Armstrong Commercial Flooring has been awarded NSF/ANSI 332 Gold Level certification for its Linoleum product line from NSF International.

This lecture is the inaugural Berkeley Distinguished Lecture in the Social Sciences (formerly the Moses Memorial Lectures) About this lecture In this lecture, Ted Miguel will present findings from a development economics research project based on a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Kenya that he and collaborators have been conducting since 2014. He will start by discussing the rise of experimental methods and open science tools in economics research. Ted will then focus on new results from the Kenyan RCT that investigates the impact of cash transfers on infant mortality, leveraging a unique large-scale census of local households’ birth histories. The findings provide novel evidence on the broader impacts of cash transfers on the health and wellbeing of a poor rural population, and illustrate the value of the experimental approach in development economics for public policy.About Edward Miguel Edward (Ted) Miguel is Distinguished Professor of Economics, the Oxfam Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics, & Faculty co-Director of the Center for Effective Global Action at the University of California, Berkeley. He earned S.B. degrees in both Economics and Mathematics from MIT, received a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University, where he was a National Science Foundation Fellow. Ted’s main research focus is African economic development, including work on the economic causes and consequences of violence; interactions between health, education, environment, and productivity for the poor; and methods for transparency in social science research. He has published over 120 articles and chapters in leading academic journals and collected volumes. Prof. Miguel was elected as a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2020, and awarded the Econometric Society Frisch Medal in 2024.

Viamericas, a licensed money transmitter, has launched its...

NSF Science Now: Episode 65

NSF documentary about the race against nature to understand and meet the challenges of the rapidly changing Arctic

The National Science Foundation: Creating knowledge to transform our future

NSF documentary about working toward a better life for everyone by solving the riddle of predicting phenotype

The report, titled “2025 Predictions – Energy Transition & Utilities Technology and Industry Trends in India,” highlights key areas where technology and policy shifts are expected to drive India’s energy transition over the next two years.

State of the EHS Nation:

Exclusive results from ISHN’s 28^th annual White Paper Reader Survey

For newly added discount Fisher and Meyer snow plow parts - in stock - visit www.PartsforSnowPlows.com. Lowest prices - fastest shipping!

The consumer has spoken. Forrester Research asked 5,000 of them, "What created the biggest pain when you contacted a business for customer service?" They answered lack and consistency of agent knowledge, followed by the difficulty of finding relevant answers on company websites. So, what is driving this dissatisfaction?

Preset (Everyday) + transform + exposure + graduated filter + radial filter. If shots like this take more than 2 minutes to edit, it’s probably not worth editing. ⏱
—
Boxing Day will be the last day to get my Lightroom presets discounted, which leaves you only 3 more days! Get on it! ???? (at Toronto, Ontario)

The Victorian Government has announced it will begin work on one of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects, the Melbourne Metro Rail Project. The new Melbourne Metro Rail line includes a nine-kilometre twin rail tunnel from Melbourne's south, under the CBD, through to the university and health precinct in the city's north. It will include five new and expanded underground stations.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 7:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: LSA Transfer Student Center

Join a panel of LSA Transfer Student Ambassadors to learn more about the transfer student experience. The Ambassadors will be chatting about the academic transition to U-M, how to get involved on campus, housing, all the amazing programs and support for transfer students, and any other questions that you have. Join us even if you don't have specific questions.

Please register with link at the right. After you register you will receive the Zoom login.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: LSA Transfer Student Recruitment

Join the LSA Transfer Recruitment Team for our virtual sessions where we will discuss LSA requirements, transfer credit, pre-transfer academic advising, LSA opportunities and other transfer tidbits.

Registration is required. Register using link to the right.

Following a successful pilot, a new two-year agreement was approved today between the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the City of Chicago's Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS), which manages the city's overall homelessness outreach, to continue providing expanded outreach and support for riders who are unsheltered, as well as those grappling with mental health and substance abuse.

From today until Saturday, 10 historical sites in Bangkok will be transformed into cultural attractions as part of the annual Bangkok River Festival 2024, for both locals and tourists to enjoy a wide range of fun activities that support sustainable living and the unique lifestyle of waterside communities.  

The Transformers comics are re-imagining a classic storyline from the original Transformers cartoon involving the treacherous Decepticon Starscream.

Esta edición ha contado con la creatividad de Hombres G, Chenoa y Susanna Griso, entre otras personalidades Leer

Supera a Rublev por 6-3 y 7-6(8) en una demostración de seriedad y dependerá de sí mismo para estar en las semifinales del torneo Leer

Premier David Burt and Minister Seniors Tinee Furbert discuss Throne Speech initiatives, BPSU responds to Throne Speech, retail sales decreased 1.5% in July 2024, Remembrance Day policing activity, Planet Math working to secure new space and Wallpaper Wednesday features west end island views are some of the stories in this morning’s [Nov 13] Bernews Newsflash. […]

The Bermuda Shakespeare Schools Festival [BSSF] will award two major scholarships to two outstanding drama students, with Rowan Vickers and Marcus Smith set to receive assistance to continue their studies. Every year BSSF, now in its seventh year of operation, invites applications for scholarship support from any student who has participated in one of their […]

The Bermuda Shakespeare Schools Festival [BSSF] is getting set to host a drama workshop for Bermuda students beginning today [Feb 2] and running through February 5, 2015. The workshop will feature teacher and musician Devon Glover, also known as Sonnetman. A spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Shakespeare Schools Festival is excited about its drama workshop for […]

Dutch appeal court ruled in favour of oil and gas company over judgment telling it to limit emissions A court ruling in favour of Shell does not spell the end of climate litigation against companies, legal experts have said. The oil and gas company celebrated on Tuesday when it won an appeal…

Geração de emprego atinge patamar recorde, mas esconde problemas como altos índices de informalidade, subutilização da força de trabalho e jornadas exaustivas

To pay tribute to his wife, Priscilla Chan, Mark Zuckerberg got in the recording booth with T-Pain for the heavily autotuned track.

Nearly 10,000 people in Abbotsford, B.C., have been told to boil their water after the E. coli bacteria was detected in a private provider's water system on Thursday.

Armed men suspected to be bandits, on Tuesday, attacked the site of the ongoing construction of the 330/132/33kV transmission substation in Obajana, Kogi State. The armed men, shooting sporadically, destroyed a 150MVA 330/132/33kV power transformer, causing a significant setback to the government’s efforts to increase power generation. The Transmission Company of Nigeria disclosed the latest

Al-Nassr defender, Aymeric Laporte has commented on reported interest from Real Madrid for his signature. The former Manchester City star has recently been linked with a move to Real Madrid next year. Speaking on the development, Laporte said he can’t ignore the Spanish LaLiga champions. According to him, it is nice to be linked with […]

Transfer: You can’t ignore them – Laporte on Real Madrid links

[allAfrica] Margareth Mwakilasa, an assistant research fellow at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania and a PhD student in Global Health at University College Dublin, presented her research findings at the 5th HIV Research for Prevention Conference (#HIVR4P2024) in Lima, Peru. Her study, titled ''They are Not HIV Treatment Drugs; They are Preventive Drugs (PrEP): Experiences of Using PrEP Among Vulnerable Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Tanzania,'' was part of the Oral Abstract

• Hike in petroleum levy, imposition of GST on petroleum products not expected anytime soon
• Govt sees economic activity picking up next month due to stable rupee, lower policy rate
• Senate body points to issues in Islamic banking, fraudulent POS receipts, fake ATM notes
• 10pc levy on transport with Iran has left over 600 trucks stalled

ISLAMABAD: The Inter­national Monetary Fund (IMF) is reported to have expressed satisfaction over the increase in the tax-to-GDP ratio by nearly 1.5 percentage points, relieving the authorities from any push for additional tax measures through a mini-budget.

According to sources closely involved in ongoing discussions with the visiting IMF mission, the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) revenue collection target for the current fiscal year will remain unchanged at Rs12.97 trillion. Authorities have ruled out the need for additional taxes or a mini-budget, citing the IMF’s positive response.

Officials said that economic activity is expected to pick up by December in view of a stable exchange rate and a reduction in the State Bank’s policy rate, likely offsetting a tax shortfall of around Rs190 billion recorded in the first four months (July to October) of the fiscal year.

There would neither be any increase in the petroleum levy nor would general sales tax (GST) be imposed on petroleum products, the sources said after a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue presided over by PPP Senator Salim Mandviwalla.

They said the tax-to-GDP ratio had increased from 8.8pc to 10.3pc and the IMF was satisfied with this 1.5 percentage point improvement.

The sources reiterated the commitment given to the IMF that tax collection on agriculture income would start from the next fiscal year. They said that tax reforms were progressing and the draft Tax Laws Amendment Ordinance 2024 had been presented to the prime minister for approval. The ordinance contains a new family income tax return system and abolishes the concepts of non-filers and late filers.

The sources, however, hinted at tinkering with the Tajir Dost Scheme to effectively bring in traders into the tax net and said these were being discussed with the IMF mission during the ongoing meetings.

The IMF has been told that the FBR collected Rs12bn from retailers during the first quarter of 2024-25, although only 500,000 potential retailers were the target out of three million small shopkeepers.

‘Slow progress on Islamic banking’

Earlier, the Senate panel decided to call scholars of the Council of Islamic Ideology to have input on the working of Islamic banking operations in Pakistan, for which a special session would be arranged.

The central bank’s deputy governor told the panel that Riba was the main difference between conventional banking and Islamic banking.

Senator Farooq H. Naek pointed out that full implementation of Islamic banking was committed for 2027, but progress had been very slow. The SBP’s deputy governor emphasised the need for continued deliberation on Islamic banking and assured the committee that several banks were actively working towards compliance.

FBR Chairman Rashid Mehmood Langrial told the panel that FBR’s enforcement would be improved in the coming months after approval of a transformation plan, including enhancing the board’s operational expertise, organisational capacities and anti-smuggling measures.

Key discussions during the meeting included the contentious 10pc levy on transport and businesses between Pakistan and Iran, raised by Senator Manzoor Ahmad Kakar in a Senate session. The committee resolved to report to the house that the issue may be referred to the Standing Committee on Communications, noting that the levy, imposed with the federal government’s approval, did not pertain to the Federal Board of Revenue.

While FBR officials emphasised that this specific tax was not their responsibility, Senator Kakar raised concerns that Pakistani trucks were being unfairly taxed, with over 600 trucks currently parked due to the levy. The committee agreed to forward the matter to the Communications Committee for further deliberation.

The committee also discussed concerns raised by Senator Mohsin Aziz regarding the fee collected by FBR for point of sale (POS) services and its utilisation. The FBR chairman confirmed the introduction of a policy to penalise businesses that are issuing fake POS receipts, imposing fines of Rs500,000 and shutting down shops involved in such practices.

Senator Aziz highlighted weaknesses in enforcement, with some fake receipts circulating in the mar­ket, including a bill in Islamabad marked “tentative”. The FBR chairman acknowledged the issue and assured that enforcement mea­sures would be strengthened soon.

A key briefing by the SBP highlighted the performance of banking branches in smaller provinces, revealing that as of June 30, 2024, there were 3,334 banking branches operating in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, accounting for 20pc of the total nationwide branches. Additionally, 199 branches of microfinance banks were serving these regions, representing 13pc of the country’s total microfinance network.

Another pressing issue discussed was the problem of counterfeit currency dispensed from ATMs. Senator Kakar cited a case where a young man received fake Rs5,000 notes from an ATM. The CEO of a commercial bank assured the committee that security measures were being enhanced to address this issue.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2024

Hong Tao Yang bought bear paws and bear kneecaps from an undercover conservation officer involved in a sting operation.

When former TV actor Zhang Shuifa appeared in a sales livestream with some local celebs in July, it sparked nostalgia among netizens who hadn't seen him on screens for years. The 57-year-old's appearance then led to his gradual return to showbiz. Besides turning up in the occasional sales livestreams, the Malaysian is also currently filming local director Jack Neo's upcoming movie I Want To Be Boss, which is expected to be released during Chinese New Year next year. In an Instagram Reel today (Nov 14), Shuifa, who debuted in 1988 with Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC, now Mediacorp), reminisced about the time he filmed a drama with local actor Collin Chee. "I remembered it was over 30 years ago, though I can't remember the name of the drama now," he said. Collin, 57, shared that it was his first drama in 1993.

Voiced The Faillen in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Dreadwing in Transformers Prime

ONYX Hospitality Group, a leading management company for hotels, resorts, serviced apartments, and luxury residences in Southeast Asia, has signed an agreement to manage Amari The Tide Bangsaen. This property, which is a significant transformation of The Tide Resort, and has been reimagined as Amari The Tide Bangsaen, is set to reveal its new look in the second quarter of 2025. Located in Thailand in the Chonburi Province, a region poised for significant economic growth, especially in tourism, this property reflects Amari’s commitment to delivering exceptional experiences in Thailand’s most promising destinations. With a focus on enhancing the guest experience to create memorable moments for Thai and international tourists, it is set to cater to a wide range of traveller needs and preferences across leisure and business segments On 7 November 2024, a signing ceremony for a business partnership agreement to manage Amari The Tide Bangsaen was held between Five Leader Group Co., Ltd. and...

Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort is proud to announce its relaunch following an extensive revitalization, redefining the guest experience at this iconic destination. As the first hotel built in the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) area, Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort has set the standard for excellence in hospitality for over two decades. This transformation ushers in a new era, blending modern design, amenities, and cutting-edge technology while preserving the resort’s rich history and cherished legacy. The reinvention of the Resort is driven by the vision of bringing people together through shared moments and spaces. The newly reimagined rooms and suites offer a sophisticated fusion of modern design and natural textures, with a color palette inspired by the serene beachfront setting. All rooms have been thoughtfully equipped to cater to the diverse needs of today’s travellers with the latest technologies, providing guests with a seamless blend of comfort and innovation. The bathrooms to...

Lakshmi Srinivasa Rao Gogula highlights that SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) is revolutionizing enterprise software by enhancing agility, integration, security, developer empowerment, and sustainability beyond traditional ABAP.

Vatican a lansat o serie de servicii noi bazate pe inteligență artificială pentru Bazilica Sf. Petru, permițând acces virtual la comorile arhitecturale din perioada Renașterii și tururi îmbunătățite pentru vizitatori – zilnic aproximativ 40.000-50.000 de oameni. Noile experiențe au fost prezentate în pregătirea pentru Anul Sfânt sau Jubileul Bisericii Catolice din 2025, care are loc ...

The post Servicii AI pentru Bazilica Sf. Petru lansate de Vatican înainte de anul jubiliar appeared first on Forbes Romania.