Recently, actress Xue Jia Ning once again paid a visit to her good friend, actress Zhao Lu Si, on the set of her latest drama. The close bond between these two talented stars has captured the hearts of netizens, who are showering them with praise for their heartwarming friendship.
In addition to its gaming capabilities, the Honor GT is rumored to come equipped with a range of top-of-the-line features, including a powerful processor, high-resolution display, advanced cooling system, and a long-lasting battery. These specifications are designed to deliver smooth and immersive gaming sessions, allowing users to enjoy their favorite games without any performance limitations.Plug Power: Trending Positive, But The Momentum Is TenuousIn conclusion, the Beijing basketball team's loss served as a wake-up call for the players and coaching staff, highlighting the need for improvements and adjustments moving forward. With the soft center exposed and key players underperforming, the team must regroup, learn from their mistakes, and come back stronger in the games to come. Only time will tell if they can rise to the challenge and redeem themselves on the court.
Any chance to salvage a second playoff berth in three seasons evaporated amid a flurry of mistakes that dropped to the Tribe into a 17-0 halftime deficit against a Richmond team that was efficient offensively and on fire defensively.In conclusion, the arrest of former President Yoon Suk-yeol has plunged South Korea into a period of political turmoil and uncertainty. The country is facing numerous challenges both domestically and internationally, and the outcome of the upcoming presidential election remains uncertain. However, there is hope that South Korea will be able to overcome these challenges and emerge stronger than before, guided by the principles of justice, accountability, and democracy.
CLINTON, S.C. (AP) — Quante Jennings rushed for 190 yards and a tiebreaking touchdown as Presbyterian beat Butler 30-20 in a regular-season finale on Saturday. Collin Hurst threw for 172 yards and two scores and ran for another for the Blue Hose (6-6, 4-4 Pioneer League). Reagan Andrew threw for three touchdowns and was intercepted once for the Bulldogs (9-3, 5-3). Jennings' 50-yard rush led to Hurst's 17-yard touchdown pass to Worth Warner to tie the game at 20 midway through the third quarter. Presbyterian's next possession began on the Butler 30 after a short punt from deep in Bulldogs territory, and five plays later Jennings scored from 10 yards out. Peter Lipscombe made it a 10-point lead with a field goal with 2:15 to go after a 15-play, 89-yard drive that took over 10 minutes. About a minute later, Andrew threw a 42-yard score to Ethan Loss but the Blue Hose recovered the onside kick. The Blue Hose defeated a ranked FCS team — Butler (9-3, 5-3) is No. 23 in the coaches poll — for the first time in its Division I history that began in 2007. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25As the snow falls and the north wind howls, Beijing is transformed into a winter wonderland that captivates the hearts of its residents. It's a time to appreciate the beauty of the season, to embrace the challenges of the cold, and to come together as a community. So, bundle up, grab a hot drink, and step outside to experience the magical snowfall and the fierce north wind that herald the arrival of winter in Beijing.First and foremost, it's essential to understand that the price of a down jacket is typically reflective of its quality and performance. Higher-priced down jackets are often made with premium materials, such as high fill power down, waterproof and windproof fabrics, and innovative technologies that enhance warmth and comfort. These jackets are also more likely to be durable and long-lasting, making them a worthwhile investment for those who spend a lot of time outdoors in cold weather conditions.The implications of this breakthrough are particularly exciting for industries that rely on speed and efficiency to drive innovation and success. For example, in the world of finance, where split-second decisions can mean the difference between success and failure, the ability to process data 1000 times faster can give organizations a significant competitive edge. Similarly, in the field of healthcare, where timely and accurate diagnoses are critical, the Swift-X algorithm could revolutionize the way medical imaging is analyzed, leading to faster and more accurate diagnoses.
Inside the cabin, the YU7 offers a luxurious and comfortable space for both driver and passengers. High-quality materials and thoughtful design elements create a welcoming environment, while the latest in-car technology keeps everyone connected and entertained on the go.
Directed by visionary filmmaker, the sequel aims to build upon the rich tapestry of Chinese mythology and folklore that made the original film such a resounding success. With cutting-edge animation technology and a team of skilled animators and artists, the film promises to deliver stunning visuals and breathtaking action sequences that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.
Last but not least, Setien has added a promising young striker from Sevilla to Beijing Guoan's ranks, a player who is known for his movement off the ball, finishing ability, and hunger for goals. His inclusion is set to provide Setien with a different attacking option and increase competition for places in the forward line.
Tamil Nadu is often celebrated as one of the safest States in India with a history of progressive policies. But when it comes to finding housing for single women, things are less rosy. The State is known for its women-friendly initiatives, but many women face intense scrutiny while trying to rent a home here. Snaring a house on rent often involves questions about women’s work, caste, food. This leads to a range of biases, surveillance, and unnecessary restrictions, making the search for houses a constant challenge. Riya*, 23, of Indore, who has been living in Chennai for the past eight months, is moving into her third apartment at Alwarpet. Her initial experience was marred by unwanted attention from landlords. “The houseowner of the first apartment tried to make sexual advances towards me and my flatmate under the guise of offering a friendly dinner. I am now forced to take this house, despite it being so expensive,” she says. Zoya*, 22, from Kanniyakumari, also had to compromise on her privacy while renting at Tambaram. Her flatmate’s brother had connections with the houseowner, and as a result, they faced surveillance. “My landlord spied on us and informed my flatmate’s brother about every little thing,” she says. Work profile is valuable In contrast, Ankita*, 23, from Indore, found a place at Nungambakkam because of her reputable work profile. “We were asked for our offer letters as proof of our credentials. Our professional background helped us secure the apartment,” she says. However, such advantages do not guarantee an easy housing experience for all. S. Priya*, a private school teacher from Salem, explains the hurdles she faced while looking for a house. “The first question from the houseowner was about my caste. If they were satisfied with my caste, the other questions would follow. To ensure that the rent is paid on time, they prefer a workplace with a good reputation. In some houses, I had to show my salary slip or bank statement as proof of financial stability,” she says. For women working in creative fields, the situation can be even more challenging. Niranjana Neithiar, 26, a part-time media professional and medical student from Coimbatore, says houseowners often harbour negative stereotypes about her field. “Houseowners are uncomfortable renting to media professionals. They make assumptions about the lifestyle of people in my field, which isn’t fair. You can’t generalise based on stereotypes,” she says. Similarly, Sowjanya Balaji, 24, a junior fashion designer from Bengaluru, encountered discrimination when landlords rejected her because of her night shifts. “Houseowners do not have the right to question or make assumptions about how I run my professional life,” she adds. But the issue is not pertinent only for unmarried young professionals. Door is shut on single mothers Rani Gopalakrishnan, a small business owner in Tiruchi, found it difficult to rent a place after the death of her husband five years ago. “Landlords refused to let us see houses after they learned I was a single mother and a businesswoman,” she recounted. “One senior couple even turned us down and they told us that they felt we were ‘incomplete’ without a man to help us in emergencies.” Women who do not speak Tamil or belong to a specific caste often run into additional barriers. Many houseowners prefer renting to people from Tamil Nadu or at least those who speak the language. Sweta Gupta, 25, a media professional from Kolkata, struggled to find a home because of her language. “The prejudice is deep-rooted. Some landlords refused to even talk to me because I didn’t speak Tamil,” she says. The menace of peeping Toms is quite common, say many women professionals in Tiruchi. “I was shocked to see a stranger spying on me while I was in the shower, but I did not confront him because I was scared for my safety,” says a teacher requesting anonymity. K. Amarthiya, a part-time teacher in Coimbatore and native of Dharmapuri, who belongs to a Scheduled Caste, says, “Initially, the houseowner was kind, unaware of my caste. But after finding out that I belonged to the Scheduled Caste, the attitude changed. The result was frequent inspections. Uncomfortable with the discrimination, I chose to leave.” For others like Roshini Begum Farah, a 29-year-old Muslim transwoman, religious discrimination adds another layer of rejection. “I was told outright by houseowners that they couldn’t rent to me because our religions didn’t match,” Roshini says. This overt discrimination is another harsh reality that many women, especially those from minority communities, face in the housing market. Queer individuals often encounter more severe forms of discrimination. Luna Vishwa, 23, a transwoman, was rejected by landlords solely because she was open about her gender identity. Similarly, Zoya, who prefers to dress androgynously, faced rejection and stereotyping based on her appearance. Kavya, 25, an information technology professional from Coimbatore, kept her queer identity hidden from her houseowner until the day she and her friends prepared for a pride march. “I had dressed similarly before with no issues; but when we left with placards that day, the society association made a ruckus,” she said. The situation worsened when the association head informed her owner about the march. Within a week, Kavya was asked to vacate. Meaningless curbs Apart from these blatantly discriminatory practices, women often face bizarre and unnecessary restrictions even when they manage to secure a rental home. Common rules include restrictions on pets, food preferences (such as no non-vegetarian food), and even prohibitions on having friends of either gender over. These restrictions often stem from a desire to control the behaviour of women, treating them as persons who could not be trusted to decide on how they live. Riya asks, “Why should women be controlled in this way when families living in the same space enjoy complete freedom.” This double standard highlights the gender-based prejudice that is prevalent in the housing market. Riya and Kavya say they both faced strict no-pet policies imposed by their houseowners, further limiting their ability to create a comfortable and enjoyable living space. For many women, the search for a home involves compromises on distance as well as rent. Kavya, for instance, commutes over 40 minutes to work from Perungalathur to Ekkattuthangal. Zoya, on the other hand, commutes more than an hour from Tambaram to her college near the Marina. Sweta has compromised on rent and location, living in a flood-prone area, for the peace of mind that comes by avoiding the daily hassles of dealing with houseowners. Problems of paying guests Paying guest accommodations pose their own challenges for women. They are often overcrowded, offer little privacy, and have strict rules for visitors and timings. Many women report unhygienic conditions and restrictions that make them feel uncomfortable. Single rooms in the paying guest accommodations are often prohibitively expensive, and unisex accommodations, while more liberal in timings, are primarily occupied by men, and women do not feel safe. While social media has made it easier to connect with potential landlords, it has opened the door for harassment and exploitation. Sweta says, “I met a woman on Facebook who was also searching for a flatmate in a 3bhk. When I visited, a middle-aged man, who was never mentioned before, took over. He asked intrusive questions about my friends and family. When I inquired about a locked room, the woman admitted that it belonged to a man, despite her initial claim that it was an all-female flat.” For safety Houseowners justify their scrutiny by citing safety as the primary reason for their intervention, often viewing women as a responsibility they are unwilling to take on. T. Santhanam, a houseowner in Tiruchi, says, “I had told them [women] to be at home by at least 9 p.m., but sometimes they come later. I have to take extra care with women tenants.” Another houseowner in Coimbatore, who manages 50 houses, says, “One tenant let her boyfriend stay in the house without permission. It turned into a police case, and she left abruptly. These incidents make us sceptical. Now, I take in women only in CCTV-equipped houses.” A house-broker in Chennai adds that men are easier to deal with, even with physical force. “With women, if we say anything, they will file a complaint. People are afraid,” he says. However, he notes that in his experience, he has never encountered a fake harassment case. As letting houses is a source of income, a houseowner at K.K. Nagar in Chennai says charging a hefty deposit is to ensure that the tenant does not damage the household equipment and leave the house abruptly. Agreeing that generalising and stereotyping were wrong, a houseowner at Saligramam in Chennai says, “However, keeping an eye on who is coming and going is not wrong. You may know your friend very well, but he is still a stranger to us. Maintaining a register is more of a preventive measure than an intrusion.” Legitimate concerns and discrimination C. Jyothimani, Coimbatore district head of the All India Democratic Women’s Association, says, “While houseowners may have legitimate concerns, discriminatory practices based on caste, community, and religion are outdated and unacceptable. These prejudices, which persist in the city, must be challenged and eliminated.” The housing challenges faced by women bring out deeper issues of discrimination and control by society. While houseowners justify their actions citing safety concerns, such rules and regulations reduce women’s freedom to a mere risk factor and ignore their autonomy. A middle ground must be attained for a just future. (*Names changed for privacy.) (With inputs from Nahla Nainar and Ancy Donal Madonna in Tiruchi, Sabari in Salem, and Sibi Sreevathson T. C. in Coimbatore) Published - December 08, 2024 12:32 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit habitat and housing / housing and urban planningFeatured Stories Lifestyle Philacatessen Synagogue Spotlight Andrew Guckes | Staff Writer Andrew Altman is the president of Keneseth Israel on Old York Road in Elkins Park, a role he has occupied for three years. Altman and his husband joined the congregation in 2007 and he has continuously upped his involvement since then. Altman loves the KI community and looks forward to dedicating his time to its betterment each day. With that being said, he is perfectly happy to be honest when asked how it is that he ended up as president. “I’m not sure,” he laughed. “That’s a whole investigation of its own!” While he doesn’t remember exactly how he ended up in KI’s Oval Office, Altman said that the reasons his family joined the synagogue as members are still clear to him. He said that for him and his husband, who isn’t Jewish, they prioritized a welcoming community that wouldn’t question their identities or backgrounds. “What we felt was just a real natural embrace when we walked through those doors. We were coming in the door as an interfaith, same-sex couple with an adopted baby, so we weren’t sure how we would be seen. We were ready to fight for our family and our friends, and we never had to,” he said. “We came in to open arms. What I have taken from our cantor, Amy Levy, is something she used to say about KI having so many different doors for people to walk through, so they could find what makes sense to them.” The idea of different options appealing to different people, with none being more valid than any other, is essential to the environment that has been cultivated at KI over the decades. Around 650 families take part in a litany of activities that include things ranging from a presentation and discussion on a formative figure in the American abolitionist movement to regular teen club meetings with dinner and educational components. “We have events that address spirituality, simcha, culture, music, arts, and social justice and social action, and it all just brings us together,” Altman said. Keneseth Israel brings in classical music concerts four times a year and has several choirs and music programs run by the cantor and men’s and women’s groups. In the KI lobby is the Temple Judea museum, with thousands of items and rotating exhibits on Jewish history and culture. For Keneseth Israel, another key emphasis is on making sure interfaith couples are welcomed, with no exceptions. This tradition started before Altman and his family joined and will continue after they are gone, but the current president said he is thrilled to get to be a part of that tradition as a member of that very community. “When [my family] first [joined], it was a question for us: How are we going to be seen as a couple? How’s [my husband] going to be seen individually? But frankly, I think there were, until very recently, a lot of people who didn’t know he wasn’t Jewish, because he was involved and engaged and we don’t ask,” Altman said. “We have people who were brought up Orthodox and reform and conservative, that doesn’t matter either.” In fact, Altman said, oftentimes he sees a situation in which the Jewish parent initiates the spouse’s shift to the religion, but soon enough the onus has completely shifted to the convert. “The person who wasn’t brought up Jewish is oftentimes the one who is driving the kids to religious school or being more active on the committee or going to an event or something like that,” he said. “All of us are here to live a Jewish life and promote Jewish values.” The temple’s promotion of Jewish values is in part exemplified by Keneseth Israel’s Hamotzi program, which is in its 10th year of addressing food insecurity in the community. It started as a single event, with five or ten people going out in Philadelphia and inviting people to attend a free dinner. A handful attended, which was enough for the congregation to go all in. A decade later, KI serves about 300 dinners a month and has a crew of dedicated volunteers who donate, prepare and serve meals to those who need them. “We’re in discussion with a local food bank to partner with, which is very exciting. That attracted over 100 volunteers a month, and it works like clockwork at this point,” Altman said. Looking ahead, the KI community is getting ready for the annual Spring Celebration, which is the shul’s largest fundraiser of the year. This year, the event will honor the Hamotzi program and leadership team. There are raffles, dancing, games, and food at this event, which Altman said is regularly a highlight of the programming schedule. Keneseth Israel has been a staple of the city’s Jewish community since the James K. Polk administration, and Altman knows that as president he is largely responsible for continuing to advance the shul’s reputation as a beloved center for Jews of all backgrounds. “The area that we’re in is a very strong Jewish corridor, and our philosophy is that we want to be working closely with everyone else while we’re all strong, because obviously, nationwide, there’s a lot of synagogues shrinking or closing,” Altman said. “We’re in conversation with as many people as possible about more collaboration, more space sharing, more opportunities for union and merger. And so that’s one of our very biggest priorities: to work together.” [email protected] TAGS Congregation Keneseth Israel Elkins Park Old York Road Philadelphia
More than 130 years ago a small group of visionaries came together with a groundbreaking idea: Communities get more done when we work as one. That idea sparked the first United Way and continues to guide us today. At the United Way of Northwest Georgia we carry this legacy forward, creating pathways to better health, education and economic opportunities for everyone. In the past year alone we have connected nearly 65,000 people with the resources and support they needed. We are asking you to take action because united is the way we lift up neighbors in need, support youth success and build a brighter future for all in Whitfield and Murray counties. Together, we can: — Improve access to quality health education and care. — Support youth success from childhood through college and career. — Open pathways to financial freedom for individuals and families. — Connect people to urgent resources. When you give to the United Way of Northwest Georgia you are not just donating, you are creating lasting change. Whether addressing immediate needs or tackling long-term challenges, your generosity, combined with the strength of our community, amplifies impact. Far too many of our neighbors struggle to meet basic needs like food, housing and childcare. But united, we can change that. By contributing to our $1,000 goal by Dec. 31 you’ll help us reach our overall campaign target of $4.155 million, directly supporting health, education and stability programs in our community. United is the way to healthier lives, stronger families and thriving communities. Let’s work together to create a brighter future. Give now at ourunitedway.org and help us build a thriving community for all. Stay connected by following the United Way of Northwest Georgia on social media: Search us on Facebook or @UnitedWayNWGA on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok. For more ways to get involved, visit ourunitedway.org . Together, we can make a difference because "United is the way." Amanda Burt is the president of the United Way of Northwest Georgia.