spin ph nba Service Event to Help those in Need for ThanksgivingDonald Trump says he urged Gretzky to run for prime minister in Christmas visitWall Street inches higher, setting more records

NoneNew DIY kit proves anyone can build gaming consoles and code gamesWatch: Micheál Martin on 'celebrity candidate' Gráinne Seoige's election performance

McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rulesSupreme Court to weigh bans on puberty blockers, hormones for trans teens

End Japan's loans to TatmadawFormula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season

The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) stands as a powerful testament to Pakistan’s commitment to social justice and social protection. The very idea of social safety programme was conceived by ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan Mohtarma Shaheed Benazir Bhutto during her time in exile, the idea aimed to provide economic relief to the country’s most vulnerable population, particularly women, who often bore the brunt of socio-economic inequities. After her unfortunate assassination, Pakistan People’s Party-led Federal Government launched BISP in 2008 and her vision was transformed into reality under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari. Today, BISP through quarterly cash grant supports 9.6 million households, a number set to increase to 10 million by June 2025, becoming Pakistan’s largest and most influential social protection programme. This ambitious programme, designed to offer direct financial assistance to the poorest families through Benazir Kafalat programme, has been particularly transformative for women, positioning them as heads of their households in a country where women have historically been sidelined in economic, social, and political decision-making. From providing cash transfers and promoting maternal and child health through programmes like Benazir Nashonuma, to investing in education with the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif initiative, and now implementing a skill development programme to ensure poverty graduation through global employability of beneficiaries & their families, BISP continues to break barriers, offering financial inclusion and social empowerment to millions across Pakistan A journey of learning and leading Once a learner, BISP now stands as a leader in global social protection, setting an example for developing countries to follow. For years, BISP has looked beyond its borders to draw lessons from international models of social protection, adapting and refining its own initiatives. But in a remarkable turn of events, developing countries from across the globe are now visiting Pakistan to study BISP’s practices, which have gained recognition worldwide for their success in empowering marginalized populations. Recently in October, 2024, a 21-member Ugandan delegation, led by Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, Secretary of Public Service, paid four-day study visit to the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). While briefing the delegates, Dr. Tahir Noor, Additional Secretary BISP, attributed BISP’s success to its scientific, and objective targeting, technology based payment mechanisms, the trust of international development partners, and independent third-party monitoring. Ms. Coco Ushiyama, Country Director of the World Food Programme, also commended BISP’s evidence-based database and its role in providing timely assistance during natural disasters. This shift represents a significant milestone not only for BISP but also for Pakistan’s growing influence in the global development sector. At the South-South Cooperation Forum held in Islamabad on November 14, 2024, Pakistan’s success story was showcased as a model for social protection systems across the globe. Representatives from West African nations, including Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Senegal, gathered in Islamabad to learn firsthand from Pakistan’s pioneering work in social welfare. Delegates were particularly impressed by BISP’s ability to integrate women into the economic mainstream, a critical step toward achieving long-term social and economic stability. “Today, we are not just learning from others; we are teaching others,” said Secretary BISP Amer Ali Ahmad during his address at the event. He proudly highlighted BISP’s transformation over the years—from a fledgling initiative in 2008 to a globally recognized model of inclusive social protection. The programme’s emphasis on empowering women through direct cash transfers, health and nutrition programmes, and educational incentives has not only supported millions of under-privileged but has also set a new standard for how social welfare can contribute in generating socioeconomic activities in less developed areas as major part of BISP Rs 598 billion budget is pumped into local economy through these quarterly cash grants to more than 9.6 million families across the country. BISP’s global impact: a beacon for social protection The South-South Cooperation forum, which brought together global development partners such as the World Food Programme, World Bank, UNICEF, KfW, GIZ and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), was recognition of the profound impact BISP has had, not just within Pakistan but across the world. The participating countries, each grappling with their own poverty and development challenges, came to Pakistan seeking solutions that could be adapted and implemented in their respective contexts. The delegation from Mali, led by Redouwane Mohamed Ali, Minister of Food Security, praised Pakistan for its robust social safety net, particularly BISP’s ability to deliver aid efficiently through its innovative payment mechanisms, such as biometric verification, mobile banking, and dynamic data registry mechanism. BISP’s cutting-edge approach to cash transfers has streamlined the process, combating corruption and ensuring that the right individuals benefit from the programme. BISP has advanced its digital payment systems by introducing biometric-enabled transactions in collaboration with six banks, improving security, transparency, and access for beneficiaries. Additionally, a pilot savings scheme offers a 40% quarterly bonus to encourage a culture of saving amongst these vulnerable segments of society. The future plan of BISP to phase out POS agents will empower women to independently access their social security funds, enhancing their financial autonomy. Similarly, Amedee Bamouni, Secretary of the National Council for Social Protection of Burkina Faso, commended BISP’s dynamic registry centers and national socio-economic database, which track the financial status of beneficiaries, ensuring that aid reaches the most deserving families. He emphasized how BISP’s transparent systems and use of technology could serve as a valuable blueprint for social protection programmes in Burkina Faso and other countries facing similar challenges. In addition to financial transfers, BISP’s focus on maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) was another key area of interest for the visiting delegates. The Benazir Nashonuma Programme, which provides cash incentives linked to health and nutrition outcomes, has helped combat malnutrition and stunting among new born children and has improved health of mothers, particularly in rural areas. BISP has allocated PKR 42 billion (approx. USD 144 million) to the Program, benefiting 2.6 million pregnant and lactating women, contributing to better maternal and infant health outcomes. This programme’s success, supported by the World Food Programme (WFP), has demonstrated how integrating health and nutrition with cash transfers can lead to long-term improvements in the health of entire communities. A vision for the future: expanding global cooperation As Pakistan continues to advance its social protection agenda, the importance of global collaboration cannot be overstated. The South-South Cooperation forum marks the beginning of a new chapter in Pakistan’s social welfare journey, one that involves sharing lessons learned with other developing nations while also learning from their unique challenges and solutions. The exchange of knowledge between Pakistan and West African countries promises to deepen the understanding of how social protection systems can be tailored to the needs of local populations, addressing challenges like poverty, malnutrition, and gender inequality. Through mutual cooperation, countries can build stronger, more resilient social safety nets that lift people out of poverty and empower them to contribute to their countries’ economic development. As Senator Rubina Khalid, Chairperson of BISP, aptly put it during the forum: “The success of BISP is not only a significant achievement for Pakistan, but it has also brought in international recognition as a model of effective social protection. It is a moment of immense pride for our nation to witness our social protection program being studied and admired by countries worldwide. I am delighted to see the vision of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed transforming into a tangible reality, now celebrated on the global stage. This is a testament to how visionary leadership can shape the priorities of a nation. BISP has become a flagship programme and a case study for many countries striving to establish their own social protection systems.“ The Recognition of BISP as a model for social protection is a testament to Pakistan’s ability to create meaningful change at both the national and international levels, BISP is not just shaping Pakistan’s future but also contributing to UNDP global goals of No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health, Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth & Reduced Inequalities for a more inclusive Pakistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024Daniel Jones Next Team Odds: Contenders jockeying for QB?

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy say they’re hunting for ways to make American government more efficient. One possible target: the semiannual changing of the clock that so many Americans dislike. “Looks like the people want to abolish the annoying time changes!” Musk wrote last week on his social platform, X, linking to another user’s online poll that found most respondents wanted to end daylight saving time. The practice of shifting clocks forward one hour in March and back one hour in November is intended to maximize Americans’ exposure to sunlight during working hours but has long been derided for causing groggy mornings, missed appointments and even some public health problems. “It’s inefficient & easy to change,” Ramaswamy wrote in a reply to Musk. It was not immediately clear whether the two men, whom President-elect Donald Trump has tapped to run a new effort dubbed the “Department of Government Efficiency” were seriously floating a new policy priority or just spitballing on social media. It was also unclear how a Trump White House would seek to end clock changes, given that Congress – not the executive branch – has controlled the nation’s time shifts, and lawmakers’ recent legislation has stalled. Ramaswamy did not respond to a request for comment. X and Tesla, which Musk also owns, did not immediately respond to requests sent to them asking for comment from Musk. In a follow-up post, Musk told Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) that he did indeed want to end the time changes. The simmering fight over how Americans set their clocks, and when they must do it, has drawn unusual coalitions in Washington based more on geography than on politics. Republicans and Democrats, mostly from the coasts, have called for year-round daylight saving time, saying that permanently advancing the clocks one hour and never “falling back” would allow more people to enjoy sunshine and avoid the frustrations involved with resetting clocks. “Switching the clocks just doesn’t make sense for a country on the move,” Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Massachusetts) said in a statement to The Washington Post. “But we need permanent daylight saving time – more hours of daylight in the evening means more hours to get things done.” Politicians in the center of the country have often balked at the idea, warning that a year-round “spring forward” would mean winter sunrises that could creep past 9 a.m. in cities such as Indianapolis and Detroit. Meanwhile, public health groups have said that permanent standard time would be more natural for our circadian rhythms, citing research that the clock changes increase the risk of heart attacks, stroke and other health problems. “There is a significant stress on the body, and changes that occur, when we are not aligned to the right internal clock,” Lourdes DelRosso, a sleep medicine physician at the University of California at San Francisco-Fresno and co-chair of this year’s World Sleep Day awareness event, said in an interview earlier this year. A March 2023 YouGov poll found that 62% of Americans want to end the practice of changing the clocks, but there was little consensus over what to do next. Half of respondents said they wanted year-round daylight saving time, just under one-third wanted permanent standard time and the remainder said they were unsure or had no opinion. For more than a century, Americans have shifted their clocks forward every spring and back every fall, a tradition that was eventually enshrined in federal law. Voters’ complaints about those clock changes are not new. Lawmakers in the early 1970s moved to permanently adopt daylight saving time, but the decision almost immediately backfired with nationwide complaints, such as children waiting in the dark for school buses to arrive. Congress rolled back the change after 10 months. That defeat has not stopped Markey and other lawmakers who have steadily pushed to lengthen the number of days that Americans spend under daylight saving time, extending that period in 1985, and again in 2005. Most Americans now live with daylight saving time for 238 days a year – nearly eight months. (Two states, Hawaii and most of Arizona, have opted out of the semiannual time changes and remain on permanent standard time, which states are allowed to do.) But states cannot adopt permanent daylight saving time unless Congress passes a bill that allows them to do so. There is a growing political movement attempting to do just that; the Senate in 2022 passed a bill that died in the House. Twenty states have also approved measures that would allow them to adopt year-round daylight saving time if Congress passed a bill making it permanent nationwide, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Other countries have ended their own clock changes, including Mexico, which moved to abolish daylight saving time in 2022. Musk was born and spent his childhood in South Africa – which does not follow daylight saving time – and has previously mocked America’s semiannual time changes. “Finally, an explanation for daylight savings that makes sense ...” the billionaire entrepreneur wrote on social media in 2017, linking to a video by the Onion, a satirical news site, that lampooned the practice. President Biden’s views on time changes are unclear. The White House has not responded to questions in the past two years about whether Biden supported efforts in Congress to adopt year-round daylight saving time, which may have stifled lawmakers’ attempts to attract support for their bill. But the next president appears more receptive. “Making Daylight Saving Time permanent is O.K. with me!” Trump wrote on social media in March 2019, the Monday morning after the “spring forward” took effect that year. The Transportation Department oversees the implementation of daylight saving time, and agency officials have said DOT does not have the authority to change it without an act of Congress. It is not clear whether Musk and Ramaswamy, who have argued that recent Supreme Court decisions would allow the White House to make regulatory changes without going through Congress, see a path to doing so with daylight saving time. Their commission is supposed to make its recommendations to the president by July 4, 2026 – the date they’ve targeted to wind down their panel. Musk and Ramaswamy may have other allies in Trump’s emerging administration. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Trump’s pick to serve as secretary of state, has spent years calling to end clock changes and make daylight saving time year-round. “My Sunshine Protection Act would end this stupid practice of changing our clocks back and forth,” Rubio said in a statement in March, referencing his legislation. His office did not respond to a request for comment about whether Rubio had spoken with Musk and Ramaswamy about ending the semiannual clock changes. “Can we just stop changing our clocks twice a year?” Jim O’Neill, Trump’s pick to be deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, wrote on X in 2022. “The one industry that doesn’t need disruption is daylight.” We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous Next »Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 seasonNone

None

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will unveil a refreshed frontbench line-up in late January, with Bill Shorten’s exit from parliament opening the door to a junior minister being promoted, months out from the next federal election. Senior government sources, who asked not to be named so they could speak freely, say Albanese is considering two options for his frontbench shake-up, with responsibility for Shorten’s former portfolios of Government Services and the NDIS to be handed on as the federal election is not due until May 2025. Anika Wells, Matt Keogh, Amanda Rishworth and Mark Butler are all being considered to assume outgoing Bill Shorten’s responsibilities. Credit: In the reshuffle, government sources said the first and more likely option was that Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth and Health Minister Mark Butler would be handed responsibility for one of each of the portfolios, with NDIS a better fit for Rishworth as the disability agency is part of her department. This would mean the number of cabinet ministers would shrink from 23 to 22 people. The second option being considered is promoting a member of the outer ministry, with Queensland-based Aged Care and Sports Minister Anika Wells and WA-based Veterans and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh considered the frontrunners. Both are in the Labor Right faction, like Shorten. Loading Opposition Leader Peter Dutton must also replace a senior shadow minister on his frontbench after opposition Senate leader and foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham announced on Thursday that he was quitting politics. The first details of how Albanese could recast his frontbench have emerged after a successful end to the parliamentary year for the government, which included the passing of 31 new laws on the final day , after months of delay and lengthy negotiations with the Coalition or the Greens and the crossbench. As parliament wound down for the year, Labor won Senate votes on housing, food prices and a ban on social media apps for under 16s, and other measures. Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers have to release a mid-year budget update before Christmas that could foreshadow more cost-of-living relief, while Dutton has hinted at more detail on the opposition’s nuclear and housing policies before Christmas too. Either scenario would mean that Victoria’s influence around the cabinet table would be reduced with Shorten’s exit, but Labor hopes to gain seats in Queensland and hold on to the swag of seats it picked up in Western Australia in 2022. Promoting a talented new minister from Queensland or WA is seen, internally, as tactically astute and unlikely to cause a fuss, whereas promoting another NSW MP to cabinet at the expense of Victoria would likely put noses out of joint. Shorten’s combined portfolios of the NDIS and Government Services were given to him when Labor won government as he had been one of the disability insurance scheme’s earliest champions. He had also been a frontrunner in pursuing and supporting the robo-debt royal commission, which made Government Services a natural fit. The government sources said the prime minister would ponder the changes during a short Christmas break. Dutton, like Albanese, is expected to be back at work by early January as both men gear up for what is widely expected to be a close election in which a hung parliament is considered a distinct possibility given the size of the crossbench. Both leaders are also planning, at this stage, to make major policy announcements in the second half of January, with a prime ministerial appearance at the National Press Club around Australia Day pencilled in and some members of both main parties anticipating an election to be called days later, though Albanese has indicated he is leaning towards May. Loading The most recent Resolve Political Monitor conducted for this masthead in early November showed the opposition’s primary vote had risen by one percentage point to 39 per cent, while Labor’s held steady at 30 per cent. These primary votes would deliver either major party, at best, a razor-thin majority in the next parliament. While Dutton will feel the loss of Birmingham, a former finance, education, trade and tourism minister at various times under Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull, the need to replace a foreign affairs spokesperson heading into a domestic political campaign is less urgent. While Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley and shadow cabinet ministers Jane Hume, James Paterson and Dan Tehan have all been put forward as possible replacements for Birmingham , moving shadow ministers from domestic portfolios months out from an election could disrupt the shadow expenditure review committee process that is now working on election policies. Another option would be for Dutton to take the portfolio in a caretaker capacity, or for former shadow cabinet minister Julian Leeser to be returned to the frontbench while former ambassador and foreign policy wonk Dave Sharma would be handed an assistant role. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Political leadership Anthony Albanese For subscribers James Massola is national affairs editor. He has previously been Sunday political correspondent and South-East Asia correspondent. Connect via Twitter , Facebook or email . Most Viewed in Politics LoadingIs Enron back? If it's a joke, some former employees aren't laughingSamsung Unaffected By US Curbs On Chip Exports

NoneProgress, shortcomings of AI came to the fore in 2024Family businesses face skills shortage, financial strains, and technology gaps,

ConnectAndChill.com Launches to Revolutionize Online Entertainment 11-21-2024 11:32 PM CET | Leisure, Entertainment, Miscellaneous Press release from: ABNewswire 21 November, 2024 - A wave of excitement is sweeping through the digital world as ConnectAndChill.com, a newly registered online portal, officially announces its development as the ultimate destination for online entertainment. The platform is poised to revolutionize how people connect, interact, and relax, setting a new standard for entertainment in the digital age. More than just another website, ConnectAndChill.com represents a bold step forward in blending cutting-edge technology with a human-centered approach to online engagement. The platform's mission is clear: to create a space where people can seamlessly integrate connection, innovation, and entertainment, all in one place. The Future of Digital Entertainment ConnectAndChill.com is being developed with a singular vision-to provide a one-stop hub that transforms how users experience online entertainment. Whether it's engaging in interactive games, exploring curated digital content, or discovering new ways to connect with others, the site is designed to cater to a broad spectrum of interests. The platform aims to set itself apart by prioritizing accessibility and fun, making it easy for users of all tech backgrounds to join in and enjoy the experience. Its developers are leveraging state-of-the-art technology to ensure seamless functionality, while fostering an environment that feels inclusive and approachable. "Our goal is to redefine what it means to chill in the digital era," says DP Suma, Manager of ConnectAndChill.com. "We're blending innovation and entertainment to create a platform that feels as dynamic and exciting as it is user-friendly. This isn't just about consuming content-it's about being part of an interactive and ever-evolving community." Humble Beginnings, Bold Ambitions What began as a creative idea between friends has now grown into an ambitious project with a clear focus on making a lasting impact on the digital landscape. The team behind ConnectAndChill.com is channeling its energy into creating a platform that not only meets today's entertainment needs but anticipates the desires of tomorrow's users. Although details about specific features remain under wraps, the creators assure audiences that exciting developments are on the horizon. With a promise to provide regular updates, ConnectAndChill.com invites the world to stay tuned for what's next. Connect and Chill-Together At its core, ConnectAndChill.com is more than a platform-it's an invitation to experience a new way of connecting and unwinding. The team is committed to ensuring that the platform is both entertaining and meaningful, offering something truly unique in a crowded digital market. As the project gains momentum, ConnectAndChill.com is calling on entertainment enthusiasts, tech lovers, and curious explorers to join the journey. Together, they'll redefine how we connect and chill in an increasingly digital world. For media inquiries or additional information, please visit connectandchill.com Media Contact Company Name: ConnectAndChill.com Contact Person: DP Suma Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=connectandchillcom-launches-to-revolutionize-online-entertainment ] Country: Netherlands Website: http://ConnectAndChill.com This release was published on openPR.Column: Brady Corbet’s epic movie ‘The Brutalist’ came close to crashing down more than once

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump says he told Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky during a Christmas Day visit that he should run for prime minister of Canada. “I just left Wayne Gretzky, ‘The Great One’ as he is known in ice-hockey circles,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Wednesday afternoon. “I said, ‘Wayne, why don’t you run for prime minister of Canada, soon to be known as the governor of Canada — you would win easily, you wouldn’t even have to campaign.’ He had no interest,” Trump wrote. His comment about being governor of Canada refers to Trump repeatedly suggesting the country become a U.S. state, which Ottawa insists is a joke. Trump added that it would be “fun to watch” if Canadians launched a movement to get the retired hockey player to seek office. The Canadian Press has tried to contact Gretzky through his agents. Experts have said that Ottawa is rightfully focused on the prospect of damaging tariffs under the looming Trump presidency instead of pushing back on rhetoric about annexing or purchasing Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leads a minority government that could be toppled by a confidence vote next year, following the surprise resignation of finance minister Chrystia Freeland. Trump also expressed Christmas greetings to Trudeau, again referring to him as a governor and claiming that Canadians would see a tax cut of more than 60 per cent if the country became an American state. “Their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other country anywhere in the world,” Trump wrote in a post that also alluded to his desire to annex Greenland and the Panama Canal. Gretzky has previously backed Conservative politicians, such as former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown during his run for the party leadership. During the 2015 federal election, Conservative leader Stephen Harper interviewed Gretzky in front of hundreds of supporters as the Tories unsuccessfully sought re-election. At the event, Gretzky told Harper he thought he had been an “unreal prime minister” who had been “wonderful to the whole country.” Gretzky later said he always follows a prime minister’s request, regardless of political stripe, noting he had once hosted a lunch for former Liberal prime minister Pierre Trudeau.