Globus Medical stock soars to all-time high of $84.89
Protesters demand immediate reopening of routes to Parachinar An image from the MWM sit-in in Karachi on December 25, 2024.— Facebook@UlemaOfQom The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) continued their sit-in at Numaish on the fifth consecutive day on Saturday to protest against the Parachinar situation and to express solidarity with the city’s residents. Sit-ins at around 10 other locations across Karachi also continued for a third day. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) Sindh President Mahmood Moulvi, IPP Central Executive Committee member and former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leaders, as well as lawyers and social figures participated in the central sit-in at Numaish and expressed solidarity with the protesters. During his speech at the protest, MWM central leader Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi responded to Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab’s remarks about the sit-ins. Naqvi claimed that Wahab became mayor through a fake mandate, and that he was speaking the language of the establishment. The MWM leader pointed out that the mayor has not spoken a word about the blockade of Parachinar’s routes for 80 days, during which 130 children died due to the roadblocks. Naqvi said Karachi’s residents are more distressed by the destruction of roads than by sit-ins, adding that the mayor should focus on his work rather than adding salt to the wounds of the victims. He stressed that Karachi has always been the centre of anti-establishment and anti-dictatorship protests. He called for the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to take notice of Wahab’s “anti-people” statements. MQM-P leader Shabbir Kaimkhani said on the occasion: “We are Hussaini, and stand against oppression. As a party we have been voicing our concerns against terrorism for the past 40 years. We condemn the incidents of terrorism in Parachinar.” Kaimkhani demanded the immediate opening of the routes to Parachinar, and announced that they would raise an effective voice in the provincial assembly against this injustice. Former governor Ismail said: “The terrorist attack in Parachinar is not the first incident. In Quetta (Balochistan) terrorists had targeted pilgrims. These systematic acts of terrorism are happening in our beloved country.” He said that people adhering to any religion or sect deserve equal rights. “We do not support those spreading sectarianism. We condemn the terrorism in Parachinar, and call for solidarity with its people.” IPP leader Moulvi offered his condolences to the families of the deceased and the injured. “We stand with the people of Parachinar in these difficult times. The current situation is the result of the incompetence of the federal and provincial governments. The routes must be opened.” Other leaders who participated in the protest included MQM-P Rabita Committee member Masood Mahmood, MNA Abdul Hafeez, MPA Anjum Mirza, MPA Amir Siddiqui, Allama Manzoorul Haq Thanvi, Allama Baqar Hussain Zaidi, Allama Nisar Ahmed Qalandri, Maulana Muhammad Hassan Raisi, Shabir Reza, Shamsul Hassan Shamsi, Ishaq Qurayati, Malik Ghulam Abbas and Hassan Sagheer Abdi. The citywide protests have been causing commuters difficulties in reaching their respective destinations despite the fact that the traffic police have announced alternative routes, and have been diverting traffic toward them.
Michigan upsets No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 for Wolverines' 4th straight win over bitter rivalORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Aaron Rodgers went to the bench after an interception, one that preceded the first unnecessary roughness penalty of his career. He sat down, then he laughed. Record scratch. Freeze frame. “You’re probably wondering how I ended up in this situation.” The ref laughs as he calls a personal foul on Aaron Rodgers for a late hit. pic.twitter.com/eJ1GDzPzD1 — Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) December 29, 2024 It’s Week 17 and the Jets lost again, a stinker of the highest order. Rodgers’ pick and late hit was one of many lowlights in a game that would get much, much worse from there. A 12-0 deficit turned into 19-0, then 26-0, then 33-0, then 40-0 — and then Rodgers, according to Rodgers, told interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich that it might be time to for him to give way to backup Tyrod Taylor, who led the Jets on two scoring drives to close out the game. Final score: 40-14. The Jets’ record is 4-12, their season reaching a level of futility that seemed unfathomable when the year began. Imagine saying that Rodgers would play all 17 games — he’s expected to start again next week — and that the Jets would be sitting here on Dec. 29, on the verge of a full-scale teardown, wondering how it all went so wrong. Advertisement “I mean, it’s kind of like the season, it just got away from us,” Rodgers said, staring at the likelihood that next week’s season finale will be his last game in a Jets uniform — and possibly his last in the NFL. “Too many games got away from us. We were moving the ball and then we just hit a wall and that’s kind of been the season.” So how did the Jets, and Rodgers, get here? Well, through a series of poor offseason decisions by general manager Joe Douglas, a rash of reactive decisions from owner Woody Johnson — namely firing Robert Saleh after Week 5 — and a team that by the end of the year has not appeared to care about much, other than getting to the finish line. Sunday’s effort might have been the worst of the season, from start to finish, a game that saw the Jets penalized 16 times for 120 yards, turn the ball over three times (twice on Rodgers interceptions, once on a lost Garrett Wilson fumble) and fall flat on their face, over and over again, in the same way they have most weeks since Ulbrich took over for Saleh. “I was at peace with everything last week. It finally took me last week to be like: It is what it is,” cornerback D.J. Reed said. “But the frustration just creeped in. Even though we’ve got a bad record we’ve still gotta go out there and put stuff on tape that’s good. The fact that we’re not is very frustrating. Going out like that is unacceptable. It’s the NFL. Every game is supposed to be competitive. To be down 40-0, that s—‘s embarrassing, point blank, period.” Added Wilson: “I always feel like we go out there, the vibe feels right, we’re ready to play. Then we get our ass kicked.” Cornerback Sauce Gardner pointed out that the last Bills game — a 23-20 loss in Week 6 — was close. “So if you ask me, that means it’s the end of the season. Obviously we’re not going to playoffs. Some people might be checked out. That’s just me going off speculation ... we can’t be playing as a team. We’re probably just individuals because last year and the year before we had a roster that wasn’t as talented as this roster, but we found ways to beat the Bills. What’s stopping that now?” Advertisement There are plenty of problems for the Jets to confront, and it will be on a new general manager and a new head coach to figure out how to fix them. But it’s undeniable that the Rodgers marriage has been an unmitigated disaster. In recent weeks, it’s as if the future Hall of Famer has been trolling Johnson, like he wants the Jets owner to release him at the end of the season. On Tuesday last week, Rodgers cracked a joke about the idea of Johnson’s teenage son, Brick, being the one to release him. The next day, Rodgers told reporters he believes there’s a nonzero chance he’s released promptly after the season — and he didn’t sound too upset at the prospect. Lately, Rodgers has seemed more concerned with throwing for his 500th career touchdown pass, and he’s desperately tried to make sure wide receiver Davante Adams, his longtime close friend, is the one to catch it. That’s impacted his already tenuous relationship with Wilson. A few weeks ago, The Athletic reported that Wilson was unhappy with the direction of the Jets. On Sunday, an NFL Network report suggested that the disintegration of the Wilson-Rodgers relationship started during training camp when they got into a heated, animated discussion during a practice that made waves on social media (the two downplayed it afterward). It’s only gotten worse since Adams arrived via trade on Oct. 15. Now, per NFL Network, Wilson might not want to return to the Jets if Rodgers is still around. If the Jets are choosing between Rodgers and Wilson, the correct choice is obvious: The 24-year-old star receiver, putting the finishing touches on his third straight 1,000-yard season, not the 41-year-old quarterback coming off one of his worst-ever games (12 of 18, 112 yards, zero touchdowns, two interceptions) and the circus that follows him. Advertisement Ulbrich didn’t have much to say about Rodgers’ performance on Sunday. “I got to look at the tape honestly,” Ulbrich said. “I didn’t get to see a whole lot of the offense.” It’s not hard to figure out which of the Jets’ two veteran quarterbacks Wilson prefers. In last week’s loss to the Rams, Rodgers got the Jets into the red zone early in the fourth quarter and on fourth down forced a fade to Adams rather than targeting Wilson, who was open elsewhere (the pass was broken up). Wilson only had three targets in that game until late in the fourth quarter. After that game, Wilson was asked about his lack of involvement. His answer: “I’d like to be involved, love to make an impact on the game, but people see it differently.” It was a clear shot at Rodgers. A few days later, Rodgers said he and Wilson hadn’t spoken about the wide receiver’s frustration in weeks — and he didn’t seem particularly interested in delving into their relationship. On Sunday, it took Rodgers exiting the game for Wilson to finally get targets in the red zone. Taylor looked Wilson’s way promptly after getting the offense into the red zone against Bills backups, and Wilson hauled it in for an impressive touchdown catch. It was Wilson’s first target in the red zone since Week 14. The Jets scored on Taylor’s next drive too. Taylor completed 11 of 14 passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. “We knew how it was going to go when he gets out there,” Wilson said of Taylor. “At the end of the day, we’re all pros. When you say that word, he’s someone that exemplifies that more than anyone. When he gets out there and gets his opportunity, he’s going to take advantage.” If the assumption is that Rodgers won’t be returning to the Jets in 2025, as of now Taylor is the leading candidate to be their starting quarterback in 2025. The 35-year-old is under contract for another season, and he offers a different flavor than Rodgers with his mobility and willingness to take shots down the field, though he has been injury-prone throughout his career. Advertisement But if starting Taylor (or someone else) is what it takes to keep Wilson around, then that is what should happen. The Rodgers experiment failed. The Wilson experiment is still ongoing, and he at least sounds like someone who can see a future in which he’s still a Jet and things are better than they are now. There are a lot of factors to consider — Wilson is eligible for a contract extension for the first time this offseason, and the Jets still need to hire a head coach and GM — but he’s the sort of player to build around. Rodgers, at this point, is not. “It’s frustrating,” Wilson said of the Jets’ season, “but it’s going to make those good times coming down the road that much more enjoyable because we went through things like this.” (Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig / Getty Images)Event Management Software Market Set for Major Growth at a CAGR of 14.6% during the forecast period | Key Players- Cvent, Aventri, Eventbrite, Ungerboeck, XING Events, Hopin 11-26-2024 07:51 PM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research Press release from: DataM intelligence 4 Market Research LLP Event Management Software Market The Event Management Software Market report by DataM Intelligence provides insights into the latest trends and developments in the market. This report identifies the key growth opportunities in the market and provides recommendations for market participants to capitalize on these opportunities. Overall, the Event Management Software market report is an essential resource for market participants who are looking to gain a comprehensive understanding of the market and identify opportunities for growth. Download a Free sample PDF (Use Corporate email ID to Get Higher Priority) at: https://www.datamintelligence.com/download-sample/event-management-software-market Global Event Management Software Market reached US$ 7.1 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 14.8 billion by 2030, growing with a CAGR of 14.6% during the forecast period 2023-2030. Event management software is a tool used to plan, organize, and execute events of all sizes. This software helps manage tasks like guest lists, scheduling, ticketing, and communication with attendees. Key Developments: ❁ On 4 August 2023, EventMobi, a Toronto-based event management software provider announced its acquisition of Run The World, an online event platform backed by Andreessen Horowitz. The acquisition is aimed at enabling EventMobi to enhance its offerings, expand its reach and strengthen its position as an industry leader in diverse event formats. ❁ On 2 May 2023, SI Tickets, the ticketing site associated with Sports Illustrated, introduced "Box Office by SI Tickets," a self-service event management and primary ticketing solution developed in collaboration with ConsenSys and powered by Polygon's blockchain technology and this platform offers NFT ticket solutions for events of any size, allowing event hosts to engage with attendees through features like highlights, collectibles, exclusive offers and loyalty benefits. ❁ On 8 June 2023, Crisis24, a prominent global risk management company and part of GardaWorld introduced an advanced mass notification feature integrated within TopoONE, its critical event management platform for security operations centers (GSOC), this enhanced mass notification module offers seamless access to multiple communication channels, facilitating swift escalations and actions in response to critical events. Competitive Landscape: The section also contains information related to the new product launches, mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, etc., to give a clear understanding about the competitive landscape prevailing in the global market. With an emphasis on strategies there have been several primary developments done by major companies such as Cvent, Aventri, Eventbrite, Ungerboeck, XING Events, Hopin, Bizzabo, RainFocus, ACTIVE Network and EventMobi. Get Customization in the report as per your requirements + Exclusive Bundle & Multi-User Discounts: https://www.datamintelligence.com/customize/event-management-software-market Market Segments: The detailed segmentation offered in the report will help customers get a clear idea about the market segments and the factors that will drive segmental growth. The Event Management Software market has been segmented By Component (Software, Services), By Deployment (Cloud, On-Premises), By Organization Size (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Large Enterprises), By By End-User (Event Organizer and Planner, Corporate, Government, Education, Others) Research Process: Both primary and secondary data sources have been used in the global Event Management Software Market research report. During the research process, a wide range of industry-affecting factors are examined, including governmental regulations, market conditions, competitive levels, historical data, market situation, technological advancements, upcoming developments, in related businesses, as well as market volatility, prospects, potential barriers, and challenges. Regional Outline for Event Management Software Market: ⇥ North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) ⇥ Europe (U.K., Italy, Germany, Russia, France, Spain, The Netherlands and Rest of Europe) ⇥ Asia-Pacific (India, Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia Rest of Asia Pacific) ⇥ South America (Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America) ⇥ Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., South Africa, Rest of Middle East & Africa) **The full version of the report includes an in-depth analysis of emerging players and startups, which will provide valuable insights into the evolving market landscape and key strategies being adopted** This Report Covers: ✔ Go-to-market Strategy. ✔ Neutral perspective on the market performance. ✔Development trends, competitive landscape analysis, supply side analysis, demand side analysis, year-on-year growth, competitive benchmarking, vendor identification, and other significant analysis, as well as development status. ✔Customized regional/country reports as per request and country level analysis. ✔ Potential & niche segments and regions exhibiting promising growth covered. ✔ Analysis of Market Size (historical and forecast), Total Addressable Market (TAM), Serviceable Available Market (SAM), Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM), Market Growth, Technological Trends, Market Share, Market Dynamics, Competitive Landscape and Major Players (Innovators, Start-ups, Laggard, and Pioneer). Chapter Outline: ⏩ Market Overview: It contains five chapters, as well as information about the research scope, major manufacturers covered, market segments, Event Management Software market segments, study objectives, and years considered. ⏩ Market Landscape: The competition in the Global Event Management Software Market is evaluated here in terms of value, turnover, revenues, and market share by organization, as well as market rate, competitive landscape, and recent developments, transaction, growth, sale, and market shares of top companies. ⏩ Companies Profiles: The global Event Management Software market's leading players are studied based on sales, main products, gross profit margin, revenue, price, and growth production. ⏩ Market Outlook by Region: The report goes through gross margin, sales, income, supply, market share, CAGR, and market size by region in this segment. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America are among the regions and countries studied in depth in this study. ⏩ Market Segments: It contains the deep research study which interprets how different end-user/application/type segments contribute to the Event Management Software Market. ⏩ Market Forecast: Production Side: In this part of the report, the authors have focused on production and production value forecast, key producers forecast, and production and production value forecast by type. ⏩ Research Findings: This section of the report showcases the findings and analysis of the report. ⏩ Conclusion: This portion of the report is the last section of the report where the conclusion of the research study is provided. Unlock Year-End Savings! Get Up to 30% Off: https://www.datamintelligence.com/buy-now-page?report=event-management-software-market Frequently asked questions: ➠ What is the global sales value, production value, consumption value, import and export of Event Management Software market? ➠ Who are the global key manufacturers of the Event Management Software Industry? How is their operating situation (capacity, production, sales, price, cost, gross, and revenue)? ➠ What are the Event Management Software market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global Event Management Software Industry? ➠ Which application/end-user or product type may seek incremental growth prospects? What is the market share of each type and application? ➠ What focused approach and constraints are holding the Event Management Software market? ➠ What are the different sales, marketing, and distribution channels in the global industry? Contact Us - Company Name: DataM Intelligence Contact Person: Sai Kiran Email: Sai.k@datamintelligence.com Phone: +1 877 441 4866 Website: https://www.datamintelligence.com About Us - DataM Intelligence is a Market Research and Consulting firm that provides end-to-end business solutions to organizations from Research to Consulting. We, at DataM Intelligence, leverage our top trademark trends, insights and developments to emancipate swift and astute solutions to clients like you. We encompass a multitude of syndicate reports and customized reports with a robust methodology. Our research database features countless statistics and in-depth analyses across a wide range of 6300+ reports in 40+ domains creating business solutions for more than 200+ companies across 50+ countries; catering to the key business research needs that influence the growth trajectory of our vast clientele. This release was published on openPR.
Robert P. Jornayvaz III Sells 3,557 Shares of Intrepid Potash, Inc. (NYSE:IPI) Stock‘Retaliatory’ attacks from Afghanistan repulsed "There are reports of heavy losses on Afghan side which may increase," say sources Pakistani soldiers stand guard near the Afghan border in Ghulam Khan, a village in KP's North Waziristan. — AFP/File ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed over 15 Khwarij and Afghan Taliban while responding to their unprovoked firing after multiple foiled attempts of infiltration into Pakistan early Saturday, sources said. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); The sources said that 20 to 25 Khwarij, while using the border posts of Afghan Taliban, made attempts to enter Pakistan’s territory from two places in Kurram and North Waziristan on the night of December 27 and 28. Pakistan security forces personnel took timely action and foiled both attempts of infiltration. However, Khwarij made another attempt to enter Pakistan while using border posts of Afghan Taliban but they could not succeed in their design. On that, both Afghan Taliban and Khwarij started unprovoked firing with heavy weapons on Pakistani posts which was responded effectively. “There are reports of heavy losses on the Afghan side which may increase,” the sources. According to credible reports, as a result of effective response from Pakistani forces, 15 Khwarij and Afghan Taliban were killed and many others were injured. The Afghan Taliban also fled leaving their posts due to heavy firing. No loss of lives was reported on the Pakistan side and only three Jawans were injured. The security sources said that Pakistan time and again had requested the Afghan interim government that it should not allow Khwarij to use its soil against the neighbour. However, instead of taking required action, the Afghan Taliban have been facilitating Khwarij to continue their activities inside Pakistan. The sources said that Fitna-Al-Khwarij exists in Afghanistan with full freedom and is continuing anti-Pakistan activities. “Pakistani security forces are fully capable of giving effective response to any aggression against the country,” the security sources said. Local residents have started migrating to safer places owing to the ongoing firing from the Afghanistan side in the border areas of Kurram district. According to sources, firing continued from the Afghan side in the border areas of Borki, Kharlachi and Maqbal in Kurram district in which an FC official, identified as Lance Naik Ainullah, has been martyred. They said that seven other FC men were injured due to cross-border firing from Afghanistan. However, they added, the Pakistani forces launched a strong retaliatory operation against the attackers. The local residents from border areas have begun to evacuate to safer places. This year, residents of border villages have been forced to leave their homes three times due to attacks originating from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Taliban Ministry of Defence said in a post on social media platform X, “Several points beyond the hypothetical line, serving as centers and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who organised and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan, were targeted in retaliation from the southeastern direction of the country.” The statement did not specifically referred to Pakistan, instead saying the strikes took place “beyond the hypothetical line” — a term used by Afghan authorities to refer to the long disputed border with Pakistan.
This year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is open for all students and families to apply. Filling out the form is essential to determining eligibility for and receiving federal financial aid for college. Last year’s online application was riddled with glitches , and led to significant declines in numbers of applicants completing the form and delays in college financial aid offers for those who qualified. The Report’s Shomial Ahmad spoke with Christina Galanis, the Fort Worth ISD director of secondary student engagement, for her advice on how to complete and submit this year’s financial aid form. The interview has been edited for clarity and space. Shomial Ahmad: Why is it important for people considering going to college to fill out the FAFSA? Christina Galanis: Essentially, the FAFSA determines how much the government is going to subsidize a student’s education through things like federal Pell grants or federal subsidized or unsubsidized loans. With subsidized loans, the federal government subsidizes the interest on those loans while you are in college, and so you’re not accruing interest during those years. With unsubsidized loans, you do accrue interest while you are in college. Get essential daily news for the Fort Worth area. Sign up for insightful, in-depth stories — completely free. Many families don’t apply because they think that they won’t be eligible, especially if they’re more affluent families. However, many scholarships, and that includes institutional scholarships from a college, require the FAFSA before even considering a student for a scholarship. Even if a family is more affluent and they are thinking about not applying, they may be precluding their student from eligibility from institutional scholarship funds by not having that FAFSA application on file. We highly encourage that every student fills out the FAFSA, or if they don’t have a Social Security number and they’re not eligible for FAFSA, they should fill out the TASFA — Texas Application for State Financial Aid — which is only for Texas public colleges. Ahmad: What kind of information should a student gather and have in front of them when they’re filling out the FAFSA? Galanis: They need their Social Security number. They need their parents’ full legal names, marital status and dates of birth. They also need to create their FSA ID . The FSA ID is essentially their login for the FAFSA, and they can create that at studentaid.gov even before the online FAFSA application opens. Their parent — and potentially both parents depending on their parental situation — need a FSA ID. Those IDs should be made ahead of time, so if there’s any verification process or any issues that come up in the creation of those IDs, that’s all taken care of before they sit down and apply. Students and parents should double-check the information they enter for their FSA ID. If they have a typo in their birthday or something like that, it can cause problems down the road. Also, it’s a good idea to have 2023 tax forms handy. The online application can import tax data, but in case something goes wrong with the linking, you can enter the information manually. Ahmad: What’s the FAFSA application process like? Galanis: Students can go to the FAFSA website and enter their FSA ID. In the past, it was one form. Now, the student and the parent will log in separately and complete their own part separately. The student has to identify who’s going to be the contributor to their FAFSA. It asks basic demographic information and questions regarding financial status. There’s an option to directly link to the IRS website to grab federal income tax return data. It’s 99.99% recommended to do that because that speeds the processing greatly. Ultimately it’ll spit out a student aid report, and that will get sent to the student. It will let the student know their potential earnings, their potential award from the federal government in the form of a federal Pell grant. It will also list all the colleges that the student can send the FAFSA to. Ahmad: When do you recommend students apply? Galanis: As soon as possible. They’re processed by the U.S. Department of Education in the order they’re received, as far as I’m aware. So if there are issues, the sooner you apply, the sooner those issues will be resolved. They did extend the priority deadline for the FAFSA until Jan. 31, but it’s definitely recommended that you don’t wait until that last day of the priority deadline to apply. That would assume that everything’s going to be issue-free and go through seamlessly, and that may not be the case. That being said, there’s no true deadline for the FAFSA. Ahmad: What were some of the issues with the FAFSA form last year? Galanis: One of the issues that we ran into last year was with students who are citizens but have undocumented parents. There were a lot of issues with verification of status, as far as citizenship status. As a result, those students’ forms weren’t being processed because all of the people’s forms that had to contribute weren’t done. They couldn’t finish their process. Those students’ FAFSA results were severely delayed. Now, the Department of Education has said that they will troubleshoot those issues. We should see a much improved experience this year, but it remains to be seen how that’s going to go. Ahmad: What kind of help is being offered by Fort Worth ISD and others in Tarrant County? Galanis: FWISD has a partnership with the Tarrant To & Through Partnership and the TCU College Advising Corps. They staff our GO Centers, which help students in real time at the campuses during the school day. Students are able to fill out their forms during lunch, or when they’ve finished their work in a class. Our campuses host FAFSA events, where students and parents can come up to the school and get assistance on the form. Students can access some online resources, through the FWISD website , and the educational nonprofit uAspire . I would encourage anyone who is having difficulty in filling out the form to seek help, whether it’s at a help center, talking to their counselor or going to a GO Center. Shomial Ahmad is a higher education reporter for the Fort Worth Report, in partnership with Open Campus . Contact her at shomial.ahmad@fortworthreport.org . At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here . The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Your support makes TWICE the impact today. As November draws to a close , time is running out to double your impact. Thanks to the generosity of the Nicholas Martin Jr. Family Foundation, every dollar you give will be matched—up to $15,000. Will you give today to help trusted, local reporting thrive in Fort Worth and Tarrant County? Related Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism . Republish This Story Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License . Look for the "Republish This Story" button underneath each story. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS). Do not copy stories straight from the front-end of our web-site. You are required to follow the guidelines and use the republication tool when you share our content. The republication tool generates the appropriate html code. You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you use our stories in any other medium — for example, newsletters or other email campaigns — you must make it clear that the stories are from the Fort Worth Report. In all emails, link directly to the story at fortworthreport.org and not to your website. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. You have to credit Fort Worth Report. Please use “Author Name, Fort Worth Report” in the byline. If you’re not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: “This story was originally published by Fort Worth Report” and include our website, fortworthreport.org . You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. You can only publish select stories individually — not as a collection. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. by Shomial Ahmad, Fort Worth Report November 30, 2024Cyberattackers are targeting users of the OpenSea nonfungible token (NFT) platform with a phishing attack that lures users with the potential sale of items listed on the marketplace. The aim? Draining their cryptocurrency wallets dry. Researchers at Cofense discovered the campaign, in which adversaries impersonate the OpenSea website and claim a user has a new offer on a listing on the site to try to bait them into clicking on a malicious link. "The goal of the phishing scheme is to get recipients to connect their crypto wallets to the phishing page, which will drain their wallets," Cole Adkins of the Cofense Phishing Defense Center wrote in a post . "The phish presents itself as an offer on an NFT the recipient has listed on OpenSea, in hopes they will click on it and connect their wallet once redirected." OpenSea is the largest marketplace for NFTs and thus "the go-to platform for many entry-level NFT enthusiasts looking to enter the crypto collectible market," who are likely unaware of the common tactics of phishers and thus can easily be fooled, he wrote. The campaign demonstrates the speed with which attackers are targeting new and emerging technologies like NFT — which held little interest for people until OpenSea was launched in 2017 — with custom campaigns tailored to their particular interests, he said. OpenSea marketplace currently has more than 2 million users with at least one transaction on the site, many of them enterprise users . Related: CyCognito Report Highlights Rising Cybersecurity Risks in Holiday E-Commerce The attack begins when targeted victims receive an email that appears to come from OpenSea. To a savvy user, it would be a clear phish, as the sender address is "administrator[at]motordna[dot]io," and thus unrelated to the NFT marketplace. However, the branding in the content of the email mimics OpenSea using a look that's similar to the site, and it could fool someone not keeping an eye out for phishing clues, according to Cofense. "By branding the email as OpenSea and employing the same email format used for an actual notification from the OpenSea NFT marketplace, the threat actor hopes to ease the recipient’s suspicion so they will click the button in the email body," Adkins wrote. Recipients are prompted to hit an "Access Now" button to direct to a purported offer that's come on one of their items on the marketplace, demonstrating the use of social engineering that adds urgency and aims to instill excitement at the potential of a sale, he wrote. Users that click on the button are directed to a fake OpenSea webpage that's also been designed by attackers to appear legitimate. The page shows that an offer has been made on an NFT owned by the victim and they must accept it quickly by connecting to their crypto wallet via a "Connect Wallet" button, or else lose their chance at a sale. Clicking presents the user with multiple ways to access the wallet, such as via a QR code or signing in with credentials. Once this step is complete, an attacker can control the wallet and any credentials associated with it. Related: Faux ChatGPT, Claude API Packages Deliver JarkaStealer The campaign is not the first time OpenSea has been targeted by a potential threat actor. A couple of years ago, an employee of one of the marketplace's email vendors, Customer.io, accessed and downloaded the company's email list, ostensibly for future phishing attacks. The cybercriminal group Marko Polo also has impersonated OpenSea as a way to target its users for fraud. While NFT hasn't quite gone mainstream yet, attackers are increasingly targeting those interested in the novel technology to expand their attack surface. These attacks will likely ramp up as the technology gains popularity, according to Cofense. "This ... highlights why recipients must stay vigilant and up to date with common phishing threats in order to protect their assets," Adkins wrote. Related: MITRE: Cross-Site Scripting Is 2024's Most Dangerous Software Weakness Cofense recommends that users of OpenSea and other NFT marketplaces use the same online hygiene as any other e-commerce user when navigating access to their accounts. Best practices for protecting assets include avoiding clicking on links in emails from addresses or users they don't recognize, and learning to recognize common phishing and social-engineering tactics. The company also recommends that OpenSea users should check the sender field of any email that purports to be from the marketplace for suspicious-looking addresses that could alert them to foul play. Elizabeth Montalbano is a freelance writer, journalist, and therapeutic writing mentor with more than 25 years of professional experience. Her areas of expertise include technology, business, and culture. Elizabeth previously lived and worked as a full-time journalist in Phoenix, San Francisco, and New York City; she currently resides in a village on the southwest coast of Portugal. In her free time, she enjoys surfing, hiking with her dogs, traveling, playing music, yoga, and cooking.
A light breeze drifted through a small creative agency in Mumbai’s Dadar district one summer morning. The design team, huddled around their laptops, felt the pressure mounting: a major client had just announced a nationwide campaign rollout, with deadlines looming. Miles away in a Delhi high-rise, a senior brand manager scrolled through social media feedback, worried their latest ad push wasn’t connecting outside metro cities. Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, an e-commerce startup was about to launch a new fashion line but struggled to craft messaging that appealed both to cosmopolitan millennials and more conservative families. Three different corners of India, three distinct advertising challenges, yet one transformative solution—artificial intelligence (AI)-driven storytelling. Once considered futuristic, AI is now rapidly reshaping the nation’s advertising landscape. From bridging linguistic divides to crafting laser-focused personalization, AI has evolved from buzzword to essential creative partner. The human touch—amplified Unlike traditional automation tools, generative AI models like ChatGPT do more than just speed up repetitive tasks. They tap into vast datasets—ranging from pop culture references to local dialects—and produce creative outputs. When a Bengaluru-based fashion retailer tested AI-generated ad copy, the variety of taglines in English, Kannada and colloquial Hinglish was impressive. After feeding the AI a few prompts about the brand’s vibrant identity, the marketing team was flooded with punchy lines that mixed local phrases with pop culture references. But human creativity remained essential. Marketers shortlisted the best lines, refined the tone and added finishing touches that gave the copy its unique personality. The campaign’s success showed how technology and a human touch can combine to create something genuinely engaging. Also read: Personalization at scale India’s cultural and linguistic diversity is both a treasure trove and a major hurdle for advertisers. A national fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company in Delhi embraced AI-driven storytelling for a tea promotion and segmented its audience by region, language and age. Using AI, the brand generated video scripts and social media captions in multiple languages, each infused with local cultural references—Punjab’s robust chai traditions, Assam’s proud tea heritage and more. This approach was not only faster but also more effective: engagement and brand recall skyrocketed, validating the power of personalized, localized content. Yet, as Sreeraman Thiagarajan, chief executive officer (CEO) at Agrahyah Technologies, notes, marketers should look beyond tactical AI uses like ad copy generation and think bigger. “The real power of AI lies in weaving it into every touchpoint with the consumer, not just in isolated tasks." Meanwhile, Yesudas S. Pillai, founder of Y&A Transformation and strategic advisor at Channel Factory, believes AI can address India’s diversity head-on. “AI’s ability to craft hyper-personalized messages is a game-changer, especially in a market like India, where diversity in language, culture and preferences poses significant challenges. AI can help create campaigns that are rooted in relevant languages and contextual narratives for different sets of consumers." Multiple angles, one unified message A media house in Mumbai used AI to maintain narrative consistency across platforms—from print ads to social posts to radio jingles. Creative directors, copywriters and scriptwriters fed a core brand story into the AI, complete with emotional undertones and character sketches. The AI then spun multiple versions, each tailored to a specific channel. For instance, the radio jingle was short and catchy, while the social posts captured a fun, quippy brand tone. Print ads used more formal language. Also read: In today’s hyper-competitive market, cohesive multi-channel experiences are crucial. AI’s ability to preserve a brand’s spirit while adapting to different formats has helped unify campaigns like never before. Breaking language barriers The rise of regional over-the-top (OTT) platforms, vernacular news portals and local YouTube channels shows how deeply Indians value content in their mother tongues. AI models trained on extensive linguistic datasets can easily switch between Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and more, ensuring brand messages stay culturally relevant. Mandar Natekar, co-founder and CEO of VisualDub.Ai, observes that Indian social culture is moving toward “language and cultural pride," making it more important than ever for brands to speak consumers’ languages authentically. “For the longest time, ad films were shot in Hindi and then dubbed for regional audiences, but that risked losing authenticity. With GenAI (generative AI), brands can connect with consumers in their own language quickly and at a lower cost." A Hyderabad ad agency recently proved this by using AI to craft Telugu-specific campaigns for a cookware brand. The AI not only provided accurate translations but also added references to popular local dishes and cooking traditions. The resulting ads felt far more intimate than a straightforward English translation ever could, boosting sales and sparking social media praise for their heartfelt tone. Insights beyond creation Part of AI’s appeal lies in its ability to analyze the impact of content, not just create it. Marketers gain real-time insights into which scripts or visuals drive higher engagement or lead to more sales. At a startup in Gurugram, the marketing team ran two AI-created campaigns—one comedic, one inspirational—for a mobile app launch. Within hours, analytics showed the inspirational tone resonated far more with the target audience. Budgets and creative focus were swiftly adjusted, improving efficiency and impact. Also read: According to Pillai, “AI-driven storytelling can transform data into impactful engagement opportunities," but he cautions against sacrificing genuine human experiences for last-click ambitions. “I hope we don’t devolve into transactional, stereotypical representations." Enhancing user experiences AI also powers personalized recommendations on OTT platforms, ride-sharing apps and e-commerce sites. Thiagarajan notes that these platforms can leverage real-time demand and supply data to deliver near-seamless user experiences. Whether it’s suggesting a new movie or providing a faster cab route, AI can help tailor each interaction to a user’s preferences. That said, Pillai emphasizes the importance of training GenAI models on diverse datasets to respect cultural nuances. Agencies should see AI as a creative collaborator rather than a threat to originality. “They act as creative partners, generating ideas and even scripting ads, allowing agencies more time for strategic thinking and refining insights." Preserving authenticity and trust In a market as diverse as India, authenticity is everything. An AI might misinterpret subtle cultural references or miss sensitive issues, so human oversight remains vital. At the same time, data privacy and ethical considerations loom large. As AI mines vast user information to personalize campaigns, brands must be transparent and responsible in their data usage. A future of infinite possibilities As India’s digital ecosystem continues to grow, AI-driven storytelling is poised to become even more integral to advertising, be it in streamlining online ads or revitalizing traditional media with localized content. The most exciting possibility might be how AI can elevate niche stories and voices across India’s myriad communities. Ultimately, the goal isn’t to replace human imagination with cold algorithms, but to harness AI to amplify creativity, speed and relevance. In a land as dynamic and diverse as India, that meaningful connection is more crucial than ever. And AI, when balanced with human insight, just might be the key to forging it.