Chandigarh, Dec 22 (PTI) Punjab has sought Rs 1,000 crore Central assistance to strengthen its police infrastructure and security efforts in the border districts, among a slew of other demands, at a pre-budget meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held in Jaisalmer, an official statement said on Sunday. Industrial incentives similar to those provided to Jammu and Kashmir and the neighbouring hill states were also sought to support the MSMEs in Punjab's border and sub-mountainous regions, a Punjab government statement said on Sunday. Quoting Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, the statement said the state has strongly raised the demand to restore NABARD's Short-Term Seasonal Agricultural Operations (ST-SAO) limit to Rs 3,041 crore, from the reduced limit of Rs 1,100 crore, for FY 2024-25. Cheema said this restoration is vital to prevent farmers from turning to moneylenders, aligning with the 'Sahakar se Samriddhi' principle. Several states raised this issue which was discussed at length, he added. For road connectivity under PM Gati Shakti in Rajpura, the Punjab government has requested Rs 100 crore to construct a 5.6 km long, 45 mt wide approach road connecting NH-44 to the integrated manufacturing cluster (IMC) in Rajpura. This funding is essential for the timely completion of road construction and the successful implementation of the industrial cluster, Cheema said. Referring to the Vande Bharat train connecting Amritsar with New Delhi, Punjab government requested for a similar train to connect Bathinda, Punjab's agricultural and commercial hub, with the national capital to ensure seamless connectivity for the Malwa region of the state. Cheema also proposed financial support to address crop residue management in Punjab, saying despite providing 1.45 lakh crop residue management (CRM) machines since 2018, high operational costs remain a challenge. The Punjab government has proposed an incentive of Rs 2,500 per acre, with Rs 2,000 per acre from the Centre and Rs 500 per acre from the state, as per the statement. Out of the total estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crore for this initiative, the government of India has been requested to provide Rs 1,600 crore as budgetary support, the statement said. Cheema also requested the Centre for a special budgetary allocation for paddy diversification, saying diversifying cultivation across 10 lakh hectares could result in substantial savings of more than Rs 30,000 crore. The Punjab government has proposed allocating a portion of these savings towards a comprehensive diversification package, Cheema said. For the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) scheme, Cheema proposed enhancing the grant from Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh per beneficiary to accommodate rising construction costs. The minister also highlighted the need to release pending funds under the National Health Mission (NHM) amounting to Rs 1,119 crore, besides requesting an increase in the honorarium for cook-cum-helpers under the PM Poshan Abhiyaan from Rs 600 to Rs 2,000 per month. Additionally, Punjab sought support for urban transportation, requesting Rs 300 crore for the procurement of 250 electric buses and the installation of charging points. The state also called for reimbursement of procurement costs by the government of India, modernisation of driving licence testing with advanced technology, and reimbursement of pending rural development fee (RDF) amounting to Rs 6,857 crore. Expressing gratitude to Sitharaman for giving Punjab the opportunity to present its suggestions, Cheema said the state's demand for an incentive package to address the unique challenges faced by it, particularly due to its proximity to a hostile border with Pakistan, is crucial to bolster infrastructure and security measures. He also expressed hope that the upcoming Union Budget will act as a catalyst for fostering citizen welfare, driving regional development, and spurring economic growth, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)0888 philippines smart 。

At 58, Gong Li has defied societal norms and stereotypes associated with aging. Rather than conforming to the idea that one's energy and vitality diminish with age, Gong Li has proven that age is just a number. Her dedication to staying active and healthy shines through in her late-night badminton game, where she displayed agility, strength, and determination that would give many younger individuals a run for their money.

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Recall is finally here in preview, at least for those silly enough to put a Snapdragon X-based Copilot+ PC in the Dev channel of the Windows Insider Program. I am that silly, of course, but I at least followed my own advice and created USB-based recovery media so I can get it back when needed. As for Recall itself, now that I can finally access this useful feature, I'm even less clear what all the fuss was about. Not that there aren't improvements: Thanks to all the unnecessary drama about the non-existent security problems, Microsoft did make a few changes to Recall, the most important, arguably, being that it's now testing it in preview in the Insider Program. It originally intended to ship this feature to the public, in preview, with no formal testing at all. Microsoft also changed Recall to be opt-in for consumers--it was originally going to be opt-out--and uninstallable to silence the Luddites. And it's not installed by default on PCs managed by businesses and other organizations. These changes are all important, positive differences from what Microsoft originally intended. It feels like this was all so long ago. But thinking back to the original Copilot+ PC announcement in May, I um, recall Microsoft telling attendees of the event that Recall would be optional. I and many others took it to mean opt-in, something one agreed to enable and use. But Recall was going to be enabled by default. Windows 11 Setup would alert the user to this fact, but then they would have to figure out how to disable it after the fact. In other words, it was opt-out. This is a form of dark pattern, where Microsoft wanted to lead users down a specific path using confusing language, and so I viewed its initial round of concessions as a victory for common sense and the rare example of Microsoft reversing what can only be described as yet another example of enshittification in Windows 11. The original situation was even worse for businesses. At the time of the announcement, not only did Microsoft plan to enable Recall for people using PCs managed by businesses--in other words, those controlled by corporate policy--but it wasn't going to let those businesses disable Recall. That is, Recall would exist outside of policy and was aimed at the people using those PCs, not at the companies managing them. Policy and control might come later, I was told. But in its initial form, Recall, for lack of a better term, was for the people. This was a huge mistake. That this flies in the face of reality goes without saying. Commercial entities--companies, especially, but also governments, educational institutions, and other organizations--aren't just the biggest customer base for Windows, they're also the most important and financially lucrative. This is not an audience Microsoft can afford to anger, though consumers very clearly are. And so in the months since the Recall reveal and during the subsequent delays, Microsoft made an even bigger change: Now, Recall ... With technology shaping our everyday lives, how could we not dig deeper? Thurrott Premium delivers an honest and thorough perspective about the technologies we use and rely on everyday. Discover deeper content as a Premium member. Paul Thurrott is an award-winning technology journalist and blogger with 30 years of industry experience and the author of 30 books. He is the owner of and the host of three tech podcasts: with Leo Laporte and Richard Campbell, , and with Brad Sams. He was formerly the senior technology analyst at Windows IT Pro and the creator of the SuperSite for Windows from 1999 to 2014 and the Major Domo of Thurrott.com while at BWW Media Group from 2015 to 2023. You can reach Paul via , or . Join the crowd where the love of tech is real - become a Thurrott Premium Member today! Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each FridayFaraday Future Secures $30 Million Financing to Strengthen the Company’s Core Business and Continued Ramp-Up of the Faraday X (FX) Strategy

When Will Yao Ming be Inducted into the Hall of Fame? Spokesperson Responds "Subject to His Approval"Cheating in online games has become a prevalent issue in recent years, tarnishing the immersive and competitive experience for genuine players. Recognizing this growing concern, the administrators of "Infinite Warmth" have undertaken proactive measures to identify and penalize those engaging in unethical behavior.JHVEPhoto Adobe ( NASDAQ: ADBE ) is set to report its fourth-quarter results this upcoming Wednesday, December 11th, after market close. Although shares have recovered from their May bottom, Adobe is closing in on a disappointing 2024. Introduction To Adobe Adobe is one of Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

BYD Cars Philippines and ACMobility advance Valenzuela City’s bold step towards sustainability by signing a contract to provide the city 41 BYD Dolphin electric vehicles (EVs) as part of its police fleet. This move establishes the city as the first local government unit (LGU) in the country to utilize an EV fleet for law enforcement. It is the largest of its kind in the Philippines. The EV fleet will provide round-the-clock security while supporting the city’s push for cleaner technologies. This initiative aligns with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, which encourages EV adoption across government operations. “By eliminating the need for fuel and significantly reducing maintenance costs, the BYD Dolphin offers the City of Valenzuela the potential to save up to 70 percent of its fleet’s operational and maintenance budget over a five-year period,” Bob Palanca, managing director of BYD Cars Philippines, said. “This, combined with its zero tailpipe emissions, makes the BYD Dolphin a financially and environmentally sound investment for the city,” he said. Valenzuela City has long been committed to environmental initiatives, including waste recovery, composting, and street-cleaning programs. Integration of electric vehicles into its police force marks another significant step in the city’s shift towards sustainability. By choosing modern, zero-emission EVs, the city aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and set an example for other communities. “We are grateful to the progressive city of Valenzuela for choosing BYD and the BYD Dolphin for its police fleet. The city’s choice is a shining example of how local governments can fulfill their duties while promoting sustainability and being more considerate of the environment,” Lovelyn Labrador, deputy general manager for Corporate Services at BYD Philippines, said. “This partnership symbolizes a new way of thinking that many Filipinos and more communities nationwide can adopt as they deal with the daily challenges of mobility,” she said. ACMobility will support the transition by installing twenty 7kW and two 22kW EV chargers across the city, ensuring the seamless operation of the new fleet. “Starting with the transformation of our fleets, beginning with police cars, we set a powerful example for private companies, communities, and individuals to reconsider their own choices,” Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian, mayor of Valenzuela City, said. “We recognize that our vision will not materialize overnight, but today, we take the wheel of change and drive towards the horizon of a cleaner future, where progress does not come at the expense of the environment,” he said. For more information, visit the BYD Cars Philippines website at www.bydcarsphilippines.com or follow its social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.Are Woodside shares dirt cheap right now?The proliferation of edgy content on the internet is not limited to just one influencer. With the rise of platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, influencers have found new ways to push the limits of what is considered acceptable. From controversial stunts to explicit language and imagery, these influencers are constantly toeing the line between what is deemed acceptable and what is considered inappropriate.

Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and says a US withdrawal from NATO is possible

Bashar Assad's 24-year rule came to an end on Sunday as , the Syrian capital. Shortly after insurgents declared the city "free," Russia's foreign ministry announced Assad had resigned his position and left the country. Russian state news later reported that Assad had arrived in Moscow, where he was granted asylum. The collapse of Assad's government came after a coalition of opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a surprise offensive, seizing control of major cities like Aleppo, Hama, and Homs in a matter of days. Syrians around the world celebrated the end of Assad's rule, which was marked by brutal suppression. His violent crackdown on peaceful anti-government protests in 2011, part of the Arab Spring uprisings, sparked a civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions, straining neighboring countries like Turkey and Lebanon. World leaders conveyed cautious optimism after news of Assad's ouster, but uncertainty remains around what kind of government and leader will replace him. One major player will almost certainly be HTS, which is led by Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, a Syrian who fought against US occupation in Iraq alongside a branch of Al Qaeda. Jolani later returned to Syria, his homeland, where he fought with Jabhat Al-Nusra — an Al Qaeda offshoot formed in 2012 — and other rebel groups against Assad's forces. Jolani severed his ties with Al Qaeda in 2016 and formed a new group, which eventually became HTS in 2017. Since then, Jolani has portrayed himself as a more moderate leader to gain international legitimacy. Both the United States and the United Nations still list HTS as a terrorist organization. In one 2021 interview with , Jolani called the group's terrorist designation a "political label that carries no truth or credibility." "Through our 10-year journey in this revolution, we haven't posed any threat to Western or European society: no security threat, no economic threat, nothing. That's why this designation is politicized," he said. In recent years, HTS has controlled Syria's northwestern Idlib Province, where analysts say it worked to consolidate power and transform its image while pursuing its ultimate goal of toppling Assad. In Idlib, Jolani established the so-called Syrian Salvation Government, which has acted as a showcase for what his leadership could bring to a wider area. Speaking about the Salvation Government in the PBS interview, Jolani said that while the situation in Idlib was not ideal, there was "a self-asserting model that was capable of running the affairs of a whole country under an Islamic rule." While some have remained doubtful that the group has fully cut its links with Al Qaeda, it has put forth a message of inclusiveness and unity in recent days, calling for a peaceful transition of power and reassuring religious and ethnic minorities in Syria. "In the future Syria ... diversity is our strength, not a weakness," the group said in a statement to the Kurdish minority in Aleppo. Aron Lund, a fellow at Century International and a Middle East analyst at the Swedish Defense Research Agency, told that while Jolani and his group had changed, they remained "pretty hardline." "It's PR, but the fact they are engaging in this effort at all shows they are no longer as rigid as they once were," he said, referencing video footage showing Jolani forbidding fighters from entering homes and telling them to protect citizens. "Old-school Al Qaeda or the Islamic State would never have done that." HTS is only one part of an ideologically diverse opposition, and it remains to be seen if the coalition can peacefully share power and extend unified control over the whole country. "If not, intra-Syrian territorial fragmentation, and the potential emergence of regional warlords and fiefdoms, will quickly grow," Jonathan Panikoff, the director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Middle East Program, told Business Insider. Read the original article on

Meet the 12 CFP Title Contenders: No. 12 Clemson