jilibay

jilibay n the first half of 2024, Southeast Asia attracted over US$30 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure investments, according to the 2024 e-Conomy SEA Report from Google, Temasek and Bain & Company. The ERIA One ASEAN Startup Whitepaper highlights over $50 billion invested in AI by tech giants including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon since January 2023. This reflects the growing recognition of the region as a burgeoning hub for AI innovation, a shift that could drive the region’s economy forward. ASEAN has projected that AI could boost the region’s gross domestic product by 10 percent to 18 percent, potentially adding $1 trillion by 2030. With over half of ASEAN youth already digitizing a significant portion of their tasks, the region’s tech-savvy youth presents a key advantage in accelerating AI adoption. While these developments and the region's growing interest in AI present promising opportunities, significant challenges remain. What steps must Southeast Asia take to fully harness AI’s potential and position itself as the next frontier for AI? Some Southeast Asian governments have formulated national strategies, such as Indonesia’s National Strategy for AI and Singapore’s NAIS 2.0, to integrate the tech across various sectors. Singapore has also invested $70 million to develop language models that are tailored to regional cultures, among other efforts. At the regional level, ASEAN has launched initiatives such as the ASEAN Guideline on AI Governance and Ethics and the establishment of the ASEAN Working Group on AI (WG-AI) to promote collaborative efforts and ethical AI use across its member states. Furthermore, the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which is in the works, is also expected to help synergize cross-border data regulations in the region, potentially leading to more reliable and accurate AI systems. Beyond government initiatives, the private sector has been driving AI adoption, with the 2024 report noting that 54 percent of generative AI projects advance from ideation to production within six months, and 71 percent yield return on investment (ROI) within 12 months. With an impressive short turnaround, regional tech majors such as Gojek, Grab and Lazada leverage AI in their business operations. From demand prediction to personalized recommendations, AI is enhancing their business operations and profitability. Whether you're looking to broaden your horizons or stay informed on the latest developments, "Viewpoint" is the perfect source for anyone seeking to engage with the issues that matter most. By registering, you agree with 's Please check your email for your newsletter subscription. Despite the strong investment and adoption, significant challenges remain. The and the 2024 highlight digital talent scarcity as a key challenge, as 61 percent of ASEAN youth aged 10 to 24 years old were not taught formal digital education in school. This further exacerbates the digital divide and limits regional competitiveness in attracting AI investment. Furthermore, differing scores in AI preparedness among ASEAN countries, with only Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand scoring above the Asia-Pacific average, creates barriers for cross-border growth and leads to regulatory inconsistencies, particularly in data governance and cybersecurity.Online Couples Therapy Now Offered By Serenity Psychotherapy Group In Chevy Chase

Atlantic Council Names Five Facts World Has Learned About Ukraine Since Russia's Invasion

NEW DELHI: Government is pitching roads, renewables and rapid transit projects for development under the India-UK investment bridge and is willing to tailor the design based on feedback so that there is greater participation from global investors. Representatives from the City of London Corporation, officials from Niti Aayog and other ministries and companies from the UK and India, including foreign companies operating in India, discussed how projects could be identified. IPL 2025 mega auction IPL Auction 2025: Who got whom IPL 2025 Auction: Updated Full Team Squads Govt sources, however, said that the projects will not be given by nomination and companies from across the world, including the UK, will have to bid for them. Sectors such as roads and highways have seen foreign players virtually vanish from the space and instead small Indian developers fill that space. "We are receiving presentations from Indian partner companies and also from the UK companies. We have got major engineering firms like Mott Macdonald and Arup, which have global companies with huge global experience in infra projects. The plan is, between now and March next year, we are going to identify three projects with Indian govt which are likely to be in the sectors of roads, rapid transit and renewables. "Once those are agreed, we will be bringing to the table the expertise that the project management firms can supply. In due course, we expect that to expand to capital investment and capital coming out of London and out of the UK to support PM Modi's sustainable transport strategy. This is a two-year agreement initially, but we hope that it would blossom into a long-term partnership between London and the Indian govt because the growth in India is so spectacular and so fast that India needs friend and partners to support in delivering infrastructure ambitions," said Chris Hayward, policy chairman of the City of London Corporation. Hayward is the political leader of the entity. He added that a project pipeline is being readied, while insisting that it has to be a "win-win deal" for both sides. Hayward said that there is greater confidence in India now. "One of the challenges of this bridge is that British and other firms have had their fingers burnt. The whole market in India has developed or changed since those days. But, of course, the first thing is confidence building in the British companies that they are not going to get their fingers burnt." Asked if a bilateral investment treaty that is acceptable to the UK was a pre-requisite, he said: "There are negotiations still in play. For this to succeed, the Indian govt has to make it as easy as possible for UK businesses to participate. If barriers are put up that are unacceptable, then it will not work. Regulatory certainty is important for everything, the world over." Ready to Master Stock Valuation? ET's Workshop is just around the corner!

SHOPPERS are racing to Aldi to snap up their huge Grinch teddies for Christmas. The supermarket is selling large £12.99 plushies, and they are flying off shelves ahead of December 25. 6 Aldi is selling a large Grinch teddy ahead of Christmas Credit: Facebook/Cheryl Louise Alexander 6 Shoppers have been sharing the teddies they have picked up for £12.99 Credit: Facebook/Cheryl Louise Alexander Many bargain hunters have shared how they got up at the crack of dawn to make sure they managed to get one for their families. One shopper uploaded a photo to Facebook saying: “Got our giant Grinch teddy from Aldi today. £12.99. “Managed to get it before the household woke up. My 2yo is happy.” Another wrote: “Got to Aldi this morning to get the grinch my kids so happy with him More on the Grinch BAH HUMBUG Savers warned about 'Grinch' cuts to 200 savings accounts - are you affected? CHRISTMAS STEAL B&M is selling Grinch Squishmallows & shoppers ‘need’ them for stockings “£12.99 don't miss out.” And a third commented: “Literally queued up this morning before it opened to get mine.” The “soft and cuddly” Grinch is approximately 90cm tall and you can choose from two designs, with one Grinch wearing a Christmas hat. The Aldi website states: “An excellent gift choice for a loved one who loves Grinch! Cuddle up this Christmas with this Grinch Soft Toy.” Most read in Fabulous BUDGET BRIDE I tried out Shein wedding dresses - the cheapest was £40, but a £116 gown won CHEERS! I tried UK's first trending drink delivery service - it's perfect for Xmas nights SNAP IT UP I make five figures a month & splash cash on surgery & business class flights FOOD FOR THOUGHT People are only just realising they’ve been making beans on toast wrong The furry green icon - played by Jim Carrey in the 2000 hit movie - has become a staple beloved character over the years, for both kids and adults alike. And it seems he has taken over the high street this year too. Shoppers race to Primark as brand new Christmas Grinch collection has launched in stores with matching items for the whole family B&M is selling Grinch Squishmallows and shoppers say they ‘need’ them for stocking fillers. Primark has also launched some new festive cafes themed on the beloved character. The retailer has partnered with Dr Seuss to create a Grinch’s green lair with a limited-edition menu at six Primark cafe locations across the UK. 6 Many people have snapped up the Aldi Grinch teddies for their kids Credit: Facebook/Cheryl Louise Alexander 6 B&M is selling Squishmallows themed on The Grinch for £18.99 Credit: Facebook 6 Primark has launched Grinch cafes in a number of its stores Credit: Primark 6 Primark is selling Grinch-themed Christmas pjs for the whole family Credit: Instagram/Primark Primark’s Grinch Cafes are sure to be a hit with fans of the furry character, with everything from green waffles and shakes to get in the anti-Christmas spirit. The Grinch cafe is open in Primark’s stores in Birmingham , Manchester Trafford, Manchester Market Street, Cardiff , Braehead and Edinburgh until the end of December. After tucking into themed drinks and food, shoppers can then check out Primark’s new Grinch-inspired range. This follows McDonald's bringing out Grinch Happy Meals . A history of The Grinch THE Grinch is a character created by Dr. Seuss and first appeared in the 1957 children's book, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The story features the Grinch, a solitary, grumpy creature who lives in a cave atop Mount Crumpit. Disliking the Christmas cheer of the nearby Whos in Whoville, the Grinch decides to "steal" Christmas by taking their decorations, gifts, and feasts. He u ltimately learns the true meaning of Christmas when the Whos celebrate despite their losses, prompting his heart to grow three sizes. The live-action adaptation starring Jim Carrey was released on November 17, 2000 and is a Christmas classic today.

High Point defeats Pfeiffer 81-50No Turbulence in Government Leadership, Charamba SaysMaryam set to become first female Punjab CM to visit China

The USS Zumwalt is at a Mississippi shipyard where workers have installed missile tubes that replace twin turrets from a gun system that was never activated because it was too expensive. Once the system is complete, the Zumwalt will provide a platform for conducting fast, precision strikes from greater distances, adding to the usefulness of the warship. “It was a costly blunder. But the Navy could take victory from the jaws of defeat here, and get some utility out of (the ships) by making them into a hypersonic platform,” said Bryan Clark, a defence analyst at the Hudson Institute. The US has had several types of hypersonic weapons in development for the past two decades, but recent tests by both Russia and China have added pressure to the US military to hasten their production. Hypersonic weapons travel beyond Mach 5, five times the speed of sound, with added manoeuvrability making them harder to shoot down. Last year, The Washington Post newspaper reported that among the documents leaked by former Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was a defence department briefing that confirmed China had recently tested an intermediate-range hypersonic weapon called the DF-27. While the Pentagon had previously acknowledged the weapon’s development, it had not recognised its testing. One of the US programmes in development and planned for the Zumwalt is the Conventional Prompt Strike. It would launch like a ballistic missile and then release a hypersonic glide vehicle that would travel at speeds seven to eight times faster than the speed of sound before hitting the target. The weapon system is being developed jointly by the Navy and Army. Each of the three Zumwalt-class destroyers would be equipped with four missile tubes, each with three of the missiles for a total of 12 hypersonic weapons per ship. In choosing the Zumwalt, the Navy is attempting to add to the usefulness of a 7.5 billion US dollars (£5.9 billion) warship that is considered by critics to be an expensive mistake despite serving as a test platform for multiple innovations. The Zumwalt was envisioned as providing land-attack capability with an advanced gun system with rocket-assisted projectiles to open the way for Marines to charge ashore. But the system featuring 155mm guns hidden in stealthy turrets was cancelled because each of the rocket-assisted projectiles cost up to one million dollars (£790,000). Despite the stain on their reputation, the three Zumwalt-class destroyers: Zumwalt, Michael Monsoor and Lyndon B Johnson; remain the Navy’s most advanced surface warships in terms of new technologies. Those innovations include electric propulsion, an angular shape to minimise radar signature, an unconventional wave-piercing hull, automated fire and damage control and a composite deckhouse that hides radar and other sensors. The US is accelerating development because hypersonics have been identified as vital to US national security with “survivable and lethal capabilities”, said James Weber, principal director for hypersonics in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies. “Fielding new capabilities that are based on hypersonic technologies is a priority for the defence department to sustain and strengthen our integrated deterrence, and to build enduring advantages,” he said.

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — D'Maurian Williams scored 18 points as High Point beat Pfeiffer 81-50 on Saturday. Williams went 8 of 13 from the field (2 for 3 from 3-point range) for the Panthers (8-1). Kezza Giffa scored 14 points, going 3 of 8 from the floor, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and 7 for 8 from the line. Kimani Hamilton shot 4 for 8, including 1 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points. The Falcons were led by Doug Smith and Justin Gaten with nine points apiece. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Alisyn Camerota to Exit CNNThe Kimberley Curling Club is making preparations to host the Safetek Profire U18 Provincial Curling Championships, starting Thursday, Dec. 19. This event, one of two provincial tournaments the club will host this winter, will see 12 boys teams and seven girls teams from across the province competing, with the winners sent to Nationals in Saskatoon in February. For the boys event, 12 teams will be grouped into pools of six to play in a round robin, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the semi finals. There are two local boys teams competing this year: Team Reynolds: Marcus Crump (Fernie), Jasper Tersmette (Kimberley), Sam Carson (Fernie), Matthew Reynolds (Wasa), Blair Jarvis - coach (Kimberley) Team Pollock (all Kimberley): Wyatt Bjerstedt, Ty Pollock, Tyson Scott, Zack Pollock, Kyle Scott, Steve Tersmette - Coach There are seven teams in the girls event, who will play in a round robin with the top three teams making it to the playoffs. First place will get a buy to the final. Games begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19, with pre-event practice kicking off at 9 a.m. that same day and the opening ceremony at 5 p.m. Semi-finals will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 22 with finals to begin at 9 a.m. on Dec. 23. The Kimberley Curling Club's social media pages will be posting updates and live scoring and standings can be found at curlbc.ca The public is welcome to come and watch all the action.

Know thy enemy: Has Washington overtaken Cowboys in NFC East pecking order?NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Kmani Doughty had 17 points in Indiana State's 83-80 victory against Iona on Saturday. Doughty shot 5 of 9 from the field, including 1 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 7 from the line for the Sycamores (4-4). Jaden Daughtry added 16 points while going 6 of 9 and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line while they also had six rebounds and three steals. Josiah LeGree shot 5 for 8, including 3 for 5 from beyond the arc to finish with 14 points. The Gaels (2-6) were led by Dejour Reaves, who posted 30 points and three steals. Adam Njie added 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals for Iona. Yaphet Moundi also had 12 points and nine rebounds. LeGree scored 11 points in the first half for Indiana State, who went into halftime tied 45-45 with Iona. Indiana State. Samage Teel scored 10 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

BOULDER, Colo. — Travis Hunter is a throwback-type player — an elite receiver one moment, a lockdown cornerback the next — who rarely leaves the field and has a knack for making big plays all over it. The Colorado Buffaloes' two-way standout (see: unicorn) even celebrates at an elite level, unveiling imaginative dance moves following touchdowns and interceptions, some of which include the Heisman Trophy pose. It's one of the many awards he's in line to win. Hunter is the The Associated Press college football player of the year, receiving 26 of 43 votes Thursday from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. "Couldn't do what I do without my team," Hunter said in an email on a trip to Las Vegas for an awards ceremony. "So I view being up for these awards as team awards." A player with his particular set of skills doesn't come around that often. He's a flashback to the days of Charles Woodson at Michigan or Champ Bailey at Georgia. Or even his coach, Deion Sanders, a two-way star in the NFL. The prospect of significant playing time on both sides of the ball is what led Hunter to join Sanders at Jackson State and why he followed Sanders to Boulder. "Coach Prime was the only coach who would consider allowing me to do what I'm doing," said Hunter, who's expected to be a top-five pick next spring in the NFL draft, possibly even the No. 1 overall selection. "He did it and knows what it takes — how much you have to be ready on both sides of the ball." Want to fuel Hunter? Simply tell him he can't. "I'm motivated when people tell me I can't do something," Hunter said. "That I can't dominate on both sides of the ball. I want to be an example for others that anything is possible. Keep pursuing your dreams." Hunter helped the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record this season and a berth in the Alamo Bowl against No. 17 BYU (10-2) on Dec. 28. He played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the lone Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Hunter has already won a second straight Paul Hornung award as the game's most versatile player. He's up for the Walter Camp (player of the year), Maxwell (most outstanding player), the Biletnikoff (best receiver) and Bednarik (top defensive player) awards. And, of course, the Heisman, where he's the odds-on favorite to win over Jeanty this weekend. Hunter can join the late Rashaan Salaam as the only Colorado players to capture the Heisman. Salaam won it in 1994 after rushing for 2,055 yards. Hunter wasn't a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive back. That drew the wrath of Sanders, who earned the award with Florida State in 1988 and vowed to give his trophy to Hunter. Hunter's high school coach, Lenny Gregory, knew he had a special player the summer of Hunter's freshman year. Gregory, then the coach at Collins Hill in Georgia, had a conditioning test for his players — run six 200-yard dashes with a minute rest in between. Defensive backs had to complete each in under 32 seconds. Hunter never even got winded. He played safety/cornerback and receiver as a freshman and helped Collins Hill to a state title his senior season. "I remember just talking to colleges the spring of his ninth-grade year and telling coaches that this kid's going to be the No. 1 player in the country," recounted Gregory, who's now the coach at Gordon Central High in Calhoun, Georgia. "They'd look at him and laugh at me, 'What are you talking about? This scrawny kid? He's not big enough.' I was like, 'Just watch. Just watch.'" Hunter finished the regular season with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, he had four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced one crucial fumble, which secured an OT win over Baylor. Overall, Hunter had 92 receptions and allowed 22. He hauled in 14 receiving TDs and allowed just one. He was responsible for 53 first downs and gave up just six. He was targeted 119 times by Shedeur Sanders & Co. but only 39 times by opposing QBs. Hunter's likely final game in Boulder, a rout of Oklahoma State, was a three-touchdown, one-interception performance. "I'm used to seeing him do all this spectacular stuff," Shedeur Sanders said. "I'm used to all this stuff — you all are just now seeing it on national stage." Get local news delivered to your inbox!No Turbulence in Government Leadership, Charamba Says

Skier/snowboarder Ester Ledecka has 2 Olympic races on same day in 2026, hoping for schedule change

Adele bids farewell to Vegas residency with heartfelt words

Valsoft Corporation Strengthens Local Government Portfolio with Keystone Information Systems and Cott Systems AcquisitionsMiddle East latest: Israeli strikes in Gaza kill more than 50 people, including kids

Rams in search of offensive consistency in New Orleans

The most recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) focused on finance, but it fell short in more ways than one. The contentious negotiations -- representatives from several developing countries walked out in protest -- defied the odds to produce a commitment -- the "Baku Climate Unity Pact" -- from developed economies to deliver $300 billion in climate funding annually to their poorer counterparts by 2035. That is triple the target agreed in 2009 (and reached, for the first time, in 2022), but it is nowhere near the estimated $1.3 trillion in annual financing that developing economies will need over this period. Although the agreement represents progress, we must recognise it as merely a starting point. But insufficient financing is only part of the problem. The reality is that as world leaders clashed in Baku amid unprecedented international tensions, the true battle being waged was for the future of climate finance -- and women's role in it. Women and children are 14 times more likely to die in climate-related disasters than men, and women comprise 80% of those displaced by extreme weather. These disparities are not incidental but are rooted in systemic inequalities. Yet the so-called New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance includes just one reference to women and girls: in paragraph 26, it "urges parties and other relevant actors to promote the inclusion and extension of benefits to vulnerable communities and groups in climate finance efforts, including women and girls". Women and girls' greater vulnerability to climate change reflects systemic inequality of access to education, economic opportunities and decision-making power. These differences are also apparent at climate-related forums. While this year's COP was heralded as the most gender-balanced in terms of registrations, women accounted for just 35% of delegates (up from 34% at COP28). Of the 78 world leaders who attended, a mere eight were women, and only four addressed gender-specific issues in their statements. Climate initiatives that explicitly include women have been shown to produce better outcomes for entire communities. Moreover, women are already leading some of the most innovative and effective climate initiatives globally in areas ranging from sustainable agriculture to renewable energy deployment. The conclusion should be obvious: the potential for gender-responsive climate finance to unlock more efficient pathways for decarbonisation, adaptation, and resilience makes it a strategic necessity. And yet for every US$100 (3,378 baht) of climate finance deployed globally, only 20 cents goes towards supporting women, and only 0.01% of climate finance addresses both climate action and women's rights. Even so, COP29 was not a total loss for women and girls. The enhanced Lima work programme on gender was extended for another decade, though without additional funding for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat to support implementation. In addition, the 27 gender-specific provisions in the final "Presidency text on gender and climate change" emphasised the vital role of women's full, meaningful and equal participation in climate action and the critical importance of incorporating gender considerations into all policymaking domains. The "gender action plan" that countries agreed to develop for adoption at COP30 provides a framework for progress. Despite these commitments, COP29 fell short in addressing critical intersectional issues such as the links between gender equality, peacebuilding, and climate action. Similarly, calls to address gender gaps in skills -- such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics training to access green jobs -- and the care economy as part of climate action failed to make it into the final document. While the text encouraged gender-responsive climate finance and simplified access for grassroots women's organisations and indigenous communities, it lacked the structural push necessary to ensure implementation at scale. To transform COP29's promises into reality, we need clear international guidelines for gender integration backed by allocated budgets, measurable targets and participatory approaches to ensure effective, transparent and accountable climate finance. High priority should be given to financing local initiatives, particularly in informal settlements, where women often lead climate-resilience efforts. Robust tracking systems -- which monitor not only how much money is pledged but also where it goes and who it benefits -- are essential. Of course, international action alone cannot close the gender gap in climate action; national policy frameworks are also vital. And here, too, women continue to be sidelined. According to the latest analysis from the UNFCCC, 82% of countries mention gender in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), but fewer than 26% include meaningful gender considerations in their long-term strategies and investments. As countries prepare their updated NDCs -- to be submitted this February and assessed at COP30 in November -- they must take care to incorporate gender-specific programmes and policies. We do not know whether the international environment will be any less tense when countries gather in Brazil for COP30. But we do know that the failure to pursue meaningful climate action would carry astronomical costs, as the proliferation of deadly climate disasters results in lost lives and trillions of dollars in lost output. We also know that if the fight against climate change is to succeed, it must be as inclusive as it is transformative. That is why COP30 offers us a unique opportunity to reflect on our priorities and align gender equality with the Paris climate agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. The climate crisis is not gender-neutral, so our solutions cannot be. Without a consistent focus on gender-responsive climate finance, we risk perpetuating cycles of vulnerability. Thirty years after the UN's Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action established gender equality's place on the global agenda, we must achieve another leap forward for women's rights, this time as a vital part of the fight against climate change. ©2024 Project Syndicate María Fernanda Espinosa, a former president of the UN General Assembly, is Executive Director of GWL Voices and Co-Chair of the Debt Relief for a Green and Inclusive Recovery Project. She was a member of the COP29 International Advisory Committee.

New Travel Trends in 2025 with Wellness Tourism, Astro-Tourism, Sustainability, Multi-generational Trips, Vintage Voyaging and OthersNMCN Approves Igbinedion Varsity’s CBT Centre For Midwifery Exam Centre