Actor Keanu Reeves has said he joined the cast of Sonic The Hedgehog 3 as he is “a big fan” of the series. Reeves, 60, plays Shadow in the latest film adaption of the Sega video game, which will see Sonic, Knuckles and Tails battle him to protect the planet. Speaking at the movie’s London premiere on Tuesday, the Canadian star said: “I’m a big fan, I mean, I really enjoyed the first two films. “I really liked the character of Shadow, so I was really excited to try to be a part of it.” The Matrix actor went on to speak about the differences between voice acting and appearing on screen. He added: “It’s fun to play pretend, I love acting, so it’s fun to try and inhabit another character. “There’s an intensity to doing voice work and specificity, it’s kind of more like doing, it’s its own thing, because it’s kind of like theatre, but no audience. “So it’s like doing radio, and it’s just fun.” Canadian-American actor Jim Carrey co-stars as villain Doctor Eggman, a role he told the PA news agency it was “great” to be playing again. Carrey told PA: “I do like to play a character filled with disdain here and there, the Grinch was that. “But there were other characters like The Truman Show, he’s somebody who loves the world and believes in the world, and believes in the people in his life, and believes in his neighbours, and he’s just a good-hearted soul that finds out there’s something more in the world than what he knows and something beyond his own neighbourhood. “So it’s a lovely story, but they’re all different characters, they all have different desires, and you have to do something special with each one.” He added: “I just let it rip when they say action, it’s just a perfect excuse to be an obstreperous bloviating bag of ill will. “And then of course they say cut, and all of that horrible politeness and needing to be loved seeps back in.” Sonic The Hedgehog 3 will be released in UK cinemas on Friday December 20.If 2024 is the year companies started adopting AI, 2025 could be the year they start tailoring it to fit to their needs. New year will see real adoption of AI across enterprises and domains like customer interactions, education, corporate learning, and robotics. AI will be the biggest tech topic in 2025, it is expected to play a vital role in devices, industries and society as a whole. Ganesh Gopalan, Co-Founder and CEO of Gnani.ai, noted, "2024 marked a pivotal year for generative AI, transforming industries from customer service to creative innovations. In 2025, the widespread adoption of Small Language Models (SLMs) and Speech-to-Speech Large Language Models (LLMs) will revolutionize sectors like customer support, healthcare, BFSI, automotive, and telecom." These technologies promise precise and low-latency solutions tailored to specialized linguistic demands, with SLMs providing unmatched accuracy for niche tasks and Speech-to-Speech LLMs enabling seamless, real-time multilingual communication. Also Read: Ethical use of Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and opportunities Additionally, Agentic AI, which autonomously adapts and learns, empowers businesses with proactive decision-making and operational intelligence. "As these models advance, they will reshape Gen AI, fostering a new era of intuitive, efficient, and personalized interactions globally," Gopalan added. In the education sector, AI will enhance learning through bigger innovations. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Vice-Chancellor of World University of Design, said, "Advancements in AI, VR, and AR have opened new frontiers, redefining education for the modern era. We foresee a continued surge in demand for high-quality design education across diverse sectors, driven by global trends and the need for adaptable, creative thinkers." Dr.Yajulu Medury, Vice Chancellor of Mahindra University, said, AI platforms will create more personalized learning pathways "These will help students achieve their full potential while bridging learning gaps. In 2025, we anticipate stronger integration of emerging technologies like AR and VR for immersive and secure learning experiences." Also Read: Learn AI like a pro: UG courses on Artificial Intelligence by IITs that prospective engineering aspirants can consider The influence of AI will also enhance and innovate Robotics. Puru Rastogi, Co-Founder & CEO of Mowito, said, "AI and robotics technologies will set new benchmarks, enabling real-time decision-making, predictive maintenance, and smarter robots. AI-driven automation will propel scalable growth and industrial prosperity. The future is clear--2025 will herald a new era of agility and innovation." As intelligence takes center stage in technology innovations, the importance of chipsets becomes even more significant. Anku Jain, Managing Director of MediaTek India, said, "Technologies like Agentic AI, GenAI, advanced LLMs, and cloud computing have led to a tectonic shift in the industry." From digital payments to reshaping how we search for information, AI's influence will be felt across every aspect of daily life. The year 2024 was transformative for both payment and connectivity, as the rapid growth of 5G and digital payments unlocked new opportunities for transactions. Matthew Foxton, India Regional President & Executive Vice-President of Branding & Communications at IDEMIA Group, said, "In 2025, cryptography, tokenization, and biometric authentication will drive further innovation, while the rise of embedded payments, connected devices, and hyper-connectivity, particularly in the automotive sector, will create smarter, faster, and more secure transaction ecosystems." AI is changing how we live and work. By 2025, it will play a key role in almost all sectors of our life be it the devices we use, jobs, industries, and even how we search for information. Also Read: Artificial Intelligence in bankingDirexion Daily MSFT Bull 2X Shares ( NASDAQ:MSFU – Get Free Report ) saw a significant increase in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 190,200 shares, an increase of 60.0% from the November 30th total of 118,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 471,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.4 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Direxion Daily MSFT Bull 2X Shares Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Flow Traders U.S. LLC acquired a new stake in Direxion Daily MSFT Bull 2X Shares during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,191,000. Client First Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Direxion Daily MSFT Bull 2X Shares during the second quarter worth $291,000. Finally, Hollencrest Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of Direxion Daily MSFT Bull 2X Shares in the second quarter valued at $50,000. Direxion Daily MSFT Bull 2X Shares Price Performance Shares of MSFU opened at $41.27 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $42.71 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $44.22. Direxion Daily MSFT Bull 2X Shares has a 1-year low of $36.29 and a 1-year high of $54.39. The stock has a market cap of $127.11 million, a PE ratio of 43.52 and a beta of -2.33. Direxion Daily MSFT Bull 2X Shares Cuts Dividend About Direxion Daily MSFT Bull 2X Shares ( Get Free Report ) The Direxion Daily MSFT Bull 1.5X Shares ETF (MSFU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Microsoft Corporation index. The fund provides 1.5x leveraged exposure, less fees and expenses, to the daily price movement for shares of Microsoft stock. MSFU was launched on Sep 7, 2022 and is managed by Direxion. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Direxion Daily MSFT Bull 2X Shares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Direxion Daily MSFT Bull 2X Shares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses LOS ANGELES, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. ("Acadia Healthcare" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ACHC) investors of a class action representing investors that bought securities between February 28, 2020 and October 18, 2024 , inclusive (the "Class Period"). Acadia Healthcare investors have until December 16 , 2024 to file a lead plaintiff motion. Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy , by phone 310-692-8883 or email : lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors’ options for pursuing claims to recover their losses. On October 21, 2024, a lawsuit was filed against Acadia Healthcare and several of its current and former executives. The complaint alleges that, throughout the class period, the defendants made false or misleading statements and failed to disclose key information, including that: (1) Acadia's business model relied on holding vulnerable individuals in its facilities against their will, even when it was not medically necessary; (2) many patients in Acadia facilities were subjected to abuse; (3) Acadia deceived insurance providers into covering stays for patients that were not medically necessary; and (4) as a result, the defendants' statements about the company's operations, business, and future prospects were materially false or misleading, lacking a reasonable basis at all relevant times. Once the truth became known, Acadia Healthcare’s stock price dropped sharply, resulting in significant losses for investors. Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information. The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firm’s founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq. Admitted CA and NY Bar lesley@portnoylaw.com 310-692-8883 www.portnoylaw.com Attorney Advertising5 top tech gifts for the holidaysNone
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atomic Data today announced a multi-year agreement to make it the Official IT Provider of Fishers Event Center , a 7,500-seat entertainment and sporting event venue opening today in Fishers, Indiana. Managed by ASM Global , the newly constructed Fishers Event Center is home to three professional sports teams – Indy Fuel Hockey Club (ECHL), Indy Ignite (Professional Volleyball Federation), and Fishers Freight (Indoor Football League) – and will host a wide variety of events, concerts, and entertainment. “We are thrilled to reach a multi-year deal partnership with Atomic Data,“ Larry McQueary , Indy Fuel president said. “Atomic Data has been an integral part of the building process at the Fishers Event Center. With their help, we are ensuring an elevated experience for fans, employees and the community as they experience events here.” Throughout construction, Atomic Data’s Game Day Technologies ® arm took the lead in the design, installation, integration, and testing of the mid-size venue’s HPE Aruba Networking-powered Local Area Network (LAN) and Wi-Fi network. Going forward as the Official IT Provider for Fishers Event Center, Atomic Data will provide 24x7 monitoring and management of key network and server infrastructure, as well as remote support during and between event days. "Venues like Fishers are essential to cities across the U.S., supporting a variety of events and teams. Their success relies on seamless behind-the-scenes technology. Atomic Data and Game Day Technologies have once again proven that tailored venue technology can be delivered efficiently, even with tight timelines and modest budgets," commented Yagya Mahadevan , Game Day Technologies Director at Atomic Data. About Atomic Data Atomic Data , trusted IT provider for hundreds of enterprises, sports teams, and large venues, is on a mission to deliver always-on, custom-tailored technology solutions and objective IT leadership. Game Day Technologies , powered by Atomic Data, enables owners and teams to right size and modernize their venues, districts, training facilities, and back offices with objective, holistic technology oversight and activation.
USDA Orders Testing of Milk Supply for Presence of Bird Flu VirusFormer Rajamahendravaram MP Vundavilli Aruna Kumar paid tributes to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, hailing him as the architect of India’s economic reforms. Speaking to the media at Rajamahendravaram on Saturday, he remarked that the nation would forever remember Singh's monumental contributions. Aruna Kumar recalled Singh’s role as finance minister in 1991 under then prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, when he launched bold economic reforms. “Initially, Singh faced criticism, but Rao supported him fully, urging him to focus on fixing the economy while he managed the political fallout,” he said. He described the Rao-Singh partnership as crucial in pulling India’s economy back from the brink, with Rao defending reforms as a "necessary evil." He also noted Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister (2004–2014), highlighting his intellectual prowess and regular press interactions. “Despite being a brilliant economist, he remained the epitome of humility,” Aruna Kumar said. Sharing a personal memory, he recounted translating Singh’s speech into Telugu during a visit to Visakhapatnam, which received great applause. Singh, impressed by the reception, expressed his appreciation, further demonstrating his gracious and humble nature.Brewster Academy to play in showcase during NBA Cup weekend
Big Oil backtracks on renewables push as climate agenda faltersTrump names David Sacks as White House AI and crypto czarNEW ORLEANS (AP) — A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans, gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, t-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search has galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. "Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you," Brown said. And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's Disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues' van towards reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim had come to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter, for stealth. Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades have prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something. He's doing that too,” she said. Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by multiple projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. “I wholeheartedly believe the gangster-ass cats were messing with him,” Murray said. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be." Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96