Lance Dickson Promotes His Transformative Spiritual Guide – Grace Mercy & Faith
Global Launch Of “Chinese Visual Key Input Method” Successfully Held In Dubai
Donald Trump Jr. has publicly confirmed neither a breakup from longtime fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle nor a new relationship with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson. But sources close to Trump Jr., 46, and the family of President-elect Donald Trump are opening up to People magazine about the reasons that Trump Jr. became tired of his six-year relationship to Guilfoyle, 55, and began dating the younger Anderson about six months ago, “right under Guilfoyle’s nose,” as the Daily Beast added . It turns out that Trump Jr. didn’t like Guilfoyle’s “style,” including the “tight dresses,” a political source told People in another report . He felt that the 39-year-old Anderson, with her honey-blond hair and “Waspy” model looks, would “impress” his father and perhaps make her a more ideal romantic partner. “Don Jr. has always wanted to look good in his father’s eyes,” the political source told People. Meanwhile, Trump family members got tired of Guilfoyle’s attention-seeking ways and are happy that the former Fox News host will be leaving their “immediate sphere” to take a job as Trump’s new ambassador to Greece, People reported. “Kim is not a nice person and always wants the limelight,” a source told People in another report . The former first lady of San Francisco-turned Trump loyalist couldn’t help but become aware that her fiancé had begun seeing Anderson after he took the socialite on a trip to Alaska and started to introduce her to family and friends as his new girlfriend, even “when he was still very much with Kim,” People reported. “For the most part Kim has looked the other way because she loves the power and lifestyle,” the source told People. When Guilfoyle became Trump Jr.’s girlfriend in 2018, she also became a top campaigner and fundraiser for Trump and one-half of a MAGA power couple. And, as Trump himself said on Truth Social Tuesday, he named her to be U.S. ambassador to Greece in part because he wanted to reward her for being “a close friend and ally.” But, as many suspected, sending Guilfoyle off to Europe was part of a Trump family plan to “remove her from the picture,” so that Anderson could take her place as Trump Jr.’s new significant other, People reported. “They are trying to send Kim abroad,” a political insider told People, who added that Anderson also wanted Guilfoyle “out of the area.” The plan also was for Trump Jr. to wait for the election to pass before letting the public know that he no longer saw a future with Guilfoyle and had a new woman in his life — who also happens to be “a big Republican,” People reported. “They didn’t want the split to get in the way of anything to hurt Donald in the election,” the political insider told People. The U.K. tabloid the Daily Mail on Tuesday confirmed months of speculation that Trump Jr. and Anderson were an item by publishing photos of the two leaving a dinner date in Palm Beach Monday night. Later Tuesday, Trump announced he was nominating Guilfoyle to be the U.S. ambassador to Greece. For public purposes, Guilfoyle said on social media that she was “honored” to accept the nomination, while Trump Jr. gallantly said on X, “I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an ambassador.” Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle, the ex-wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, began dating in 2018, shortly after Trump Jr.’s first wife, Vanessa, filed for divorce to end their 12-year marriage. Trump Jr. and Vanessa share five children. Guilfoyle also left her lucrative job at Fox News after she began dating Trump Jr. The New Yorker reported in 2020 that Guilfoyle was effectively forced out of her Fox News job, following a human resources into allegations that she engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior in the workplace. As a couple, Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle, a former San Francisco prosecutor, became known as “the prom king and queen of MAGA” politics as they campaigned together around the country on his father’s behalf. At donor events, they also were known for alluding to their playful sex life, while Guilfoyle often liked to introduce herself to the crowd — or appear at Trump’s Jan. 6, 2021, rally preceding the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol — doing a sexy dance. At such events, Trump Jr. appeared to take delight in Guilfoyle’s sexy dances and flamboyant style. But at some point he began to get weary of it, according to the political insider who said that he had started to complain about her “style,” People reported. Others in their “orbit” shared his complaints, according to People. “Don Jr. has been telling people for months that Kim is so uptight and always dresses so professionally in these kinds of dresses and high heels, and never looks relaxed or casual,” the political source said, while commenting to People on “the optics” of the relationship. “The tight dresses need to go, and she has been told that.” Apparently, Anderson’s more natural, fun-loving style is more to Trump Jr.’s taste these days, especially as he sees that she could become his “own Melania Trump equivalent,” a source told People. “She is a party girl, and outgoing, and Don is smitten with her,” a Palm Beach source told People. “Bettina is smart, sexy and savvy and knows it. She likes to have fun,” another source added. “Who knows what, if anything, will come from this.” ©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at mercurynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Scott Laughton and Aleksei Kolosov spearheaded a 4-1 win for the Flyers over the Red Wings on Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Laughton delivered all four goals and Kolosov was strong in net. > Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are The Flyers (14-12-4) won their second straight and have earned at least a point in 13 of their last 17 games (10-4-3). John Tortorella's club was able to build off one of its best performances of the season, a 5-3 win Tuesday night over the Blue Jackets . After Detroit trimmed the Flyers' lead to 2-1, Laughton scored an empty-netter to give himself a hat trick. He added a second empty-netter for good measure. The 30-year-old became the first Flyer to score four goals in a game since John LeClair did it in October 2002. "Really happy for him," Sean Couturier said. "He's probably one of the best teammates you can have around." Laughton is a beloved Flyer who has been in the organization since 2012 . He received a lengthy standing ovation from his teammates in the locker room after the game. Complete coverage of the Philadelphia Flyers and their rivals in the NHL from NBC Sports Philadelphia. "It was pretty electric in here," Laughton said. "We're a close group and we celebrate the wins. A good feeling tonight, for sure. Kind of get my game going hopefully offensively. It was an awesome night." Similar to the Flyers, the Red Wings (11-14-4) have played a lot of close games, with 10 of their last 12 decided by one goal. The Flyers visit Detroit in six days for the second of three meetings between the clubs. • Kolosov denied 25 of 26 shots. The 22-year-old was sharp and the Flyers helped his cause by heavily dictating the second period. Kolosov looked like his athletic self and flashed his glove multiple times. "To get the scoring chances he got in the second half of that third period and how he stood in there," Tortorella said. "He was really good." The Red Wings got one past him with 3:53 minutes left in the game. Coming in, Kolosov was 3-1-1 with a 2.58 goals-against average and .904 save percentage over his last five starts. "You can tell he's a gamer, he battles hard, he fights for a lot of pucks," Couturier said. "He's really athletic and never quits on pucks." More: Tortorella lays out Flyers' goalie depth chart Detroit netminder Cam Talbot was excellent, stopping 32 of the Flyers' 34 shots. Before Laughton cracked him with a breakaway windup and blast in the second period, Talbot had just made three excellent saves to keep the game scoreless. He robbed Matvei Michkov with a glove stop. Then, in a 16-second span, he denied a 2-on-1 look for Joel Farabee and a Couturier breakaway. So Laughton unloaded a slap shot. "Coots has a breakaway, a 2-on-1 Beezer misses; I think Laughts said, 'The hell with this, I am just going to drive this thing,'" Tortorella said. "And that's what he did. For a Scotty Laughton, you always hope good things happen for him. He has worked so hard. It's good and it's a big reason why we win the game, obviously." By second intermission, the Flyers had put 30 shots on Talbot. In the third period, Laughton struck again. He recorded his NHL-leading 17th shorthanded point since the 2022-23 season with a goal off a feed from Travis Konecny. Those two make up a dangerous duo on the penalty kill. "Scotty's one of those guys that it doesn't matter where he is in the lineup or what his job is, he's always a good spirit at the rink," Konecny said. "He never complains about anything, he just goes and puts his head down and does what he has to do. I think when he's called upon for offense, he has got a lot of skill." The Flyers went on the PK right after the opening draw of the third period. Michkov was given a roughing penalty after getting into it with Alex DeBrincat. It has become more and more clear that Michkov plays with an edge. • Michkov had his season-best five-game point streak snapped. The 20-year-old winger had three goals and seven assists over the run. On a delayed Red Wings penalty in the second period, Michkov nearly pulled off "the Michigan." He tried to score the lacrosse style goal from behind the net but Talbot slid over in time to make the save. Thursday night was the first time Michkov didn't record a point since Nov. 29. He entered as a point-per-game player on the season with 11 goals and 16 assists through 27 games. • Emil Andrae was a healthy scratch as Egor Zamula drew into the lineup and played alongside Rasmus Ristolainen. The 22-year-old Andrae has bolstered the Flyers' defense. But over the last two games, he was a minus-3 and took a heavy hit. "I think Andrae has fought it," Tortorella said at morning skate. "It has been a little bit of a struggle with the puck, it has been a struggle without the puck. We've got to be careful when we're developing a guy like that, he comes in here like gangbusters." • The Flyers practice Friday at noon ET before flying to St. Paul, Minnesota for a matchup Saturday with the Wild (2 p.m. ET/NBCSP). Subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts | Youtube Music | Spotify | Stitcher | Simplecast | RSS | Watch on YouTube
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson reiterated that peaceful protest was a fundamental right enshrined in the constitution, and the nation remained resolute in exercising this right despite the incumbent government’s incessant threats, intimidation, and attempts to convert the country into a war zone through massive troop deployments and containerization. PTI Spokesperson, in a reaction to Atta Tarar’s outbursts, stated that the touts and the courtiers unleashed to target and intimidate people for participating in the revolutionary PTI’s peaceful march should bear in mind that 240 million people were fed-up of their self-centred and incompetent masters, who ruined the country economically, socially and politically during the past two and a half years. He lashed out at the mandate thief government for taking away the people’s fundamental rights, including freedom of movement, trade, employment and communication, besides confining 240 million people to their homes. PTI Spokesperson strongly condemned the government’s open threats and intimidation tactics against young people, traders, teachers, students, transporters and government officials. He emphasized that the nation would not be intimidated by threats and would not give up its fundamental rights and the peaceful protest would be the prelude to restore the constitution and the law in its true sense. PTI Spokesperson made it clear that the undeterred and unfazed nation would come out in large number peacefully from across the country for achieving true freedom in total disregard of the threats hurled by the touts and added that the government would be responsible for the riots and anarchy. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
Vikings right guard Dalton Risner says he’ll continue to get better at new position
ATHEX: Bourse index advances to 11-week highAI Technology to Overcome Initial Accessibility Challenges in 3D Cadastral Mapping Using Only Aerial Imagery The award-winning "AI2RE" leverages a proprietary AI engine to extract 2D (vector) lines exclusively from aerial imagery, including satellite and drone capture. Based on these extracted vectors, this technology supports 3D models such as terrains, buildings, and roads. This technology addresses initial accessibility challenges in 3D cadastral mapping—such as data loss and compatibility issues—using only aerial imagery. Doing so contributes to providing reliable and stable 3D geospatial information to government agencies and enterprises. The technology is currently being utilized in projects related to the European Union (EU)'s Data Governance and Utilization Strategy, showcasing a remarkable improvement in cadastral mapping efficiency—from 6 months per person to just 5 days per person. Furthermore, business discussions are ongoing with South American and African countries, expanding its global reach. OpenAI-Integrated Geospatial Data Platform At CES, Spaid will unveil its first-ever OpenAI-Integrated Geospatial Data Platform. This innovative platform allows users to receive personalized geospatial data card recommendations through the OpenAI agent. By simply dragging and dropping these cards, users can intuitively visualize and analyze data in a 3D map viewer without the need for additional tools or software. Spaid is progressively advancing the digital twin transformation of the world within its geospatial data platform using a data-driven approach. This roadmap aims to create a metaverse that can be effectively utilized in real-world industries. Spaid at CES 2025 Spaid's booth will be located at LVCC South Hall 2 (35726), where visitors can experience the cutting-edge "AI2RE: Image to 3D Geospatial AI Metaverse" solutions and the innovative "OpenAI-Integrated Geospatial Data Platform (Geo Data Platform)." For the award-winning AI2RE, attendees can dive into ongoing projects that demonstrate the full workflow—object detection, 2D line extraction, and 3D model generation—with a single click. In addition, the "OpenAI-Integrated Geospatial Data Platform" will feature an interactive demo designed specifically for CES. Visitors can engage with geospatial data cards for San Francisco by simply dragging and dropping them to visualize the data in 3D, showcasing the platform's intuitive and user-friendly capabilities. Chongkul Yi, CEO of Spaid, said, "We are incredibly proud to have our 'One of a Kind' innovative AI Engine recognized by the CES Innovation Award." He added, "At CES 2025, we aim to showcase the excellence of our cutting-edge Geospatial AI solutions and the data-driven metaverse platform, accelerating our efforts to expand into the global market." About Spaid SPAID pursues being "one of a Kind." It aims to bridge the gap between the physical and digital environments by leveraging all live streaming information and data to maximize usability. We specialize in providing geospatial AI-based solutions that enable synergetic decision-making by deriving new insights through a fusion network of diverse data sources provided by public agencies and enterprises. Our solutions empower clients across industries by facilitating smart decision-making in smart city and smart factory digital twin operations, defense simulations, real estate location value analysis, building energy management, financial investment and risk management, and telecom network resource management. SPAID aims to drive transformative progress across various industries through these innovative solutions, contributing to sustainable development and fostering long-term growth. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spaid-winner-of-ces-innovation-awards-for-redefining-the-future-of-geospatial-with-ai-to-unveil-ai-solution-and-openai-platform-at-ces-2025-302339321.html SOURCE Spaid
The man who was famously punched by John Prescott has paid his respects to the former deputy prime minister. Craig Evans, who hurled an egg at the Labour politician during a protest about farming issues in 2001, expressed his condolences after hearing of his death. Speaking from his home, the-53-year-old dad-of-two said: "A friend called me this morning to say he died, he had Alzheimer's I believe, you wouldn't wish that on anyone, my thoughts are with his family. The guy has died." He added: "Alzheimer's is a terrible thing... my grandad died of Alzheimers and you wouldn't wish that on anyone. It robs the person and it robs the family of the person." READ MORE: Andy Burnham welcomes English National Opera to Greater Manchester after 'awkward' start Over the years, Craig has turned down numerous TV invitations to discuss the incident, which made headlines nationwide, the Mirror reports. When asked about his current feelings on the matter, he said: "It's too long ago, it is what it is, it happened at the time. I'm well known [for it]". Craig claims he is often recognised as the man who had a scuffle with John Prescott. When questioned if he regrets the incident after all these years, he replied: "I don't regret it, I still believe now what I did back then." The moment John Prescott punched Craig Evans at a fuel protest in Rhyl, North Wales (Image: Sky News) Mr Prescott passed away at the age of 86 following a battle with Alzheimer's, his family confirmed earlier today. His family have said he "spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment". The former trade union activist and ex-merchant seaman passed away "peacefully" and surrounded by loved ones at his care home, they confirmed. John Prescott with former Prime Minister Tony Blair (Image: 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved) A key player in Sir Tony Blair's New Labour era, Lord Prescott was often viewed as the guardian of the party's core tenets amid a wave of modernisation. Hearing of his former colleague's death, Sir Tony shared that he is "devastated". After being made a life peer in 2010, he became Baron Prescott of Kingston upon Hull, capping off his forty years representing the city in Parliament. Following his passing, his wife Pauline and sons Johnathan and David released a statement expressing how serving the people of Hull was his "his greatest honour".NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to a “sudden loss of consciousness at home,” the hospital said in a statement. “Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency” at 8:06 p.m., the hospital said, but “despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 p.m.” Singh was being treated for “age-related medical conditions,” the statement said. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and leader of the Congress Party in the Parliament's Upper House, earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi . But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was reelected in 2009, but his second term as prime minister was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Party’s crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi . Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. Prime Minister Modi, who succeeded Singh in 2014, called him one of India’s “most distinguished leaders” who rose from humble origins and left “a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years.” “As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” Modi said in a post on the social platform X. He called Singh’s interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker “insightful” and said “his wisdom and humility were always visible.” Rahul Gandhi, from the same party as Singh and the opposition leader in the lower house of the Indian Parliament, said Singh’s “deep understanding of economics inspired the nation” and that he “led India with immense wisdom and integrity.” “I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride,” Gandhi wrote on X. Born on Sept. 26, 1932, in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India, Singh’s brilliant academic career took him to Cambridge University in Britain, where he earned a degree in economics in 1957. He then got his doctorate in economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. Singh taught at Panjab University and the prestigious Delhi School of Economics before joining the Indian government in 1971 as economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry. In 1982, he became chief economic adviser to the Finance Ministry. He also served as deputy chair of the Planning Commission and governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As finance minister, Singh in 1991 instituted reforms that opened up the economy and moved India away from a socialist-patterned economy and toward a capitalist model in the face of a huge balance of payments deficit, skirting a potential economic crisis. His accolades include the 1987 Padma Vibhushan Award, India’s second-highest civilian honor; the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress in 1995; and the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year in 1993 and 1994. Singh was a member of India’s Upper House of Parliament and was leader of the opposition from 1998 to 2004 before he was named prime minister. He was the first Sikh to hold the country’s top post and made a public apology in Parliament for the 1984 Sikh Massacre in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards. Under Singh, India adopted a Right to Information Act in 2005 to promote accountability and transparency from government officials and bureaucrats. He was also instrumental in implementing a welfare scheme that guaranteed at least 100 paid workdays for Indian rural citizens. The coalition government he headed for a decade brought together politicians and parties with differing ideologies that were rivals in the country’s various states. In a move hailed as one of his biggest achievements apart from economic reforms, Singh ended India’s nuclear isolation by signing a deal with the U.S. that gave India access to American nuclear technology. But the deal hit his government adversely, with Communist allies withdrawing support and criticism of the agreement growing within India in 2008 when it was finalized. Singh adopted a pragmatic foreign policy approach, pursuing a peace process with nuclear rival and neighbor Pakistan. But his efforts suffered a major setback after Pakistani militants carried out a massive gun and bomb attack in Mumbai in November 2008. He also tried to end the border dispute with China, brokering a deal to reopen the Nathu La pass into Tibet, which had been closed for more than 40 years. His 1965 book, “India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth,” dealt with India’s inward-oriented trade policy. Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters. Associated Press writer Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.
Investors don't have to make guesses about where to put their money in the stock market . Billionaire investors conduct careful research into every stock they buy, which is why it's worth checking out what they are buying (or selling). Fortunately, investment firms that manage more than $100 million are required to disclose their holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Three Motley Fool contributors combed through the holdings of a select group of billionaire managers. Here's why the stars are aligning for Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) , Nike (NYSE: NKE) , and Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) . Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » Amazon is becoming an advertising juggernaut John Ballard (Amazon): Amazon has been a phenomenal investment over the last few decades. But great businesses with strong competitive advantages usually keep finding ways to deliver returns to investors. Amazon is proving it belongs in that category. Its market cap recently hit $2.1 trillion, and a deeper look at what's going on in the company shows the shares could be worth substantially more in the years to come. Amazon is mostly known for its online retail business, which generated more than 38% of the company's revenue last quarter. But it's also on pace to be one of the leaders in retail media with one of the fastest-growing markets in advertising. The company is leveraging its high-traffic online store to rake in billions of ad revenue from sellers, publishers, and others. In the last quarter, Amazon's ad revenue grew 19% year over year (excluding currency changes) to reach an annual run rate of $57 billion. Amazon's non-retail services, including advertising and cloud computing, generate most of the company's total revenue. Because these services generate higher margins than retail sales, the strong growth from the opportunities in retail media and cloud computing are helping grow the company's profits. Amazon generated a staggering $49 billion in free cash flow over the last year. This is why the stock commands a $2.1 trillion market cap. Clearly, Amazon is going to continue growing its non-retail revenue at high rates, since the advertising and cloud opportunities are still in the early innings of their long-term growth, which should make Amazon even more valuable to investors down the road. Some highly regarded investment managers were taking profits in the third quarter, but billionaire Chase Coleman of Tiger Global Management added to his firm's stake. I side with Coleman and believe Amazon shares are a solid buy. The industry giant is now the underdog Jennifer Saibil (Nike): Nike is the largest activewear company by far, and it has no match in any competitor. The second largest activewear company, Adidas , has literally half of Nike's sales -- $25 billion versus $50 billion over the trailing 12 months. So even though Nike's sales have been declining, down 10% in the 2025 fiscal first quarter (ended Aug. 31), it's the unquestionable leader in the industry with the brand presence and assets to keep its top spot and return to growth. It's not surprising that billionaire Bill Ackman, who manages Pershing Square Capital, would take a chance on the rebound. Ackman has taken activist positions before, and he recently added to his stake in Nike from 3,040,132 shares to 16,280,338 shares, a 436% increase. Although Nike has been struggling through the inflationary environment, it made some critical decisions a few years ago to curtail some of its wholesale partnerships in favor of bolstering its direct-to-consumer business. At the time, it was making a big push for its digital channels with a membership program, exclusive product drops, and more. But it didn't account for changing shopping trends, which include browsing and buying from physical athletic wear stores. The company also shifted resources away from innovation. That left a wide niche for its competitors to exploit, and they have, with many smaller brands like Berkshire Hathaway 's Brooks and On Holding garnering greater market share. Nike is already making changes. It has a new CEO in longtime executive Elliott Hill, and the company is working on revitalizing its wholesale partner program. Part of the recent sales drop has been due to rebalancing investments away from current channels and product development and toward wholesale channels and new product lines. Nike stock is down 32% this year and trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 21. Investors with a long time horizon can feel comfortable following Ackman into a chance on a Nike rebound. The smart money is piling into this tobacco stock Jeremy Bowman (Philip Morris International): Philip Morris International has been a top performer this year as the international seller of cigarette brands like Marlboro has successfully pivoted to next-gen products like Iqos heat-not-burn stocks and Zyn nicotine pouches. The stock is now up 38% year to date. Billionaire investors have taken notice of that strategy, and among those buying the stock in Q3 were Stanley Druckenmiller's Duquesne Family Office, Ken Griffin's Citadel Advisors, and Rajiv Jain GQG Partners. Philip Morris offers a rare combination of growth, income, and safety. Like its tobacco-stock peers, the company has long been a reliable dividend payer, and it currently offers a dividend yield of 4.2% after raising the dividend by 4%, continuing a long history of dividend hikes. In Q3, Philip Morris reported organic revenue growth, which excludes currency fluctuations, of 11.6% to $9.9 billion. Organic operating income rose 13.8% to $3.7 billion, driving adjusted earnings per share up 14% to $1.91. Those results beat analyst estimates. Much of that growth was driven by its next-gen business as heated tobacco unit shipments rose 8.9%, and its oral smoke-free products shipments rose 22.2%. Philip Morris's smoke-free business now accounts for 38% of revenue and 40% of its gross profit. The company is ramping up production of Zyn pouches with new investments in plants in the U.S., and it acquired the rights to sell Iqos in the U.S. At a time when the traditional tobacco industry is under pressure, Philip Morris has tapped into a new growth market, and it's paying off for investors. Should you invest $1,000 in Amazon right now? Before you buy stock in Amazon, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Amazon wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $898,809 !* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 18, 2024 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Jennifer Saibil has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Jeremy Bowman has positions in Amazon and Nike. John Ballard has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and Nike. The Motley Fool recommends On Holding and Philip Morris International. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy . 3 Supercharged Growth Stocks That Billionaires Are Buying was originally published by The Motley FoolPresident Joe Biden is one of many Democrat politicians who said a few words celebrating the black nationalist-created holiday, Kwanzaa. “This week, millions will gather with their families to light the seven candles of the Mishumaa Saba and commit themselves to the Seven Principles – from unity and self-determination to faith,” Biden said in a post on Thursday. “Jill and I hope that your Kwanzaa is blessed with peace and light this season,” he added. While Biden made no mention of the Marxist roots of Kwanza — created by Maulana Karenga, founder of United Slaves, which opposed the Black Panthers — he did mention the seven principles, which as Ann Coulter pointed out, are the same seven principles of the Symbionese Liberation Army: The esteemed Cal State professor Karenga’s invented holiday is a nutty blend of schmaltzy ’60s rhetoric, black racism, and Marxism. The seven principles of Kwanzaa are the very same seven principles of the Symbionese Liberation Army, another invention of The Worst Generation. Kwanza’s seven principles are as follows: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), Imani (Faith) Coulter continued: In 1974, Patty Hearst, kidnap victim-cum-SLA revolutionary, famously posed next to the banner of her alleged captors, a seven-headed cobra. Each snakehead stood for one of the SLA’s revolutionary principles: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, and Imani. These are the exact same seven “principles” of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa praises collectivism in every possible area of life. It takes a village to raise a police snitch! Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the presidential election to President-elect Donald Trump in November, came under fire last year for celebrating Kwanzaa, touting the principles of the Marxist-rooted holiday.Dec 13 (Reuters) - Software firm Databricks is nearing a deal that could become one of the largest venture capital funding rounds in history, as investors have shown a strong appetite to own a piece of the fast-growing data analytics firm, three sources said on Friday. The round, almost twice oversubscribed, could top $9.5 billion when it is finalized next week, exceeding the company's original goal and higher than what was discussed earlier , the sources told Reuters, cautioning the final number could still go up. The San Francisco-based company, which helps enterprises process and analyze their data, is expected to fetch a valuation of over $60 billion at a price of $92.50 per share. That price is considered a bargain in the eyes of some investors, given that the company's projected revenue for the next fiscal year is $3.8 billion, said the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss private matters. Thrive Capital and returning investors Andreessen Horowitz, Insight Partners, as well as Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC are expected to lead this mega round, according to one of the sources. In conjunction with the equity raise, the company is also in talks to raise $4.5 billion in debt financing, including a $2.5 billion term loan from direct lenders, one of the sources added. Bloomberg first reported on the private debt raise. Databricks, founded in 2013, is a data analytics and artificial-intelligence company. It provides a cloud-based platform to help enterprises build and govern data and AI applications. Databricks and Thrive Capital declined to comment. Insight, Andreessen Horowitz and GIC did not immediately respond to request for comment. This high-profile round would mark a jump in valuation for the 11-year-old company that has yet to make a profit. The firm was valued at $43 billion in September. The move would also be a major win for early employees, as the company plans to dedicate the funding to buy back expiring restricted stock units from early employees and cover the associated tax costs. As part of the deal, the company plans to issue preferred shares to investors participating in the round, the sources said. Databricks has benefited from the AI boom by selling more tools that help clients build and deploy AI applications using the growing volume of data they already store with the company. It competes with Snowflake (SNOW.N) , opens new tab , which commands a market cap of about $56 billion with expected revenue of $3.4 billion in the fiscal year ending in January 2025. The move to raise outsized funding specifically to address the expiring employee options issue, instead of adding to its balance sheet, mirrors a move by payment company Stripe, which raised $6.5 billion last year at a valuation of $50 billion. Such mega deals highlight the amount of funds available in the venture capital system and the appetite for top-notch names. Investors are doubling down on AI companies and supporting firms to remain private longer, enabling rarely seen round sizes such as OpenAI's $6.5 billion raise at a $165 billion valuation and xAI's $6 billion raise. The move signals that Databricks and other top public market candidates are in no rush to go public, despite expectations of a resurgence of venture capital-backed initial public offerings in 2025. Sign up here. Reporting by Krystal Hu in Toronto, Kenrick Cai in Vancouver and Echo Wang in New YorkEditing by Matthew Lewis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Thomson Reuters Krystal reports on venture capital and startups for Reuters. She covers Silicon Valley and beyond through the lens of money and characters, with a focus on growth-stage startups, tech investments and AI. She has previously covered M&A for Reuters, breaking stories on Trump's SPAC and Elon Musk's Twitter financing. Previously, she reported on Amazon for Yahoo Finance, and her investigation of the company's retail practice was cited by lawmakers in Congress. Krystal started a career in journalism by writing about tech and politics in China. She has a master's degree from New York University, and enjoys a scoop of Matcha ice cream as much as getting a scoop at work. Thomson Reuters Kenrick Cai is a correspondent for Reuters based in San Francisco. He covers Google, its parent company Alphabet and artificial intelligence. Cai joined Reuters in 2024. He previously worked at Forbes magazine, where he was a staff writer covering venture capital and startups. He received a Best in Business award from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing in 2023. He is a graduate of Duke University. Thomson Reuters Echo Wang is a correspondent at Reuters covering U.S. equity capital markets, and the intersection of Chinese business in the U.S, breaking news from U.S. crackdown on TikTok and Grindr, to restrictions Chinese companies face in listing in New York. She was the Reuters' Reporter of the Year in 2020.
A new supersonic jet called Overture could make the journey from London to New York in just three and a half hours. Developed by Boom Supersonic , the Colorado-based company hopes to have the jet flying by 2030, bringing back supersonic passenger travel for the first time since the Concorde. Earlier this month, a smaller prototype of the jet, nicknamed “Baby Boom,” took its first test flight over the Mojave Desert in California . The aircraft, officially called XB-1, flew for 12 minutes, reaching speeds of 283 mph and an altitude of 7,000 feet. The flight tested its design and technology, which includes advanced aerodynamics and a carbon-fibre shell. Boom’s CEO Blake Scholl said: “This is the most significant step yet in bringing supersonic travel back to passengers.” The Overture is designed to fly at Mach 1.7 - around 1,050 mph - which is slower than the Concorde but still twice as fast as standard planes. It could cut the London to New York journey to just three and a half hours, compared to the usual six and a half. A flight from London to Miami would take less than five hours. The jet would carry up to 80 passengers with a range of nearly 5,000 miles. However, because of restrictions on sonic booms, the Overture will focus on over-water routes, like those between coastal cities in the US , Europe and Asia . Boom Supersonic says there are more than 600 possible routes for the aircraft, and airlines like United, American Airlines and Japan Airlines have already ordered 130 planes. Supersonic travel has not been available since Concorde stopped flying in 2003. The Concorde was famous for its speed but also had big problems with high costs, low demand and safety concerns following a fatal crash in 2000. Boom hopes to avoid these issues with modern technology and a more sustainable design. If all goes to plan, the Overture could make long-distance travel faster and more convenient for passengers. Test pilot Bill Shoemaker praised the XB-1’s first flight, saying: “This is a proud moment for the team and a big step forward in making supersonic travel a reality again.”The Prime Minister used an op-ed in the Mail on Sunday to vow to “get to grips” with the cost of welfare after figures suggested more than four million people will be claiming long-term sickness support by the end of the decade. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will announce a package of legislation next week designed to “get Britain working” amid Government concerns about the projected rise. Official forecasts published by her department this week show that the number of people claiming incapacity benefits is expected to climb from a pre-pandemic figure of around 2.5 million in 2019 to around 4.2 million in 2029. Last year there were just over three million claimants. The Prime Minister wrote: “In the coming months, Mail on Sunday readers will see even more sweeping changes. Because make no mistake, we will get to grips with the bulging benefits bill blighting our society. “Don’t get me wrong, we will crack down hard on anyone who tries to game the system, to tackle fraud so we can take cash straight from the banks of fraudsters. “There will be a zero-tolerance approach to these criminals. My pledge to Mail on Sunday readers is this: I will grip this problem once and for all.” Ms Kendall’s white paper is expected to include the placement of work coaches in mental health clinics and a “youth guarantee” aimed at ensuring those aged 18-21 are working or studying.