Guwahati: BJP Assam Pradesh has termed the state cabinet’s decision to ban beef consumption in hotels, restaurants and public functions as a historic and momentous step towards preserving the state’s cultural and religious sentiments . The party’s senior spokesperson Subhash Dutta said the decision reflects state govt’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding Assamese values, respecting religious beliefs and fostering a harmonious society. “The initiative to regulate the public consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels and public places is anticipated to fortify Assam’s rich cultural heritage and diverse traditions. The decision aligns with the aspirations of the people of Assam, who have long acknowledged the significance of cattle preservation. BJP believes in cultivating a society where religious sentiments are honoured while ensuring unity and advancement for all communities,” he said, adding that the move will strengthen the Assam Cattle Preservation Act , 2021. “With this ban coming into effect, Assam will establish a precedent for other states by encouraging peaceful coexistence, while maintaining respect for local customs and traditions,” he added. We also published the following articles recently Assam govt bans consumption of beef in hotels, public spaces Assam's cabinet, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, banned beef consumption in hotels, restaurants, and public gatherings, effective immediately. This expands the existing restrictions under the 2021 Cattle Preservation Act, which previously limited the ban to areas near temples. Assam government expands beef ban to restaurants, hotels and public spaces Assam's government has banned beef consumption in restaurants, hotels, and public spaces statewide. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the cabinet decision, expanding a previous ban near temples. This follows accusations by Congress leaders of the BJP distributing beef during recent bypolls, with a state minister challenging Congress to support the ban or "settle in Pakistan. BJP state unit terms cabinets decision as historic step The Assam state cabinet's decision to ban beef consumption in public spaces has been hailed by BJP Assam Pradesh as a historic move upholding cultural and religious sentiments. Spokesperson Subhash Dutta emphasized the ban's alignment with Assamese values and the 2021 Cattle Preservation Act. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .The University Health Network, one of Canada’s largest research hospital systems, will expand cancer care programs with the purchase of a 15-storey building in downtown Toronto. The expansion comes as UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has reached capacity with increasing numbers of patients. The hospital network made the announcement from the second floor of the newly acquired space, at 522 University Ave. CEO Kevin Smith and Dr. Keith Stewart, director at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, addressed a room of reporters and health-care providers.. The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre sees almost 20,000 new cancer patients every year and has now reached the numbers that were anticipated for 2030. “But it’s good news ... we’re identifying cancer earlier, we’re seeing better survivorship,” said Smith. Other necessary appointments equate to nearly 200,000 follow-up visits and 5,000 cancer surgeries, said Stewart. “We have simply outgrown our current space.” Premier Doug Ford and Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones also attended. “UHN’s expansion of care will ensure families in Toronto and indeed across Ontario can connect to the care they need when and where they need it for decades to come,” said Jones. The building, which cost $79 million, sits on the southwest corner of University Avenue and Elm Street. The space will support expanding programs in cancer care, research and education at Princess Margaret and Toronto General Hospital and will also serve as a new training ground for UHN’s Michener Institute of Education. With the additional space, UHN will have the ability to focus on new clinical research in cancer, develop innovative treatments and technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and educate the next generation of cancer experts. Funds to support the new building’s operation will be supported, in part, by the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. When asked about the disparities in Black women’s health when it comes to breast cancer, in particular, both Smith and Stewart told the Star the new space will provide opportunities for research and education helping to better understand gaps in cancer research, care and education. “One of the major advantages we have in cancer research is living in Toronto because this is the most ethnically diverse city in the world,” said Stewart. “We have a great opportunity to teach the world. Are we missing populations? Do we not to have the right genomic data on those populations? Are we culturally sensitive to their needs, such as skin tone. And of course, this building will accelerate that.” UHN plans to begin retrofitting the building and moving people in within the next few months and be fully operational in a matter of years, said Stewart. The University Hospital Network also includes Toronto Western Hospital, the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and West Park Healthcare Centre.

Will the "Fateful Eight" Stocks Outperform the "Magnificent Seven" in 2025?

Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Yorkshire Evening Post, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. The vacant Allerton Bywater Community Centre building will be auctioned to help raise cash for Leeds City Council . A council report said the authority first decided to sell the the Leeds Road centre in 2020 due to under-use and rising running costs . Advertisement Advertisement It said: “The disposal of the property will result in a capital receipt for the council as well as absolving the council of any retention and maintenance costs.” An auctioneer would be appointed to set a guide price for the property, the report said. If you’d like to receive more stories like this and the latest news from the Yorkshire Evening Post, click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter. Other means of selling the asset were deemed unsuitable and auction could fetch a higher price for the council, which is facing a multi-million pound budget gap next year. Advertisement Advertisement The report said: “Contracts will be exchanged immediately on fall of the hammer and completion will be on an unconditional basis within a short defined timescale. “This should result in a swift sale at a price which meets the council’s obligation to realise best consideration.” The auction sale is planned to happen in the next financial year.The Palomar Hotel had just opened in 1929, ready to celebrate the 1930 new year. (Ross Eric Gibson collection) The Town Clock had to stop its tolling so visitors to the new Palomar Hotel could sleep through the night. (Ross Eric Gibson collection). New Year’s parties, dancing and toasting took on different features throughout Santa Cruz County. (Public domain) With the large Scottish population, Ben Lomond celebrated “Hogmanay” for New Year’s. (Ross Eric Gibson collection). Did an angel ring the dead bell in the clock tower on New Year’s, 1930? (Ross Eric Gibson collection) The Palomar Hotel had just opened in 1929, ready to celebrate the 1930 new year. (Ross Eric Gibson collection) New Year’s Eve traditions have been long popular in Santa Cruz, from dancing and feasting, toasting the new year with a drink, a kiss for good luck, and making a racket to ward off evil spirits and bad luck. The Town Clock now stands at Clock Tower Plaza, which has become a focus for our New Year’s traditions. But when the Town Clock was at a different location, it seemed to have had a life of its own on the eve of the Great Depression. Andy Balich wanted the most beautiful hotel in Santa Cruz, back when beauty was an important part of architecture. Groundbreaking for the Palomar Hotel was Dec. 6, 1928, then nine months later, on Sept. 7, 1929, the Palomar Hotel opened to the public. The elegant Spanish art deco masterpiece was designed by Watsonville architect William Weeks, a seven-story building that the Santa Cruz News called “Santa Cruz’s first skyscraper.” The hotel became a hive of events, with a new program every Saturday. Yet visitors who spent the night complained that the Town Clock on the neighboring Odd Fellows Building, tolled round the clock. The Odd Fellows club agreed to let the tolling mechanism run down so it would still tell the time but made it impossible to sound the hour. The Palomar hosted a New Year’s dinner-dance for 300 in its mezzanine ballroom, to a popular jazz band. When midnight came, 1930 was ushered-in with squeaky horns, the clack of spinning noise makers and shouts of “Happy New Year!” Then people heard an odd sound over the din. To the disbelief of many, the dead bell in the town clock tower began to toll, which was bizarre enough in itself, but it tolled 13 times. The question in the local papers was “Who Rang the Bell?” When a woman repeated this question to her friend, her 4-year-old daughter chimed in, “I know, mommy! An angel rang that bell!” “Why do you think that?,” the mother asked. And with a sense of the obvious, the little girl replied, “Well, only an angel could reach so high!” My aunt Gloria Kaas recalled this story. And in fact, an angel did make sense. For after the hotel opened in September, the stock market crashed the economy on Oct. 29, 1929, plunging America into the Great Depression. It would take an angel’s intervention to keep the hotel afloat. In 1933, the $360,000 hotel was sold at auction from the steps of the courthouse for $90,000 to its bondholders. Four months later the leaseholder closed the hotel to sell off its fixtures, but Balich stopped him and became the new 10-year lease holder, eventually becoming the sole owner of his hotel in 1941. Thanks to Balich, his dream survived a rocky start. Over the years, Santa Cruz held special New Year’s Eve parties in its finest buildings. In 1861-62, from the rooftop of the Otto-Trust Brick Building on Front Street, came music from a modern all-saxophone band. This included alto, tenor, baritone and bass saxophone, but also a deep contrabass, and the higher soprano and sopranino saxes without a bent bell. People were used to brass bands but not to reed instruments with a loud voice. The Germania was a German-language hotel, first on Front Street, then in a new building called the Santa Cruz Hotel. It featured brass oom-pah bands and beer served from barrels. The Arian Singing Society on the other hand, brought the German classics to life at Arian Hall on Front Street above Soquel Avenue. These became features of German New Year celebrations. The Vienna Beer Gardens was a family friendly venue at the corner of Ocean Street and Soquel Avenue. It had an open-air dancing pavilion, playground equipment in a park setting beside Branciforte Creek, and beer with picnic-style lunches. Our first true luxury hotel was the 1866 Pacific Ocean House at the corner of Pacific Avenue and Plaza Lane. It hosted a ball for 150 of the most respectable people in high fashion finery, dancing to a ballroom orchestra. Meanwhile the castle-like Armory building at Front and Soquel Avenue, was known for years for its New Year’s Masquerade Ball, where one didn’t unmask until midnight. In the 1890s, the Sea Beach Hotel on Beach Hill hosted grand balls to popular dance bands, and the new St. George Hotel hosted a dinner dance in its dining room. The Boardwalk Casino became the largest ballroom and banquet hall in town for New Year’s parties. Fraternal organizations held their own dinner dances for members in their club rooms. Watch Night parties were at homes or in social halls. Historian Ernest Otto recalled from his 1870s childhood, that the parties included popping corn, pulling taffy and playing card games or board games. The Christmas tree would be cut into small branches because for safety reasons, you wouldn’t want a piece sticking out of the fireplace. One by one, people were solicited to toss a branch into the fire to represent something they didn’t want to bring into the new year. They could announce what it was or say it was private. The purpose was to keep the fire burning from sunset to midnight. Some played a memorization game where people sat in a circle and said “I went to Grandmother’s house and gave her ...” and would mention a gift, either practical or fantastical. The next person repeated the line, a new gift and the previous one. Each person had to remember all the previous gifts and was eliminated for forgetting a gift or its order, until there was only one person left who remembered all the gifts. The song “The 12 Days of Christmas” is suspected to have started as a memorization song, once including random absurd gifts invented on the spot to defy memorization. At midnight, all the doors were opened to usher the old year out and the new year in. Everyone went on their porches and sounded horns and cow bells to drive away misfortune. In the distance one could hear the revelry from many different quarters. Factory whistles blared from the town’s three tanneries and mills near Cathcart, plus the depot and Beach Hill. A great clanging came from the 12 churches clustered around Churchside (the junction of Lincoln and Center streets). Some churches held special New Year’s services. Then they would toll their bells, which sometimes took 15 or 20 minutes, as the kids lined up to get their turn ringing the big bell. Up on Mission Hill were heard the bells of Temperance Hall, Holy Cross School, Mission Hill Public School, the Leslie Building firebell, the Catholic boy’s school and Holy Cross Church. Many had a church banquet or potluck after midnight. If you didn’t want to get dressed up to celebrate, you went to the local saloons. Downtown Santa Cruz had its “Famous 55” saloons in a three-block area. These were a sign of prosperity, not for their quality (some were dives, others were gentlemen’s clubs). But the success of the lumber, leather, lime and gunpowder industries meant more workingmen employed, coming to town on weekends to spend their paychecks on provisions, whiskey, gambling and women. Temperance Hall on Mission Hill Grade provided non-alcoholic, family friendly New Year’s entertainment. Soquel had the first Temperance Society in California, founded in 1848, and Santa Cruz developed nearly 10 clubs by the time Temperance Hall was constructed in 1861. Some of the San Lorenzo Valley’s large Scottish population celebrated “Hogmanay.” When the Scotch Presbyterians banned Christmas in Scotland in the 1600s, the Scotts simply moved their Christmas traditions to New Year’s Eve, some of which became American New Year’s traditions. Below Ben Lomond was a 300-acre resort called “Rowardennan” (“Enchanted Forest”). It was one of the last to keep the area’s “Hogmanay” celebration, reminiscent of the Christmas Bracebridge Dinner held at Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Lodge. Rowardennan’s rustic ballroom had the look of a Highland’s hunting lodge, with deer and elk heads watching from the walls, and evergreen bunting. A large riverstone fireplace dominated one wall. A boy on a Yule log was ceremoniously carried in to bagpipe music. While drinking a toast, a cup of spirits was poured on the log, which was lit with a piece of the previous year’s log. This fire was not allowed to go out before the new year. The evening began with a banquet. Desert was “New Year’s cakes”: scones (oat cakes), nut and caraway shortbread and black buns. After dinner was a concert of Highland songs and dances, followed by a square dance. The first guest of the new year was a bachelor called the “First Footer,” who arrived at midnight. He brought “wisemen gifts” of a coin, bread and a log, symbolizing prosperity, food and warmth. Some combined these gifts into a log shaped cake with a coin hidden in it. Toasting was usually reserved for Champagne, wine, or brandy. The term “toasting” came from Wassail, an ale-and-sherry punch with cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, plus pieces of toast floating in the bowl to keep the spice sediments down. It was a popular drink for Christmas, New Year’s and Epiphany (12th Night). Stephen and Luigi Martinelli started a Watsonville soda water business in 1861 and in 1865 created non-alcoholic Orange Champagne. Their Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider has become the universal non-alcoholic holiday drink. The longtime mystery of the angel who rang the clock tower bell in 1930 wasn’t solved until about 1970. Whitney Hardware store was in the Odd Fellows Building in 1929, and Rolla, the owner’s son, persuaded the elderly night watchman Thompson to leave the trap door to the tower unlocked on New Year’s Eve. Rolla and Barbara Clay made their way into the belfry and triggered the hammer mechanism by hand which rang the bell, although they lost count and the bell struck 13. So the angels were a couple of kids driving off misfortune with their own clocktower noisemaker, as an excuse to steal a New Year’s kiss.

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One of the many traditions in stock car racing is the champion’s journal, started by seven-time champion of the sport, Jimmie Johnson. What started as an idea from the former Hendrick Motorsports driver turned into a yearly tradition as NASCAR crowns a champion each season. Ryan Blaney became a part of the same elite group in 2023. The Team Penske driver got hold of the journal after clinching the 2023 championship from the previous year’s title holder and teammate Joey Logano. Despite having to hand it back to the #22 driver at the end of 2024, the #12 Ford Mustang driver kept quiet about its contents. Gianna Tulio, the Ohio native’s wife also does not know about the journal’s contents, claims Blaney. “The Champions Journal is something that, you know, a driver started, you know, over a decade ago and all the champions write in it. Each year it gets handed off to the next champion and the next champion. It was a fantastic chance. Only champions get to read,” said the 2023 champ. He added , “I haven’t shown it even to Gianna because it is a closed-eyes-only thing. It’s like the President’s Book in ‘National Treasure 2’. I kind of relate it to that. I try to put it on that level. So I’m Nick Cage in ‘National Treasure’. No, it is a cool tradition and I’m excited to hand it off.” The journal’s contents feature opinions from stock car racing greats such as Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, and Logano, not to mention Blaney and Jimmie Johnson themselves. It certainly would be a dream come true for a fan if they were to gain access to it. However, it is unlikely to happen soon, with Blaney at least not letting the cat out of the bag. “It’s an extremely special book” Kyle Larson’s description of the journal further paints a hallowed picture of the championship tradition that continues to this day. “ It’s something that’s so special that you want to read it once when you get it and once again before I give it to the next guy. I hope I can win other championships down the road to see what’s been passed on since me,” exclaimed the 2021 Cup Series champion. The sport’s most recent champion, Logano echoed his fellow competitor’s thoughts and said, “T hat’s the best part about this is that nobody even really knows what it is. Nobody knows ... what’s written in it.” With the 2025 season approaching in a little over a month with the exhibition-style Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium , it remains to be seen which driver receives the journal next year.Province unveils new compensation model for primary care

In the latest episode of "What were they thinking?", a man in Uttar Pradesh ’s Fatehpur took social media obsession to a whole new level. Sheikh Bilal, the star of this cautionary tale, decided that writing "2024" on a highway with petrol and setting it ablaze would make for an epic Instagram reel . The stunt, performed on National Highway-2, was as dangerous as it sounds. Bilal, clearly inspired by action movies, poured petrol onto the road, lit it up, and stood proudly as the fiery “2024” burned behind him. The only thing missing was a slow-motion walk and dramatic background music. Unfortunately for him, it didn’t end there. His stunt caught the eye of both online trolls and the Fatehpur Police . While some were pretty stunned, the cops acted fast. Bilal got arrested and hauled to court, showing that chasing clout can seriously backfire. Believe it or not, Bilal isn’t the only one setting new lows in the name of reels. Earlier in Meerut, another social media daredevil named Intezaar Ali thought it would be cool to shovel mud onto the roof of his Mahindra Thar SUV and drive at full speed. The result? A literal mud bath for the road and chaos for everyone around. The police, unimpressed, seized his vehicle faster than you can say “mudslide.” And let’s not forget the influencer drama in Panipat, Haryana, where a content creator decided to film a reel in a crowded market wearing, well... less than usual. This didn’t sit well with the locals, and things escalated when someone slapped her mid-shoot. She eventually apologised, but the incident stirred up a fresh debate on the lengths people go for online fame. Here’s the thing: we get it. Social media is all about standing out, grabbing attention, and getting those likes. But setting roads on fire? Driving recklessly? Causing public chaos? That’s not just irresponsible; it’s downright dangerous. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype of going viral, but as these stories show, there’s always a price to pay. Whether it’s a slap, a seized SUV, or a court date, the consequences are real. What’s the lesson here? The internet loves drama, but it loves calling out bad behaviour even more. So, the next time you’re thinking about pulling a stunt for views, ask yourself: “Is it worth the fines, jail time, or public backlash?” It’s probably not. Let’s leave the highway fires and mud showers to the action movies and keep our reels fun, creative, and—most importantly—safe. And hey, there’s no shame in going viral for wholesome content. Like teaching your dog a cool trick or baking a cake that doesn’t explode. Thumb photo credit: X/@DSatyavrata Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai: Armaan Attacks Lawyer, Apologizes To Abhira

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The US oil and gas rig count gained two rigs, making a total of 619 for the week ended Dec. 11, an S&P Global Commodity Insights survey showed, as activity appeared to be settling at a recent new low range during the final weeks of 2024. The oil-directed rig count for the week gained two for a total 515, while gas-oriented rigs were unchanged at 104, according to the Dec. 19 survey. The total rig count has been below 700 for more than a year, but the past week is its third consecutive week below 620. Prior to that, rig activity had bounced around generally in the 630s since July. The new low range may be traceable to the holiday season which will occupy the next few weeks and is typically a more sluggish activity period as E&P budgets are nearly exhausted and Christmas-New Year absences frequent. But analysts expect a bit lower oil-directed rig count in 2025-2026 owing to projected lower commodity prices. The last time the rig count was in the teens was more than three years ago – before mid-September 2021, as markets were beginning to emerge from the pandemic. But at the time, the rig count was headed up. ‘Tricky investment environment’ in 2025 “The US upstream landscape ... is shaping up as a tricky investment environment in 2025,” investment bank Piper Sandler said in a December 17 investor note. “E&Ps continue to deliver on strong operating efficiencies while remaining capital disciplined in the face of an uncertain macro environment,” the bank said. “Overall sentiment has favored gas-weighted equity as last week saw our first big winter storage withdrawal (190 Bcf), LNG export facility start-ups approach and the power-demand outlook remains robust.” “On the oil front, while US [production] growth is decelerating in fiscal year 2025, the new administration is promising lower oil prices and Saudi/OPEC+ have ample spare capacity to make it happen,” it said. While US crude production in 2023 grew by 1 million b/d from January to the end of December, so far in 2024 it has grown by about 400,000 from January 2024, reaching about 13,600 b/d for the week ended Dec. 13. Moreover, “OPEC+ is sitting on more than 4 million b/d of spare capacity after a pretty lackluster year of demand, including declines from China,” Piper Sandler said. Commodity Insights, in a Nov. 25 Future Energy Outlooks Quarterly Tracking Report, suggested the days of more than 1 million b/d of yearly crude oil growth from the US alone “are almost certainly over.” But, “the shorter lead time nature of shale production will allow for production to ramp up if balances are tight enough and prices are strong enough to call for it,” the report said. “Overall, we project the trajectory of US production will mirror that of global oil demand, highlighted by decelerating growth over the balance of the 2020s and an undulating plateau in the late 2020s/early-2030s, followed by a structural decline thereafter.” But some uncertainty lies in the fact that the bulk of US oil comes from shale plays, and operators large and small continue to eke out drilling and well efficiencies. These continual improvements have been a key accomplishment of upstream operators for at least 10 years, lowering their costs but also their rig counts in the process and providing less work over time for oilfield service providers. The current US rig count of 619 for the week ended Dec. 11 is down by 60 year over year or nearly 9%. Efficiencies to persist in 2025 Efficiencies such as better well designs and improved identification of the choicest locations within an oil and gas formation should continue to improve well operations in 2025, assisted by artificial intelligence. “We would not count out further nominal gains [to] come,” Piper Sandler said. In particular, “[well] completion efficiency has stolen the show in 2024 as operators adopt new completion technology.. That includes both SimilFrac (completing two wells simultaneously) and TrimulFrac (completing three wells simultaneously). “With an operator required to run five to six rigs ahead of a SimulFrac spread, the next leg of completion efficiency is pointing to more consolidation required for smaller operators to compete,” the bank said, adding it forecasts its covered E&P companies will spend 5% less capex to deliver 1% oil and gas growth adjusted for acquisitions. Investment bank Tudor Pickering Holt notes the private rig count has fallen in recent months — with big drops on some weeks. For example, according to CI data, private E&Ps dropped nine rigs leaving 406 rigs for the week ended Nov. 27. It also fell six rigs to 421 during the week ended Oct. 30 and plummeted 13 to 414 the week ended Sept. 25. For the week ended Dec. 11, the private rig count rose by five to 407, but is still substantially lower than its perch in the 420s ad 430s early in 2024. “We see the potential for missing rigs to return to the dataset over the following weeks, notwithstanding market churn” or normal turnover of rigs as old contracts lapse and new ones begin, TPH said in its Dec. 16 daily investor note. For the week ended Dec. 11, the Williston Basin saw the biggest change – up four to 40. Two natural gas-focused plays, the Haynesville Shale and Utica Shale, also gained rigs — the Haynesville was up one to 38 and the Utica up two to 11. But five basins shed rigs. The Permian Basin was down two rigs to 282 – a level not seen since the last week of 2021. The Eagle Ford Shale was also down two to 47 while the SCOOP/STACK, Marcellus Shale and DJ Basin were down by one each, leaving 25, 18 and 14 respectively. Source:Scientists discover 2 stars orbiting our galaxy's supermassive black hole in lockstep — and they could point to a type of planet never seen beforeNigeria, a nation often hailed as the “Giant of Africa,” is rich in natural resources, human capital, and potential. Yet, the country finds itself at a pivotal moment, where it must reimagine how to address the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment. While temporary relief efforts, such as palliative distributions, may bring short-term solace to vulnerable populations, they do not tackle the root causes of poverty or unlock the nation’s immense potential. Now is the time to shift the narrative—from reliance on handouts to a focus on sustainable, community-driven empowerment. The tragedies of December 2024, which saw lives lost during charity distributions, underscore the need for a different approach. These heartbreaking events serve as a call to action, urging all stakeholders—government, private sector, and communities—to work together to create systemic solutions that restore dignity and offer lasting opportunities. Learning from Global Success Stories Across the globe, countries have transformed their economies by identifying and leveraging regional strengths. Shenzhen, once a small fishing village in China, is now a global hub for electronics manufacturing, producing devices that shape modern life. In São Paulo, Brazil, industries focused on automotive components, machinery, and biofuels have fueled sustainable economic growth. Bandung, Indonesia, has become a leader in textile production, catering to global markets, while Stuttgart, Germany, is synonymous with engineering excellence in the automotive and machinery sectors. These success stories share a common thread: industrial specialization supported by reliable infrastructure, forward-thinking policies, and collaborative efforts between governments and local stakeholders. Nigeria, with its diverse regions and abundant resources, has the potential to achieve similar success. Building on Regional Strengths Every region in Nigeria has unique assets that can serve as the foundation for economic growth: The North: With its vast arable land, the region is well-suited for large-scale agriculture and agro-processing industries. The South: As the oil-rich hub of the country, this region can expand its energy production and petrochemical industries. The East: Renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit, the East can lead in manufacturing and skilled trades. The West: Home to thriving commercial hubs, the West can become a leader in trade, finance, and technology. By identifying and harnessing these comparative advantages, Nigeria can create industrial and commercial zones tailored to each region’s strengths. This approach will foster balanced economic growth, reduce inequalities, and drive nationwide development. The Foundation for Success To make these zones viable, certain foundational elements are essential: The Ripple Effects of Sustainable Development The benefits of this approach extend far beyond economic metrics. Developing specialized industrial zones will: Create Jobs: Employment opportunities will reduce poverty, empower individuals, and curb urban migration. Boost Productivity: Regional specialization will enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global markets. Promote Community Investment: Income generated from thriving industries will fund education, healthcare, and infrastructure, creating a virtuous cycle of development. A Shared Responsibility Nigeria’s transformation depends on collective effort. The government, private investors, and communities must unite in their commitment to building a self-reliant economy. Sustainable development is not just about creating industries; it is about creating opportunities that preserve dignity, foster innovation, and inspire hope for a brighter future. The time to act is now. With its youthful population, vast natural resources, and untapped potential, Nigeria stands on the brink of a new era. By prioritizing sustainable empowerment over temporary fixes, the nation can unlock its promise and ensure that every community thrives. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient Nigeria—one where dignity, opportunity, and prosperity are accessible to all. Dr. Femi Akinkuebi is the MD of Ore Industrial Park (OIP)Bitcoin has surpassed the $100,000 mark as the post-election rally continues. What's next?

Bettiol's 22 lead Abilene Christian past Texas Southern 69-65

My love of movie scoundrels has been sorely tested this year. When I was young, I daydreamed of exotic heists, slick con artists and lovable crooks I’d seen on screen. For most of my moviegoing life, I’ve been a sucker for larceny done well. Most of us are, probably. But now it’s late 2024. Mood is wrong. In the real world, in America, it’s scoundrel time all the time. Maybe Charles Dickens was right. In “American Notes for General Circulation” (1842), the English literary superstar chronicled his travels and detected a widespread, peculiarly American “love of ‘smart’ dealing” across the land. In business and in politics, Dickens observed, slavish admiration of the con men among them “gilds over many a swindle and gross breach of trust.” And here we are. It’ll pass, this scoundrel reprieve of mine. In fact it just did. All it took was thinking about the conspicuous, roguish outlier on my best-of-2024 list: “Challengers.” It’s what this year needed and didn’t know it: a tricky story of lying, duplicitous weasels on and off the court. The best films this year showed me things I hadn’t seen, following familiar character dynamics into fresh territory. Some were more visually distinctive than others; all made eloquent cases for how, and where, their stories unfolded. “All We Imagine as Light,” recently at the Gene Siskel Film Center, works like a poem, or a sustained exhalation of breath, in its simply designed narrative of three Mumbai hospital workers. Fluid, subtly political, filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s achievement is very nearly perfect. So is cowriter-director RaMell Ross’ adaptation of the Colson Whitehead novel “The Nickel Boys,” arriving in Chicago-area theaters on Jan. 3, 2025. “Nickel Boys,” the film, loses the “the” in Whitehead’s title but gains an astonishingly realized visual perspective. If Ross never makes another movie, he’ll have an American masterpiece to his credit. The following top 10 movies of 2024 are in alphabetical order. Both a mosaic of urban ebb and flow, and a delicate revelation of character, director and writer Payal Kapadia’s Mumbai story is hypnotic, patient and in its more traditional story progression, a second feature every bit as good as Kapadia’s first, 2021’s “A Night of Knowing Nothing.” Mikey Madison gives one of the year’s funniest, saddest, truest performances as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who takes a shine to the gangly son of a Russian oligarch, and he to her. Their transactional courtship and dizzying Vegas marriage, followed by violently escalating complications, add up to filmmaker Sean Baker’s triumph, capped by an ending full of exquisite mysteries of the human heart. As played by Adrien Brody, the title character is a visionary architect and Hungarian Jewish emigre arriving in America in 1947 after the Holocaust. (That said, the title refers to more than one character.) His patron, and his nemesis, is the Philadelphia blueblood industrialist played by Guy Pearce. Director/co-writer Brady Corbet’s thrillingly ambitious epic, imperfect but loaded with rewarding risks, was shot mostly in widescreen VistaVision. Worth seeing on the biggest screen you can find. Opens in Chicago-area theaters on Jan. 10, 2025. Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor play games with each other, on the tennis court and in beds, while director Luca Guadagnino builds to a match-point climax that can’t possibly work, and doesn’t quite — but I saw the thing twice anyway. In Bucharest, production assistant Angela zigzags around the city interviewing people for her employer’s workplace safety video. If that sounds less than promising, even for a deadpan Romanian slice-of-life tragicomedy, go ahead and make the mistake of skipping this one. llinca Manolache is terrific as Angela. Like “Do Not Expect Too Much,” director Agnieszka Holland’s harrowing slice of recent history was a 2023 release, making it to Chicago in early 2024. Set along the densely forested Poland/Belarus border, this is a model of well-dramatized fiction honoring what refugees have always known: the fully justified, ever-present fear of the unknown. A quiet marvel of a feature debut from writer-director Annie Baker, this is a mother/daughter tale rich in ambiguities and wry humor, set in a lovely, slightly forlorn corner of rural Massachusetts. Julianne Nicholson, never better; Zoe Ziegler as young, hawk-eyed Lacy, equally memorable. I love this year’s nicest surprise. The premise: A teenager’s future 39-year-old self appears to her, magically, via a strong dose of mushrooms. The surprise: Writer-director Megan Park gradually deepens her scenario and sticks a powerfully emotional landing. Wonderful work from Aubrey Plaza, Maisy Stella, Maria Dizzia and everybody, really. From the horrific true story of a Florida reform school and its decades of abuse, neglect and enraging injustice toward its Black residents, novelist Colson Whitehead’s fictionalized novel makes a remarkable jump to the screen thanks to co-writer/director RaMell Ross’s feature debut. Cousins, not as close as they once were, reunite for a Holocaust heritage tour in Poland and their own search for their late grandmother’s childhood home. They’re the rootless Benji (Kieran Culkin) and tightly sprung David (Jesse Eisenberg, who wrote and directed). Small but very sure, this movie’s themes of genocidal trauma and Jewish legacy support the narrative every step of the way. Culkin is marvelous; so is the perpetually undervalued Eisenberg. To the above, I’ll add 10 more runners-up, again in alphabetical order: “Blink Twice,” directed by Zoe Kravitz. “Conclave,” directed by Edward Berger. “Dune: Part Two ,” directed by Denis Villeneuve. “Good One ,” directed by India Donaldson. “Hit Man,” directed by Richard Linklater. “Joker: Folie a Deux,” directed by Todd Phillips. “Nosferatu,” directed by Robert Eggers, opens in Chicago-area theaters on Dec. 25. “The Outrun,” directed by Nora Fingscheidt. “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat,” directed by Johan Grimonprez. “Tuesday,” directed by Daina O. Pusić. Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.