Oklahoma Education Department Proposes Mandatory Bible Studies in Public SchoolsPhiladelphia's Joel Embiid scored 31 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in his return after missing seven games to spark the 76ers on Sunday in a 108-100 NBA victory at Chicago. Embiid had been sidelined by a left knee injury and personal reasons since a November 20 loss to Memphis, the Sixers going 4-3 in his absence. The 30-year-old Cameroonian-born big man, who wore a left knee brace, also added four assists and two blocked shots in 33 minutes in only his fifth game of the season. "He caught fire there," 76ers coach Nick Nurse said of Embiid. "Certainly he gave us a lot of confidence." Philadelphia guard Tyrese Maxey contributed his first career NBA triple-double with 25 points and career highs of 14 assists and 11 rebounds. "It was good," Maxey said. "The offense flowed really well. Pick and roll was really good. I was able to get everybody involved, get Joel going and get myself going too." "He turned on the jets and got to the rim at some pretty opportune times," Nurse said of Maxey. Embiid was a welcome court presence for the 76ers. "He creates so much space for us on the floor, gets the attention," said Maxey. "I didn't see one pick and roll double team for the first time in a long time." Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 30 points. At New York, Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Bucks over the Brooklyn Nets 118-113. Damian Lillard added 15 points and 11 assists while reserve Bobby Portis contributed 23 points and Gary Trent Jr. scored 20 off the Milwaukee bench. Germany's Dennis Schroder led the Nets with 34 points. js/mlmTony Khan: I’ve learned ‘so much’ about marketing from the Costco Guys
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December 16, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Leiden University Using biomethane to produce ammonia, a crucial chemical in agriculture, could drastically reduce the climate impact of the process. In a study published in One Earth , researcher Robert Istrate shows it's even possible to make ammonia production net-zero or carbon negative. Ammonia is a chemical more essential than many realize. It forms the basis of synthetic fertilizers used in agriculture worldwide, meaning billions of people depend on it. Unfortunately, ammonia production comes with a significant drawback: its substantial carbon footprint that contributes to the climate crisis. Ammonia is made from nitrogen and hydrogen, with the hydrogen typically derived from natural gas. "Natural gas contains both carbon and hydrogen, but you only need the hydrogen for ammonia. As a result, a lot of carbon is released during the production process ," Istrate explains. One potential solution to reduce ammonia's climate impact is to produce hydrogen through electrolysis, using renewable energy. "But that's an expensive option," Istrate says, "and it's not very well established yet." As a result, only a small fraction of ammonia is currently produced this way. Biomethane has the same chemical structure as natural gas Istrate, an environmental engineer, proposed an alternative idea. While exploring ways to decarbonize chemical processes , he noticed the advantages of biomethane for producing ammonia. Biomethane has the same chemical structure as natural gas (CH4), "which means existing ammonia production facilities can be used." However, the two have a crucial difference: natural gas is a fossil fuel, while biomethane is derived from biomass, such as food waste or agricultural residues. When biomethane is used, the carbon released into the atmosphere was recently captured during biomass growth via photosynthesis: in plants as they grew. "That achieves a balance," Istrate explains. In contrast, using natural gas releases extra CO 2 into the atmosphere, CO 2 that has been stored underground for millions of years. Capturing the carbon and storing it permanently "This already represents an advantage over natural gas," Istrate says. But there's more. "If, instead of emitting this carbon, you capture and store it permanently, then you can start thinking about net-zero emissions or even carbon negativity." In other words, ammonia production could actively remove CO 2 from the atmosphere. Capturing the carbon doesn't require much extra effort because separating CO 2 is inherent to the biomethane and ammonia production processes. "That's a key advantage of ammonia. It already requires separating the CO 2 ", Istrate notes. "So no new technologies need to be developed for that." In his research, Istrate compared the full lifecycle of conventional ammonia production methods, electrolysis, and biomethane-based production. He found that when ammonia is produced entirely from biomethane combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS), the process can indeed become carbon negative. What about a 'more realistic' scenario? The researcher also examined a more realistic scenario where natural gas is blended with biomethane. He concluded that to achieve carbon neutrality, on average, 44% biomethane must be blended with 56% natural gas , while capturing the released carbon. According to the study, biomethane can be economically competitive—at least when the cost of achieving carbon neutrality via CO 2 removal is factored into all scenarios. A significant reason is the high gas prices, partly driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. And Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS), an alternative to removing CO 2 directly from the air, is expensive and inefficient. "You don't need complex technology like DACCS. There are often simpler solutions that can have an immediate impact," Istrate says. Introducing biomethane into ammonia production could be one of these "simple solutions." More information: Robert Istrate et al, One-tenth of the EU's sustainable biomethane coupled with carbon capture and storage can enable net-zero ammonia production, One Earth (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2024.11.005 Journal information: One Earth Provided by Leiden University
Sale Runs Through February 28, 2025 FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. , Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises, the most iconic cruise brand in the world, today unveiled its Come Aboard Sale, offering fantastic savings on cruises across the globe. Now is the perfect time to plan a dream vacation with up to 40% off cruise fares, free room upgrades, $99 deposits, and free sailings for 3rd and 4th guests in the same stateroom. The Come Aboard Sale runs through February 28, 2025 , and promises something for everyone, with incredible perks on select 2025, 2026 and 2027 cruises, including*: "No matter what you love, you'll find it on a Princess cruise - from our award-winning cuisine, awe-inspiring adventures in port and entertainment that wows, to our friendly crew who make you feel at home and always welcome," said Terry Thornton , Princess Cruises Chief Commercial Officer. "Princess provides a timeless cruise experience, and our 'Come Aboard Sale' makes is easier than ever to book a dream vacation on 'The Love Boat.'" Whether exploring the wilds of Alaska , the fairytale villages of Europe , the beckoning beaches of the Caribbean , and many more destinations, options abound for every preference. Example Come Aboard Sale fares include: Save $1,400 or more when booking a Sanctuary Collection Suite, Mini-Suite or Balcony on the all-new Sun Princess and the soon-to-debut Star Princess, now through Feb. 28, 2025 . The promotion is applicable to more than 250 cruises in 2025 and 2026 with itineraries in Alaska , California Coast, Caribbean , Europe , Panama Canal, and Transatlantic voyages. Plus, guests can book with confidence knowing the Better than Best Price Guarantee has been extended through December 15, 2025 . If guests find a better cruise fare on Princess.com for the same Princess cruise, stateroom category, and sail date at any time before their final payment, Princess will provide 120% of the difference in the form of an onboard credit. Princess also features the line's exclusive MedallionClass technology offering personalized, premium service, reinforcing Princess Cruises' reputation for delivering exceptional vacations. The Come Aboard Sale runs now through 11:59 pm PT on February 28, 2025 , and is available to residents of all 50 United States, Canada , Puerto Rico , Mexico , Bermuda and the District of Columbia . More details and exclusions can be found at https://www.princess.com/en-us/cruise-deals-promotions/limited-time-offer . Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-Princess (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting www.princess.com . About Princess Cruises Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world's most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that offer elite service personalization and simplicity customary of small, yacht-class ships. Well-appointed staterooms, world class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless activities blend with exclusive Princess MedallionClass service to create meaningful connections and unforgettable moments in the most incredible settings in the world - the Caribbean , Alaska , Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe , South America , Australia / New Zealand , the South Pacific, Hawaii , Asia , Canada /New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. Sun Princess, the brand's new, next-level Love Boat named Condé Nast Traveler's Mega Ship of the Year, introduces the groundbreaking Sphere Class platform and will be joined by sister ship, Star Princess, in Fall 2025. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK). *Come Aboard Sale Limited Time Offer Disclaimer GENERAL TERMS APPLICABLE TO ALL OFFERS IN THIS ADVERTISEMENT("Offer(s)"): Offers only available to legal residents of North America . Offers only available for new bookings, on select cruises, on a limited availability, are capacity controlled (regardless of stateroom availability), and may not be combined with other offers or promotions (aside from those listed herein). Other exclusions may apply; void where prohibited. Changes or refunds may not be permitted. Offers and their parts (if any) are not transferable, not substitutable, and not redeemable for cash. Princess Cruise Lines , Ltd. ("PCL") is not responsible or liable for any errors, including printing or other errors. PCL may change or revoke Offers at any time. A deposit is required for all stateroom guests. All values quoted in USD. Offers valid on bookings made 12/16/24 - 2/28/25 . Please refer to princess.com for terms, conditions, and details that apply to all bookings. Fares are per guest and apply to minimum lead-in categories on a space available basis at time of booking. Fares for other categories may vary. Fares are non-air, cruise- or cruisetour-only, based on double occupancy and apply to the first two guests in a stateroom only. These fares do not apply to singles or third/fourth-berth guests. All cruise fares are inclusive of government-imposed taxes and fees. Government-imposed taxes and fees include but are not limited to any and all fees, tolls and taxes imposed by a governmental authority such as wharfage, head taxes, dockage, Panama canal tolls, US Customs fees, immigration and naturalization fees, government inspection fees, hotel or VAT taxes as part of a land tour, air taxes, and similar government-imposed taxes and fees for the performance of the cruise. Government-imposed taxes and fees are subject to change and PCL reserves the right to collect any increases in effect at the time of sailing even if the fare has already been paid in full. Up to 40% off fares Offer - Discount based off applicable Launch Fare, which fare excludes government-imposed taxes, fees and expenses. Offer available on a space-available basis at time of booking, on select categories and sailings. Discount applies to cruise standard fare element only and is based on destination and stateroom category and does not apply to Princess Plus or Premier packages, or any cruise tour and/or land tour elements, even when included in the cruise fare. Discount only applies to first two guests in a stateroom. Free Room Upgrade Offer applies to booking the stateroom location you wish to sail in for the price of the lowest non-guarantee category within that stateroom type during this Offer only and is subject to availability. Offer is based on availability in like-to-like stateroom types (Interior to Interior, Oceanview to Oceanview, Balcony to Balcony, Mini-Suite to Mini-Suite). Offer excludes upgrades on select categories, including but not limited to Sancturary Collection, premium categories and suites. Offer does not apply to land portion of a cruisetour. In order to take advantage of the upgrade, guest must select and book the upgraded room type during checkout, but cannot select the highest cabin category for such stateroom type as a part of the upgrade. Guests that book a lower room type in a stateroom category may not be upgraded, even if there is availability for the upgrade. Guests that book the highest cabin classification of stateroom category will be charged the full category fare and will NOT receive the lowest fare for such category. Guests will only see (and pay for) the lowest fare within the selected room type and will not see any discounted amount at checkout. If you are unable to book an eligible upgraded room type, the upgrade is not available on such room for that category or cruise. Free 3rd & 4th guest offer applies to cruise fare only for recipient and guests covered by the complimentary offer (if any) and excludes Government Taxes & Fees, and the Required Cruise Fees & Expenses. Also excludes required deposit (if any) and other cruise-related expenses and travel expenses. Actual amounts owed by recipient and applicable guests may vary and shall be calculated at the time of booking. First or Second guest in stateroom will be responsible for their cruise rates as well as the free guest's out of pocket charges and expenses. Offer only applies: (i) to Offer recipient and guests covered by the complimentary cruise Offer (if any) and (ii) to the third or fourth guests booked in the same stateroom as the first and second guests. Approximate value of free sailing for 3rd and 4th guests varies from $99 to $6,759 USD per person. There is no guarantee of Free Offer availability at time of booking. Offer is available on select voyages and guest will know if their selected voyage is available for free 3rd/4th guests if, when selecting to travel with 3rd or 4th guests, whether the fare summary page lists $0 or whether it lists an actual cruise fare amount for such guests. $99 Deposits applies to full, standard deposits only and shall not further reduce already reduced or discounted deposits. Offer not available on World Cruises, Full suites, Sanctuary Collection categories, cruises 45 days or longer, and cruises in which final payment is required. Voyages eligible for select Instant Savings offers require a non-refundable $99 deposit. Princess Cruise Lines LTD's ("PCL") Better Than Best Price Guarantee (the "Guarantee") is only available to legal residents of the 50 US/DC or Canada . If a guest books a cruise between December 16, 2024 and December 15, 2025 for any 2025, 2026, or 2027 cruise departure (the "Original Booking") and such guest finds an active, publicly available (as explained below), and lower Cruise Fare for the identical verified booking on the Princess Cruises' website (Princess.com) prior to the final payment of the cruise (the "Located Cruise Fare"), they can submit a Guarantee claim form and PCL will give the guest an On Board Credit with a value of 120% of the difference between what the guest actually paid for the Original Booking and the Located Cruise Fare. The Located Cruise Fare must be a publicly and currently available Cruise Fare, available on Princess.com , and consist of the identical details as the Original Booking (including but not limited to, on the same ship as the Original Booking, the same sail dates, the same stateroom category, the same number of guests, same bundle (Princess Plus or Princess Premier Package) and be booked under the same conditions) to be eligible. 'Publicly available' means that the Cruise Fare must be available to all guests, without any additional eligibility or required qualifications to qualify; 'publicly available' does not include unpublished, negotiated Cruise Fares with corporations, travel agencies, groups, associations, or other Cruise Fares that are specifically agreed upon by PCL and for a specified and limited group. PCL will only consider/compare the Cruise Fare from the Original Booking against the Cruise Fare from the Located Cruise Fare; no credits or other incentives will be considered. Determination as to whether the Located Cruise Fare is identical to the Original Booking will be in PCL's sole discretion. Located Cruise Fare must be in the same currency that Original Cruise Fare was booked (USD or CAD) and must be live/available for purchase for US/Canadian residents. To submit a Guarantee claim, Guest must fill out a claim form with all required information, including providing screenshot proof of qualifying lower Located Cruise Fare. The form must be submitted prior to the final payment date of the Original Booking's time/date of booking to be considered. Cruise fares on websites that require a password or paid membership to complete the booking, except Princess.com , are also ineligible. Guarantee claim will be denied if PCL is unable to independently verify the Located Cruise Fare and may be rejected if it is incomplete or is submitted in a language not used on Princess.com . PCL may deny claims relating to a time during which there is an outage, technical issue or circumstance beyond PCL's reasonable control. If PCL verifies the guest's Guarantee claim, and PCL awards the guest an OBC, PCL will apply the OBC to the guest's onboard folio. OBC must be used on the Original Cruise, expires at the end of such cruise, and may not be used in the casino . Limit: One (1) Guarantee submission per booking and one (1) OBC per person/booking/stateroom for the Original Booking; such OBC's value cannot exceed $2,000 . OBC will be awarded in the same currency as the currency onboard such cruise. OBC is non-refundable, non-transferable, and has no cash value. All decisions and factors regarding this Guarantee and any claim will be determined by PCL in its sole discretion. PCL reserves discretion for applying this Guarantee and awarding a make good, if any, to a guest. PCL is not responsible for any errors in connection with this Guarantee, including any typos or printing or technology errors. PCL may modify, end, or withdraw this Guarantee or any of its terms for any reason, with or without prior notice. Other restrictions and exclusions may apply. Ships of Bermudan and British Registry. Offer expires: Friday, February 28, 2025 ( 11:59 pm PST ) View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/family-friendly-perks-and-huge-discounts-highlight-princess-cruises-come-aboard-sale-on-2025--2027-sailings-302332930.html SOURCE Princess Cruises
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Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development Authority ( UPSIDA ) is set to introduce India's inaugural e-market platform , connecting 50,000 industrial units across 155 industrial zones statewide. "This e-market is a significant step towards realising the Make-in-UP vision," said UPSIDA CEO Mayur Maheshwari. "By fostering a robust industrial ecosystem, we aim to make Uttar Pradesh a global manufacturing hub. UPSIDA plans to launch the e-market platform next year," he added. He said the initiative will resolve a long standing issue of mutual trade among industries. "By connecting 50,000 industrial units through a single digital platform, we aim to boost Uttar Pradesh's industrial ecosystem, generate new job opportunities, and increase GST revenue, which will prove to be a landmark step towards the state's industrial development," he said. This e-marketplace will connect raw material-based clusters that run from east to west with finished product clusters that move from west to east. "By leveraging digital technology, businesses can easily discover and connect with potential partners, leading to increased efficiency and cost savings," he said. Listing out other benefits, the CEO said, "It will help in promoting local sourcing and reducing logistics costs." Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Darts maker Nodor hits bullseye with private equity deal
A protestor wearing a face mask of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in a rally calling for his impeachment in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec 8. SEOUL – Traders are bracing for a period of sustained volatility in South Korean assets as markets reopen on Dec 9, with the won and stocks seen under initial pressure after a weekend of high drama deepened the political crisis. Trading desks are assessing a possibility of a prolonged stalemate after Dec 7’s impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol failed. With Mr Yoon facing intense pressure to resign, ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon on Dec 8 said Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will manage the nation’s affairs while his party prepares an orderly exit plan for the President. Opposition lawmakers slammed the decision as unconstitutional and thousands took to the streets to protest. The opposition parties, which together control a majority in parliament, have said they will push quickly for another impeachment vote. The South Korean currency has crept lower in the days following Mr Yoon’s shock declaration of martial law on Dec 3, a decision he reversed within hours after parliament unanimously rejected it. “Had the impeachment motion gone through on Saturday, it would have been over, but Yoon still has control over the military,” said Mr Seo Sang-Young, a market strategist at Mirae Asset Securities. “The ruling party’s boycott will only prolong the domestic uncertainty.” That means volatility will increase, he added, with the market reacting differently by industry. Domestic demand needs an inflow of tourists, and with the tourism balance already negative, this could make things worse, he noted. Chinese tourists visiting South Korea could drop by 19 per cent to 830,000 in the first quarter of 2025 from a year ago on fears of social unrest following the brief imposition of martial law. Such concerns may linger through the Chinese New Year break, according to a Bloomberg Intelligence report. South Korea’s currency, which regained some ground after plunging on Dec 3, briefly dipped again on Dec 6 when a local newspaper reported Mr Yoon may reimpose martial law. It was the worst performing in Asia last week, down almost 2 per cent against the US dollar. “While the martial law declaration has proved short-lived, the won remains weaker than pre-announcement levels and vulnerable to a further drop,” wrote strategists at Barclays. “With the situation remaining highly fluid, the won may remain volatile in the short term.” The Kospi equity benchmark has fallen 2.9 per cent since the short-lived martial law decree, with significant intra-day swings on Dec 6 as traders weighed each political development. “This political instability will have different impacts on different sectors,” said Mr Jung In Yun, chief executive at Fibonacci Asset Management Global, who expects the drama to persist throughout next year. “Exporting companies will likely rebound soon.” “Investors will focus on corporate earnings for the next quarter and assess the impact of the weaker won,” he added. “The Kospi will likely rebound in late December as investors start to segregate political and market issues.” Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said South Korea will deploy all available measures to deal with the fallout from the political crisis. He said at a media briefing on Dec 8 that the ministry has been cooperating with the Bank of Korea to take pre-emptive measures to respond to volatility in financial and foreign-exchange markets. Intervention could reduce immediate losses for the won, said Mr Sean Callow, senior FX analyst at Intouch Capital Markets in Singapore. “There is likely to be some disappointment over the failed impeachment vote” despite Korean authorities’ efforts to calm investor nerves, he added. “Markets will fear political paralysis so long as Yoon holds on and the PPP protects him from impeachment.” Mr Callow said the underlying trend for the won is still on the downside because of risks linked to the incoming Trump administration’s vow to impose sweeping tariffs. The won was 0.5 per cednt weaker against the dollar at the close on Dec 6, before the failed impeachment attempt. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowJharkhand Assembly Election Result 2024: Can BJP regain ground in Jamshedpur East