By HALELUYA HADERO, Associated Press Workers at seven Amazon facilities went on strike Thursday, an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the e-commerce company for a labor agreement during a key shopping period. The Teamsters said the workers, who voted to authorize strikes in recent days, joined picket lines after Amazon ignored a Sunday deadline the union set for contract negotiations. The union called it the largest strike against the company in U.S. history, although Amazon said it did not expect the labor action to impact its operations. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters claims it represents nearly 10,000 workers at 10 Amazon facilities, a small portion of the 800,000 workers employed in the company’s U.S. warehouses. The union hasn’t said how many workers would participate in the strike or how long the walkout would last. “Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said in a statement. The strikes happening Thursday are taking place at seven delivery stations, which are run by contractors who drop off of packages to customers everyday. They include three locations in Southern California, and one each in New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, and Skokie, Illinois, according to the union’s announcement. The biggest warehouse affiliated with the Teamsters is located in the New York City borough of Staten Island. In 2022, thousands of workers at the warehouse, known as JFK8, voted to be represented by the nascent Amazon Labor Union. Workers then choose to affiliate with the Teamsters this past summer. The National Labor Relations Board certified that election to unionize, but Amazon has refused to bargain on a contract. In the process, the company has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the labor board. At the other six facilities, employees – including many delivery drivers – unionized with the Teamsters by demonstrating majority support but without holding government-administered elections. Under labor law, companies can recognize unions without elections being held, but the practice is rare, said John Logan, director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University. Amazon workers in more locations are “prepared to join” the fight, the Teamsters said, noting that employees at the Staten Island warehouse and at a company air hub in California also have authorized strikes. When asked about the strike Thursday, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said: “What you see here are almost entirely outsiders, not Amazon employees or partners, and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters.” “The truth is that they were unable to get enough support from our employees and partners and have brought in outsiders to come and harass and intimidate our team, which is inappropriate and dangerous,” Nantel said. Amazon has said it does not consider delivery drivers like the ones on strike to be its employees. Under the company’s business model, the drivers work for third-party businesses, called Delivery Service Partners, who deliver millions of packages daily. Amazon has accused the union, which says it represents some of the drivers, of “intentionally” misleading the public. “This is another attempt to push a false narrative,” Nantel said. But the Teamsters have argued Amazon essentially controls everything the drivers do and should be classified as an employer. Some U.S. labor regulators have sided with the union in filings made before the NLRB. In September, Amazon boosted pay for the drivers amid the growing pressure. Shares of Amazon.com Inc. rose more than 2.4% by midday Thursday. Extra News Alerts Get breaking updates as they happen. Be civil. Be kind.Billionaire Dan S. Loeb is the founder of Third Point and is renowned for his bold activist strategies that challenge the status quo and drive transformation in global companies . In the fourth quarter of 2024, renowned hedge fund manager Loeb significantly increased stakes in several companies, including more than doubling Third Point’s holdings in Intercontinental Exchange Inc. ICE and CRH PLC CRH , according to quarterly 13F filings. ICE : Intercontinental Exchange operates exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange, and clearing houses that enable investment, capital raising, and risk management across various asset classes. Read: ICE’s Resilient Business Model and Technological Advancements Drive an Outperform Rating – Here’s Why Loeb added 1.08 million shares in the third quarter at an average price of $148.77, bringing the total to 2.08 million shares. This represents a 108.5% increase in share count from Q2, with a total portfolio value of $334.93 million. Third Point revealed its stake in a 13F filing in November. The stock has declined about 5.7% in the last month. Meanwhile, the capital market sector, as measured by the SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETF KCE , has declined roughly by 4.29% in the last month. In the third quarter, the company’s adjusted EPS of $1.55 was in line with the consensus expectations, while sales of $2.349 billion were slightly below the $2.354 billion estimate . Also Read: Big Changes At Building Products Company CRH: CEO Albert Manifold Set To Retire, CFO Jim Mintern Gears Up To Lead In 2025 CRH : The company provides building materials solutions and has leadership positions in both North America and Europe. Loeb added 1.40 million shares at an average price of $83.86 in the third quarter, raising the total count to 2.05 million shares. This marks a 215.38% increase in share count, with a total value of $190.12 million. CRH shares have dipped around 7.8% compared to First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF ‘s AIRR decline of 7.9% in the past month. The company’s third-quarter results missed analyst consensus, with adjusted EPS of $1.97 coming below the consensus of $2.09 and sales of $10.515 billion falling short of the street view of $10.56 billion . Read Next : Bitcoin Investors Should Be Optimistic Ahead Of 2025: Here’s Why Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney. This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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In the early hours of a Wednesday morning, 95-year-old nursing-home resident Clare Nowland climbed out of bed, grabbed her four-wheeled walker and began shuffling through the facility's dimly lit corridors. or signup to continue reading Only a few hours later, the great-grandmother was on her back with a fatal head injury after being tasered by police. The officer who pulled the weapon's trigger was Senior Constable Kristian James Samuel White, who was called to the Yallambee Lodge aged-care centre in the southern NSW town of Cooma on May 17, 2023. Just after 3am that day, Mrs Nowland had arisen before eventually finding her way to a kitchenette, where she grabbed two steak knives and a jar of prunes. The elderly woman, who had symptoms of dementia, was later coaxed out of the rooms of two other residents by nursing staff but refused to move from a third. As a call was made about 4.10am by a registered nurse asking triple zero for an ambulance, Mrs Nowland threw one of the knives at a carer. The blade missed, flying through the doorway and falling harmlessly onto the corridor floor. After staff locked the 95-year-old in the room, she escaped by a back door and vanished. It was into that situation that White arrived with his partner and senior officer, acting Sergeant Jessica Pank, and two paramedics. The four of them searched the grounds with the nurse, eventually finding Mrs Nowland about 5.10am. She was seated next to her walker on a wheeled chair in a treatment room. The 95-year-old was holding the remaining knife and a black penlight. Less than three minutes later, White had discharged his taser, hitting the 95-year-old in the torso, causing her to crumple forward and fall onto her back. "Nah, bugger it," he said before firing. Mrs Nowland was stretchered out of the facility and taken to Cooma Hospital, where she suffered a brain bleed due to the blunt-force trauma she suffered when she hit her head in the fall. She died a week later. After eight hours of deliberations, a NSW Supreme Court jury is yet to decide whether White will be convicted or acquitted of manslaughter. They will reconvene for their deliberations on Monday. The 34-year-old officer has been accused of unlawfully killing Mrs Nowland through either criminal negligence by breaching his duty of care or by committing an unlawful and dangerous act that exposed her to a risk of serious injury. He has always said his decision to fire the Taser was a reasonable use of force that was proportionate to the risk the great-grandmother posed with the knife. "As a violent confrontation was imminent and to prevent injury to police, the Taser was discharged," he wrote in a police entry describing the incident. In bodyworn footage played to the court, White was heard talking to Sgt Pank about the sharpness of the knife and plans to either grab it from her hand or kick the wheels of her walker. Neither strategy succeeded and Mrs Nowland was shot around two and a half minutes after police and paramedics located her. "Oh, s***," Sgt Pank was heard saying as the 95-year-old fell to the floor. "Got her, grab it, grab it, grab it," White yelled, signalling others to seize the knife. After loading Mrs Nowland into the ambulance, Sgt Pank radioed back to Cooma police station. "Female is fine, has small lump on head, the ambos are managing," she said. But one of the paramedics told the court he noticed a large bruise-like mark on Mrs Nowland's head and facial droop, which indicated a significant brain bleed. The 95-year-old's daughter, Lesley Lloyd, said she was initially only told her mother had a fall and had been taken to hospital. It was only later, after they had gathered around her mother's bedside, that she was told the incident involved a police Taser. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. 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A bumper pace of new share sales across the Middle East in 2024 is expected to continue next year, even though a few recent disappointing trading debuts have flashed warning signs on valuations. Firms have raised $13bn from initial public offerings in 2024, marking the Middle East’s second-best year since the pandemic. But unlike in previous years, buoyant early returns are no longer a given. The three largest Gulf offerings of the year — Talabat Holding PLC, OQ Exploration & Production SAOG and Lulu Retail Holdings PLC — had muted debuts recently after drawing significant demand. Lulu and Talabat’s deals were both upsized at a late stage, potentially leading to oversupply, some analysts said. “Investors are expressing more sensitivity on valuation, and are more attuned to paying for growth companies as opposed to just buying the yield opportunities,” according to Ali Khalpey, head of equity capital markets at EFG Hermes. Still, as Gulf governments continue a push to diversify their economies and deepen capital markets, market participants expect the rush of listings to continue. “I don’t see anything stopping it,” said Andrew Briscoe, Bank of America Corp’s head of equity capital markets syndicate in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “IPOs haven’t all worked well of late, but I don’t think it stops the issuance levels, although it might impact investor interest.” For context on how busy it’s been, the United Arab Emirates is set to be the leading venue for listings in the broader Europe, Middle East and Africa region for the third year in a row, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The UAE and Saudi Arabia also rank among the top ten venues for share sales globally. There were also sizeable IPOs outside those markets. Two large deals helped Oman leapfrog the likes of UK and Germany by total volume of share sales. The sultanate has a further pipeline of about 30 assets it wants to privatise, including logistics company Asyad Group and Oman Electricity Transmission Co, while OQ also plans to line up further listings in coming years. In the UAE, Abu Dhabi’s flag carrier Etihad Airways is considering a landmark IPO that could make it the first Gulf hub carrier to go public, while a conglomerate owned by Dubai’s ruler is weighing two real estate listings. Other potential deals include a classifieds website, an information technology services firm and a construction company. Saudi Arabia is also likely to see a string of listings, potentially including low-cost carrier Flynas, buy-now-pay-later unicorn Tabby and tech firm Ejada. The country’s wealth fund, which has been on a drive to raise cash, could sell stakes in medical procurement firm Nupco and a port operator. EFG Hermes’ Khalpey expects the kingdom to generate the largest number of IPOs next year, including both state-owned and private businesses. “Many companies have scaled over the last few years and want to take advantage of the positive macro trends in the kingdom,” said Khalpey, whose bank has advised on the highest number of listings in the Gulf in 2024, according to Bloomberg’s league tables. “That’s going to crystallise in a number of IPOs from different sectors.” Recent Saudi listings such as United International Holding and Tamkeen have tended to buck the trend of muted early trading seen in the UAE and Oman. While the uptick in IPO activity in the US and Europe has given investors more choice and an opportunity to be more discerning, there are reasons to believe more international money will flow to the Gulf. The IPO boom of recent years has meant that Middle Eastern volumes are becoming a larger part of global indexes, making it harder for global fund managers to ignore the region, according to Rami Sidani, head of frontier investments at Schroder Investment Management. Lulu’s IPO, for one, drew in Vanguard Group Inc and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Pte. Meanwhile, about 60% of Saudi Aramco’s $12bn sale of existing shares was allocated to foreign investors, a marked shift from its 2019 listing, where only 23% of the shares went to international buyers. That deal was one of three share offerings by public companies in the Middle East this year. While sales of new and existing shares in listed firms are still relatively rare in the Gulf, more are expected next year. That will give investors opportunities to top up on stocks they might have missed out on during IPOs, while also helping firms reach the level of free float they need to be included in indexes. “Companies looking to do follow-ons will have to compete for investor attention amid a number of new names,” said Samer Deghaili, co-head of investment banking for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey at HSBC Holdings Plc, which is the top-ranked institution for regional equity offerings by value, according to Bloomberg’s league tables. “For a company to do a follow-on, they will have to offer a strong growth story where investors can still come in and top up in the stock,” Deghaili said. Related Story Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year ends with Tbourida art shows Ajyal 2024 marks Qatar–Morocco 2024 YoCCalifornia to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sitesEstonia's top spy says NATO must deter Russia for next 10 to 20 years

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Toni Breidinger is set to join the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series full-time in 2025. The American driver will take the wheel of the No. 5 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage, backed by the support of Toyota. Breidinger's move comes after competing in the ARCA Menards Series where she celebrated impressive achievements despite not capturing a win in the 2024 season. Breidinger has now opened up on her relentless preparation during the off-season. During an interview with 5Goats , Breidinger explained: "I'm definitely excited for that next step. "Obviously, there is going to be a learning curve with it but Toyota's been super supportive, and I've been preparing and like, grinding pretty hard during the off-season." As a driver known for her upbeat outlook, Breidinger is determined to tackle the challenges that lie ahead. She aims high, aspiring to clinch the Rookie of the Year award. She added: "I'm definitely expecting the season to be tough, I think there's going to be a lot of challenges. But I think [one goal] for me is resilience. "I know I'm going to be facing challenges and I know I'm going to have to adapt to situations very quickly and learn a lot on the fly. So, I think for me, just being resilient, being a sponge, soaking everything up, and hopefully, [I can] get Rookie of the Year at the end of the season." Support plays a critical role in Breidinger's development. Within Tricon Garage, Corey Heim provides valuable guidance. "I want to know his thought processes because obviously he's so good and it seems everything comes to him so naturally," Breidinger said. "So, I'm always like, 'Corey, how do you do it?' But I always bug him with a bunch of questions and he's been super helpful for me." Parallel to her progress on the track is Breidinger's robust presence beyond racing. Her social media following is formidable, boasting over five million followers across Instagram and TikTok . This engagement cements her status as the most involved NASCAR driver on social platforms. Moreover, her modeling pursuits add to her brand, with appearances in campaigns for renowned companies and an upcoming feature in the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. "Thankfully, I do enjoy doing all the side hustles and traveling and going to different events and working on social media," Breidinger explained. "But it all ties together and, yeah, it's interesting when drivers say they want to just focus on racing because I'm like, 'how are you guys paying your bills?' "Honestly. Because I wouldn't be able to race without my partners and I want to do a good job for them on and off the track. So, it's super important for me to be able to balance all of that."How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Friday, November 22

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save As science continues its evolution, discoveries and technologies can act like a master key that open doors leading to novel advancements. Artificial intelligence is one such key, making innovations possible by solving complex problems, automating tasks and enabling research that would have been impossible, or very time-consuming, without it. Mohammad Hosseini But do we want to do research on all topics, and shall we try the AI master key on every door? To explore this question, let’s consider the use of AI by genomics experts as an example. In recent years, genomics experts have added unbelievable depth to what we know about the world and ourselves. For example, genetics researchers have revealed facts about when certain animals and plants were domesticated. In another example, researchers used DNA from 30,000-year-old permafrost to create fertile samples of a plant called narrow-leafed campion. People are also reading... Two Albany residents killed in Linn County crash Oregon State celebrates Murphy's arrival while Washington State loses coach, quarterback Albany shelter faces federal lawsuit as whistleblower faces homelessness Group wants to make Corvallis downtown more sophisticated Oregon port contractor praises Hitler, uses slurs — and now officials face a quandary Group wants to make Corvallis downtown more sophisticated Family of hit-and-run victim seeks closure, clues that will lead to driver As I See It: The people of Benton County deserve leadership that promotes dialogue Oregon State men head to the beaches of Hawaii looking to keep momentum going Corvallis looks to drum up millions for facilities project Albany man indicted in attempted murder case Brownsville swears in new councilors, conservative sweep complete New Corvallis playground welcomes children with disabilities Albany police say sex offender tried enrolling in high school Albany man suspected of stealing flatbed trailer, crashing into minivan Importantly, genetic engineering has facilitated extraordinary advances in the treatment of complicated conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia. Thanks to AI, we are witnessing a dramatic increase in the pace and scalability of genomic exploration. But given the risks and possible consequences of AI use in science, should we rush headlong into using AI in all kinds of projects? One relevant example is research on Neanderthals, our closest relatives, who lived about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals have been studied for several years now through genetic investigation of their fossils and their DNA. Genetic engineering can potentially use ancient DNA and genome editing methods to re-create a Neanderthal or aspects of a Neanderthal’s genetics and physiology. To do this, scientists could start by figuring out the DNA sequence of a Neanderthal by comparing it with the DNA of modern humans, because they are closely related. Then, scientists could use the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR to swap out parts of human DNA with Neanderthal DNA. This process would require a lot of trial and error and might not succeed soon. But based on what we know about genetics, if something is possible, AI can help make it happen faster, cheaper and with less effort. Scientists are excited about these developments because they could facilitate new discoveries and open up many research opportunities in genetic research. With or without AI, research on Neanderthals will proceed. But the extraordinary power of AI could give the final push to these discoveries and facilitate this kind of resurrection. At that point, the scientific community must develop norms and guidelines about how to treat these resurrected beings with dispositions very similar to humans. We would need to carefully consider their rights and well-being almost in the same way as when humans are involved and not as research subjects or artifacts of scientific curiosity. These ethical issues are discussed in more detail in a new paper published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence. A more holistic question to consider is: Should we prioritize the use of resource-intensive AI, researchers’ time and public funds to resurrect extinct beings? Or should we invest these resources into conserving species that are critically endangered today to prevent biodiversity from more degradation? Hosseini is an assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He wrote this for The Chicago Tribune . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc speaks virtually at a press conference in Ottawa. Ottawa's plan to send prohibited firearms to Ukraine to fight the Russian incursion has some experts scratching their heads, while staunch Ukraine supporters worry it could unintentionally pit aggrieved gun owners against the war effort. The Liberal government announced last week it will work with Canadian businesses to donate select weapons banned in Canada to Ukraine, though details about the new plan remain sparse even days later. Richard Shimooka, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and defence-procurement expert, said this isn't the sort of equipment Ukraine really needs to win the war and that it already suffers from a lack of standardized weapons. "In some ways it's symbolic and yet in other ways it's not helping at all," he said. "It's not going to move the needle." He points out the real problem is that shell-hungry Ukraine desperately needs 155 mm artillery ammunition, but Canada's munitions supply chain doesn't have the capacity to feed the country what it needs most. And when it comes to small arms, hundreds of one type of standardized assault rifle would be most useful. "They're all semi-automatic," he noted about the buyback guns. "If you want a true, military-style weapon being used in Ukraine, you want a fully automatic weapon." On Sunday, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump called for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, raising questions about how long the war could last. The United States has been by far Ukraine's largest military backer throughout the war. Kelly Sundberg, a criminologist at Mount Royal University, said the move seems more like political theatre to bolster Ottawa's controversial program than a carefully considered policy, since it appears it could wind up being a small assortment of weapons and ammunition in the end. “It sounds like a political stunt and not very well thought out at that,“ he said. “It seems very hastily thought up and somewhat desperate, frankly." The Canadian government would also need to test and possibly repair the guns for safety before sending them over, he added. Yaroslav Baran, a consultant with the Pendulum Group, former president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and well-known conservative commentator in Ottawa, meanwhile, said he worries the plan could inadvertently wedge gun owners against Ukraine. "While I always appreciate any support for Ukraine from the government of Canada, the idea of linking these two completely unrelated issues is misguided and dangerous," he said. "If you're at the receiving end of that message -- the hunter or farmer being told to hand over your firearm -- you're going to get your back up. Then, the follow-up message is, 'By the way, we're going to ship it overseas to help Ukraine,' (so) your reaction is going to be 'Like hell you are.'" Denys Volkov, a community advocate in Winnipeg who was born in Ukraine and has long pushed for help for the country during its war with Russia, said he shares that sentiment and that the announcement caught many in the diaspora off guard. He said to talk about sending Ukraine "random guns taken from law-abiding gun owners" is "not a serious conversation of how to help" the country. "The type of help Ukraine needs is on a massive scale." Ottawa has insisted the move could help, even if only a little. Defence Minister Bill Blair said last week that Canada reached out to Ukraine in October asking if any of the firearms listed under the program could be useful, and Ukraine said yes. "Every bit of assistance that we can offer to the Ukrainians is one step towards their victory, and a worthwhile investment of our collective time and efforts," Blair said. A government official not authorized to speak on the record said it would be businesses, not individuals providing the guns in this case, and that Ukraine has identified some 20 different firearms that could prove useful, so it would not be a random mashup of weaponry. The source noted this comes in addition to Canada's contributions of 21,000 small arms to Ukraine, including assault rifles and machine guns. Blair said last week he does not yet know how many weapons Ottawa can supply to Ukraine through this program, and will not know until retailers provide Ottawa with information about what weapons they have in stock so the government can match that with the list Ukraine provided. When asked for comment and additional details following the announcement, neither the department nor Blair's office provided a public statement by deadline. The announcement came last week as Ottawa outlined another 324 firearms that it outlawed, contending they belong on the battlefield instead of in Canadian homes.

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I would love to revolutionize your Thanksgiving Day speeches, but I must admit that the blessings I feel gratitude for are embarrassingly mundane. I mean, I am thankful for weekends, babies, walks in the rain, comfy sofas, random acts of kindness, the fact that I pay so little attention at work, I am permanently exempted from having to sign a non-disclosure agreement... I am thankful that the descendants of Abraham have been blessed to be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore, although they do fall short of the number of artificial ingredients in a box of breakfast cereal. I am thankful that some states’ vote-counting pace provides a perfect strategy for dieters. (“Whoa! It turns out that combo meal I ate last Tuesday had 2,000 calories! I’ll have to take that into account the Thursday after next, when I find out how many calories this here chocolate fountain packs!”) I am thankful that my taste buds can accommodate sour grapes. That makes it easier when my smartphone camera announces, “Storage full!” just as I’m about to snap some once-in-a-lifetime photograph. (“Ah, who needs a photo of Bigfoot hiding a lost John Lennon recording in Amelia Earhart’s plane, anyway?”) I am thankful that – if there’s any justice in the world – all those clothing designers who refuse to standardize sizes and cuts will someday find themselves not quite fitting into their caskets or urns. I am thankful that I can still manage to fake detecting a difference between 500 permutations of (faintly) scented candles. (“Ah, yes – the Buttcheeks & Boysenberry! I shall savor the experience until my dying day! Perhaps you would enjoy a little something I call Eau de Exertion of Just Turning On The %$#@ Lamp. Wait, there’s more! I’m also marketing a new game called Just What Foul Odor Is Debbie Trying To Mask, Anyway?”) I am thankful that if you smile, the world smiles with you – although not necessarily at the same time and not without sneezing, half-closed eyes and devil horns. I am thankful that I may someday be as famous as Robert Oppenheimer, since my kitchen junk drawer is finally approaching critical mass. I am thankful that folks tolerate my inability to remember names, but let’s be honest: most people don’t have names that are that memorable to start with. You can ask (let me consult my list here) my mechanic Brad Pitt, my accountant Babe Ruth and my neighbor John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt. I am thankful that there has been a pause in cases of zealots trying to “cram their ideas down your throat.” Of course, the tentative plan to infect you with their opinions via a patch is alarming in its own right. (“No, wait. Better yet: you can now scan this QR Code to have all your beliefs ridiculed to the core!”) I am thankful to find teachable moments in life, although some days I’m less inclined to impart my years of wisdom than to announce, “Hey, go raid your grandparents’ closet and do a Seventies dress-up day!” Don’t take things for granted this Thanksgiving. Show a little reverence. In the words of the patriarch Isaac, “Hey, Dad, the next time you want to try a burnt offering, might I suggest a box of Fruity Pebbles, instead?”

New Delhi: In May 1992, Finance Minister Manmohan Singh attended a crucial presentation in the conference room on the ground floor of North Block, home to the Finance Ministry. It was a moment that would reshape India’s financial landscape. The discussion centered on a revolutionary proposal: building a modern stock exchange that would transform the trading ecosystem, challenge the dominance of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), and set a new benchmark for transparency and efficiency in India’s capital markets. Also Read: Manmohan Singh's 1991 Reforms: The Move That Changed India's Future Forever The presentation was led by Ravi Narain, a key figure selected for the assignment, along with two consultants and the guidance of RH Patil, Narain’s mentor from the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI). Also present was S S Nadkarni, then chairman of IDBI. Together, they unveiled the blueprint for what would become the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Drawing inspiration from the Swedish model of a for-profit exchange, they envisioned a system that would break away from the broker-driven model dominating Indian stock markets. The NSE would adopt an order-driven approach to enhance liquidity and ensure a unified order book for the entire nation. Manmohan Singh’s role was instrumental in this transformational journey. As the architect of India’s 1991 economic reforms, Singh understood the need for modernising financial infrastructure to support the liberalised economy. His approval, along with that of G V Ramakrishna, chairman of the newly empowered Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), set the stage for the NSE to take shape. Today, the NSE stands as India’s largest stock exchange, a testament to the forward-thinking leadership of Manmohan Singh and the determination of those who shared his vision. Manmohan Singh's 1991 ReformsIn 1991, Manmohan Singh was the Finance Minister of India, when the three key reforms -- liberalisation, globalistation and privatisation -- were brought in to save the economy from the brink of a collapse. Singh played a pivotal role in liberalising the Indian economy during a time of immense financial strain. Faced with soaring fiscal and balance of payments deficits, and foreign exchange reserves sufficient for just a few weeks of imports, the government turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance — the first and only instance of its kind — pledging gold reserves to secure funds. On Thursday night, Singh breathed his last at Delhi's AIIMs. He was 92. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Markets, Business Economy and around the world.

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Lambeau Field should be rocking Sunday afternoon when the San Francisco 49ers meet the Green Bay Packers for an NFC Conference non-divisional matchup. The BetMGM bonus code CLEVELANDCOM1500 unlocks a $1,500 first-bet bonus with that you can use for today’s matchup. Read on as I show you how to unlock a first-bet bonus up to $1,500 for 49ers vs. Packers. BetMGM bonus code CLEVELANDCOM1500 at a glance BetMGM bonus code CLEVELANDCOM1500: How to unlock your $1500 in bonus bets Newly verified BetMGM sports betting accounts that use BetMGM bonus code CLEVELANDCOM1500 when making a minimum $10 deposit will receive up to $1500 in bonus bets if the wager loses. Follow these steps to unlock the BetMGM bonus code CLEVELANDCOM1500 : To get started with BetMGM, click on any of the banners or links to be directed to the BetMGM sign-up page. Fill out all required fields, including your Social Security Number (SSN), and upload a valid state-issued photo ID, passport, or military ID. Choose a banking option and make a minimum deposit of $10 into your newly verified BetMGM account. Place a wager; if it loses, BetMGM will award you one bonus bet for bets less than $50 or five bonus bets equaling 20% of the wager for bets from $51 to $1,500. The BetMGM bonus bets must be used within seven days. BetMGM Sportsbook existing user promos The BetMGM bonus bets will expire, but BetMGM offers multiple theme-based betting promotions 365 days a year like these existing user NFL promos. NFL First TD Scorer Second Chance : If your bet on the first touchdown scorer does not win, you can still win your bet if your player scores the second touchdown. Refer a Friend $100 Bonus: Earn up to $100 in bonus bets when a friend registers for a new BetMGM account and makes an initial deposit of $100. NFL Odds Boosts : Take advantage of odds boosts on select NFL regular-season games, including today’s 49ers vs. Packers clash. How to use the BetMGM bonus code CLEVELANDCOM1500 for Packers vs. 49ers The BetMGM new user bonus only kicks in on a losing initial wager. If the bet were mine, I would bet on the San Francisco 49ers to beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has a sore shoulder, and the 49ers are coming off a bad home loss to Seattle. The Packers' last three victories were by fewer than three points-I expect a bounce-back game from San Francisco, and a 49ers upset victory. A $1500 wager on the 49ers would pay $3225 plus the $1500 stake. If it wins, you’ve doubled your ROI; if it loses, BetMGM Ohio bonus code CLEVELANDCOM1500 allows for a second chance to recoup your lost wager. More Sports Betting bet365 bonus code: $150 bonus or a $1,000 first bet safety net for Cardinals at Seahawks BetMGM bonus code CLEVELANDCOM1500: $1,500 first-bet bonus for NFL Week 12 late games 49ers vs. Packers predictions, picks and best bets: Can the ‘Niners cover without Purdy? New DraftKings promo code: Win $5 bet, get $150 in bonuses instantly for NFL Week 12 early slate How much is Ohio State football favored by against Michigan? Here are the rivalry week odds