casino games demo
The Pittsburgh Steelers are fresh off a disappointing 24-19 loss to the division rival Cleveland Browns in Week 12. But before that, the team enjoyed a five-game winning streak. Granted, the offense hasn't exactly flourished behind Russell Wilson since he was injected into the starting lineup when his calf healed, but wins are wins. © Barry Reeger-Imagn Images Or are they? Justin Fields started the season 3-0 without any offensive spark, and the pundits asked how he could be removed from his starting job while winning. But coach Mike Tomlin simply wants what's best for the team and is still trying to decide which quarterback gives the Steelers the best chance to win. So far, through 11 games, that still has yet to be determined. Is it possible the answer is, neither one? CBS Sports' Aditi Kinkhabwala said on Tuesday that he thinks Fields could be back in play as the starter after the inexcusable loss to Cleveland. "I think it's totally within the realm of possibility that Justin Fields goes back to being the Steelers' starter," Kinkhabwala said . "This Steelers offense has a lot of warts that have been kind of covered up the last few weeks because of Chris Boswell, their kicker, who is as money as they come. "And because of this defense. But they have been absolutely horrific in the red zone. Russell Wilson is once again taking terrible, terrible, terrible sacks." Fields led the team to a 4-2 record, and since his return in Week 7, Wilson has compiled a 4-1 mark. Related: Recent Eagles Injury Could Affect Steelers' Season Neither has led the offense with any efficiency in the process, regardless of wins. Maybe Tomlin needs to look at offensive coordinator Arthur Smith rather than who's under center. Bookmark All Steelers for news, commentary & opinion all season. Follow Timm Hamm on X for all the Steelers & NFL news, updates & analysis throughout the season. For more on the Steelers, subscribe to the Black & Gold Daily Blitz Podcast on FanStreamSports.com ! Related: Steelers Face Power Rankings Following Loss
IN THE last two decades, the rise of social media has introduced new phenomena, including “finfluencers”— finance influencers who impact financial decision-making. These individuals offer advice and information on everything from bonds, equities, and crypto to traditional savings accounts and travel miles. But are they replacing traditional financial advisors? A recent survey indicates that 79 per cent of Millennials and Gen Zs sought financial advice from “finfluencers” in 2023. With such a significant shift, one cannot help but wonder what the real impact is on traditional advisors in this evolving landscape. In this episode of Money Hacks by The Business Times, Howie Lim discusses this very topic with Brian Seetoh, a financial services manager at PhilipCapital, and Dawn Cher, a leading personal finance influencer known as SGBudgetBabe. The growing influence of “finfluencers” “Finfluencers” have become a prominent category within the influencer community, garnering considerable traction. According to Cher, social media has taken over many traditional mediums like textbooks, documentaries, and TV shows - serving as a primary source of information for many people. Brian Seetoh points out that “finfluencers” act as entertainers, educators, and community builders. They leverage social media to amplify their reach globally, attracting audiences with engaging, bite-sized content. In contrast, traditional financial advisors usually don’t have such broad, instant reach. The role of social media The role of social media in financial education cannot be underestimated. Cher shares that her content aims to simplify complex financial concepts, making them accessible to the average person. Unlike Wall Street analysts who often use jargon, Cher communicates in simple, easy-to-understand language. However, with this ease of access comes the risk of misinformation and fraud. Seetoh warns that while social media has democratised financial literacy, it has also made the quality of information inconsistent. The need for regulation As the landscape evolves, the question of regulation looms large. Seetoh believes some form of regulation is inevitable, requiring a balance to ensure transparency without stifling creativity. Cher agrees, adding that guidelines and regulations could make the industry more beneficial for consumers. Cher also highlights the importance of consumer responsibility emphasising that consumers must tailor the advice they consume to fit their unique situations. Credibility and integrity Both Cher and Seetoh stress the importance of credible information. Cher recounts rejecting unregulated sponsorship deals, underscoring her commitment to integrity. She warns that even non-financial influencers can spread financial misinformation if they lack a deep understanding of the subject. According to Seetoh, while advice on social media can be valuable, it’s crucial to cross-reference it with local regulations and consult multiple sources before making decisions. He believes a professional financial advisor can often provide more personalised and cost-effective advice. As social media continues to revolutionise how people consume financial information, the roles of “finfluencers” and traditional financial advisors are still distinct but increasingly overlapping. Listen now to find out how traditional advisors and “fininfluencers” can co-exist and how you can benefit. For more episodes, go to bt.sg/moneyhacks and if you have feedback or an episode idea, please get in touch at btpodcasts@sph.com.sg . --- Written and hosted by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg) With Dawn Cher, SGBudgetBabe, a leading personal finance influencer based in Singapore and Brian Seetoh, financial services manager, PhilipCapital Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: Howie Lim Engineered by: Chai Pei Chieh A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media --- Follow BT Money Hacks podcasts every Monday: Channel: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks Amazon: bt.sg/mham Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/oeXe Spotify: bt.sg/oeGN YouTube Music: bt.sg/mhyt Website: bt.sg/moneyhacks Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. --- Discover more BT podcast series: BT Correspondents: bt.sg/btcobt BT Market Focus at: bt.sg/btmktfocus BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/pcOM BT Branded Podcasts at : bt.sg/brpod BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlensonMore than 227,000 people were killed in the December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and experts warn it could happen again. The pain is still fresh as Cut Sylvia recalls the last time she looked into her two-year-old daughter’s eyes. It was a normal morning in the Indonesian coastal city of Banda Aceh in north Sumatra when Sylvia and her husband began to see people fleeing in front of their home, warning of oncoming sea water. Holding her infant daughter, Siti, in her arms, it was a matter of minutes before Sylvia was overwhelmed by the waves inundating their home. “I cannot describe that moment when I saw her eyes, and she saw my eyes, and we were staring at each other,” Sylvia told Al Jazeera. “She was not even crying or saying anything. She was just staring at me. I knew that we would be separated,” she said. Siti was swept away, taken by the tsunami. After 15 minutes of feeling as though she was “in a washing machine”, Sylvia clambered on to the rooftop of a house where the enormity of what had just happened began to sink in. “I felt so sad, very sad. I cannot express with words what I felt when I knew my daughter was lost.” Sylvia’s husband, Budi Permana, was also washed away, finding safety at the top of a coconut tree – the height the sea waters had risen to. He later collapsed from exhaustion while searching for his family and was found by members of the Red Cross, who initially thought he was dead. Sylvia and Budi were reunited a week later in the city of Medan, 600km (370 miles) from their destroyed home in Banda Aceh. No trace of Siti has ever been found. Lacking closure over the fate of their young daughter, the couple’s grief remains fresh as they, and the world, mark the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami – the deadliest and most destructive in recorded human history. ‘They tend to just destroy everything’ Just before 8am local time on December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.2 to 9.3 earthquake struck off the west coast of the Indonesian province of Aceh in northern Sumatra. An estimated 227,898 people were killed or declared missing across 14 countries in the tsunamis that followed. Indonesia was the hardest hit, followed by Sri Lanka and Thailand, while the furthest fatality from the epicentre was reported in the South African city of Port Elizabeth. With 131,000 people killed, it remains by a considerable margin the deadliest natural disaster in the history of Indonesia – the world’s second most disaster-prone country after the Philippines. While great advances have been made in tsunami research, sea defences, and the development of early warning systems in the two decades since the Indian Ocean disaster, experts warn that complacency is setting in as memories fade of the scale of the destruction in 2004. “The thing that’s misunderstood is that a tsunami is not an ultrarare hazard. It’s actually a relatively common hazard,” said David McGovern, a senior lecturer and tsunami expert at the London South Bank University, pointing to a deadly tsunami that battered Japan just seven years later in 2011, the result of the fourth most powerful earthquake ever recorded. “There are around two tsunamis on average a year that cause death or damage,” he told Al Jazeera. Concerns about complacency were high on the agenda as some of the world’s leading tsunami engineering experts gathered on December 6 in London at a symposium to mark the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, as well as to take stock of the current state of tsunami research. In a twist of fate, a day earlier, while the attendees were eating dinner at a restaurant in central London, news of a powerful magnitude 7 earthquake off the United States West Coast filtered through to the group. The earthquake triggered a tsunami alert, impacting some 500 miles (800km) of the California and Oregon coastline. Though the alert was later rescinded, McGovern said the timing “felt strange, to say the least”. The alert only “reiterated the importance of the symposium and the message it was trying to deliver”, he said. McGovern, a key researcher at MAKEWAVES – a multi-institutional and multinational project founded by tsunami researchers – said a “heck of a lot” has been learned over two decades of research since the Indian Ocean tsunami, including simply how the waves deliver damage. “That’s something we didn’t know. And the reason we didn’t know was because tsunamis, in real life, are so destructive that when you do field surveys, the only information they really give you is the maximum values of the destruction,” he said. “They’re so destructive, they tend to just destroy everything.” The group’s latest project, announced in September, is the development of a prototype design for what would be a pioneering machine in tsunami wave generation technology – the Tsunami Twin Wave. When the prototype schematic is completed in 2026, the United Kingdom government-funded design will model for the first time the impact of multiple incoming and outgoing tsunami waves, not only showing how tsunamis cause damage as they come in, but also how they cause damage as they return to sea. This seemingly simple innovation will fill a “huge knowledge gap” in the field, McGovern said. Due in part to the misperception of tsunamis being a rare phenomenon, researchers at MAKEWAVES are “always fighting the lack of funding” for tsunami research, McGovern said. This relative apathy comes despite the heightened risk posed by tsunamis in the coming decades, as sea level rises caused by climate change look set to only exacerbate the issue. “My hope on the 20th anniversary is that we don’t forget this risk, we don’t assume it was a once in a millennium event, and we continue to prioritise one of the most deadly natural hazards humanity faces,” he said. ‘I didn’t know it would happen so quickly’ It is a question of when, not if, a devastating tsunami of the same scale as 2004 hits again, experts say. Predicting exactly when such an event will happen is impossible, but few have come closer than Phil Cummins. He has been described as the person who “essentially predicted” the 2004 tsunami. More than a year before the Indian Ocean tsunami struck – at an October 2003 meeting of the International Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific – Cummins, a seismologist, called for alert systems to be expanded to the Indian Ocean due to what he perceived to be the growing risk of a devastating wave. Referencing Dutch colonial-era records in Indonesia, he told the meeting in Wellington, New Zealand, that great 19th-century earthquakes caused by fault lines west of Sumatra had generated destructive ocean-spanning waves, and a recurrence of such an event was just a matter of time. Just months before the tsunami, in August 2004, Cummins reiterated his concerns in a PowerPoint presentation to experts in Japan and Hawaii. He again warned that a giant earthquake could occur in central Sumatra at any time, posing a grave danger to several countries from tsunamis. Not even Cummins realised just how prophetic his warning would be. “I was shocked,” said Cummins, an adjunct professor at the Australian National University. “I guess there were feelings of vindication, but also feelings of guilt, because I hadn’t been standing on the ramparts and screaming up and down. In retrospect, I should have done that, but I didn’t know it would happen so quickly,” he told Al Jazeera. While the tragedy that unfolded on December 26, 2004 proved Cummins’s prediction eerily accurate, he was wrong about one aspect – the earthquake’s epicentre was in north Sumatra, not central. In 2003, Cummins and his colleagues at Geoscience Australia had used a computer simulation to map a magnitude 8.8 to 9.2 underwater earthquake that hit off the coast of central Sumatra in 1833, causing a major tsunami. That simulation showed the earthquake’s epicentre was near the cities of Bengkulu and Padang – about 500km (310 miles) south of the 2004 tsunami’s epicentre. Cummins believed that this area was the “number one place” for a major earthquake and tsunami to recur. “That’s where everyone thought the next tsunami would be, Padang,” Cummins said. “The really odd thing is that it still hasn’t occurred. Everyone thought it was going to happen for sure, but here we are in 2024. It’s mysterious,” he said, adding that such an event occurring off the coast of Padang is “still a major concern”. “Twenty years have gone by, I worry that people have gotten more complacent, perhaps myself included, and I don’t know why it hasn’t happened,” he said. “From what we know, I’d say it’s still the number one place.” ‘People have become more complacent’ Despite major advances in earthquake alert systems and tsunami awareness and preparedness in coastal communities in countries such as Indonesia, Cummins warned that there is only so much that can be done to protect those living near the likely epicentre of future disasters. “We still haven’t solved the problem of what to do about communities right next to the earthquake that might be hit by a tsunami. That can happen in as little as 10 or maybe 30 minutes, it’s very little time to get a warning out and for people to react,” he said, pointing to the example of Padang. “Even though there is some awareness there, I don’t think there is any sense of urgency. I think people have become more complacent. It’s a very crowded coastal strip, a low-lying coastal strip. There’s a river that the population would have to get across. I think it’ll be very difficult to evacuate,” he said. Rina Suryani Oktari, a professor at Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh, has witnessed a similar complacency set in among coastal communities in northern Sumatra as time has passed. A coordinator for the Disaster Education and Management Research Cluster at the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center, Oktari said cheap land prices have drawn many people back to high-risk coastal areas. “We are now better prepared, but there’s still a possibility that there will be a big number of victims if there’s another tsunami,” she told Al Jazeera. “Many people have come back to live in the coastal area. The population is now even higher than before the [2004] tsunami.” Cummins, for his part, cautioned that a new mega-tsunami could hit at any time, without warning. “A lot of people are going to die no matter what,” he said, adding, the “losses will be much greater” if communities are not well drilled. One couple who have not grown complacent are Budi and Sylvia, who still recount their loss of Siti as a cautionary tale for other Indonesians. Budi will never give up hope of finding his daughter, despite the two decades that have passed since she slipped from Sylvia’s arms. He said that for many years, while working for the Red Cross, and now Islamic Relief, he would visit orphanages, asking if they had any girls who had been found during the 2004 tsunami. Budi draws inspiration from the case of one Indonesian girl who was reunited with her family in 2014, 10 years after she was swept away during the tsunami as a four-year-old. “I hope that also happens with my daughter,” he said. “I hope.”None
League fines Hawks $100,000 for Young missing NBA Cup gameT he North East is producing footballers again, and clubs — and even countries — are sitting up and taking notice. Lewis Miley played in the Champions League when he was 17 and is now the new face of the sportswear firm Under Armour, Chris Rigg played in the Championship when he was 15 and is coveted by Manchester United, and Hayden Hackney is wanted by Scotland. All three — born within an hour’s drive of each other — will play this week, on consecutive nights: Miley for Newcastle United against West Ham United on Monday; Rigg for Sunderland against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday; and Hackney, provided he overcomes an ankle injury, for Middlesbrough at home to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday. Lewis Miley Age 18. Born Stanley. Games 28. Goals 1 Joined Newcastle aged seven. Made his Premier League debut in May 2023, as a 76th-minute substitute against ChelseaHaliburton Scores 31 Points As Pacers Rebound From 37-point Loss To Celtics By Winning Rematch
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Taylor Swift once raved about the sweet potato casserole served at a New York City restaurant and now that recipe pops up every now and again at Thanksgiving. The holidays encourage many of us to try new recipes. Social media right now is flooded with recipes for appetizers, side dishes and desserts. Anyone making that cornbread casserole from TikTok? While we might not get to share a Thanksgiving feast with Swift — is your name Blake Lively? — or other celebrities beloved by Kansas City, we can eat like them. So here’s the recipe for that casserole Swift loved so much, and favorite family side dish recipes from Donna Kelce and Eric Stonestreet. Enjoy. Travis Kelce's mother, Donna Kelce, seen here last year at her son's music festival, dined on a cheesesteak made by actor Bradley Cooper at QVC festivities in Las Vegas this week. (Emily Curiel/Kansas City Star/TNS) If we tried to guess how many holiday dinner rolls Travis Kelce and his brother, Jason Kelce, have scarfed over the years, would it be in the hundreds? Thousands? Their mom has spoken often about the batches of holiday crescent rolls she has baked over the years. Based on the recipe that won the 1969 Pillsbury Bake-Off, Pillsbury’s Magic Marshmallow Crescent Puffs , they’re now known as Mama Kelce’s Dinner Rolls. They blend the crescent roll pastry with marshmallows, cinnamon and sugar. Dinner roll or dessert? We bet they didn’t last long enough in front of Travis and Jason for that debate. Ingredients Rolls •1/4 cup granulated sugar •2 tablespoons Pillsbury Best all-purpose flour •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon •2 (8-ounce) cans refrigerated Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count) •16 large marshmallows •1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted Glaze •1/2 cup powdered sugar •1/2 teaspoon vanilla •2-3 teaspoons milk •1/4 cup chopped nuts Directions Make the rolls 1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 16 medium muffin cups with nonstick baking spray. 2. In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon. 3. Separate the dough into 16 triangles. For each roll, dip 1 marshmallow into melted butter; roll in the sugar mixture. Place marshmallow on the shortest side of a triangle. Roll up, starting at shortest side and rolling to opposite point. Completely cover the marshmallow with the dough; firmly pinch edges to seal. Dip 1 end in remaining butter; place butter side down in muffin cup. 4. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. 5. When done, remove from the oven and let the puffs cool in the pan for 1 minute. Remove rolls from muffin cups; place on cooling racks set over waxed paper. Make the glaze and assemble In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls. Sprinkle with nuts. Serve warm. Eric Stonestreet attends 'Eric Stonestreet visits The SiriusXM Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles' at SiriusXM Studios on Oct. 8, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM/TNS) Thanksgiving is one of the “Modern Family” star’s favorite holidays. Three years ago, as part of a campaign honoring hometown heroes , he shared one of his favorite recipe with McCormick Spices: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Butternut Squash . This recipe serves eight. Ingredients •1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved •1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into bite-size cubes •1 tablespoon olive oil •1/2 teaspoon garlic powder •1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves •1/2 teaspoon salt •1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper •5 slices bacon, chopped •1 shallot, finely chopped •1/2 cup dried cranberries •1/4 cup balsamic vinegar •1 teaspoon whole grain mustard •1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional) •1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese, (optional) Directions 1. Preheat oven to 475°F. Spray large shallow baking pan with no stick cooking spray; set aside. Place Brussels sprouts and squash in large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper; toss to coat evenly. Spread in single layer on prepared pan. 2. Roast 16 to 18 minutes or until tender and lightly browned, stirring halfway through cooking. 3. Meanwhile, cook bacon in medium skillet on medium heat about 6 minutes or until crispy. Remove using slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain. Add shallot to same skillet; cook and stir 2 minutes until softened and lightly browned. Stir in cranberries, vinegar and mustard until well blended. Transfer mixture to small bowl; set aside. 4. Arrange roasted Brussels sprouts and squash on serving platter. Drizzle with cranberry balsamic glaze and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with cooked bacon, toasted pecans, and crumbled blue cheese, if desired. Serve immediately. Donna Kelce, left, mother of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce watched the game with pop superstar Taylor Swift, center, during the first-half on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. (Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/TNS) Swift gushed about the sweet potato casserole served at Del Frisco’s Grille in New York City, a dish crowned with a crunchy candied pecan and oatmeal crumble. “I’ve never enjoyed anything with the word casserole in it ever before, but it’s basically sweet potatoes with this brown sugary crust,” she told InStyle. ”Oh my God, it’s amazing.” The media rushed to find the recipe, which Parade has published this Thanksgiving season . “Similar to T. Swift herself, we think this recipe is a mastermind, especially if you’ve been asked to bring the sweet potato side dish to this year’s Thanksgiving feast. It seriously begs the question: who needs pumpkin pie?” the magazine writes. Ingredients •4 lbs sweet potatoes •1⁄3 cup oats •12 oz unsalted butter, divided •1⁄2 cup packed brown sugar •1⁄2 cup toasted pecans •1⁄2 cup granulated sugar •1 tsp kosher salt •2 tsp vanilla extract •4 large eggs, beaten Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. 1. Scrub sweet potatoes. Pierce each several times with a fork and wrap tightly in foil. Place on a sheet pan. Bake 90 minutes or until tender. Set aside until cool enough to handle. 2. Meanwhile, place oats in a food processor; process 1 minute. Add 4 oz butter, brown sugar and pecans; pulse five times to combine. Spread mixture on a baking sheet; bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven, crumble. Bake 5 minutes or until golden brown. 3. Melt remaining 8 oz butter. Remove skin from cooled sweet potatoes. In a large bowl, whisk sweet potatoes, melted butter, granulated sugar and remaining ingredients until slightly lumpy. Transfer to a greased baking dish, smoothing surface evenly. Top with oat mixture. Bake 12 minutes or until heated through. Make-ahead tips •Sweet potato filling can be made up to 2 days in advance. Prepare the sweet potato filling, cool, place in a casserole dish and keep refrigerated. •Oat-pecan crust can also be made up to 2 days ahead. Make the crust according to recipe directions, cool and store in an airtight container at room temperature. Sprinkle over the sweet potato filling just before baking. With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food.None
The Pittsburgh Steelers are fresh off a disappointing 24-19 loss to the division rival Cleveland Browns in Week 12. But before that, the team enjoyed a five-game winning streak. Granted, the offense hasn't exactly flourished behind Russell Wilson since he was injected into the starting lineup when his calf healed, but wins are wins. © Barry Reeger-Imagn Images Or are they? Justin Fields started the season 3-0 without any offensive spark, and the pundits asked how he could be removed from his starting job while winning. But coach Mike Tomlin simply wants what's best for the team and is still trying to decide which quarterback gives the Steelers the best chance to win. So far, through 11 games, that still has yet to be determined. Is it possible the answer is, neither one? CBS Sports' Aditi Kinkhabwala said on Tuesday that he thinks Fields could be back in play as the starter after the inexcusable loss to Cleveland. "I think it's totally within the realm of possibility that Justin Fields goes back to being the Steelers' starter," Kinkhabwala said . "This Steelers offense has a lot of warts that have been kind of covered up the last few weeks because of Chris Boswell, their kicker, who is as money as they come. "And because of this defense. But they have been absolutely horrific in the red zone. Russell Wilson is once again taking terrible, terrible, terrible sacks." Fields led the team to a 4-2 record, and since his return in Week 7, Wilson has compiled a 4-1 mark. Related: Recent Eagles Injury Could Affect Steelers' Season Neither has led the offense with any efficiency in the process, regardless of wins. Maybe Tomlin needs to look at offensive coordinator Arthur Smith rather than who's under center. Bookmark All Steelers for news, commentary & opinion all season. Follow Timm Hamm on X for all the Steelers & NFL news, updates & analysis throughout the season. For more on the Steelers, subscribe to the Black & Gold Daily Blitz Podcast on FanStreamSports.com ! Related: Steelers Face Power Rankings Following Loss
THE barmy £1 trillion Neom project in Saudi Arabia has revealed its newest addition of a vast hollow skyscraper. Despite unveiling new ultra-luxurious hotels, restaurants and yacht marinas on the daily, the Neom project has been exposed for the deaths of over 21,000 workers since it began. Advertisement 7 The new planned skyscraper at the Zardun site Credit: NEOM 7 Zardun spans a whopping four square kilometres Credit: NEOM 7 The site is on the Northwest of Saudi Arabia Credit: NEOM The newly revealed luxury development plans on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, dubbed Zardun, is made up of four buildings and looks to provide a so-called "peaceful" retreat for guests. Despite its pledge to bring tranquillity, some visitors may think this is hard to find knowing it could have been the place where thousands of workers died under dangerous and inhumane working conditions. Zardun spans a whopping four square kilometres, set on a restored semi-desert landscape. It sports angular sections within the middle of the skyscraper which is said to draw influence from the changing natural landscape around it. Advertisement read more world news EGO TRIP Saudi’s NEOM megaproject boss sacked after ‘threatening to BURY worker in desert’ NEOM BEGINNINGS First part of Saudi's £1tn mega-project Neom COMPLETE as resort opens doors Among the hollow skyscraper are three other architectural compounds which will all total 100 rooms and suites for big spenders as well as an experience centre. And for guests it will offer trekking, mountain biking, rock climbing, among various other sports and leisure. But the dark underbelly of the location imagines bloodshed and slaves. Zardun is part of Magna - one of Neom's mega regions. Advertisement Most read in The Sun LAST WORDS Mum wrote 'I was murdered' before she 'took own life after years abuse from ex' Gossip GELD STAR Rangers 'keen to land Championship star labelled human wrecking ball in January' HOOLIGAN BAN Gers thug sentenced over incident that saw female St Johnstone employee pushed DEVASTATING Tragic Scots TikTok star, 27, who survived crash which killed friend found dead Other regions included in the heavily criticised project include Trojena, The Line, Sindalah and Oxagon. Despite human life not seeming to be considered, the plans say they have so-called "environmental stewardship" in mind. EGO TRIP Saudi Arabia insists first part of $500bn NEOM Megacity WILL be open this year with ultra-lux island resort It is said to accommodate various habitats and make it easier to reintroduce native plants, animals and tree species to the landscape. The Saudi government's focus on the luxury market is said to be an attempt to distinguish itself from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Advertisement But with serious allegations of missed payments, illegal working hours and a number of clear human rights violations made, the future success of the mega-project is unclear. 21,000 worker deaths have occurred in the years since the Crown Prince launched the project, shocking statistics claim. Staff have complained of feeling like "trapped slaves" and "beggars" in the country. Serious allegations of missed payments, working illegal hours and a number of clear human rights violations have all been made. Advertisement The first part of Saudia Arabia's £1 trillion Neom project was complete in October - with a luxurious Red Sea resort opening its doors to the world's elite. Terrified workers and the heartbroken family members of workers who have died since moving to Saudi have revealed the horrors they've faced in recent years in ITV's latest expose. Dubbed "Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia" the documentary speaks on the deadly issues experienced firsthand for many. It goes inside the illegal practices and terrible violations many say are being committed each day under the guise of constructing some of the world's priciest building projects. Advertisement Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , has been at the forefront of trying to develop the oil state into a global tourism hub. 7 It looks to bizarrely bring peace to visitors Credit: NEOM 7 The visitor center pictured Credit: NEOM 7 It sports angular sections within the middle of the skyscraper Credit: NEOM Advertisement He has splashed trillions to create his Saudi Vision 2030 project which features complexes sch as the flagship NEOM which includes fantasy ideas such as The Line. Despite the luxury plans for the ambitious builds human rights groups have expressed many concerns over the massive construction plans . With fears that migrant labour will be exploited and many locals would be displaced. Saudi Arabia has also been hit with serious allegations claiming a significant number of migrants working in construction have disappeared. Advertisement Emerging reports allege that as many as 100,000 migrant workers have gone missing during the construction of Neom. One worker revealed in the documentary that he is often made to work 16-hour days helping to build a high-speed train tunnel for The Line. Read more on the Scottish Sun REY-LY EXCITING US pop superstar announces first Scots show in almost 10 years BALLSED UP Lorraine apologises on air for using phrase she 'didn't know' was a swear word Over just one seven-day week the worker says he can do upwards of 84 hours. Saudi law strictly states that no one should do more than 60 hours a week. Advertisement Top 5 blunders plaguing NEOM project BY Juliana Cruz Lima, Foreign News Reporter Saudi Arabia's NEOM project, despite its ambitious vision, has been criticized for several major blunders that have raised concerns about its feasibility, ethics, and overall execution. Here are the top five major blunders associated with the project: Forced Displacement of Indigenous Communities : One of the most significant controversies surrounding NEOM is the forced displacement of the Huwaitat tribe. This indigenous community, which has lived in the area for centuries, was forcibly removed from their ancestral lands to make way for the development of the mega-city. The Saudi government's crackdown on those who resisted, including the killing of a tribal leader, Abdul Rahim al-Howeiti, has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organisations. This blunder not only sparked international outrage but also tainted NEOM's image as a forward-thinking, humane project. Environmental Impact and Sustainability Concerns : NEOM has been marketed as an environmentally sustainable city, but the environmental impact of such a massive development is a major concern. The project's scale—covering over 26,500 square kilometers—poses significant risks to local ecosystems, particularly in the Red Sea, which is home to rich marine biodiversity. Critics argue that the construction of artificial islands and extensive urbanisation could lead to irreversible ecological damage. The enormous water and energy demands required to maintain a green city in the desert also raise questions about the project's sustainability. Economic Viability and Cost Overruns : NEOM is one of the most expensive development projects in history. But there are serious doubts about its economic viability. Critics question whether the project can attract the necessary foreign investment and whether it will generate sufficient returns to justify the enormous expenditure. The economic risks are further compounded by potential cost overruns and delays, which are common in megaprojects of this scale. This financial gamble has led some to worry that NEOM could become a costly white elephant if it fails to meet its ambitious goals. Technological Overreach and Ethical Concerns : NEOM is envisioned as a high-tech city, heavily reliant on artificial intelligence, robotics, and extensive surveillance systems. While this technological ambition is central to NEOM's identity, it also raises significant ethical concerns. The level of surveillance planned for the city could lead to unprecedented control over residents' lives, sparking fears about privacy and civil liberties. The lack of transparency about how AI will be used, coupled with concerns about job displacement, has also led to criticism that NEOM’s technological vision may be more dystopian than utopian. Cultural and Social Disconnect : NEOM’s vision of a futuristic, liberalized society clashes sharply with Saudi Arabia's deeply conservative cultural norms. The project plans to introduce mixed-gender sports, entertainment events, and other liberal lifestyle elements that are rare in the kingdom. This cultural shift has raised concerns about a potential clash between NEOM's globalised vision and the traditional values of Saudi society. The disconnect between the project's ambitions and the broader cultural context has led to skepticism about whether NEOM can truly integrate into Saudi Arabia's social fabric without causing significant friction. 7 Pictured: The Line (concept image) - a smart city NEOM project under construction in Saudi ArabiaLeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career. 'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office Two family films are dominating the holiday box office, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” winning the three-day weekend over “Mufasa” by a blue hair. According to studio estimates Sunday, the Sonic movie earned $38 million, while “Mufasa” brought in $37.1 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The R-rated horror “Nosferatu” placed third with an unexpectedly strong $21.2 million. Thanksgiving release holdovers “Wicked” and “Moana 2” rounded out the top five. Christmas Day had several big film openings, including the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” the Nicole Kidman erotic drama “Babygirl” and the boxing drama “The Fire Inside.” Belgium will ban sales of disposable e-cigarettes in a first for the EU BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium will ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes as of Jan. 1 on health and environmental grounds in a groundbreaking move for European Union nations. Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke tells The Associated Press that the inexpensive e-cigarettes have turned into a health threat since they are an easy way for teenagers to be drawn into smoking and get hooked on nicotine. Australia outlawed the sale of “vapes” outside pharmacies earlier this year in some of the world’s toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes. Now Belgium is leading the EU drive. Belgium's minister wants tougher tobacco measures in the 27-nation bloc. Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision founder, dies at 98 Charles F. Dolan, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98. Newsday reports that a statement issued Saturday by his family says Dolan died of natural causes. Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes founding HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first U.S. 24-hour cable channel for local news. Dolan also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. Snoop's game: Snoop Dogg thrills the crowd in the bowl that bears his name TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Miami of Ohio beat Colorado State in the Arizona Bowl, but Snoop Dogg was the main attraction. The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop was much a spectacle as a football game. Snoop Dogg seemed to be everywhere all at once, from a pregame tailgate to the postgame trophy presentation. Snoop Dog donned a headset on Colorado State's sideline, spent some time in the broadcast and even led both marching bands as conductor during their halftime performance. Snoop Dogg saved the best for last, rolling out in a light green, lowrider Chevy Impala with gold rims and accents, the shiny Arizona Bowl trophy in his hand as fans screamed his name. Mavs star Luka Doncic is latest pro athlete whose home was burglarized, business manager says DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. The star guard’s business manager tells multiple media outlets there was a break-in at Doncic’s home Friday night. Lara Beth Seager says nobody was home, and Doncic filed a police report. The Dallas Morning News reports that jewelry valued at about $30,000 was stolen. Doncic is the sixth known pro athlete in the U.S. whose home was burglarized since October. Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati are among them. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to players over the break-ins. Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. And people began showing up almost immediately. Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen quits a tournament in a dispute over jeans NEW YORK (AP) — The International Chess Federation says top ranked player Magnus Carlsen has left the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships after refusing to change out of the jeans he wore to the competition. The federation said Friday that its regulations include a dress code that bars participants from wearing jeans at the event. The Norwegian chess grandmaster says he accepted a $200 fine but refused to change his pants out of principle before leaving the competition in New York. The federation said the dress code is designed to ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants. Trailblazing model Dayle Haddon dies from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning NEW HOPE, Pa. (AP) — A trailblazing former “Sports Illustrated” model who pushed back against age discrimination has died in a Pennsylvania home from what authorities believe was carbon monoxide poisoning. Authorities in Bucks County found 76-year-old Dayle Haddon, dead in a second-floor bedroom Friday morning after emergency dispatchers were notified about a person unconscious at the Solebury Township home. A 76-year-old man who was also in the home was hospitalized in critical condition. As a model, Haddon appeared on dozens of magazine coverage in the 1970s and 1980s. She then reentered the industry in the 1990s after landing contracts with cosmetic companies to promote their anti-aging products. 2 Oregon men die from exposure in a forest after they went out to look for Sasquatch STEVENSON, Wash. (AP) — Officials say two Oregon men have died in a Washington state forest after they failed to return from a trip to look for Sasquatch. The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office says the 59-year-old and 37-year-old appear to have died from exposure. The sheriff's office says it based that conclusion on the weather and their lack of preparedness. Both men were from Portland. They were found in a heavily wooded area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest northeast of that city. Family reported them missing after they failed to return from a Christmas Eve outing. Sasquatch is a folkloric beast thought by some to roam the forests, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.Change is never easy, but it is often necessary. In 2024, Nigeria witnessed a series of reforms that underscored the power of determined and purposeful leadership. Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has redefined the tax sector in Nigeria. His efforts were not merely about adjusting policies; they were about reconstructing a fractured system, ensuring its efficiency, and promoting trust between the government and its people. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there was a clear mandate for action and progress. Leadership under the Renewed Hope Agenda has been about assembling people who are not just capable but also willing to work tirelessly toward Nigeria’s development. Dr. Zacch exemplified this character. From the get-go, he took on the challenge of transforming Nigeria’s tax system. He understood the assignment that leadership is not about holding a position; it’s about making an impact, and he wasted no time in doing so. The Tax Boss focused on leveraging technology and data to enhance tax collection, achieving a huge reduction in inefficiencies. One of his key projects was the complete modernization of the TaxProMax system, introducing new modules that have automated over 80% of the previously manual processes, improving transparency and service delivery for taxpayers. This has allowed for smoother interactions between the FIRS and various stakeholders, making the tax process more accessible and user-friendly, especially for small business owners. Alongside this technology, Dr. Zacch has made an effort to expand Nigeria’s tax base. Traditionally, the country’s revenue has disproportionately relied on the oil sector. Still, with global oil prices being volatile and unpredictable, he understood that Nigeria’s financial stability would require a much more pool of tax revenue. He worked to bring more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into the tax system by offering them support and incentives. This helped businesses that might have otherwise been left out to join the system and contribute to the country’s revenue. His approach made it easier for SMEs to pay taxes, ensuring they could be part of the system and grow within it. This 2024, FIRS exceeded its N19.4 trillion revenue targets by a long margin, far surpassing the N12.3 trillion revenue collection for 2023. This speaks volumes about the effectiveness of Dr. Zacch’s reforms. His leadership has turned FIRS into a high-performing agency, one that is now regarded as a major player in driving Nigeria’s economic recovery and growth. The Tax Boss has developed policies that cater to Nigeria’s economic realities. For instance, his insistence on a fair tax system that does not burden the poor while ensuring that wealthier people and corporations contribute fairly has helped redefine tax equity in Nigeria. His approach, which prioritizes fairness, has made the system more inclusive, encouraging more people to pay taxes without feeling overburdened. This strategy is necessary for ensuring that the government has the resources it needs to invest in infrastructure, social services, and other projects that will drive Nigeria’s long-term growth. One of Dr. Zacch’s legacies for 2024 is his push for transparency and accountability. He introduced the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). This was designed to eliminate corrupt practices within FIRS, ensuring that the tax administration process is conducted with the highest standards of integrity. This step aligns with his broader vision for an equitable tax system that emphasizes prosperity rather than burdening the disadvantaged. His philosophy “We tax the fruit, not the seed” has shaped the direction of tax reforms, making the system fairer and more accessible. To enhance Nigeria’s global trade standing, he introduces the National Single Window Project (NSWP) to simplify trade and improve Nigeria’s ease of doing business. This initiative aims to integrate Nigeria’s tax and trade systems, ensuring that businesses can interact with the government through a single, streamlined portal. The benefits of the NSWP are extensive, as it helps reduce red tape, improve efficiency, and make Nigeria more competitive in the global marketplace. His role as the President of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) has had an impact on Nigeria’s tax administration. Under the Tax Boss, CATA has become a platform for tax administrations across the Commonwealth to exchange ideas and best practices. Beyond operational reforms, the Tax Boss has focused on improving the welfare of FIRS employees, understanding that a motivated workforce is necessary for the success of any organization. He has supported and eased staffs’ leveling up processes, and other welfare programs, resulting in a more committed and energized workforce. His leadership style, which combines compassion with insight, has created a positive work environment at FIRS. The 2024 Tax Reform Bill 2024 is one of the most anticipated legislative pieces. It has successfully passed the second reading in the Senate. This bill aims to overhaul the country’s fragmented tax laws by consolidating them into a more unified and transparent framework. One of the objectives of this reform is to simplify the tax compliance process, which has long been seen as overly complex and discouraging for businesses. By streamlining tax laws, the bill is designed to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, thereby making it easier for businesses, particularly SMEs, to navigate tax and invest in growth. Additionally, the bill is set to introduce measures that will promote tax compliance and fairness, ensuring that all sectors of society contribute fairly to the national revenue. Another component of the proposed reforms is the establishment of tax tribunals and a tax ombudsman. These entities will provide a formal, transparent mechanism for resolving tax disputes, which have often been a source of frustration for taxpayers. Moreover, the proposed Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill aims to replace the outdated FIRS Act, ushering in a more contemporary framework that can better address the challenges of the modern economy. Once the Tax Reform Bill is passed and implemented, it will simplify Nigeria’s tax system by reducing taxes. People earning up to the minimum wage will no longer pay income tax, and small businesses with annual turnover under ₦50 million will be tax-exempt. The corporate tax rate will gradually decrease, and there will be a new system to ensure that double taxation is eliminated. VAT on essentials like food, healthcare, and education will remain exempt, while states will get a larger share of VAT revenue to support their development. This year has been about far more than just increasing revenue, it has been about setting Nigeria on a path toward fiscal independence and resilience. For the Tax Boss, the journey is far from over. While progress has been made in transforming Nigeria’s tax system, there are still challenges to overcome. He is committed to ensuring that all the reforms are fully implemented across the country, and this will require the government to keep pushing forward and maintain the momentum already built. The Tax Boss has laid a solid foundation for a tax system that will benefit Nigeria and its people, and we are all here for it, eagerly watching as the impact continues to unfold. Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi is the technical assistant on broadcast media to the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service
- Previous: casino games 21
- Next: casino games free sign up bonus