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Micron Technology to Report Fiscal First Quarter Results on December 18, 2024Developers of Baltimore flex-lab space hope to create more than 100 jobs
Remember Y2K? It was 1999 and many were sure civilization was about to endSEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks rode their dominant defense to a big win over a division rival to vault into first place in the NFC West. No, it isn’t 2013. These are the 2024 Seahawks, who, after struggling mightily against the run earlier this season, held the visiting Arizona Cardinals to 49 rushing yards in Sunday's 16-6 victory . The defensive line kept Kyler Murray under consistent pressure thanks to a dominant performance from Leonard Williams, the secondary flew around to smack away passes, and safety Coby Bryant scored on a 69-yard pick-6. Sunday's defensive performance was reminiscent of the Seahawks of a decade ago and a promising sign that first-year coach Mike Macdonald’s system is starting to click. Macdonald, who coordinated Baltimore's NFL-best defense last year, was leading one of the worst rush defenses in the league earlier this season. But Seattle consistently stuffed the Cardinals, who came in as the fifth-best running team in the league at 149.4 yards per game. “Three games in a row now we played pretty decent on defense,” Macdonald said. “There is an expectation and standard here throughout the course of our Seahawks history that we’re trying to live up to and build on. So that’s the idea.” At 6-5, the Seahawks drew even with the Cardinals in the tightly bunched division. The teams play each other again in two weeks at Arizona. Last month's trade for linebacker Ernest Jones IV has clearly paid off. Seattle hasn't allowed a running back to rush for more than 79 yards since its Week 8 loss to Buffalo, which was Jones' first game in a Seahawks uniform. He has led the team in tackles in every game he's played and has helped resurrect the run defense. The Seahawks' run game continues to underperform. Seattle got 65 yards on the ground Sunday, with the Cardinals holding Kenneth Walker III to 41 yards on 16 attempts. Zach Charbonnet had 22 yards on six carries. Walker hasn’t topped 100 yards since Week 1. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb needs to think of something different to get the running backs involved. Williams single-handedly disrupted the Cardinals with 2 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hits, three tackles for loss and one pass defensed. “I thought he was dominant,” Macdonald said. “I knew he played great and then I looked at the stat line and he played out of his mind.” The Seahawks finished with five sacks, seven quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and six pass deflections against the Cardinals, shutting down a team that had averaged 29.3 points over its previous three games. Geno Smith finished with 254 yards passing and a touchdown, but he threw another momentum-stalling interception. Smith was picked off on a third-and-6 play on the Arizona 18-yard line at the start of the fourth quarter, ending an 11-play, 73-yard drive. Smith has an NFL-most 12 interceptions this season, more than in either of his previous two seasons as the Seahawks' full-time starter. “That was a huge drive for us. ... Obviously made a terrible mistake down there, something I got to clean up,” Smith said. “But it was a big drive. We wanted to put the game ahead at least two scores.” The offensive line has contributed to the problem. Guard Anthony Bradford left with an ankle injury, and the line struggled to protect Smith, who was sacked five times. Macdonald said Bradford is expected to miss next week's game. 77 — Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team with six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, marking the fourth consecutive game that Smith-Njigba has led the team in receptions. He topped 100 yards receiving in the previous two games. “He’s getting open,” Smith said. “He’s catching the ball. He’s doing a great job in the screen game. All-around great player. I just think the way that teams are playing us coverage-wise, I feel like it’s the ultimate sign of respect.” The Seahawks play at the struggling New York Jets on Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflSenior members of Canada's cabinet held talks Friday with US President-elect Donald Trump's nominees to lead the departments of commerce and the interior, as Ottawa works to hold off the threat of punishing tariffs. Canada's newly-appointed Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump's commerce secretary nominee, who will also lead the country's tariff and trade agenda. Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum was also at the meeting held at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Leblanc's spokesman Jean-Sebastien Comeau, who confirmed the participants, described the talks as "positive and productive." Trump has vowed to impose crippling 25-percent tariffs on all Canadian imports when he takes office next month. He has said they will remain in place until Canada addresses the flow of undocumented migrants and the drug fentanyl into the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised retaliatory measures should Trump follow through on his pledge, raising fears of a trade war. Leblanc and Joly "outlined the measures in Canada's Border Plan and reiterated the shared commitment to strengthen border security as well as combat the harm caused by fentanyl to save Canadian and American lives," Comeau said in a statement. Canada's Border Plan -- estimated to cost CAN$1 billion ($694 million) -- was crafted as part of Ottawa's response to Trump's concerns. Lutnick and Burgum "agreed to relay information to President Trump," the statement said. Trudeau is facing his worst political crisis since sweeping into office in 2015. Leblanc was named finance minister earlier this month after the surprise resignation of Chrystia Freeland. In a scathing resignation letter, Freeland accused Trudeau of prioritizing handouts to voters instead of preparing Canada's finances for a possible trade war. More than 75 percent of Canadian exports go to the United States and nearly two million Canadian jobs depend on trade. bs/ahaUS homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan's defense of the national championship has fallen woefully short. The Wolverines started the season ranked No. 9 in the AP Top 25, making them the third college football team since 1991 to be ranked worse than seventh in the preseason poll after winning a national title. Michigan (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) failed to meet those modest expectations, barely becoming eligible to play in a bowl and putting the program in danger of losing six or seven games for the first time since the Brady Hoke era ended a decade ago. The Wolverines potentially can ease some of the pain with a win against rival and second-ranked Ohio State (10-1, 7-1, No. 2 CFP) on Saturday in the Horseshoe, but that would be a stunning upset. Ohio State is a 21 1/2-point favorite, according to the BetMGM Sportsbook, and that marks just the third time this century that there has been a spread of at least 20 1/2 points in what is known as "The Game." Michigan coach Sherrone Moore doesn't sound like someone who is motivating players with an underdog mentality. "I don't think none of that matters in this game," Moore said Monday. "It doesn't matter the records. It doesn't matter anything. The spread, that doesn't matter." How did Michigan end up with a relative mess of a season on the field, coming off its first national title since 1997? Winning it all with a coach and star player contemplating being in the NFL for the 2024 season seemed to have unintended consequences for the current squad. The Wolverines closed the College Football Playoff with a win over Washington on Jan. 8; several days later quarterback J.J. McCarthy announced he was skipping his senior season; and it took more than another week for Jim Harbaugh to bolt to coach the Los Angeles Chargers. In the meantime, most quality quarterbacks wanting to transfer had already enrolled at other schools and Moore was left with lackluster options. Davis Warren beat out Alex Orji to be the team's quarterback for the opener and later lost the job to Orji only to get it back again. No matter who was under center, however, would've likely struggled this year behind an offensive line that sent six players to the NFL. The Wolverines lost one of their top players on defense, safety Rod Moore, to a season-ending injury last spring and another one, preseason All-America cornerback Will Johnson, hasn't played in more than a month because of an injury. The Buckeyes are not planning to show any mercy after losing three straight in the series. "We're going to attack them," Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer said. "We know they're going to come in here swinging, too, and they've still got a good team even though the record doesn't indicate it. This game, it never matters what the records are." While a win would not suddenly make the Wolverines' season a success, it could help Moore build some momentum a week after top-rated freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan. "You come to Michigan to beat Ohio," said defensive back Quinten Johnson, intentionally leaving the word State out when referring to the rival. "That's one of the pillars of the Michigan football program. "It doesn't necessarily change the fact of where we are in the season, but it definitely is one of the defining moments of your career here at Michigan." AP Sports Writer Mitch Stacy in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok banTech review: Earbuds and phones for those on your holiday list
Kyle Tucker has been traded to the Cubs . The 27-year-old slugger sits at the center of a deal with the Astros . Tucker is headed to Wrigley Field, while Chicago sent two infielders and a relief pitcher to Houston. The Astros' front office notoriously doesn't like dishing out big-money contracts. When George Springer and Carlos Correa were due to receive big paydays, Houston let both walk in free agency. Springer signed with the Blue Jays , and Correa had a more chaotic free agency but eventually landed with the Twins . At least this time, the Astros got some players back in the deal and didn't lose one of their best players for nothing. How did Houston and Chicago make out in the trade? Sporting News grades both sides of the deal. MORE MLB NEWS: Why did Juan Soto choose Mets over Yankees? First look at Mets' projected lineup with Juan Soto How Mets' future projects with Juan Soto's 15-year contract Kyle Tucker trade grades Cubs receive: OF Kyle Tucker Astros receive: IF Isaac Paredes RP Hayden Wesneski 3B Cam Smith MORE MLB TRADES : Brewers send Williams to Yankees for Cortes Cubs grade: A- Chicago should feel great about this trade. The Cubs got a player they don't have to extend, but they probably will. Tucker is one of the better all-around hitters in baseball, so locking him down as a foundational piece for the foreseeable future would be smart. Tucker's presence allows some protection in the outfield if the Cubs find a trade partner for Cody Bellinger. Tucker will turn 28 before next season, entering his prime. While he only played half of the 2024 season due to injury, the career .274 hitter's shin fracture shouldn't linger. Not counting his injury-shortened 2024, Tucker has had at least a 5.0 WAR in each the last three seasons. Even in 2024, when he played only half the season, he had a 4.7 WAR. Astros grade: B (...for now) We won't know Houston's official grade for a few years due to the young players involved in the trade. With Jose Abreu practically getting the yips at the plate and Alex Bregman currently a free agent, Paredes provides some needed corner-infield stability. The Astros have plenty of time to make more moves, but for now, he projects to be the Opening Day third baseman. Houston also has a short porch in left field, playing to Paredes' pull strength. He only hit three home runs in 52 games for Chicago but knocked 31 for the Rays in 2023. Wesneski should join the Houston bullpen. Since the Astros still have Ryan Pressly and Josh Hader, he won't be a closer or set-up man. Wesneski figures to be used as a middle reliever or a backend starter in the rotation. He pulled double duty during his time in Chicago. Wesneski made 28 appearances last season, starting seven games. He finished with a 3-6 record with two holds and a 3.86 ERA. The biggest question mark is Smith. He was the 14th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft and was promoted to Chicago's AA affiliate by the end of the season. He is the 73rd overall prospect, according to MLB.com , and is expect to arrive in the big leagues in 2026. If Smith does stick to that timeline, he would likely play third base, Paredes could play first or another infield spot and current first baseman Jon Singleton could platoon. Expectations are high for Smith, and if he can be a productive contributor to the Astros by the end of the 2026 season, this trade grade should arguably improve.
Shareholder Notice: Robbins LLP Informs Stockholders of the Class Action Against Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.Senior members of Canada's cabinet held talks Friday with US President-elect Donald Trump's nominees to lead the departments of commerce and the interior, as Ottawa works to hold off the threat of punishing tariffs. Canada's newly-appointed Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump's commerce secretary nominee, who will also lead the country's tariff and trade agenda. Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum was also at the meeting held at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Leblanc's spokesman Jean-Sebastien Comeau, who confirmed the participants, described the talks as "positive and productive." Trump has vowed to impose crippling 25-percent tariffs on all Canadian imports when he takes office next month. He has said they will remain in place until Canada addresses the flow of undocumented migrants and the drug fentanyl into the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised retaliatory measures should Trump follow through on his pledge, raising fears of a trade war. Leblanc and Joly "outlined the measures in Canada's Border Plan and reiterated the shared commitment to strengthen border security as well as combat the harm caused by fentanyl to save Canadian and American lives," Comeau said in a statement. Canada's Border Plan -- estimated to cost CAN$1 billion ($694 million) -- was crafted as part of Ottawa's response to Trump's concerns. Lutnick and Burgum "agreed to relay information to President Trump," the statement said. Trudeau is facing his worst political crisis since sweeping into office in 2015. Leblanc was named finance minister earlier this month after the surprise resignation of Chrystia Freeland. In a scathing resignation letter, Freeland accused Trudeau of prioritizing handouts to voters instead of preparing Canada's finances for a possible trade war. More than 75 percent of Canadian exports go to the United States and nearly two million Canadian jobs depend on trade. bs/aha
NEW YORK , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI- The global television market size is estimated to grow by USD 64.7 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 7.85% during the forecast period. Product innovation and advances leading to portfolio extension and product premiumization is driving market growth, with a trend towards advent of 8k UHD televisions . However, lack of 4k content poses a challenge. Key market players include Apple Inc., Changhong, Elitelux Australia, Funai Electric Co. Ltd., Haier Smart Home Co. Ltd., Hisense International Co. Ltd., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Konka Group Co. Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., Micromax Informatics Ltd., MIRC Electronics Ltd., Panasonic Holdings Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sharp Corp., Skyworth Group Ltd., Sony Group Corp., TCL Electronics Holdings Ltd., Videocon Industries Ltd., VIZIO Holding Corp., and Xiaomi Communications Co. Ltd.. AI-Powered Market Evolution Insights. Our comprehensive market report ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis- View your snapshot now Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Technology (UHD and HD), Display Size (Upto 43 inches, 55-64 inches, 48-50 inches, and Greater than 65 inches), Display Type (LCD and OLED), and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Region Covered APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key companies profiled Apple Inc., Changhong, Elitelux Australia, Funai Electric Co. Ltd., Haier Smart Home Co. Ltd., Hisense International Co. Ltd., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Konka Group Co. Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., Micromax Informatics Ltd., MIRC Electronics Ltd., Panasonic Holdings Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sharp Corp., Skyworth Group Ltd., Sony Group Corp., TCL Electronics Holdings Ltd., Videocon Industries Ltd., VIZIO Holding Corp., and Xiaomi Communications Co. Ltd. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The television market is witnessing significant advancements in display resolution technology, with 8K televisions gaining traction. At CES 2018, 8K resolution televisions were introduced, offering a higher resolution standard than 4K , with approximately 8,000 horizontal pixels. Although some vendors, including LG, Samsung, and Sony, have launched 8K television series, these are currently not consumer-grade and are available at premium prices. Vendors are expected to ramp up production of affordable consumer versions in the coming years. The development of 8K -compatible content is also crucial for the growth of this market. Overall, the increasing demand for high-resolution display devices and enhanced content creation is driving the adoption of 8K televisions. The Pay TV industry is evolving with new trends shaping the future market landscape. Pay TV models, including postpaid and prepaid services, are gaining popularity, especially in commercial sectors. Acquisitions of content providers and TV-as-a-Service (TVaaS) models are on the rise. Premium UHD content is driving demand, with territories in the technological segments of cable and satellite, as well as internet protocol, competing for consumer attention. Potential investors are eyeing the ecosystem, which includes traditional cable and satellite, digital television, and consumer electronics like Smart TVs, LCD, LED, and OLED screens. The industry offers opportunities in entertainment programs, data programs, and technologies like gaming and console compatibility. The evolution of consumer electronics, including eco-friendly designs and bezel-less displays, is also impacting the market. Insights on how AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and market growth- Request Sample! Market Challenges The adoption of Ultra High Definition (UHD) televisions is hindered by the limited availability of 4K content. This issue is compounded by the proprietary nature of 4K media, which restricts access to a significant portion of 4K videos. Over-the-top (OTT) platforms such as Sky, BT, Amazon, and Netflix are working to address this issue by adding 4K content to their offerings. However, access to these premium 4K videos comes at an additional cost. The primary challenges with 4K and 8K resolutions are the in-home capabilities and content distribution. Broadcasters have yet to produce 4K content due to the high capital investment required for contribution and distribution. Consequently, operators may not be incentivized to provide 4K UHD set-top boxes to consumers, creating a gap between demand and supply. This content gap is expected to hinder the growth of the global television market during the forecast period. The television market is undergoing significant changes with the evolution of consumer electronics. Internet-connected, storage-aware computers have transformed content delivery, enabling access to streaming services and gaming console compatibility. Smart TV enhancements like LCD, LED, and OLED displays offer technologies such as bezel-less and frameless designs. Eco-friendliness, home office integration, and TV as art are new trends. OLED displays and curved displays add value, while foldable displays are an emerging technology. The pay TV market, including cable TV, Direct-to-Home, and fiber optic services, faces competition from disposable incomes and emerging economies fueling consumer appetite for high-definition content and over-the-top platforms. Valuation of the market relies on content integration, viewer preferences, and ultra-high-definition services. Content security systems cater to residential sectors and housing units, catering to the needs of various consumers. Spotv, a new player, aims to disrupt the market with innovative offerings. Insights into how AI is reshaping industries and driving growth- Download a Sample Report Segment Overview This television market report extensively covers market segmentation by Technology 1.1 UHD 1.2 HD Display Size 2.1 Upto 43 inches 2.2 55-64 inches 2.3 48-50 inches 2.4 Greater than 65 inches Display Type 3.1 LCD 3.2 OLED Geography 4.1 APAC 4.2 North America 4.3 Europe 4.4 South America 4.5 Middle East and Africa 1.1 UHD- The television market is a significant sector in media and entertainment. Broadcasters and streaming services compete to provide engaging content to viewers. Advertisers invest heavily to reach audiences through commercials and sponsorships. Consumers continue to demand high-quality programming and convenient viewing options. Innovations like smart TVs and on-demand services shape the market's future. Industry growth is steady, driven by advancements in technology and consumer preferences. Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) Research Analysis The Pay TV market continues to evolve, with various technological segments including Cable TV, Direct-to-Home, and Fiber optic services, catering to the insatiable consumer appetite for high-definition content. Over-the-top platforms have disrupted traditional TV viewing, offering on-demand access to premium content in Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) and technologies. Smart TV capabilities enable seamless content integration and access to eco-friendly features like energy-saving modes. Territories and markets differ, with cable and satellite dominating the residential sector, while the commercial sector embraces Internet Protocol (IP) solutions. Innovations like OLED displays, Bezel-less and Frameless designs, TVs as art pieces, Curved displays, and Foldable displays add to the excitement. UHD content and technologies are the future, transforming the TV viewing experience. Market Research Overview The Pay TV market encompasses various segments, including Cable TV, Direct-to-Home (DTH), Fiber optic services, and Over-the-top (OTT) platforms. Valuation of this industry is driven by consumer appetite for high-definition content and advanced Smart TV capabilities. Technological segments like Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) services and Content Security Systems are gaining traction. Residential sectors, particularly housing units, are significant contributors to the Pay TV industry. Viewer preferences and Pay TV models continue to evolve, with acquisitions and TV-as-a-Service (TVaaS) models emerging. Commercial sectors, potential investors, and territories are also part of the ecosystem. Traditional cable TV and premium content are being challenged by UHD content and technological advancements like internet protocol, gaming, and technologies. Consumer electronics evolution, such as LCD, LED, OLED, and eco-friendly designs, are enhancing the TV viewing experience. The future market landscape includes bezel-less, frameless designs, TV as art, curved displays, and foldable displays. Disposable incomes and emerging economies are expanding the market. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Technology UHD HD Display Size Upto 43 Inches 55-64 Inches 48-50 Inches Greater Than 65 Inches Display Type LCD OLED Geography APAC North America Europe South America Middle East And Africa 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ai-transformations-in-the-tv-market-usd-64-7-billion-growth-forecast-2024-2028-driven-by-innovation-and-premium-products--technavio-report-302313501.html SOURCE Technavio © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Voice cloning is an emerging technology powered by artificial intelligence and it's raising alarms about its potential misuse. Earlier this year, New Hampshire voters experienced this firsthand when a deepfake mimicking President Joe Biden’s voice urged them to skip the polls ahead of the primary. The deepfake likely needed only several seconds of the president's voice to create the clone. According to multiple AI voice cloning models, about 10 seconds of an actual voice is all that is needed to recreate it. And that can easily come from a phone call or a video from social media. "A person's voice is really probably not that information-dense. It's not as unique as you may think," James Betker, a technical staff member at OpenAI, told Scripps News. Betker developed TortoiseTTS, an open-source voice cloning model. "It's actually very easy to model, very easy to learn, the distribution of all human voices from a fairly small amount of data," Betker added. How AI voice cloning works AI models have been trained on vast amounts of data, learning to recognize human speech. Programs analyze the data and train repeatedly, learning characteristics such as rhythm, stress, pitch and tone. "It can look at 10 seconds of someone speaking and it has stored enough information about how humans speak with that kind of prosody and pitch. Enough information about how people speak with their processing pitch and its weights that it can just continue on," Betker said. Imagine a trained AI model as a teacher, and the person cloning the voice to be a student. When a student asks to create a cloned voice, it starts off as white noise. The teacher scores how close the student is to sounding correct. The student tries again and again based on these scores until the student produces something close to what the teacher wants. While this explanation is extremely simplified, the concept of generating a cloned voice is based on bit-by-bit, based on probability distributions. "I think, at its core, it's pretty simple," Betker said. "I think the analogy of just continuing with what you're given will take you pretty far here." There are currently some AI models that claim to only need two seconds of samples. While the results are not convincing yet, Betker says future models will need even fewer voice samples to create a convincing clone.LAS VEGAS — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. "As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It's an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world's premier racing series, and we're committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM's engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level." The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. "We're excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. "Together, we're assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world." Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. "The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team," Michael Andretti posted on social media. "I'm very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!" The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti's dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years, and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA. The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they've already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti's application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1's current grid. "General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. "Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024," F1 said in a statement. "Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. "With Formula 1's continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Initial reaction from U’s boss after defeat to Blades
Students at the Campus School at Boston College got a surprise visit from “Spider-Man” star Tom Holland last week. Holland, whose girlfriend Zendaya is filming a movie in Boston , visited The Campus School on Thursday, Boston College said in an X post . The school educates students ages 3 and 22 who have extensive support needs. Holland spent several hours at the school where he spoke with students and played music with them during a music therapy session, the school wrote in an online article . “He couldn’t have been more down to earth,” Jennifer Miller, the Campus School’s marketing manager, said in the article. “Every single student was engaged, they were vibing off the room for sure,” Miller said. “The way he engaged with them was really quite beautiful. He was just so natural and so caring.” Last year, Miller received a call from a former volunteer’s mother who knew the Holland family, the school said. Through her recommendation, the Campus School applied for a grant from Holland’s family foundation, The Brothers Trust . Through this, the Campus School received a $25,000 grant. The grant will be used to buy assistive technology as well as a ceiling lift for physical therapy exercises. “We are so grateful to Tom Holland for taking the time to visit our small special needs school,” Campus School Interim Director Thomas Miller said in the article. “He participated in a music session, posed for photos, and fully immersed himself into our students' activities and their hearts.” The surprise visit was just one stop on Holland’s recent trip to Boston . The “Uncharted” actor posted on his Instagram story Sunday that he and Zendaya went to Foxhole on Newbury Street for a beer. “I’m heading out to a bar to go and have my first Bero in the wild,” Holland said in another Instagram story that showed Zendaya in the background. He later posted a photo with the “Euphoria” actress smiling and leaning over the table at Foxhole. This was not the first time Zendaya and Holland have been to Boston. The two were spotted together at the Tatte on Boylston Street, right across from Boston Common, in 2022 . Zendaya was in town then to shoot the film, “Challengers,” which Boston.com reported at the time . The celebrity couple was also seen walking their dog in the city earlier this month . Zendaya is in Boston for a new film. The 28-year-old is set to star in a new romance movie called " The Drama " alongside “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson , who was spotted shooting scenes in the Financial District on Oct. 31. Plans for “The Drama” were revealed in August, as first reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline . The upcoming film is directed by Kristoffer Borgli (“Dream Scenario”) and produced by Ari Aster (“Midsommar,” “Hereditary”). Production on the film started on Oct. 22, according to IMDb Pro. A24 , the film’s production company, was unable to provide exact filming locations for “The Drama” because they are confidential, the company told MassLive. However, Zendaya has been spotted at several locations around Boston, according to several videos on social media. One TikTok with the caption, “Zendaya blending in with the locals in beacon hill,” captured the “Dune” actress having a pastry at the Tatte. Another clip from inside the same Tatte showed Zendaya standing outside. The “Euphoria” actress was also seen at Philips Academy in Andover, according to two other TikToks as well as a post on X . Phillips spokesperson Tracy Sweet told Andover News that a film crew was on campus, but could not provide more information. Another video also captured Pattinson at the same school. The 38-year-old actor arrived in Boston on Oct. 30, Just Jared reported . “The Drama” is shooting from now until the end of November in Boston, according to a casting page that is seeking extras for the film. More Boston stories