Please check

[rajan]

Is this joining correct ?

1) Today is my daugther's birthday. I need to go early.

Today being my daughter's birthday, I need to go early. (Adverbial clause)

I need your help, in one more thing :

2) What is the difference between over the next year / In the next year.

Thanks

[Tdol]

In the next year = at some point in the year
over the next year = over a longer period, possibly all year