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A WOMAN has revealed just how bad the mould problem is in her home and it's left the internet stunned. Mum of two Courtney took to social media to show the extensive cleaning routine she has to do every day to battle mould and condensation. 2 My house is so damp there’s a puddle of water on every windowsill, people say I need a £5 Asda buy https://www.tiktok.com/@courtxed/video/7440481091925970208 Credit: Tiktok/@courtxed 2 My house is so damp there’s a puddle of water on every windowsill, people say I need a £5 Asda buy https://www.tiktok.com/@courtxed/video/7440481091925970208 Credit: Tiktok/@courtxed In the clip, she said: "My whole house is covered in condensation damp and mould, I'm gonna show you the things that I put in place to prevent it and I need some advice on some stuff I can do as well." She revealed she has an extractor fan in the kitchen and bathroom, but despite this she still uses mould spray every single day. As well as that she also uses small dehumidifiers on every single windowsill. But despite that, she still couldn't tackle the mould in her home. READ MORE ON HOMES That sucks The Christmas mistake that can destroy your hoover and create mould Courtney added: "I have cupboards in the kitchen that turn all of my pans mouldy. "This is just an example of two of the pans that have gone mouldy in that cupboard." She picked up one of the oven trays that she had never even used and it was covered in green fluffy mould. "This here is my daughter's windowsill," she continued "I clean this every day." Most read in Fabulous FESTIVE FEAR I'm a legal expert, here's five things you can never do at work Xmas party SCARY SURGERY Blood leaked from my BBL & my breast burst OPEN after Turkey ‘mummy makeover’ LONELY-FANS OnlyFans star makes admission about parents after bedding 100 men in 24 hours AIR WE GO I'm a laundry expert - dry your clothes indoors fast with my airflow rule "And there's just a puddle of water on the windowsill every single day, all around this window in the hallway gets really fluffy mould." In the bathroom, she revealed that one of the walls was crumbling away because of how damp it was. How I Removed Window Mould in Minutes with Just £1.50! Courtney added: "I don't know why this keeps happening, I really feel like I've exhausted every option, and I just need help now I'm getting so sick of it at this point." The clip soon went viral on her TikTok account @ courtxed with over 75k views and 1,400 likes. People were quick to take to the comments and offer their advice. Many recommended the HG Mould Spray over the one she used in the video and it can be bought for £5.25 from Asda. What is mould and how to get rid of it? Mould is more likely to grow during the winter months. Olivia Young, Product Development Scientist at Astonish revealed exactly why this is. "Unfortunately, mould is a common problem many people face during winter. It thrives in conditions that are warm and damp, so your bathrooms are likely to be the most affected place. "That said, during the colder months most rooms in your home could be vulnerable to mould growing. "This occurs primarily from condensation that builds up on your windows when you’ve got your radiators on. "If you think about it, when windows and doors are closed, there's not much chance for the air to circulate and the moisture to make a swift exit. "This build up is what can cause dreaded mould to make an appearance, especially in bathrooms, as it creates that warm and wet environment that is a breeding ground for mould. "If left untreated, not only is it unsightly but it can also pose a serious risk to your health, so it’s really important you treat it. "The key to tackle mould is to act fast. "Try to come into as little contact with it as you can. So, grab your gloves, tie up your hair and get to work to remove any signs of mould as soon as you notice them. "To keep mould at bay, there are some simple solutions you can introduce throughout home. "The first is keep it ventilated. Yes, even in the cold winter months try to leave your bathroom window open for at least 10/15 minutes post shower or bath. This will get rid of any excess moisture quickly preventing mould gathering. "If you’re having a repeat problem with mould in one particular area, it might be because the humidity levels are too high. You can get a dehumidifier that will help keep the levels low and reduce the risk of mould returning. "The golden rule to remember when dealing with mould is the quicker you can treat it, the better. If you leave it, it will only get worse so never ignore it! "To successfully get rid of mould every time, I recommend opting for the UK's No 1 Mould & Mildew Remover , that effectively removes mould and mildew stains almost instantly, with no scrubbing necessary." One person wrote: "HG mould spray is amazing it’s on Amazon ." Another commented: "Mould is so scary." "That mould spray didn’t work very well! I used HG or white vinegar," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "We have the same problem, we are currently using a dehumidifier but also bought a window vac. Go over the windows every morning." "You need a dehumidifier. Expensive but worth it,” claimed a fifth. Read more on the Scottish Sun BATTY WEATHER Record-breaking snow & temps on the way for Scotland as expert issues warning GER KIDDING Tottenham fans blast ex-Spurs star as he's spotted wildly celebrating Gers goal Someone else added: “Get a dehumidifier girl. Those little things do nothing and with the amount you're buying you'll save eventually." Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line .BOSTON , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors (the "Board") of The China Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") has declared a distribution in the amount of $0.1497 per share. The distribution is comprised entirely of ordinary income. The dividend will be payable on January 10, 2025 , to stockholders of record on December 30, 2024 , with an ex-dividend date of December 30, 2024 . The Fund has a Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the "Plan") in which each stockholder automatically participates, unless the stockholder instructs Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the "Plan Agent"), in writing, to have all distributions, net of any applicable U.S. withholding tax, paid in cash. If the Fund's shares are trading at a premium to the net asset value ("NAV") per share of the Fund on the distribution payment date, the Plan provides that stockholders will be issued Fund shares valued at NAV. If the Fund's shares are trading at a discount to the NAV per share, stockholders will be issued shares of the Fund valued at market price. Stockholders will not be charged a fee in connection with the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. A stockholder may terminate his or her participation in the Plan by notifying the Plan Agent in writing at the address below. Stockholders who have questions regarding the distribution may contact EQ Fund Solutions, LLC at 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255). The Fund is a closed-end management investment company with the objective of seeking long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities (i) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is in the People's Republic of China (" China "), or (ii) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is outside of China , or constituting direct equity investments in companies organized outside of China , that in both cases derive at least 50% of their revenues from goods and services sold or produced, or have at least 50% of their assets, in China . While the Fund is permitted to invest in direct equity investments of companies organized in China , it presently holds no such investments. The Fund's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CHN." The Fund's investment manager is Matthews International Capital Management, LLC. For more information regarding the Fund and the Fund's holdings, please call 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255) or visit the Fund's website at www.chinafundinc.com . For more information about the Plan or to terminate your participation in the Plan, please contact Computershare Trust Company, N.A. at c/o The China Fund, Inc. at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078, by telephone at 1-800-426-5523 or via the Internet at www.computershare.com/investor . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-china-fund-inc-declares-distributions-302331625.html SOURCE The China Fund, Inc.

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England end 2024 with win over Switzerland thanks to early Grace Clinton strike

Real Madrid’s big stars turned on the style to revive the Spanish giant’s faltering Champions League title defense on Tuesday. Galacticos Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in a thrilling 3-2 win at Italian league leader Atalanta. But Madrid still had to ride its luck as Mateo Retegui fired over from in front of goal in stoppage time when handed a golden chance to level the game. It was only Madrid’s third win in the competition’s revamped league phase and leaves the 15-time champion in the unseeded playoff positions in 18th place. “It’s a very important win. Not everyone wins here. We suffered and competed. In the Champions League, you have to suffer,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “It’s still difficult to finish in the top eight, but we have two games left to earn points.” Six-time champion Liverpool leads the way after maintaining its perfect record in Europe this season with a 1-0 win against Girona. Like Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain also picked up a much-needed win, beating Salzburg 3-0 to sit in the last playoff spot in 24th place. Bayer Leverkusen is second after a 1-0 win over Inter Milan, while Aston Villa beat Leipzig 3-2 and is third. The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16. Positions nine to 24 face a playoff to reach the next phase. Real response After three losses in its opening five games of the league phase, the pressure was mounting on Madrid. Questions were also being asked of Mbappe after his uncertain start since his offseason move from PSG. But he produced a moment of class to fire Madrid 1-0 up after 10 minutes at Gewiss Stadium — controlling the ball with his left foot and then finishing low with his right. It was the 25-year-old Mbappe's 50th Champions League goal . Lionel Messi is the only player to have reached that number at a younger age. Mbappe was substituted off before halftime with an apparent physical issue and Charles De Ketelaere leveled the game before the break from the penalty spot. But two goals inside three second-half minutes from Vinicius Junior and Bellingham put Madrid in control. Ademola Lookman's goal made it 3-2, but Madrid survived Retegui's late effort and held on. Salah’s landmark Mohamed Salah’s 50th Champions League goal maintained Liverpool’s perfect record in the competition this season. The Egypt forward struck a 63rd minute penalty to seal the win in Spain that kept Liverpool atop the 36-team league. But even after a sixth straight win for the Merseyside club, head coach Arne Slot was critical of his players in a game that saw goalkeeper Alisson pull off several saves to keep Girona out. “If you ask me about all the six games, I’m really pleased with all the results, I am really pleased with the five (other) games with the way we played. I’m far from pleased about the performance tonight,” he said. Salah’s goal was his 16th in 22 appearances overall this season. Girona was 30th with just one win from six games. “I almost feel sorry for them because they deserved so much more in this Champions League campaign than the three points they have until now. But we have an incredible goalkeeper,” said Slot, whose team also leads the Premier League. Liverpool’s two remaining games are against Lille at home and PSV Eindhoven away in January. U.S. international Christian Pulisic is the only player to have scored against Liverpool in this season’s Champions League in a 3-1 loss for Milan in September. Bayern rout Bayern Munich routed Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 to move into the automatic qualifying positions for the round of 16. Michael Olise scored a wonderful solo goal by dribbling past a host of players for his first of two in the game. Bayern's win came after going 1-0 down inside five minutes to a goal from Brazilian winger Kevin. PSG fightback PSG is not done yet. A miserable start to the league phase saw the French giant pick up just four points from five games as it adjusted tp life without stars like Mbappe, Messi and Neymar, who have all departed in the past two seasons. But victory at Salzburg moved PSG up into the playoff positions. Goncalo Ramos, Nuno Mendes and Desire Doue all scored. Leverkusen rising Leverkusen is back on a roll after struggling to repeat the success of last season's stunning German league and cup double. It's now six straight wins in all competitions, with Nordi Mukiele's 90th minute goal securing victory against Inter and moving Leverkusen into second on 13 points — five behind Liverpool. Villa, Inter and Brest are all on 13 points as well. Inter dropped to fourth after conceding for the first time in this season's competition. Villa is third after its own resurgence in form. Victory against Leipzig was its third in a row after an eight-game winless run. Brest is one of this season’s surprise packages on its Champions League debut and is fifth after beating PSV Eindhoven 1-0. Sporting Lisbon, in 12th, couldn’t build on taking a third-minute lead at Club Brugge — losing 2-1 in Belgium. Brugge is 14th. Dinamo Zagreb drew 0-0 with Celtic and both teams remain in the playoff positions. ___ James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer James Robson, The Associated Press

NRL Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. The NRL has gone all out in its latest Las Vegas campaign, securing one of the biggest names in American sports to promote its upcoming 2025 season opener. NFL legend Rob Gronkowski has lent his voice to help promote rugby league in the US as part of an advertising blitz ahead of the four-game extravaganza. Gronkowski is front and centre of the advertisement, which is expected to hit US screens this weekend and be shown during NFL matches watched by millions of people. The retired NFL megastar – who was Tom Brady’s go-to-guy during their Super Bowl-winning run with New England and Tampa Bay – describes some of the biggest rugby league action in the 30-second advertisement, which features NRL and Super League highlights plus footage of Australia’s women’s team, the Jillaroos. The NRL 2025 Las Vegas ad featuring Rob Gronkowski. Introduced as a “rugby league expert”, Gronkowski explains to US fans the high-octane action heading their way in March. “You feel that?,” Gronkowski asks as footage rolls of Canberra prop Joseph Tapine crunching Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh in a brutal tackle. “That’s your off-season sorted. It’s football, but not as you know it. “No pads, no armour, no time-outs.” That’s followed by North Queensland wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo levelling Leo Thompson, and monster hits involving Canterbury’s Viliame Kikau and Penrith’s Moses Leota. “The very best rugby league players from around the world collide in Las Vegas. Eight teams, four games. That’s one epic ticket,” Gronkowski says. “Get your football fix with rugby league in Las Vegas.” The NRL dipped into its extensive highlight reel from the 2024 season to provide footage for the commercial, including Melbourne Storm winger Xavier Coates’ airborne effort to score against New Zealand in one of the game’s greatest finishes. It’s followed up with a similar leaping tryscoring effort from Cronulla’s Sione Katoa scoring a try and a ridiculous AFL-style mark and put down from Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Gronkowski is no stranger to the NRL. He helped launch the inaugural double header earlier this year. Gronkowski rubbed shoulders with Aaron Woods and Billy Walters in Los Angeles during a promotional visit. Gronkowski does the “Gronk spike” touchdown celebration. Xavier Coates’ stunning try is prominent in the commercial. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images He did his trademark “Gronk Spike” with a rugby league ball after being presented with a Manly jersey with his name on it by Woods. The four-game schedule at Allegiant Stadium will be broadcast live in Australia on Fox League, and give American fans 10 hours of action across major US networks. The Raiders and Warriors match will be broadcast live on Fox Broadcast Network in the US. It will be the first time a premiership match has been broadcast on the network in the US. The Panthers and Sharks game and the Jillaroos and England fixture will be shown on Fox Sports 1, while the UK Super League match between the Sam Burgess-coached Warrington and Wigan will be televised on Fox Sports Soccer. Close to 30,000 tickets have been sold already for the event, which will kickstart the NRL season on March 2 here in Australia. More Coverage Haas reveals how Maguire has changed Broncos Martin Gabor NRL world divided over $600m ‘cash grab’ Andrew McMurtry Originally published as NFL legend stars in NRL commercial to promote Las Vegas 2025 season opener to America More related stories NRL Inside former NRL bad boy’s address to Broncos squad Reformed NRL bad boy Todd Carney has addressed Broncos players about the pitfalls on bad life decisions - and the 2010 Dally M Medal winner left a lasting impression on the squad. Read more NRL Munster weighs in on major NRL move Cameron Munster has weighed in on the NRL’s decision to bring PNG into the competition in 2028, with the Storm star listing a few possible targets for the newest franchise. Read moreDuo supplies ammo to friend, booked

Asia-Pacific Images Studio/E+ via Getty Images Last month we published an article on SA with our bullish thesis on the Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ: NASDAQ: NBIS ). In summary, we argued: Most money is made in global megatrends AI is the next global megatrend When selecting likely winners, focus on Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of NBIS either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. Announces Corporate Name Change to Harvest Group Holdings, Inc., A Reverse Stock Split, and Private Placement, in Preparation for Uplisting to Nasdaq

Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina KhanEdmonton visits Colorado after shootout winRebel-backed figure takes charge as Syria’s interim prime minister

Lululemon Athletica Inc.'s chief executive is confident his company is well on its way to addressing some of the concerns customers and analysts had earlier in the year about a lack of newness in the brand's product assortment. After reorganizing the retailer's product team and introducing a new reporting structure, Calvin McDonald said Lululemon is on track to reach historical levels of newness by the first quarter of its fiscal 2025. "I feel good about the quality and quantity of newness the teams have planned and I believe we are well positioned for spring," he said on a Thursday call with analysts. Newness — how fresh a brand's products and styles appear to consumers — is one of the key ways retailers draw in customers. To give the impression of newness, apparel companies often experiment with colours, prints, patterns and silhouettes. Some also partner with celebrities or other brands to launch product lines that attract shoppers. Lululemon's efforts to boost newness have so far focused on new detailing applied to some of its Define jackets and the release of its velvet Scuba hoodies, satin running tights and shorts and waffle knit apparel. "The guest is responding very well to that," McDonald said. In August, he conceded that Lululemon's womenswear division had struggled with “reduced newness,” which impacted conversion rates — typically the percentage of people who visit a store and make a purchase before leaving. Lululemon's product assortment this year has focused largely on its staples — yoga pants, scuba hoodies and sports bras — while the company also saw continued success with its belt bags. However, there were some missteps. When Lululemon outfitted Team Canada at the Olympic Games in Paris, the uniform was criticized for resembling uncooked bacon or looking like it had been blood-spattered. Lululemon also paused sales of its Breezethrough product line of tights and other activewear in June. Many of the line’s pieces featured a long V-shaped waistband in the front and Y-shaped seam in the back that some consumers complained was unattractive and produced a “whale tail” look. Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said in a note to investors that he feels many of the newness issues "have largely been corrected." "Across the third quarter the women’s range felt fresh and interesting and there was more than enough to grab the attention of shoppers," he said, adding it had improved the company's conversation rate and average basket size, a measure of how much consumers spend. "In our view, Lululemon deserves praise for the quick course correction." Some of that correction was reflected in Lululemon's third-quarter results, which were released Thursday and showed the brand earned US$351.9 million in its latest quarter as its revenue rose nine per cent. The Vancouver-based retailer, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, said its third-quarter net income compared with US$248.7 million a year prior. Its diluted earnings per share for the period ended Oct. 27 amounted to US$2.87 compared with US$1.96. Lululemon's third-quarter revenue totalled US$2.4 billion, compared with US$2.2 billion a year ago. McDonald said the results "exceeded our expectations" and reflected strength the company has seen in its shorts, skirts and leggings in seasonal colours. Saunders felt it was a "solid quarter," in part because Lululemon's comparable sales increased by four per cent overall and its international revenue increased by "a stellar" 33 per cent in overall terms. McDonald said that the company will enter Italy next year using a company-owned model, but will also expand to Denmark, Belgium, Turkey and the Czech Republic under a franchise model. In the latest quarter, however, there was weakness in the Americas, where Lululemon's comparable sales fell by two per cent. "There is much more competition in the US market and our data clearly show that even relatively loyal Lululemon consumers are shopping around more widely," Saunders said. "This problem isn’t going to disappear over time, if anything it is going to intensify." Shoppers, he said, had become "more constrained and pickier" because of inflation and high interest rates. "While most Lululemon shoppers are far from being hard-pressed, they are still impacted by inflation and have modestly reduced the volume of things they buy," Saunders said. He felt Lululemon should respond by leaning into categories like menswear, which Lululemon has increasingly been expanding through new styles and even partnerships with NHL teams. In more recent months, the company also introduced a range of Disney apparel. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Tara Deschamps, The Canadian PressIntech Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. ( NASDAQ:CCRN – Free Report ) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 57,144 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $768,000. Intech Investment Management LLC owned 0.17% of Cross Country Healthcare at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CCRN. Pacer Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Cross Country Healthcare by 3.8% in the second quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 4,550,848 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $62,984,000 after purchasing an additional 165,032 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in Cross Country Healthcare by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,360,016 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $32,662,000 after buying an additional 24,363 shares during the period. Royce & Associates LP raised its position in shares of Cross Country Healthcare by 51.4% in the 3rd quarter. Royce & Associates LP now owns 1,132,566 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $15,222,000 after buying an additional 384,374 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Cross Country Healthcare by 15.9% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 772,834 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $10,696,000 after acquiring an additional 106,226 shares during the period. Finally, Dana Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Cross Country Healthcare by 34.7% during the 2nd quarter. Dana Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 404,370 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $5,596,000 after acquiring an additional 104,136 shares in the last quarter. 96.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Cross Country Healthcare Stock Performance Shares of CCRN opened at $10.76 on Friday. Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. has a 52 week low of $9.58 and a 52 week high of $23.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $354.19 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -215.20, a PEG ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.65. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $11.79 and a 200-day moving average of $13.69. Analyst Ratings Changes Get Our Latest Analysis on CCRN Cross Country Healthcare Company Profile ( Free Report ) Cross Country Healthcare, Inc provides talent management and other consultative services for healthcare clients in the United States. The company’s Nurse and Allied Staffing segment provides traditional staffing, recruiting, and value-added total talent solutions, including temporary and permanent placement of travel and local nurse and, allied professionals; temporary placement of healthcare leaders within nursing, allied, physician, and human resources; vendor neutral and managed services programs; education healthcare services; in-home care services; and outsourcing services. Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Cross Country Healthcare What is Short Interest? How to Use It The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing 3 Warren Buffett Stocks to Buy Now 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 How to Invest in the FAANG Stocks FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CCRN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. ( NASDAQ:CCRN – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Cross Country Healthcare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cross Country Healthcare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Washington Commanders release 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbeshttps://arab.news/v7hsk RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has established itself as a global leader in the rapidly advancing water desalination market, doubling its production capacity, while developing new technology to repurpose the harmful byproduct of the process — brine. While desalination is effective for achieving water sustainability, producing drinking water from sea water in arid regions, it leaves behind a highly concentrated saline fluid. If this brine is disposed of back into the sea without treatment, it poses a potential danger to marine ecosystems. Simply put, brine is highly concentrated seawater that contains contaminants, including chemicals used during the desalination process. “The chemicals should be all neutralized,” said Noreddine Ghaffour, a research professor at the Water Desalination and Reuse Center at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). He told Arab News that “there is no reason to dump chemicals into the sea, because they are all negatively affecting marine life, including chlorine and antiscalants.” Water desalination scientists in Saudi Arabia have developed technologies to neutralize chemicals in brine before discharge and to disperse salt over a radius of up to 2 km when reintroduced into the sea. Ghaffour, who was granted Saudi citizenship for his work and expertise on desalination, said that researchers and industry experts believe the future of the process is in recovering minerals, while treating the brine and achieving zero liquid discharge. While around 70 percent of Earth is covered in water, only 2.5 percent of it is fresh, of which 1 percent is easily accessible, according to the National Geographic website. Water desalination separates salt ions from sea water to make it safe for consumption. Salinity levels vary by body of water; for example, the Red Sea has 40 grams of salt per liter, while the Arabian Gulf’s salinity is 45 grams per liter. The three main water desalination technologies employed in Saudi Arabia are: multi-stage flash distillation, a thermal process using evaporation and condensation; multiple-effect distillation, which uses electrical energy to break down water ions; and reverse osmosis, which separates water molecules through a semipermeable membrane. All three technologies produce brine, but reverse osmosis plants generate lower quantities compared with the other two methods. • Some elements, like lithium, are 5,000 times more abundant in the ocean than on land. Lithium is crucial for Li-ion batteries. (Source: KAUST) • In 2021, Saudi Arabia set a world record for the lowest energy consumption in mobile desalination, reducing it to 2.27 kWh/m3. (Source: Desalination Lab) • By 2040, 33 countries, including 14 in the Middle East, are projected to face extreme water stress. (Source: Desalination Lab) Reverse osmosis, according to Ghaffour, uses a method called membrane separation, where osmotic pressure is overcome by a semipermeable membrane that filters out salt ions, allowing only water molecules to pass through. Ghaffour explained that although the semipermeable membrane effectively filters out about 99 percent of salts, some still manage to pass through, producing brine. Moreover, osmotic pressure — the force applied to a solution to prevent a solvent from passing through a semipermeable membrane — requires a lot of electrical energy. “Electricity is one of the most expensive energy forms... the main problem with (reverse osmosis) is that we do this under pressure,” the KAUST professor said. He added: “The more salt, the higher the osmotic pressure. In order to pass only water molecules through the membrane, we need to apply a pressure which is higher than the osmotic pressure. “And the osmotic pressure in Red Sea water, for instance, is 30 bar... so we need a pressure higher than 30 bar, which is a very high pressure.” He also explained that “recovery” refers to “how much water we recover from the sea,” adding that “if the recovery is 50 percent, this means that salt contents are doubled.” Ghaffour said selecting the correct location for a desalination plant is highly important. Authorities must choose sites with a reliable water intake that will not disrupt marine ecosystems or impact densely populated areas. According to the UN Environment Programme, unless waste water is properly treated and dispersed, it may form a dense plume of toxic brine, which can degrade coastal and marine ecosystems. Increased salinity and temperature can reduce dissolved oxygen levels and contribute to the formation of “dead zones” — areas where few marine species can survive. Ghaffour said that while brine is bad for the environment, it has not caused significant global environmental harm. Over the past 30 to 40 years, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region have experienced few negative side-effects from the desalination process, he said. Concern over waste water from desalination returning to the sea at a higher temperature is less of an issue with the reverse osmosis method, Ghaffour said. “We have the same temperature as sea water, maybe one degree more, which is affordable.” Researchers are determined to achieve zero liquid discharge, which involves treating brine until only solids remain. However, this process also concentrates all the salts in the same place. To remove salt ions from brine, a complex and costly process called mineral recovery is used. The challenge in mineral recovery lies in the fact that high-value minerals, such as lithium, rubidium, and uranium, are present in brine at very low concentrations. To make the process efficient and economically viable, further technological advancements are needed. Currently, “there are no technologies to handle this huge volume,” Ghaffour said. “We are talking about huge volumes of water, like 1 million tons of water (recovered) every day, it’s higher than a river.” Several technologies have been developed for mineral recovery on a smaller scale. One method involves chemical treatments that precipitate different salts in stages, starting with calcium carbonate and ending with lithium. Another mineral recovery method involves the use of ion exchange membranes or absorbents designed to capture specific minerals, such as lithium. One of the largest areas of current research is the magnesium hydroxide family, particularly for its applications in the cement and concrete industry. Saudi Arabia is already using nanofiltration technology to produce magnesium from magnesium-rich waters, with the next step being the extraction of magnesium hydroxide for cement production. Expensive and critical minerals like rubidium — which costs around $3,000 per kilo — as well as uranium and lithium, are of great interest, but are costly to extract due to their low concentrations, requiring significantly more energy in the process. From a commercial perspective, businesses prefer to purchase lithium from produced water — a byproduct of oil and gas production — rather than from brine. Brine can also be repurposed to enhance the efficiency of the desalination process. Due to its high osmotic potential, brine can be used for energy production. Ghaffour said that several companies are utilizing reverse electrodialysis to generate energy, which is then used to power the reverse osmosis process. This section contains relevant reference points, placed in (Opinion field) In addition, to achieve a circular carbon economy, reverse electrodialysis can be combined with brine dilution for mineral recovery, allowing part of the brine to be reused in an efficient closed-loop system. “This is what I call a seawater factory,” Ghaffour said. “We take seawater and we produce everything from seawater without polluting back. “Many experts are saying that in the future, desalinated water, which is what we need most, will itself be a byproduct, because we will have so many more valuable products from the sea. Then this desalinated water will be just one of the byproducts.” However, he believes that turning this vision into reality will take time. “We have to distinguish between two things. One is science and the second one is technology scale-up.” In September 2024, Lihytech, a KAUST startup, announced a partnership with Aramco to strategically collaborate on recovering lithium from oilfield brines using direct lithium extraction technology and a membrane developed at KAUST. Ghaffour is also collaborating with a Singaporean company, MediSun Energy, to integrate desalination with energy and mineral production, aiming to optimize these processes as a whole. A pilot facility has already been installed in China, with plans for another installation in Saudi Arabia. “The whole world is working on this (mineral recovery and optimizing desalination). We will see a lot of developments in this, in my opinion,” he said.

Expect more affordable housing units in Alberta as the province spends $150 million for new developments. “I am pleased to announce that the Alberta Affordable Housing Partnership Program is opening for the next round of applications,” said Jason Nixon, Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister, on Friday.. With National Housing Day, the Alberta government is pledging to increase its efforts to address housing affordability in the province. From the start of 2024 up until October, the province saw an estimated $38,000 houses being constructed, which is more compared to last year. “The reality is though that while Alberta is having success we recognize that there are still many struggling to find housing and to meet their needs. Which is why we know there’s more that needs to be done,” said Nixon. Alberta saw an increase in population by about 200,000 last year. One organization stated that while the funding is a start, there’s still a lot more that needs to be done. “We didn’t have a real housing crisis and the government didn’t invest in affordable and community housing over the years the same way. And now we’re here and we’re trying to meet the growing demand, so we are playing catch up,” said Irene Martion-Lindsay, the executive director of Alberta Seniors and Community Housing Association. Martin-Lindsay also says that there has been a growing demand for the adult population needing affordable homes. “This has been happening for a while and it’s really hard for them to be prioritized, but the older adults that aren’t seniors that are in that 55 to 65, they’re really struggling because of the lower-end fixed income,” said Martin-Lindsay. This is not the first time Alberta invested in affordable housing, in 2022 the government put $189 million into supporting units and shelters within 15 communities. The province opens the application for the new housing development this Friday up until January 31, 2025.23 Gifts From Asian-Owned Businesses That'll Please Everyone, Even That One Picky Friend

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former South Carolina Sen. Kay Patterson, who rose from cleaning offices at the segregated Statehouse to serving as a state legislator for over 30 years died Friday. He was 93. The South Carolina Democratic Party announced Patterson's death saying he “left an indelible mark on our state. Senator Patterson commanded everyone’s attention with his wit and wisdom.” The statement did not list a cause of death. Patterson was born in 1931 in Darlington County and raised by his grandmothers. They recalled his hardheaded spirit early, recommending he not take jobs as a golf caddy or shoe shiner because he was likely to mouth off to white people in segregated 1940s South Carolina and get in trouble. Instead, Patterson served in the military and then got his teaching degree through the GI Bill at Allen University. While in college, he cleaned offices at the segregated capitol where he and other Black people couldn't be unless they were working. "When I was a janitor, Black people couldn’t go in the Statehouse," Patterson said in a with the University of South Carolina. “And then one day I came back down here as a member of the House and then in '84, I came back sitting in the Senate as a senator. Now that’s a hell of a long way to come.” Patterson spent 30 years in education and was elected to the South Carolina House in 1974 and the Senate 10 years later after urged him to run for the upper chamber seat. In a statement, Clyburn called Patterson “a trusted leader, a tireless champion for civil rights, and a treasured friend. He was a person of strength, determination, wisdom, and a long proponent of removing from the .” Patterson was also the first Black person to serve on the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees since Reconstruction. Patterson was a key member of both the House and Senate, He served on the budget committees in both chambers and was a major voice in support of civil rights, public education and helping poor people. He adamantly demanded the Confederate flag be removed from atop the Statehouse dome and inside the House and Senate chambers long before they were taken down in 2000. The lifelong Democrat said the final years of his political career were the toughest after Republicans took over state government. His seniority no longer mattered and he felt many newer Republicans were religious hypocrites who claimed to help others but only cared for people just like themselves. A few years before he retired from the Statehouse, Patterson said it was important to respect elders and supervisors, but not be afraid to speak up if bothered or something was on one's mind. “That’s just my hallmark ever since I was a little child. It will get you in trouble now, but you can sleep well at night. And learn to treat everybody as human beings with respect,” Patterson said in the interview with the university's Champions of Civil and Human Rights in South Carolina program. “You can sleep real good at night. Right now, I’m 73 years old and sleep like a log when I go to bed because I know I’ve done no wrong to my fellow man,” Patterson said.