pc online games Jaguar's Type 00 concept car: Redefining EV landscapeWest Ham surprise Newcastle with 2-0 away win( MENAFN - Gulf Times) Qatar University (QU) inaugurated the Fourth World congress on Engineering and Technology, a three-day event that includes the 25th International conference on Web Information System Engineering, the 6th International gas Conference, the 4th Global energy Storage Conference, and the National Cybersecurity Competition. HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiya stated during the opening session, "I am delighted to join you today at the prestigious QU to inaugurate this distinguished international event, which has become a renowned platform for exchanging ideas and experiences while promoting the values of innovation and sustainability, key pillars for societal well-being. "This 4th edition of the congress embodies Qatar's commitment to international collaboration in engineering and technology and is integral to our ongoing efforts to achieve sustainable development goals, consistent with Qatar National Vision 2030. At the Ministry of Municipality, we believe engineering and technological innovation are vital to tackling sustainability challenges. Therefore, we prioritise supporting projects that enhance climate adaptation and ensure the optimal use of natural resources." He also highlighted Qatar's progress, saying, "Thanks to meticulous planning and continuous development, Qatar has achieved remarkable advancement in the 2024 Global Competitiveness Report, rising to 11th place globally among 67 advanced countries, compared to 12th last year." The minister emphasised the importance of sustainable and smart city development, stating, "The Ministry of Municipality places significant emphasis on developing smart and sustainable cities through the application of the latest engineering technologies in urban planning, resource management, and environmental conservation. The objectives of this congress align directly with Qatar's efforts to foster innovation and invest in engineering technologies as a core element of its National Vision 2030." QU President Dr Omar al-Ansari said, "This distinguished gathering features three international conferences, bringing together elite scientists, experts, researchers, and industry leaders from over 50 countries. This congress serves as a vibrant platform for exchanging ideas, showcasing research, and exploring the latest innovations across various contemporary scientific and research topics, with 800 research papers under discussion." Dr al-Ansari added, "Hosting these three global conferences at QU reflects its prominent academic standing and the trust placed in its ability to organise events of high scientific value. The 25th edition of the Web Conference underscores Qatar's leadership in the digital field and its diverse applications. Meanwhile, the Gas Conference focuses on energy transition, aligning with Qatar's efforts to achieve sustainability and clean energy goals." Dr Khalid Kamal Naji, Dean of the College of Engineering, remarked, "The congress will feature a diverse range of sessions, keynote lectures, and panel discussions aimed at advancing knowledge in areas such as web information systems, gas technology, and energy storage. Experts and researchers can exchange technical expertise in these sessions, fostering a collaborative environment to address critical challenges in each domain." (QNA) MENAFN02122024000067011011ID1108948947 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok’s petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company’s challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court’s opinion, which was written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court, though it’s unclear whether the court will take up the case. “The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue,” TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people,” Hughes said. Unless stopped, he argued the statute “will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the US and around the world on January 19th, 2025.” Though the case is squarely in the court system, it’s also possible the two companies might be thrown some sort of a lifeline by President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the presidential campaign that he is now against such action. The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a years-long saga in Washington over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. “Today’s decision is an important step in blocking the Chinese government from weaponizing TikTok to collect sensitive information about millions of Americans, to covertly manipulate the content delivered to American audiences, and to undermine our national security,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement Friday. The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect — a concern mirrored by the European Union on Friday as it scrutinizes the video-sharing app’s role in the Romanian elections. TikTok, which sued the government over the law in May, has long denied it could be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing’s benefit in the U.S. They have also argued the law is predicated on future risks, which the Department of Justice has emphasized pointing in part to unspecified action it claims the two companies have taken in the past due to demands from the Chinese government. Friday’s ruling came after the appeals court panel, composed of two Republican and one Democrat appointed judges, heard oral arguments in September. In the hearing, which lasted more than two hours, the panel appeared to grapple with how TikTok’s foreign ownership affects its rights under the Constitution and how far the government could go to curtail potential influence from abroad on a foreign-owned platform. On Friday, all three of them denied TikTok’s petition. In the court’s ruling, Ginsburg, a Republican appointee, rejected TikTok’s main legal arguments against the law, including that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. He also said the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to “suppress content or require a certain mix of content” on TikTok. “Content on the platform could in principle remain unchanged after divestiture, and people in the United States would remain free to read and share as much PRC propaganda (or any other content) as they desire on TikTok or any other platform of their choosing,” Ginsburg wrote, using the abbreviation for the People’s Republic of China. Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court, issued a concurring opinion. TikTok’s lawsuit was consolidated with a second legal challenge brought by several content creators – for which the company is covering legal costs – as well as a third one filed on behalf of conservative creators who work with a nonprofit called BASED Politics Inc. Other organizations, including the Knight First Amendment Institute, had also filed amicus briefs supporting TikTok. “This is a deeply misguided ruling that reads important First Amendment precedents too narrowly and gives the government sweeping power to restrict Americans’ access to information, ideas, and media from abroad,” said Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of the organization. “We hope that the appeals court’s ruling won’t be the last word.” Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers who had pushed for the legislation celebrated the court’s ruling. “I am optimistic that President Trump will facilitate an American takeover of TikTok to allow its continued use in the United States and I look forward to welcoming the app in America under new ownership,” said Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on China. Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who co-authored the law, said “it’s time for ByteDance to accept” the law. To assuage concerns about the company’s owners, TikTok says it has invested more than $2 billion to bolster protections around U.S. user data. The company has also argued the government’s broader concerns could have been resolved in a draft agreement it provided the Biden administration more than two years ago during talks between the two sides. It has blamed the government for walking away from further negotiations on the agreement, which the Justice Department argues is insufficient. Attorneys for the two companies have claimed it’s impossible to divest the platform commercially and technologically. They also say any sale of TikTok without the coveted algorithm – the platform’s secret sauce that Chinese authorities would likely block under any divesture plan – would turn the U.S. version of TikTok into an island disconnected from other global content. Still, some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in purchasing the platform. Both men said earlier this year that they were launching a consortium to purchase TikTok’s U.S. business. This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said unnamed participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital.

NHL-worst Blackhawks fire coach Luke RichardsonNHL-worst Blackhawks fire coach Luke RichardsonMinister asks regional administrations to deal with illegal disposal sites

Mired in last place in the NHL standings amid a rebuilding process, the Chicago Blackhawks dismissed coach Luke Richardson on Thursday and named Anders Sorensen interim coach. In two-plus seasons with the Blackhawks, the 55-year-old Richardson posted a 57-118-15 record, including an 8-16-2 start to this season, in his first stint as a head coach. Chicago posted 59 points in his first season, then regressed to 52 in 2023-24, despite having No. 1 overall pick and 2024 Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard on the roster. "Today I made the difficult decision to move on from Luke as our head coach. We thank him for his efforts and contributions to the organization and our community," Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. "As we have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary. We wish Luke and his family all the best moving forward." The 49-year-old Sorensen had been the coach of the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. He will be succeeded at Rockford by Mark Eaton on an interim basis. Eaton is the Blackhawks' assistant general manager overseeing player development. "On behalf of the entire Blackhawks organization, I'd like to thank Luke for his dedication over the past three seasons," Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said in a statement. "I fully support Kyle's decision in making this change as he continues to do what is needed to move our team forward. I have the utmost confidence in him and the rest of our Hockey Operations team as they begin their search for the next head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks." Richardson was the Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in 1987 and posted 201 points (35 goals, 166 assists) in 1,417 games over 21 seasons. Playing for six teams, the Ottawa native also amassed 2,055 penalty minutes. --Field Level MediaChuck Norris's mum dies aged 103 as Hollywood star pays emotional tribute

Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid mixed trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2 percent Monday after closing November at an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3 percent, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1 percent. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared after saying an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or the company’s board. Retailers were mixed coming off Black Friday and heading into what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. On Monday: The S&P 500 rose 14.77 points, or 0.2 percent, to 6,047.15. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128.65 points, or 0.3 percent, to 44,782. The Nasdaq composite rose 185.78 points, or 1 percent, to 19,403.95. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 0.59 points, or less than 0.1 percent, to 2,434.14. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,277.32 points, or 26.8 percent. The Dow is up 7,092.46 points, or 18.8 percent. The Nasdaq is up 4,392.60 points, or 29.3 percent. The Russell 2000 is up 407.06 points, or 20.1 percent. The Epoch Times copyright © 2024. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.The gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fled New York City by bus, police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. Here's the latest: Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. “We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Gunman’s steps after killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO give police new clues The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer made sure to wear a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras that have aided authorities piecing together his movements and his identity. A law enforcement official said Friday that new surveillance footage shows the suspect riding the subway and visiting establishments in Manhattan and provided more clues about his actions in the days before he ambushed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . The gunman’s whereabouts and identity remain unknown Friday, as did the reason for Wednesday’s killing. New York City police say evidence firmly points to it being a targeted attack . ▶ Read more about the search for the gunman For many companies, investor meetings are seen as a risk In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was walking to when he was fatally shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized. “It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area. Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering. Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders. ▶ Read more about how companies protect their leaders Police have obtained other surveillance images of the person wanted for questioning Those images include New York’s subway system, a law enforcement official said. In establishments where the person was captured on camera, he always appeared to pay with cash, the official said. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. — Mike Balsamo Another health insurer taking precautions after the shooting Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm that serves 1.5 million customers in 12 states, said it’s temporarily closing all six locations. The firm has offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota, and employs about 3,000 people. Employees will work from home, Medica spokesman Greg Bury said in an email Friday. “The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security both for all of our employees,” a statement from Medica said. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.” Bury also said biographical information on the company’s executives was taken down from its website as a precaution. Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. says its Investor Day will now be virtual The insurer cited the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in its announcement about the Dec. 12 event. “All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and want to express our support for all of those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah M. London said in a news release. “He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts are with his family and his colleagues during this difficult time.” Centene Corp. has grown in recent years to become the largest insurer in Medicaid, the state- and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes. Insurers manage Medicaid coverage for states, and Centene has more than 13 million people enrolled in that coverage. UnitedHealth Group says it’s focused on supporting Brian Thompson’s family The insurance company also said it’s focused on ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators. “While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said. NY Mayor Eric Adams provided no new information on investigation’s progress during interviews But he said Friday that he’s confident police will arrest the shooter. “We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” Adams said on TV station WPIX. Hours after the shooting, UnitedHealthcare removed photographs of its executives from its website Later, it removed their names and biographies entirely. Investigators believe the suspect may have traveled to NY last month on a bus that originated in Atlanta Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, a law enforcement official said. Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. Experts say today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say. Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks. ▶ Read more about the steps companies take to protect their leadership Police test DNA and fingerprints on discarded bottle as they hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killer Police said Thursday they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper from a trash can near the scene of the ambush and think the suspect bought them from a Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The items were being tested by the city’s medical examiner. The Associated PressNorthern Territory Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News. Darwin company Steeline GRP has emerged as an Australian manufacturing leader with its multimillion-dollar investment in the nation’s longest-reach robot welder, largest aluminium router and a state-of-the art beamline for metal processing and manufacturing. A collaboration between Steeline GRP, Territory-based industrial local robotics and automation company Diverseco and Charles Darwin University , the partnership will have the twin benefits of boosting the NT’s industrial self-reliance and skills base. The purchases were supported by an $800,000 co-investment from the Northern Territory Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund. The total investment pool of $3.5m consists of matching the $800,000 co-investment dollar-for-dollar, plus contributing an additional $1.9m through in-kind services, support and labour. Steeline GRP’s Kawasakil Long-reach robotic welding system Steeline’s facility features include advanced automated metal manufacturing technology, including a Kawasakil Long-reach robotic welding system with a 2.1m arm on an 8m track, a 14-axis ART metaltek XB1200 beamline fabrication machine and a true 2.5m x 11m ART Router Machine. In addition to the support from the AMEF, Steeline has further advanced its manufacturing capability by complementing these pieces of equipment with a new 12000kw fibre laser machine, a 40m Ocean Steel Shot Blasting machine and an LVD Turret Punch Press, to enable end-to-end processing capacity. Tony Halikos has invested hundreds-of-thousands in new machinery. The partnership is intended to reduce supply risk for many of the region’s businesses and create a local source of high-quality processed products for critical industries such as defence, energy, gas, mining and construction. Steeline conservatively estimates the project will lead to cumulative revenues of $7.25m and create 10 new jobs within five years across the entire manufacturing value chain including apprentices, truck drivers, other skilled workers, engineers and administrative staff. Four of the forecast new jobs do not currently exist in the NT, bringing a raft of new skills to the Top End. Steeline GRP general manager Tony Halikos said the company was passionate about local manufacturing and processing. “The new in-house advanced manufacturing capabilities we rival or match that of any manufacturer anywhere in Australia or South-East Asia and will complement all industries - defence, energy, gas, mining, maritime and construction, requiring the local capability for projects big or small,” he said. “Based on the advanced capabilities we now have, Steeline GRP is now able to process some of the largest carbon steel, aluminium steel and stainless steel products in sizes currently unable to be handled elsewhere in many parts of Australia. Steeline Darwin “Our overall aim is to ensure that the critical industries in the Northern Territory and Australia have access to world-class capabilities, underpinned by advanced machinery developed by sovereign entities and world class staff. “By doing so, Steeline GRP and the entire Top End manufacturing ecosystem can become more resilient, more prosperous and more capable as a result. “Improving our sovereign capability and capacity to the benefit of our local industry and local manufacturing environment is the driver of the investment.” Dr Jens Goennemann, managing director of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre , said Steeline had shown the benefit of investing in manufacturing. “It creates a ripple effect of increased local business activity,” Dr Goennemann said. “The Territory government’s commitment to advancing its manufacturing ecosystem is yielding results with more mobs created and greater local spending retained within the Territory. “The impact of the investment in this project alone will be significant for the Territory, which has a substantive list of companies looking for local manufacturing and supply of sovereign products such as large pieces of finished structural steel, aluminium plate and even composite panelling, normally bought in from interstate or overseas. “This increased local capability reduces supply chain risks, lowers transport costs, increases efficiencies and cuts lead times.” More Coverage The local business bucking manufacturing trends in the NT Camden Smith NT manufacturer boosted by ‘ecosystem’ funding Camden Smith Originally published as Steeline GRP’s substantial investment in Territory jobs and capacity Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories News Spotted and snapped: Crikey that’s a cute croc A ‘bold and curious’ baby crocodile has been spotted at a Top End fishing spot. See the cute pictures. Read more Northern Territory Cure for range anxiety: AANT brings in roadside EV charging van FREE READ: The Automotive Association of the Northern Territory has introduced a mobile charging van for greater Darwin members who drive an electric vehicle. Here’s how it works. Read more