish with 12 points. Jamir Harvey finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and four steals for the Pride. Aamyr Sullivan added nine points and five assists for Regis (MA). Dan Grasso finished with six points. Holy Cross took the lead with 19:46 left in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 36-20 at halftime, with Richard racking up 10 points. Holy Cross extended its lead to 82-43 during the second half, fueled by a 15-2 scoring run. Green scored a team-high 11 points in the second half as their team closed out the win. Holy Cross hosts Loyola (MD) in its next matchup on Thursday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Holy Cross secures 82-46 victory over Regis (MA)Biden pledges £472m for rail project to improve access to Africa’s minerals
NEW YORK , Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This holiday season, Monport Laser is redefining the spirit of giving with its highly anticipated "Christmas Laser Bonanza" . Known for its industry-leading laser engraving machines, Monport Laser is offering a spectacular lineup of deals, rewards, and giveaways designed to spark creativity and make every creator's holiday truly magical. Whether you're a professional engraver, a small business owner, or a DIY enthusiast, this is your chance to bring home premium laser engraving tools at unparalleled prices. A Holiday Bonanza Like No Other Monport Laser's Christmas Laser Bonanza is packed with exciting opportunities to save big, win amazing prizes, and upgrade your engraving game. With deals designed to suit a wide range of budgets and needs, this festive event ensures that no creator is left behind. 1. Massive Discounts - Save up to $5,800 on top-of-the-line CO2 laser engravers, making high-end machines more affordable than ever. 2. 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For more information about the Christmas Laser Bonanza, visit [ Company Website ] and discover the deals and rewards waiting for you this holiday season.BUFFALO — The year started with a bang. In January, Gov. Kathy Hochul named UB the home of Empire AI, a new $400 million supercomputing center that will provide UB and partners with breathtakingly powerful resources to harness artificial intelligence for the betterment of society. An avalanche of advancements – all pointing towards UB’s leadership in AI, in New York State and nationwide – followed the governor’s announcement. With interest in AI surging globally, these advancements showcase and build upon UB’s impressive half-century of expertise in AI research and education. They also hint at a brighter future, where AI’s uncanny abilities merge with human ingenuity to tackle society’s greatest challenges. “Traditionally, colleges and universities are at the epicenter of life-changing research and ideas,” said Venu Govindaraju, vice president for research and economic development. “The University at Buffalo is pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and data science in fields that are critical to the state’s and nation’s future.” As 2024 comes to a close, here’s a look back at what has been a year of AI at UB. January UB researchers have been laying the groundwork for today’s boom in artificial intelligence for decades. This includes pioneering work creating the world’s first autonomous handwriting recognition system, which the U.S. Postal Service and Royal Mail adopted to save billions of dollars. Those innovations explain, in part, why Gov. Kathy Hochul chose UB to be the home of Empire AI, a consortium of public and private universities, and foundations, that will harness AI for the public good while driving economic development. “We want to make sure New York State is the capital of AI development ... but I need a home for this supercomputer that’ll power the innovation all over our state. And I’m proud to announce that the home will be right here at [UB],” Hochul said Jan. 26 at the Center for the Arts. Earlier in the month, during her State of the State address in Albany, the governor spotlighted UB student Holliday Sims for her work using AI to improve the child welfare system. February UB was chosen to join the federal government’s first-ever consortium dedicated to ensuring that AI systems are safe and trustworthy. Announced Feb. 8, the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC) includes government agencies and top research universities, as well as Microsoft, Apple, Google, OpenAI and other tech companies. AISIC will create standards for AI usage that protect Americans’ privacy; advance equity and civil rights; and promote innovation and competition. Weeks later, UB was among 28 new members to join AI Alliance, an international coalition led by IBM and Meta that is dedicated to promoting open, safe and responsible AI. March On a beautiful spring day, engineering professor Chase Murray and students took to the skies at UB’s Structure for Outdoor Autonomy Research, one of the largest outdoor drone-testing labs among the nation’s colleges and universities. Murray uses AI and other technologies to optimize how autonomous vehicles work together – research that has implications in logistics, search-and-rescue, surveillance and more. Elsewhere, researchers in UB’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science kept tabs on their AI system that aims to improve indoor farming and address food insecurity. And another research group began using AI to make algae fuel production more cost-effective. The projects illustrate UB’s commitment to sustainability and social justice. April April brought Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the National Science Foundation, to campus. The occasion? “Today, we’re here to celebrate something truly amazing: the opening of the new, $20 million, federally funded National AI Institute for Exceptional Education, and it’s going to be housed right here at UB,” said Schumer. Funded by the NSF and Department of Education, the institute will create AI systems that ensure children with speech and language disorders receive timely, effective assistance. The work, which addresses the nationwide shortage of speech-language pathologists, will help ensure that millions of children do not fall behind in their academic and socio-emotional development. May On May 31, UB hosted thought leaders from IBM, M&T Bank, Moog and other institutions for its ongoing chat series on AI and society. “Don’t be an AI user, be an AI value creator,” Dario Gil, IBM senior vice president and director of research, told attendees at the Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences. The event included presentations from UB researchers using AI to make advancements in medicine, medical devices, climate change, materials science, pharmaceutical science and other fields. June An electricity grid that uses AI to identify and fix problems before they cause widespread power outages? It could become reality sooner than you think due to research published June 4 and co-led by Souma Chowdhury, who studies how to apply AI to complex systems. He is among more than 200 researchers at UB using AI to address societal challenges. Also in June, more than 300 scholars from the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, one of the world’s most recognized scientific organizations dedicated to advancing AI research, gathered at UB for a multiday conference. The scholars represented more than a dozen fields – including machine learning, psychology, political science, the humanities and more. July On July 17, SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. and state lawmakers visited UB for a roundtable discussion on AI. The attendees learned about UB researchers using AI to identify “forever chemicals,” as well as spinoff companies working on technology to improve treatment for strokes and aneurysms. “We are pioneering AI discoveries that will drive progress in research and economic development, demonstrating UB’s commitment to leveraging technology for societal benefit,” Govindaraju said. August The start of the new semester brought record enrollment to UB’s Master of Science program focusing on AI. Launched in 2020 with five students, the number swelled to 73 students this fall, with an additional 50 expected next semester. The program’s growth “shows that we’re providing students with in-demand skills that they can use for the betterment of society,” said Kemper E. Lewis, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Graduates have taken jobs at Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA, Visa and other companies. September UB was awarded $10 million from the U.S. Department of Education to establish the Center for Early Literacy and Responsible AI. The center will create AI tools to ensure culturally and linguistically diverse learners in grades K-2, including those in Western New York, receive transformative early literacy instruction. “We believe that, with the right support, all students — regardless of their backgrounds — can succeed in literacy,” says project leader X. Christine Wang, a professor of learning and instruction in the Graduate School of Education. Later in the month, Rep. Tim Kennedy announced UB would receive $475,000 to equip its wind tunnel with equipment that allows it to leverage the power of AI, among other technologies. UB uses the facility to study and improve the nation’s response to hurricanes, wildfires and other extreme weather. October On Oct. 11, roughly nine months after it was announced, Empire AI went live. Gov. Kathy Hochul flipped the switch on a stack of powerful new computer servers at Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences. The servers represent a fraction of the eventual power of Empire AI, which will be located at a new building on North Campus. On the same day, UB President Satish K. Tripathi delivered his annual State of the University address. “While today, only the private sector has the computing power needed to seriously advance AI research, Empire AI will put New York State at the epicenter of artificial intelligence innovation. This game-changing initiative will enable us to tap the full power of AI to solve complex issues facing our state, nation and world.” November From fake celebrity endorsements to manipulated videos of politicians, the 2024 election was rife with misleading information. Debunking much of this content was the DeepFake-o-Meter, a publicly available tool used by journalists, law enforcement and others. The tool was created by UB computer scientist Siwei Lyu and students. With AI being added to medical devices, the Food and Drug Administration wants to ensure these products meet public health standards. The agency called upon experts, including UB’s Peter Elkin, for insight at a public meeting. Elkin, professor and chair of the Department of Bioinformatics, said the FDA should allow these devices to learn and therefore improve. “AI-enabled devices are no longer just tools; now they are partners in care,” he said. Back on campus, UB hosted the latest in a series of “AI at UB” forums on Nov. 21. Organizers updated faculty and staff on how UB is implementing AI in its classrooms and labs. Presenters also discussed how AI can be a tool to foster collaboration and enhance learning outcomes. December In early December, UB officials detailed plans to create a new academic department focused on AI and its impact on society. The department aligns with the mission of UB and SUNY, both of which are committed to responsibly harnessing the power of AI for social good. Around the same time, UB computer scientist Nalini Ratha published a series of research papers focused on machine learning and encrypted data. One of the papers suggests a new technique for safeguarding personal medical data as it travels from third-party cloud service providers back to patients and their doctors. The work points to a future where medical diagnostics are quicker and more accurate, and patient medical records remain confidential.