7bet casino no deposit bonus AUSTIN, Texas — As TxDOT's work to expand Interstate 35 through Central Austin is already underway , several entities are planning to build land plazas over the highway. On Wednesday, the University of Texas System Board of Regents approved $106 million for a project near campus. It involves building a series of caps over the highway between 15th Street and Dean Keeton Street to connect the campus with the other side of the interstate. UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife said it is 10 to 12 acres in front of the new medical complex. "We believe this is so important because even though they won't be constructed for eight to 10 years," Eltife said, "real estate in front of the medical complex will be desperately needed in the future." Construction on an MD Anderson Cancer Center and UT Austin Hospital at the UT Media Center is set to start in 2026. "This gives us the opportunity to cap that area to monetize it in terms of creating revenue from future buildings and medical facilities," Eltife said. TxDOT broke ground on the $4.5 billion I-35 Capital Express Central project in late October. Planned updates include the construction of two carpool lanes between U.S. 290 and State Highway 71, lowering the main lanes from Airport Boulevard to Lady Bird Lake to remove the interstate's upper decks, making room for the cap-and-stitch initiative that will add plazas above the interstate. The U-T project is separate from the city project , which could create up to 30 acres of new public space in Central Austin between Holly Street and Airport Boulevard. TxDOT will build the foundation of the decks as it expands I-35, while the city will build what's on top. In design renderings of what the caps could look like, the cap between Fourth and Seventh streets could see an elevated walkway and outdoor dining space. Another design shows a cap between Cesar Chavez and Fourth streets, and the plan includes a "street promenade" and bike path. Brianna Frey, who is managing the project for the city, said it will bring new parks, shops and entertainment to Central Austin. "I think the public is interested in seeing some of those benefits too as it relates to either their business districts or their neighborhoods or where they like to go hang out with their families, or potentially in the future could see themselves hanging out with their families," Frey said. Austin City Council's plans Thursday's city council meeting was supposed to be the deadline for council members to decide whether to spend hundreds of millions on the project. The agenda initially contained two items, one for $19 million in design funding and a second item for $265 million in funding for the roadway elements for the caps. However, in a memo on Dec. 5, City Manager T.C. Broadnax withdrew the items because TxDOT extended the deadline. The memo cited delays in TxDOT's pump station contract award. The deadline has been extended to March 2025, and city staff intend to bring it up at a different city council meeting this spring. While they won't vote on those big ticket items on Thursday, the city council will vote on a $41 million state infrastructure bank loan, which Frey said will help cover TxDOT design fees. Those fees could range from $8 million to $19 million, depending on which caps move forward into design. Part of it will also go to the Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant, which the city has to match. They will also formally accept $105 million from the federal government for the section between Cedar Chavez and Fourth streets. That funding will require a $45 million match from the city. So far, that is the only cap to get funding and is the only cap scheduled for construction. Other caps can be added if the city secures financing. The price tag for the full build of the project has ballooned to nearly $1.4 million. It has increased by 50% to 80% due to building material costs and adjustments as crews have advanced the design and further fleshed out the elements. "A lot of that has to do with the fact that some of these caps are going to create a tunnel-like system that needs to be supported by more voltage in electricity. There will need to be a lot more fire, life and safety components that just weren't in the design at the schematic level," Frey said. "These are new added elements that they've priced out for us that we previously hadn't received yet." With the cost estimates like they are, the city is evaluating plans to move forward with only some of the caps. The proposed eight caps are: Holly Street – 0.96 acres Cesar Chavez Street – 0.27 acres Cesar Chavez to Fourth streets – 5.37 acres Fourth to Seventh streets cap – 3.28 acres 11th to 12th streets cap – 2.17 acres 38 1/2 to 41st streets cap – 5.20 acres 41st Street to Red Line cap – 4.76 acres Red Line to Airport Boulevard cap – 4.24 acres Scenarios under consideration The city is considering several scenarios with different cost options for the amenity decks over the interstate. "The scenarios are endless, but some of the community engagement and cost estimates that we've received, we really narrowed it down to six scenarios," Frey said. "Council could take the scenarios that we propose and run with it once they understand some of the cost implications to the larger look at the city debt as well as the communications they've been having with community members." As the city considers various funding sources, Fry said everything is on the table. For 2025 funding commitments, they are going to have to turn to a certificate of obligations or other public funding sources. They have not ruled out an election to ask the public to support a cap-and-stitch bond program. "That is something that council members are still really exploring because there are some tradeoffs with increasing one program, funding sources from those debt capacities, and taking from other funding sources," Frey said. "It is a matter of determining what the city's priority is spending these large dollars on." In the Dec. 5 memo, city leaders discuss the possibility of an assumed $600 million bond in 2026. According to the memo, a $600 million bond program in 2026 is expected to cost the typical homeowner $82.71 annually in today's dollars. The projected bond issuances over time for the Cap and Stitch Scenario 6 are estimated to be around $1 billion, and the city estimates the cost for the typical homeowner to be $137.86 annually. Since the bonds would be issued over a 10- to 15-year period, the projected monetary impact on taxpayers will be felt over an extended period and not all at once. While city staff said they do project an overall weakening of the city's financial rating metrics over the next 10 years, they believe the overall credit profile will remain favorable. Boomtown is KVUE's series covering the explosive growth in Central Texas. For more Boomtown stories, head to KVUE.com/Boomtown .

1 2 3 Hyderabad: Championing resilience in the face of adverse conditions, Abhay Egoor , co-founder and CTO of Dhruva Space emphasised that successful startups differ from traditional businesses by solving problems creatively and taking calculated risks. He was speaking at the first edition of Leaders on Campus, a TOI initiative hosted by the ICBM School of Business Excellence, Attapur, on Friday. The session provided valuable lessons to the gathering in entrepreneurship , strategic decision-making, and team dynamics in building a successful space technology venture. Dhruva Space which began operations in 2012, celebrated its first launch on its 10th anniversary and has since been establishing itself as an alternative in the space industry. During his talk, Egoor highlighted resilience as the most crucial attribute for entrepreneurs, ranking it above talent and capital access. During his address, the space tech entrepreneur also stressed the importance of anticipation over adaptability. "Having a broader vision rather than a narrow cone of view is essential in today's dynamic business environment," Egoor stated. Sharing his personal journey, Egoor said how his entrepreneurial aspirations began during college. After graduation, he initially planned to venture into smart homes but faced a reality check regarding technical skills and resources. "We made the strategic decision to upskill while maintaining our jobs, understanding the capital requirements for sustained R&D and product development," he recalled. A significant milestone in Dhruva's journey was the merger with Thybolt company in 2019. Egoor described this as a "hard but necessary call," emphasising how industry shifts and team dynamics influenced the decision. The session concluded with Egoor telling aspiring entrepreneurs how, "more than ideas and achievements, investors prioritise the founding team's composition and internal dynamics". Students' Q&A with CTO Q: What's your perspective on managing younger employees who have different expectations about work-life balance, particularly regarding traditional 70-80 hour work weeks? A: The market dynamics have evolved significantly since the 1980s and 90s, though some fundamentals remain unchanged. Speaking from an entrepreneur's perspective, there's no real "off switch" when you're running your own company. It's not feasible to maintain strict 9-5, Monday-Friday schedules with guaranteed weekends off. Entrepreneurship requires flexibility, and if you're not comfortable with that, it might not be the right path for you. However, I've personally managed to find my own balance within these demands. Q: How does working at a startup differ from working in a corporate environment? A: Startup work environments are characterized by fluctuating intensity levels. There are periods of high-pressure work followed by more relaxed phases. We actively monitor employee workload to prevent burnout, and our data shows that most employees typically work around 9 hours per day. However, there are unique challenges, such as operational pressures to meet deadlines and the need to handle frequent ad hoc tasks. This creates a more dynamic and sometimes unpredictable work environment compared to traditional corporate settings. Q: What measures have you implemented to foster effective teamwork in your organization? A: Our team-building approach begins at the recruitment stage. We incorporate a specific culture round in our hiring process to assess cultural fit alongside technical capabilities. There have been instances where candidates excelled technically but didn't align with our cultural values. This evaluation helps ensure compatibility with our company's core ethos. We have a clear vision of the type of company we're building, and we seek candidates who can elevate our organization. Once hired, we follow standard onboarding procedures while emphasizing the importance of aligning each employee with our company's vision. QUOTE Students have shown lot of curiosity to learn from a successful startup founder. The entire session going beyond the intended time with QnA is itself an indication of the students' interest in innovation and entrepreneurship. The session provided students with valuable insights and practical knowledge on the entrepreneurial ecosystem — Ritu Zarar | chairperson, ICBM School of Business Excellence Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

Unrivaled signs LSU star Flau'jae Johnson to NIL deal

The International Court of Justice is currently being asked to determine the responsibilities of nations to prevent climate change, and as I watch from the steps of the peace palace as a young person from the Pacific, I know whatever happens next has the potential to change my future, and the future of children across the Pacific and the world. I come from Vanuatu, which is 15,608 km away from The Hague, where I currently find myself. Vanuatu is known for being a tropical paradise, and it’s true, it is really nice. But it is also a paradise that is also full of our culture and heritage, and it is slowly being taken away by a climate crisis we did not cause. However, I think more and more people are coming to learn that my home is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries when it comes to the climate crisis. I celebrated my 16 birthday on the first day of the hearings, the same day that both Vanuatu and Australia presented their arguments to the court. While I was inspired by Vanuatu’s opening remarks, I was left disappointed by Australia. As a close neighbour of the Pacific Island nations Australia has a duty to stand with the Pacific and support what they are striving for here in The Hague, and for Australia to come here and completely go against that ambition, it’s very sad to see. In my 16 years, I have not known a time where the threat of the climate crisis wasn’t real. As a young Ni-Vanuatu person, I feel the effects of climate change every day of every year. I’ve experienced many cyclones, and I can tell you, it can be utterly terrifying sometimes, especially the strong ones, that are becoming more and more frequent. Every cyclone, our classrooms are destroyed, our homes are flattened to the ground, and hospitals and communication towers are ripped apart. And then there’s also the mental health impacts. We don’t really talk about it much, but these natural disasters can really cause anxiety in children and young people. This is my reality, and the reality of children not just in the Pacific, but across the world. But it should not be our reality. Children and young people across my nation, the Pacific, and the world, should not be accepting these effects of climate change as a norm of life. Just last year Vanuatu was devastated by back-to-back Category 4 Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin in March which affected more than 80% of the country’s population. I remember it so clearly. I remember the nights the cyclones hit us, like it was yesterday. You could just hear the iron sheets of the walls and roofing of corrugated iron houses, and you can just like hear them flying around. You shudder every time you hear a branch break or a tree crash to the ground. It’s scary and the place is pitch black and the wind is howling. We are just waiting for the storm to pass and see the damage left behind, wondering if this is our reality now. I had hoped that we would have seen some climate justice at COP29, but I, and the young people of the Pacific and small island nations, were once again left disappointed. The outcome told us that high emitting countries don’t really care about our rights, that we aren’t worth more than just some empty promises. Climate change endangers our right to a safe childhood and prosperous future, not just for us but for our future generations who deserve to enjoy the exact same things we enjoy. Being here in The Hague really brings home the scale of this climate emergency. I know that I am a part of a bigger movement by young Pacific people to get the world to act on climate. I am inspired by the tireless work of the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change who spearheaded the move to have the ICJ provide an advisory opinion on the legal obligations of countries to take climate action, a move that was supported by the Government of Vanuatu, who I am here alongside. I stand here, at the world’s highest court, as one of the many children and young people across the globe, who are striving for change, who are striving for equality, equity, and justice, and who are for a brighter future for us all. We are not just victims of climate change; we are the climate’s warriors. We have the power to mobilise, to amplify, to lead, and to influence decision making around the world. In the world we live in, government leaders and political leaders have lots of power, so I urge world leaders to listen more to youth from the Pacific and listen to other vulnerable nations in the face of the climate crisis. They need to make their decisions wisely, because it is our future ahead of us and it may be in jeopardy right now. As leaders and decision makers, it is time to step up and fulfil your promises. The time to act is now, because there is no time to waste.

Iran launches heaviest space payload into orbit: media TEHRAN: Iran successfully launched on Friday its heaviest space payload, which includes a satellite and a space tug, using a domestically developed satellite carrier, official media reported. Weighing 300 kilogrammes, the payload consisted of the Fakhr-1 telecommunications satellite and the Saman-1 space tug, according to state television. The Saman-1 is an “orbital transmission system” designed to transport satellites from lower orbits to higher ones, as described by the Iran Space Research Center when it was unveiled in 2017. The launch marks an “operational step” toward transferring satellites into higher orbits, the TV report said. The system was first introduced in February 2017 at a ceremony attended by Iran ́s then-president, Hassan Rouhani, and was test-launched in 2022. The payloads were launched using the homegrown Simorgh satellite carrier from the Imam Khomeini launch base in Semnan province. Named after a mythical Iranian bird, the Simorgh is a two-stage, liquid-fuelled satellite launch vehicle developed by Iran ́s defence ministry. In September, Iran said it successfully put the Chamran-1 research satellite into orbit using the Ghaem-100 carrier, which is produced by the Revolutionary Guards ́ aerospace division. Western governments, including the United States, have repeatedly warned Iran against such launches, arguing technology used for satellites could be applied to ballistic missiles, potentially capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

'Around the Horn'

NEW YORK — The Giants may have to host the Saints on Sunday without their top offensive weapon, too. Rookie receiver Malik Nabers has a hip flexor, underwent an MRI on Friday morning and is in jeopardy of possibly missing the Week 14 home game, head coach Brian Daboll said. Nabers is officially listed as questionable and did not practice Friday at all. “They’re not ruling him out right now,” Daboll said. Nabers, 21, got hurt during the 1-on-1 portion of Thursday’s practice. He was listed as limited with a groin injury but then underwent further testing that revealed the new hip injury, according to the coach. Dexter Lawrence, the Giants’ top defensive player, is already out for the season with an elbow injury. Top left Andrew Thomas (foot) is done for the season. Top linebacker Bobby Okereke (back) is week-to-week. Daniel Jones is on the Vikings. And now Nabers may be joining the long list of Giants players unable to stay on the field during the stretch of this horrific season. “We wish we had Dexter and Andrew Thomas and those guys, but we don’t,” Daboll said. “That’s the reality of the NFL. So they’re looking forward to the opportunity, which will be a big challenge.” The Giants (2-10) have lost seven straight games and are 0-6 at MetLife Stadium. The Saints (4-8) already fired their coach Dennis Allen, and New Orleans is 0-3 in outdoor games, 1-4 on the road and 0-4 in their last four away games. But they’re still 4.5-point favorites. Interim Saints head coach Darren Rizzi, a native of Hillsdale, N.J., said this week that his team was flying to the area on Friday to do a walkthrough in the elements to prepare the players for the cold weather. New Orleans lost dual threat quarterback/tight end Taysom Hill (knee) for the season last Sunday, but otherwise, they’re down backup guard Nick Saldiveri (knee) and wideout Bub Means (ankle). And defensive lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon (Achilles) and running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) are questionable. The Giants’ injury report is comparably bleak. Top corner Deonte Banks (rib), Lawrence and defensive tackle Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (neck/shoulder) and Okereke (back) are all out. Defensive tackle D.J. Davidson (shoulder) and offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) are doubtful. And six players are questionable: Nabers, offensive tackles Evan Neal (hip) and Chris Hubbard (knee), defensive tackle Jordon Riley (knee), corner Dru Phillips (shoulder) and linebacker Dyontae Johnson (ankle). Hubbard and Phillips did not practice Friday, either. ©2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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