Andrew Z H Yee and Lim Sun Sun Given that social media use can range anywhere between adverse and edifying for well-being, advising or regulating youth to stay off them will likely be counterproductive. In a little corner of Instagram, some young Malay activists in Singapore are using the account @LepakConversations to highlight and unpack Malay/Muslim issues by conducting dialogues both online and offline. It seems that no issue is too awkward or too challenging, and they have discussed the full gamut – from negative Malay stereotypes to challenges facing the Malay community on male mental health. It is a lively space where people engage with diverse perspectives while offering mutual support and validation. Over on TikTok, 29-year-old Singaporean Andreana Tay has more than nine million views and over one million likes for her top video where she explains how her non-verbal, autistic teen sister adorably asks to share her food through body language, gestures and giggles. Ms Tay’s videos have helped to raise awareness of not only the struggles of living with autism, but also the joys and gratifications autistic people experience, humanising rather than diminishing them. Her videos capturing how she cares for her sister have drawn scores of supportive comments, including those from people who also have autistic family members. Already a subscriber? Log in Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month $9.90 $9.90/month No contract ST app access on 1 mobile device Subscribe now All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowThe City boss is enduring the worst run of his glittering managerial career after a six-game winless streak featuring five successive defeats and a calamitous 3-3 draw in a match his side had led 3-0. The 53-year-old, who has won 18 trophies since taking charge at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, signed a contract extension through to the summer of 2027 just over a week ago. Yet, despite his remarkable successes, he still considers himself vulnerable to the sack and has pleaded with the club to keep faith. “I don’t want to stay in the place if I feel like I’m a problem,” said the Spaniard, who watched in obvious frustration as City conceded three times in the last 15 minutes in a dramatic capitulation against Feyenoord in midweek. “I don’t want to stay here just because the contract is there. “My chairman knows it. I said to him, ‘Give me the chance to try come back’, and especially when everybody comes back (from injury) and see what happens. “After, if I’m not able to do it, we have to change because, of course, (the past) nine years are dead. “More than ever I ask to my hierarchy, give me the chance. “Will it be easy for me now? No. I have the feeling that still I have a job to do and I want to do it.” City have been hampered by a raft of injuries this term, most pertinently to midfield talisman and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. The Euro 2024 winner is expected to miss the remainder of the season and his absence has been keenly felt over the past two months. Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has also not started a match since September. The pressure continues to build with champions City facing a crucial trip to title rivals and Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday. Defeat would leave City trailing Arne Slot’s side by 11 points. “I don’t enjoy it at all, I don’t like it,” said Guardiola of his side’s current situation. “I sleep not as good as I slept when I won every game. “The sound, the smell, the perfume is not good enough right now. “But I’m the same person who won the four Premier Leagues in a row. I was happier because I ate better, lived better, but I was not thinking differently from who I am.” Guardiola is confident his side will not stop battling as they bid to get back on track. He said: “The people say, ‘Yeah, it’s the end of that’. Maybe, but we are in November. We will see what happens until the end. “What can you do? Cry for that? You don’t stay long – many, many years without fighting. That is what you try to look for, this is the best (way). “Why should we not believe? Why should it not happen with us?”A study of hot spots for collisions between ships and whales around the world, including Canadian waters, offers a map for measures to prevent the deadly strikes that could drive some species to extinction, one of the British Columbia-based authors says. Chloe Robinson said reported strikes represent a fraction of their true extent, and a lack of protection measures leaves whales vulnerable as global shipping expands. The study found shipping takes place across 92 per cent of the ranges for humpback, blue, fin and sperm whales worldwide, but measures to reduce vessel strikes have been implemented in less than seven per cent of high-risk areas. “That could really spell, you know, potential extinction for some of these species,” said Robinson,director of whales for Ocean Wise, a B.C.-based organization that provided data for the paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Science. “A recent study estimated anything up to 20,000 whales are killed a year through ship strikes, globally, and that’s just an estimate, a best-case estimate.” Robinson said she was surprised to see Swiftsure Bank, off the west coast of Vancouver Island, emerge as a risk hot spot for strikes of fin, blue and humpback whales. The area is a “migration highway” for humpbacks, she noted. The study also identified a hot spot for the same three species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence between Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. “This is something that Ocean Wise has been looking into because a lot of the management measures occur offshore and not sort of within the Gulf of St. Lawrence itself and even the St. Lawrence Seaway, (which) leads down to the Great Lakes,” she said. “That was a huge hot spot, which was really interesting for me.” Robinson said there have been smaller studies on the risk of ship strikes in different regions, but the study published Thursday is the first to map the distribution of the four whale species, using a variety of data sources, then compare it with the Automatic Identification System, a tool used for tracking vessels worldwide. “This was really the first of its kind to map these two on top of each other,” she said. The researchers found the highest levels of risk in the Indian, western North Pacific and Mediterranean, while it also identified high-risk areas in the eastern North Pacific, North and South Atlantic Ocean along with the South China Sea. The Southern Ocean was the only region that did not contain any ship-strike hot spots due to low levels of shipping, despite high use by whales, the study found. Robinson said the findings support a strong case for maritime authorities to adopt measures such as whale alert systems, speed limits and no-go zones. “We know where there are areas where there are lots of whales and lots of ships, so this is where we need to target for management,” she said in an interview. Robinson said Canada is home to many “eyes on the water” and researchers exploring innovative techniques for monitoring whales. But the country lacks mandatory mitigation measures, and it’s not alone. “Next to none of the measures globally are mandatory. So, having voluntary measures (is) great, provided people comply,” Robinson said. Ocean Wise launched an alert system in 2018 that notifies large vessels of the presence of whales in Pacific Northwest waters, and Robinson said about 80 per cent of mariners from Washington state up to Alaska have signed up. The WhaleReport alert system mainly functions in what she describes as “inshore” waters around busy ports in Seattle, Vancouver and Prince Rupert. The Port of Vancouver has also seen a high rate of compliance for its ECHO program, Robinson noted. The program encourages vessels to take voluntary steps, such as slowing down or staying farther away from whales, in order to reduce underwater noise and the potential for strikes in busy shipping areas. Robinson favours a multi-pronged approach to reducing ship strikes, but she said one single measure she believes could have a big impact would be equipping vessels with an infrared camera to detect whales within several kilometres. “Maybe some mariners ... respond better to knowing there 100 per cent is a whale 200 metres in front of your vessel, versus, ‘slow down, there might be a whale here.’” Robinson said such cameras can cost betweenUS$50,000 and $75,000. But the cost was a “drop in the bucket” of major companies’ profits, she said. The cameras also present a public-relations opportunity for businesses to advertise themselves as operating in a more whale-friendly manner, Robinson said. “I know people who have had to go and have therapy after killing a humpback whilst at the helm,” she added. “I think there’s a lot to be said (for) the long-term benefits of this kind of technology.” The study also found areas with lower traffic that could provide refuge for whales, especially with added protections. It shows the Arctic Ocean, for example, has very few high-risk areas for vessel strikes, and Robinson said some researchers view it as potential sanctuary. But without protections, Robinson said Arctic waters could become the next high-risk hot spot as sea ice melts with climate change, opening up shipping routes. “Knowing the plans to expand shipping routes into these areas to cut shipping time, make things faster, right through prime whale habitat, I think this is a really good opportunity to get ahead of the issue before it becomes an issue,” she said. Whales play crucial roles in their ecosystems, including cycling nutrients that support other species, and they’re a boon for tourism, Robinson said. They’re also “magical” creatures that people feel connected to, she said, and they remain vulnerable after many species were hunted to the brink of extinction. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2024.

AMGEN TO PRESENT AT CITI'S 2024 GLOBAL HEALTHCARE CONFERENCERajasthan Govt Issues Deepfake Advisory To Combat Rising Cyber Fraud

Eagles clinch division title; Bills claim AFC second seedGlobal demand for food could outpace supply as the planet heats up if major food-producing countries like Canada don’t step up adoption of new production technologies, agriculture experts warned this week. “Environmental factors, supply chain disruptions, limited resources and economic viability are all threatening our food systems,” University of Guelph plant-agriculture Prof. Rene Van Acker said in a university news release on Wednesday. “It’s not a question of replacing the great things we do, but rather adding new technologies and new processes to build extra sustainability and resilience, and economic opportunity,” Van Acker added. New food-production methods in need of expansion include growing fruit and vegetables year-round, and the development of meat products directly from animal cells — known as cultured meat — rather than by raising farm animals. Change in food-production approaches may not come easily. A few years ago, a British scientist was vilified when he suggested that half of his country’s farmlands needed to be converted back to natural woodlands to help fight climate change and reduce flooding. Some British livestock farmers were outraged over the prospect of significant reductions in cattle and sheep herds. Meanwhile, experimentation with alternative crops that may thrive in the Thunder Bay farming belt continues. “Winter wheat and winter rye have potential in Northwestern Ontario,” said Tarlok Singh Sahota, director of Lakehead University’s agricultural research facility just west of Thunder Bay.

Fred Harris, former US senator from Oklahoma and presidential hopeful, dies at 94

NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid mixed trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Monday after closing November at an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared after saying an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or the company’s board. Retailers were mixed coming off Black Friday and heading into what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks are pulling Wall Street toward another record amid mixed trading on Monday. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% in afternoon trading after closing its best month of the year at an all-time high . The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 86 points, or 0.2%, with a little more than an hour remaining in trading, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.9% higher. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 31.1% to lead the market. Following accusations of misconduct and the resignation of its public auditor , the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company's board. It also said it doesn’t expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 2.9% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 1.1% after the chip company said CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger’s replacement, and its chair said it’s “committed to restoring investor confidence.” Intel recently lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street's frenzy around AI. Stellantis, meanwhile, skidded following the announcement of its CEO’s departure . Carlos Tavares steps down after nearly four years in the top spot of the automaker, which owns car brands like Jeep, Citroën and Ram, amid an ongoing struggle with slumping sales and an inventory backlog at dealerships. The world’s fourth-largest automaker’s stock fell 6.3% in Milan. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 likewise fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 3.7% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record and coming off Black Friday . Target, which recently gave a forecast for the holiday season that left investors discouraged , fell 1.6%. Walmart , which gave a more optimistic forecast, rose 0.3%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.3%. The stock market largely took Donald Trump’s latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won’t create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The dollar has long been the currency of choice for global trade. Speculation has also been around a long time that other currencies could knock it off its mantle, but no contender has come close. The U.S. dollar’s value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris over the French government’s budget . The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed above 4.23% during the morning before falling back to 4.19%. That was just above its level of 4.18% late Friday. A report in the morning showed the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted again last month, but not by as much as economists expected. This upcoming week will bring several big updates on the job market, including the October job openings report, weekly unemployment benefits data and the all-important November jobs report. They could steer the next moves for Federal Reserve, which recently began pulling interest rates lower to give support to the economy. Economists expect Friday's headliner report to show U.S. employers accelerated their hiring in November, coming off October's lackluster growth that was hampered by damaging hurricanes and strikes. “We now find ourselves in the middle of this Goldilocks zone, where economic health supports earnings growth while remaining weak enough to justify potential Fed rate cuts,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. In financial markets abroad, Chinese stocks led gains worldwide as monthly surveys showed improving conditions for manufacturing, partly driven by a surge in orders ahead of Trump’s inauguration next month. Both official and private sector surveys of factory managers showed strong new orders and export orders, possibly partly linked to efforts by importers in the U.S. to beat potential tariff hikes by Trump once he takes office. Indexes rose 0.7% in Hong Kong and 1.1% in Shanghai. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.Commentary: US bribery case against Indian tycoon Adani is bad news for ModiIt's no secret the New York Giants have been bad at winning games this season, but on Sunday, they were bad at losing. The Giants came into Sunday's contest with the Indianapolis Colts in position to earn the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft in April. All they had to do was lose to the Colts and drop their final game of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles. Instead, New York had its best offensive display of the season as it downed Indianapolis 45-33. Quarterback Drew Lock completed 17 of his 23 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns. Lock also scored on the ground. Star rookie Malik Nabers was his favorite target as he hauled in seven receptions for 171 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton also found the endzone through the air. After he scored, Slayton had an emphatic message for those wanting the team to tank for the top pick. With the Giants' loss, the New England Patriots can now claim the top pick with a loss to the Buffalo Bills next week. The win is impressive and likely would have made fans very happy earlier this season, but with nothing to play for, the Giants cost themselves the top pick in the draft and were met with trolling on social media. There might not be a No. 1 pick for the Giants this year, but at least they avoided being the first team in NFL history to go 0-9 at home.

Serverless Architecture Market: Serverless Architecture to Hit USD 50.86B by 2031NEW YORK , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. (NYSE-RMT) (the "Fund") has declared a fourth quarter distribution of $0.21 per share on its Common Stock. The distribution, optionally payable in additional shares of Common Stock, or in cash by specific stockholder election, is to be paid on December 23, 2024 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 12, 2024 (ex-dividend on December 12, 2024 ). The price of shares issued for reinvestment will be determined on December 19 , 2024. The Fund has adopted a Distribution Policy of paying quarterly distributions on its Common Stock. Distributions are being made at the annual rate of 7% of the rolling average of the prior four calendar quarter-end net asset values (NAVs), with the fourth quarter distribution being the greater of 1.75% of the rolling average or the minimum distribution required by IRS regulations. The policy, including the annual rate, is subject to change at the discretion of the Fund's Board of Directors. The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with 'yield' or 'income'. The Fund's estimated sources of the distribution to be paid on December 23, 2024 and for 2024 year-to-date are as follows: Estimated Allocations as of November 30, 2024 FUND DISTRIBUTION PER SHARE NET INVESTMENT INCOME NET REALIZED SHORT-TERM GAINS NET REALIZED LONG-TERM GAINS RETURN OF CAPITAL RMT $0.21 $0.0088 (4 %) $0.0280 (13 %) $0.1731 (83 %) $0.0001 (0 %) Estimated Allocations for 2024 through November 30, 2024 FUND DISTRIBUTION PER SHARE NET INVESTMENT INCOME NET REALIZED SHORT-TERM GAINS NET REALIZED LONG-TERM GAINS RETURN OF CAPITAL RMT $0.74 $0.0310 (4 %) $0.0988 (13 %) $0.6099 (83 %) $0.0003 (0 %) You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of the current distribution or from the terms of the Fund's Distribution Policy. The amounts and sources of distributions reported herein are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information: Fund Average Annual Total Return (in relation to NAV for the 5-year period ending on 11/30/2024) 1 Annualized Current Distribution Rate (expressed as a percentage of NAV as of 11/30/2024) 2 Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV for the fiscal year through 11/30/2024) 3 Cumulative fiscal year Distribution Rate (as a percentage of NAV as 11/30/2024) 4 RMT 14.13 % 7.12 % 19.30 % 6.27 % 1 Average Annual Total Return in relation to NAV represents the compound average of the Annual NAV Total Returns of the Fund for the five year period ended November 30, 2024 . Annual NAV Total Return is the percentage change in the Fund's NAV over a year, assuming reinvestment of distributions paid. 2 The annualized Current Distribution Rate is the current fiscal period's distribution rate annualized as a percentage of the Fund's NAV as of November 30, 2024 . 3 Cumulative Total Return is the percentage change in the Fund's NAV from December 31, 2023 to November 30, 2024 , assuming reinvestment of distributions paid. 4 The Cumulative Fiscal Year Distribution Rate is the dollar value of distributions for the fiscal year period ( January 1, 2024 to November 30, 2024 ), as a percentage of the Fund's NAV as of November 30, 2024 . About Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. is a closed-end diversified management investment company whose shares of Common Stock are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The Fund's investment goal is long-term capital growth, which it seeks by investing primarily in equity securities of companies that, at the time of investment, have market capitalizations of $750 million or less. For further information on The Royce Funds sm , please visit our web site at: www.royceinvest.com . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royce-micro-cap-trust-inc-nyse-rmt-declares-fourth-quarter-common-stock-distribution-of-0-21-per-share-302320056.html SOURCE Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Renowned Aruban photographer Silv “KURO” Muller has captivated audiences once again with a stunning piece of art that blends visual elegance with cultural significance. Through his social media platforms, he unveiled a remarkable portrait featuring seven of Aruba’s beauty queens, framed in a setting that celebrates the island’s rich history and identity. This extraordinary portrait goes beyond showcasing beauty; it highlights a deep connection to Aruba’s heritage. KURO masterfully bridges the past and present, portraying the queens in a symbolic environment that underscores their roles as cultural ambassadors during their participation in the Miss Universe pageant. The featured queens and their respective years are: The historical setting chosen by KURO adds layers of depth and meaning, beautifully illustrating how these women embody Aruba’s spirit on an international stage. His distinctive artistic approach turns this portrait into a heartfelt tribute to Aruba’s cultural heritage and the queens who have proudly represented the island with grace and pride. This portrait is more than an image—it is a visual celebration of Aruba’s history, elegance, and talent. KURO’s ability to capture timeless moments shines through as he immortalizes these seven queens in a composition that emphasizes their poise and profound connection to the Aruban identity. With this piece, Silv KURO Muller reaffirms his standing as a master of his craft, creating an artwork that not only pays homage to Aruba’s cultural legacy but also resonates as a testament to its enduring beauty.