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p777 LAHORE - Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik has called for dialogue to address national issues, stressing the need for constructive discussions while maintaining a clear distinction between criminal cases and political matters. Speaking to the media at a local hotel here on Sunday, he said, “We were ready for negotiations before. If we want to move forward, let’s have a dialogue. How issues will be resolved if our people do not sit together?” He welcomed initiation of talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), describing it as a positive step. However, he clarified that the agenda of dialogue would not include criminal cases involving PTI’s leadership. Referring to the allegations against the PTI founder, Malik said, “The cases against him are criminal in nature. The £190 million matter is beyond politics.” He said that according to the prosecution, the state resources were misappropriated, and 400-kanal land was taken in the guise of a trust. About the May-9 events, he said, “Whether it is the attack on the corps commander’s house, the military tower, or martyrs’ monuments, such crimes have nothing to do with dialogue. Multiple cars pileup in Dera Ismail Khan leaves 20 injured Trials for these offences will proceed based on evidence.” Malik reiterated the government’s commitment to economic, political and democratic recovery, stressing that discussions on national issues must remain separate from criminal proceedings. “We are not your enemies; we are friends. Don’t sacrifice the country to political tension. Accuse us, argue with us, but let’s work for betterment of Pakistan,” he urged. The minister also questioned the recent political practices, accusing the PTI of lobbying against Pakistan’s interests abroad. He claimed, “David Fenton, who is lobbying against Pakistan’s nuclear programme, was hired by you. Such actions damage the country’s global standing.” Tags: musadik calls holding

Indiana got what it wanted Tuesday night in a 97-71 rout of Sam Houston State -- a lopsided victory where its bench played well and it didn't have to go down to the wire. The Hoosiers will look for more of the same Friday night in Bloomington when they continue their homestand against nonconference foe Miami (Ohio). Four players scored in double figures for Indiana (6-2) against the Bearkats, including 18 from reserve Luke Goode. The Illinois transfer hit four 3-pointers in less than four minutes of the first half, enabling the Hoosiers to take a 34-12 lead. Led by Goode, Indiana's bench contributed a whopping 36 points. "I thought it was a total team effort on everybody's part," Hoosiers coach Mike Woodson said. "Helps when your bench come off and play the way they did. Goode was fantastic but everybody off the bench played well." Indiana also got an encouraging 19-point performance from point guard Myles Rice, who struggled a bit in the first seven games in terms of making shots and running the offense. Rice (11.1 ppg) is one of four double-figure scorers in an attack led by Mackenzie Mgbako (16.8). Meanwhile, the RedHawks (5-2) are coming off a 73-60 home win Monday against Air Force. Bellarmine transfer Peter Suder poured in a career-high 42 points on 17-of-21 shooting, the highest-scoring game in program history since Wally Szczerbiak scored 43 in 1999. Suder, who averaged 10.5 ppg as a sophomore last season, is up to 17.4 ppg this season. He's hitting 58.8 percent of his field goals while also chipping in 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals. "I always say players win games, man. Coaches lose games," Miami coach Travis Steele told the Journal-News. "Peter was phenomenal. It was just get out of the way and just let him go." Forward Kam Craft, who Steele landed out of high school when he was still coaching at Xavier, is the RedHawks' second-leading scorer at 14.1 ppg. The Hoosiers have won 22 of the previous 25 meetings, including an 86-56 rout two years ago in Indianapolis. --Field Level MediaINDIANAPOLIS — Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel came to Indianapolis in July with a purpose. He wanted a sense of what Lucas Oil Stadium was like before making what he hoped would be a return trip in December. On Saturday, he'll be back on the same turf. Plenty has changed for Gabriel and the Ducks since they came to town all those months ago for their inaugural Big Ten media day appearance. Oregon sits atop the playoff seedings, remains the last unbeaten team in major college football and Gabriel has a new title — Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. It's been a dream season in every way for the soon-to-be 24-year-old Gabriel, right down to leading the Ducks into the conference championship game against Penn State on Saturday (5 p.m., CBS). “If we didn't think we'd be there, I wouldn't have attended,” Gabriel said. “But I just felt really good about it. I was glad we were able to go see it (Lucas Oil), feel it, smell it. It was a good experience. Now that we're going back with the whole squad, everyone's excited.” Winning a conference title in his final season — and Oregon's first season in its new league — would be the cherry on top for Gabriel now that both teams are virtual locks to make the first 12-team College Football Playoff. The winner likely earns a first-round bye, while the loser probably hosts a first-round game. There is big money at stake: The Big Ten stands to get $4 million for each school that makes the CFP and the payouts escalate beginning with the semifinals to $6 million per school; a conference whose school makes a run from the first round to the title game gets $20 million. The CFP also provides millions to cover expenses. While Oregon (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten, No. 1 CFP) was a preseason favorite to be back in town this weekend, No. 3 Penn State wasn't supposed to make it after losing to then-No. 4 Ohio State. But the Nittany Lions (11-1, 8-1) rebounded by winning their last four and got help last weekend when Michigan upset the Buckeyes. It's the first time Penn State has reached a Big Ten championship title game since beating Wisconsin in 2016 — and they don't intend to go home empty-handed this time, either. “Being from Pennsylvania, seeing that game from 2016, like I always imagined being in these shoes, being in that moment, trying to win a Big Ten championship,” running back Nick Singleton said. “Being in that moment right now feels good, but we've got to go out there and win it.” Gabriel concurred. “When you walk in that building everyone is excited to do stuff and ready to go,” he said. “So it's about execution, playing clean and being who we are.” Though Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and Gabriel are ranked seventh and eighth in FBS passing efficiency this season, both could be under serious pressure Saturday. Defensive ends Matayo Uiagalelei of Oregon and Abdul Carter of Penn State are two of the nation's premier pass rushers. Uiagalelei is tied for ninth nationally with 101⁄2 sacks while Carter is tied for 12th with 10. The Ducks also have another fearsome pass rusher in defensive end Jordan Burch (81⁄2 sacks). It will be a major challenge for both offensive lines, especially if Oregon right guard Marcus Harper II is out (knee). Penn State certainly isn’t complaining about playing for a trophy, but it scrambled the schedule. It began with coach James Franklin calling an audible in last Saturday's postgame speech, announcing Sunday's scheduled off-day had been scrapped so they could start cramming for Oregon. That was just the start. “It was going to be a week for rest and recovery, some strategic practices,” he said Sunday. “But we always have to be prepared for these different scenarios. So right after the game I told them, ‘We’re going to practice Sunday.’ Now it’s back to a normal week.” Franklin will be chasing his 100th win in his 11 seasons with the program. And he could be doing it with some familiar faces around him. Oregon special teams coordinator and nickel back coach Joe Lorig first worked with Franklin at Idaho State and then Franklin hired Lorig in 2019. After three seasons, though, Lorig headed to the West Coast where he opted to work for another old friend, Oregon coach Dan Lanning. Franklin doesn't believe Lorig's inside information will make much difference in this game. “The coordinators have all changed,” Franklin said. “So I think we both probably have a similar amount of information on each other.” The game also will be a homecoming of sorts for Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen and injured Oregon offensive lineman Matthew Bedford. Allen is an Indiana native who spent the previous seven seasons as the Indiana head coach. Bedford also was a five-year starter for Allen's Hoosiers. And the Duzansky family is doubling up Saturday: Penn State long snapper Tyler Duzansky and Oregon long snapper Nick Duzansky are brothers.With the help of new scientific and technological developments , the HIV/Aids research community is increasingly turning to an ambitious goal: finding a cure for HIV/Aids. If the world is to get close to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goal of reducing HIV infections and Aids-related deaths by 90% between 2010 and 2030, a cure for HIV/Aids would be a game changer. Much progress has been made during the 30 years in the fight against HIV/Aids. An HIV diagnosis is no longer the death sentence it was in the 1990s. Antiretroviral treatment – which targets and suppresses the replication of the virus within the body – means people living with HIV are able to live long, fulfilling lives , without the risk of spreading the HIV virus to others. However, even with antiretroviral treatments, living with HIV increases the risk of other serious health issues. All of this is ends up putting an economic burden on states, through increased healthcare spending and losses in workplace productivity. South Africa is a good example of a country that would benefit from the discovery of a cure. South Africa’s been providing free antiretrovirals through the public healthcare system since 2004 . It is the largest factor behind the 50% drop in the number of new HIV infections in South Africa from 2010 to 2021. But the programme is expensive. In 2023, South Africa’s total budget for HIV response was R30-billion (around US$1.5 billion). This amount includes funding from international sources, such as the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief , better known as Pepfar. Consider that the country’s total national healthcare budget for 2022/23 was approximately R64.5 billion (around US$3.5billion). Also, we never know when the external funding, or part of it, might dry up. Funding for HIV/Aids response is heavily dependent on political will and leadership . Recent political developments in high income countries, such as the US presidential election, would suggest a reluctance and even opposition towards pumping funds into healthcare beyond their own borders, and especially in Africa. I work in HIV prevention and cure research. My work focuses specifically on understanding interactions between HIV and the immune system and how these may be harnessed and translated for HIV prevention or cure. There is hope and optimism that HIV can be cured, with various strategies beginning to show some promise, with partial successes reported. Finding a cure Cure research is in its infancy, but there are exciting hints that gene therapy and immunotherapies might lead us to a cure. So far, there have been an seven people , worldwide, cured of HIV. They were persons living with HIV who developed cancer, and were treated for the cancer through bone marrow transplantation, a form of gene therapy, and this also led to elimination of HIV because the bone marrow transplants were from donors lacking HIV coreceptors – proteins on cell surfaces that viruses use to bind and enter cells. But a bone marrow transplant is a radical , expensive and often dangerous procedure . There is no way we can view it as an avenue for developing a cure when there is reliable ART on hand. In contrast, some strategies involving a combination of early treatment and immunotherapy are also showing some promise and these could be developed further for long-term control of HIV without antiretroviral therapy. While curing a viral infection is difficult, medical science is already able to eradicate some viral infections, such as hepatitis C . Others, such as the common cold and Covid-19 , are effectively eliminated by a well-functioning immune system. The challenge with HIV is that it locks into an individual’s DNA , making it particularly difficult to get rid of. It also mutates a lot , which is why it is so difficult to develop a vaccine against it. That has led us to explore why some people appear able to neutralise HIV when not taking antiretroviral therapy but on once-off or temporary therapy that boosts their immune system. This seems to happen in some people who are diagnosed with HIV early on in their infection and immediately go on ART, and then interrupt the treatment but simultaneously take the special immune-boosting treatments with antiviral properties. So far, the HIV research community is unable to predict who will react in this way, but the Africa Health Research Institute and the HIV Pathogenesis Programme, within the University of KwaZulu-Natal, are conducting research among a group of young women from a community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with a high HIV infection rate. These young women are invited to participate in a socio-economic empowerment programme that has them attend a clinic twice weekly for training in basic computer skills, HIV prevention and other life skills. At each attendance, each woman is tested for HIV. If one is found to have acquired the HIV virus, she is immediately given a standard course of ART. After a while, immune-boosting therapies that include broadly neutralising antibodies are added, and then the woman is asked to stop ART treatment under strict monitoring to establish whether she is able to control the virus on her own. If not, she is immediately returned to ART. Of more than 2,500 attendees since the study began a decade ago, 108 have become HIV-positive. Of these 108 living with HIV, 20 are participating in the cure clinical trial. The study is ongoing , and our hope is that this strategy will lead to long-term control of the virus in the absence of ART in some of the women. This can then help us to better understand the immune mechanisms that may control the virus without antiretroviral therapy, and this could lead to a cure. Much work still needs to be done but finding a cure is important, especially for the 40-million people across the world living with HIV. The world is not on track to meet the UN goal of ending the HIV/Aids pandemic by 2030. While the rate of HIV infection has dropped remarkably, it is still much higher than the targets the global healthcare community has set itself. For example, in 2023 there were 1.3-million new HIV infections worldwide against a target of 500 000 to achieve the aim of nearly eradicating HIV by 2030. It is vital that HIV/Aids research continues in Africa because, while the incidence of HIV infection is reducing markedly , this status quo could change at any time and we could be back fighting a pandemic. It would be good to do so with better tools. Also, we must find a cure or vaccine that is tailored to Africa, where HIV is a young woman’s disease , while also seeking the same for the regions where HIV infection is rising – Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. We’re playing a long game, but there is definitely hope, and that is definitely something to celebrate.Rodriguez girls basketball can't keep pace against Inderkum

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The space industry has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few decades, shifting from government-led projects to being increasingly dominated by private-sector players. Space exploration is entering a new era, with companies like SpaceX and Rocket Lab USA leading the charge. AST SpaceMobile ( ASTS 12.48% ) is one intriguing company making headway in this industry. This satellite designer and manufacturer is establishing a groundbreaking space-based cellular broadband network and has hit some significant milestones in 2024. The company inked deals with telecommunications giants AT&T and Verizon Communications , and the stock has surged 281% since the start of the year. AST SpaceMobile stock has cooled down in recent months and is 41% below its 52-week high price of almost $39 per share in August. The recent dip may be a good buying opportunity for investors, but there are a few things you should know first. Connect anywhere with AST SpaceMobile In a world driven by technology, reliable connectivity is essential, yet millions still lack access to internet services. Here's where AST SpaceMobile operates, revolutionizing global communication with its innovative space-based connectivity solutions . AST SpaceMobile aims to launch commercial satellites into low-Earth orbit and deliver reliable cellular broadband service that is accessible via standard mobile phones. Its satellite network aims to bridge the connectivity gap in regions where traditional infrastructure is too costly or logistically challenging to implement. Beyond that, connectivity is the backbone of innovative technologies such as autonomous vehicles and Internet of Things devices , which need reliable networks to communicate and operate effectively. As we push the boundaries of exploration with robots and landers venturing to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, robust communication networks will be critical for their operations, and space-based connectivity supports this journey. AST fortified major partnerships earlier this year AST SpaceMobile has partnered with telecom giants AT&T and Verizon to expand its space-based network. On May 15, it solidified its long-standing relationship with AT&T by entering a new commercial agreement that extends their collaboration through 2030. Two weeks later, AST SpaceMobile expanded its reach with Verizon, which pledged a substantial $100 million investment to the space communications company. The deal includes $65 million in commercial pre-payments, with $45 million contingent on specific conditions and $35 million in convertible notes, underscoring Verizon's and AST SpaceMobile's shared mission. Launch of the BlueBird satellites met a huge milestone Earlier this year, AST SpaceMobile had just one satellite orbiting the Earth. Fast-forward to September, and AST celebrated an important milestone by successfully launching five new satellites , named BlueBirds, into low-Earth orbit. BlueBird communication antennas reach 693 square feet when fully extended, making them the largest ever deployed by a commercial spacecraft. As CEO Abel Avellan said, this achievement represents a "momentous occasion" for the company. But the journey doesn't stop here. AST SpaceMobile has ambitious plans to launch an additional 17 satellites by the first quarter of next year. In the long term, the company envisions building and launching 155 satellites by 2030. Is it a buy today? Investing in an emerging company like AST SpaceMobile comes with challenges, particularly due to the uncertainty surrounding its revenue stream. The business has not generated income from its flagship SpaceMobile service; previous revenue was derived from its former subsidiary, NanoAvionics, a small satellite bus manufacturer that it sold in 2022. However, there's a silver lining: AST SpaceMobile is making strides toward commercial viability and has significant upside potential as the industry expands. Analysts at Deutsche Bank forecast revenue could reach $50 million by next year, grow to $1.4 billion by 2027, and soar to $5.1 billion by 2030. Furthermore, they anticipate the company will become cash-flow positive by 2027. That said, AST SpaceMobile stock is vulnerable to volatility as it looks to grow in the emerging satellite communications market. Ramping up commercial operations and launching more satellites will take time and capital, which could mean more debt or shareholder dilution . For patient, long-term investors with a high tolerance for risk, the recent dip is an opportunity to build a small position in the space company -- as long as you're aware of the dilution risk and volatile road ahead before putting your capital into this exciting but risky stock.

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As I sat at my son's high school concert last night, bursting with pride , I also felt a huge relief . Year 11, happy, well, thriving. Alive . But then I thought about the parents in the audience: Who will be next? Who's about to have their lives ripped apart when their child takes their own life thanks to online bullying? That may seem dire, but as a Parenting editor, I've been living and breathing the stories of the children whose lives have been lost in the most heartbreaking way - so many , in just a few months. Too many. This is parenting in 2024. Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. RELATED: Tweens are crowdfunding parties from online predators "Desperate efforts from social media giants" You know what else I've seen a lot of recently? Increasingly piss-weak, desperate efforts from the social media giants - Snapchat, Meta, Instagram - about parenting controls. Talk about victim-blaming. Taking no responsibility whatsoever, akin to the "guns don't kill people, people kill people" argument. They won't act on the blatant evidence until they're forced to - but the head in the sand approach about social media is not working . Which is why yesterday's news about the Albanese government's age-limits on social media (no one under 16), and enforcing a Duty of Care on the companies (which they've technically always had) is very welcome news. Image: Nama Winston That's an understatement: it's a revolution. The reforms are hopefully the first of a wave of steps that will make those exposing children to inappropriate content, and allowing them to weaponise their platforms, accountable. I'm hoping this is the beginning of the end of an era, just like when cigarettes were finally acknowledged for what they are: poison, responsible for deaths. As the Barefoot Investor quoted recently , "Social Media is the new smoking." Important viewing: RELATED: The kids are not ok: Schools begin mobile phone ban There's a difference between phone and internet access, and social media I've been a long-term advocate of allowing kids access to phones - for communication and information. Expert advice is that educating parents on how to talk to their kids about the content they create and consume is a much more practical and pragmatic approach. But social media is an entirely different beast; one that's killing our children. Destroying families. From the insidious fatal TikTok trends , to the cruelty of the verbal assaults, the spread of fake photos, sextortion , and outright threats, we owe the next generation escalated protection. Many of us - myself included - are the first generation of parents dealing with the nuclear fallout of social media. A decade ago, I would never have imagined we'd lose children on the scale that we have. But here we are. Let's not be the generation of parents that allowed more kids to die. More Coverage My son tried to take his life after bullying. The school’s response shocked me Anonymous Heartbreaking details after Sydney schoolgirl's suicide Heath Parkes-Hupton Originally published as 'Social media is the new smoking': Thanks for finally calling time on it Parenting Don't miss out on the headlines from Parenting. Followed categories will be added to My News. More related stories Parenting I’m a mum living where violence against Jewish people has escalated – in Sydney "When I saw the news, I had to think: Can I send my kids to school today? Should I?" Read more Lifestyle Red flags with Roblox’s new rule for under 13s Many are rejoicing over the change coming to the popular kid's game. But they're missing some important points. Read more5 Coins That Will Become Untouchable When the Real Bull Market Kicks Off in January 2025

NoneNews Business Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. It was a dicey premise from the start: taking niche Hamburg grocer Braymiller Market and plunking it down in the urban center of Buffalo. Then-Mayor Byron Brown, knowing he needed amenities to attract wealthier residents to the city's core, convinced Braymiller owner Stuart Green that an opportunity existed where other grocers didn’t see one. Both thought the opportunity would grow as more apartments were built. Brown assured Green the city would be behind him every step of the way, and Green set out to appeal to a critical mass of higher-end shoppers that doesn't yet exist downtown. Stuart Green unloads a Braymiller Market truck on Dec. 6, 2024. Now, just three years later – despite tax breaks and a more than $1 million bailout – Braymiller Market will close by month's end. That is despite Green's attempts – with prodding from the Buffalo Urban Development Corp. – to turn his store into something it was never meant to be. The shoppers Braymiller was trying to appeal to – the more affluent consumers newly moving from the suburbs into upscale lofts downtown – aren't the type of city dwellers who walk down the block to buy ingredients for the night's dinner each day. Instead, they tend to hop into their cars and stock up elsewhere. That's part of the appeal of living in a city where you can get anywhere in 20 minutes. The bulk of residents who live downtown today, the ones who really need and would stock up at a grocery store within walking distance, are those who are used to stretching their dollar as far as it will go. That demographic calls for a no-frills deep discounter offering wholesome food at affordable prices. The Buffalo Urban Development Corp. and other city officials could suggest all the tweaks they wanted and Braymiller Market would never be Save A Lot or Aldi. Opening a successful grocery store in downtown Buffalo would have been an uphill battle even without the Covid pandemic that gutted the city's commuter population. Green knew that, which is why he designed a business plan that relied equally on the store's deli, to feed workers on their lunch breaks, and a wholesale supply line delivering fresh produce to the city's restaurants. The shutdown, which is expected to take place in seven to 10 days, once again will leave downtown without a grocery store to serve the residents in the nearby apartments that have sprouted up in converted buildings over the last few years. But Covid slashed deeply into that worker population and much of that restaurant business, and neither have recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The store's deli has a devoted following among commuters – there just aren't enough of them. On Friday, as the city staged a press conference to announce the market's closure, the deli's customers mourned the news. Isabelle LaBarbera had made the jaunt from her job at the Liberty Building as she does most weekdays. "It's one of the only places open past 2 p.m. around here to get lunch," she said. "It's quick and really good food." Octavia Butts had driven downtown from South Buffalo just to get one of Braymiller's subs. "I literally travel down here just to get a sub," she said. "I love the turkey clubs. They have really good mac n’ cheese. I love the desserts, cupcakes, anything." They're glimmers that show Braymiller could have been a success if not for Covid – the unthinkable that no one could have seen coming. But what Braymiller really needed was shoppers who filled their carts with $100 worth of groceries, maybe even $200. And those shoppers were hard to come by. If Green had known how the Covid pandemic would change traffic patterns in downtown Buffalo, he wouldn't have touched the project with a 10-foot pole. Business conditions were much more favorable when Green took the gamble on downtown, and he was still the only one willing to take the chance. Who would step up today, knowing what we know now? If anything, a lot would have to change for another grocer to give things another shot. Will we have to wait years for the commuter population to return? What if the changes that have transformed the city since Covid are permanent? Buffalo Acting Mayor Christopher Scanlon on Friday noted that there now are 30,000 fewer workers coming downtown to the office than there were just a few years ago. Those are 30,000 potential Braymiller customers who might have stopped in to pick up groceries or dinner at the end of the workday. "We have to work on the downtown core as well and getting people back down here, and repair the situations that led to the closure," Scanlon said. "You can't just say, 'All right, come on in and turn the key and open the grocery store again.' You have to work with our partners in the private sector and otherwise, to make sure we have more people in downtown Buffalo, build this core up," he said. "Get people living down here. Get people visiting down here, entertainment, everything you can to get people living down here so that there's this store, this location, or another location, whatever it might be, could be successful in the future." So, soon, downtown Buffalo will again be without a supermarket, and officials will resume trying to attract one. But Buffalo has a lot of work to do if it wants to build downtown back up to the place it was when it was able to lure tiny Braymiller into the city – and that was with the promise of tax abatements and subsidies. How much more will it have to do to bring in a Tops or Aldi? Only this time around, it will be much harder for the city to attract a new one. In fact, it will be harder now than if Braymiller had never opened in the first place. That's because downtown grocery was previously an untested, untried idea. Now it has a track record of failure. Any other grocer the city approaches will have that at the front of their minds. And that will make a downtown grocery store an even harder sell. The shutdown of the Save A Lot in the Broadway Market won't help either. New grocery prospects, instead of forecasting how things might go, will have an idea of how things already went. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. News Business Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

It was a busy year for M&A in the creator economy. Startups in influencer marketing, talent management, and podcasting became acquisition targets. Companies also sought to expand globally by acquiring creator startups in new regions. Dozens of merger and acquisition deals were inked between companies across the creator economy in 2024. One of the most impactful sales was Publicis Groupe's purchase of Influential for $500 million , two M&A experts told Business Insider. It signaled that one of the world's largest ad holding companies viewed influencer marketing as a must-have offering. "If influencers are the new gatekeepers and authority within these digital channels, then they're going to command audiences," Chris Erwin, founder of M&A advisory firm RockWater, told BI. "Advertising revenue dollars are going to flow towards them." Goldman Sachs analysts highlighted influencer marketing spending as a primary driver of growth in the creator economy when they valued the industry at $250 billion last year. A few other clear trends emerged this year around deals. Outside influencer marketing, popular acquisition targets included talent-management firms and podcasting tech. There was also a push among non-US firms to build out creator businesses globally through purchases. Business Insider combed through data from PitchBook and Crunchbase and connected with M&A insiders to understand some of the key deals in 2024. Here are 4 takeaways from our analysis: A few noteworthy deals in this category: Marketing firm Stagwell announced in July that it had acquired the influencer-marketing agency Leaders . Canadian talent agency Dulcedo Group acquired the influencer-marketing app Node in July. The creator economy is maturing globally. Several companies made strategic deals across markets like India, Japan, and Australia. Publicis highlighted Influential's global reach in its July announcement around the deal. "Creators really can be global from day one," said Ollie Forsyth, a former senior manager at the investment firm Antler who now writes the newsletter New Economies. He pointed to technologies like AI-powered audio dubbing and video editing tools as paving a new path for creators to easily distribute content to a global audience. A few noteworthy deals in this category: French influencer firm Ykone announced in March it had acquired a majority stake in the Indian influencer-marketing firm Barcode to build a business in the Indian influencer market. Finnish influencer firm Boksi announced in February that it had acquired the German influencer-marketing company the Influencer GmbH to grow its business in Central Europe. Podcasting is a hot category. As platforms like YouTube and Spotify drive listenership (and viewership) of longer content, advertisers are paying close attention. US ad spend for podcasts is expected to hit $2.28 billion this year, a roughly 16% increase from 2023, per EMARKETER's forecast. Meanwhile, M&A deals in the category focused on podcasting tech and IP in 2024. "It's a publisher play of rolling up these popular networks of shows," said James Creech, an M&A advisor through Quartermast Advisors and founder of Creator Economy Jobs . "I think that'll continue because you're likely to see a handful of winners in this space." A few noteworthy deals in this category: Triton Digital said in March it had acquired podcasting ad tech firm Sounder to boost its targeting and brand safety tech. Night announced in April that it had acquired The Roost , a podcast network that includes shows from Theo Von and other popular creators. A few noteworthy deals in this category: Talent-management firm Wasserman announced in September that it had acquired the talent-management agency Long Haul to grow its gaming and sports creator business. Influencer marketing and creator talent company Whalar announced in October it had acquired the influencer-management firm Sixteenth. Looking ahead to 2025 Both Erwin and Creech are expecting the next year to be fruitful for creator-economy companies. "We're going to see more activity next year," Creech said. One area the two M&A advisors are watching closely is whether consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies will continue to shop for creator-owned businesses, such as Hershey buying creator Maxx Chewning's Sour Strips brand in 2024. Companies that successfully raised new funding in 2024 may also signal where M&A activity is heading next in the industry. Creator startups with unique offerings in artificial intelligence, newsletter tech, influencer marketing, and e-commerce all drew in investor dollars in the past year. Among the big rounds were creator-marketing platform Agentio, newsletter app Beehiiv, social-shopping app Flip, and AI firm ElevenLabs. Startups flush with funding could become acquirers in 2025. "If you are looking to sell or to raise capital now, it's a good time to do it," Erwin said.MainStreet Bank Spreads Holiday Cheer with 'Pawsitive' Impact on Local Animals

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands (AP) — Javohn Garcia scored 16 points as McNeese beat Illinois State 76-68 on Friday. Garcia also contributed seven rebounds for the Cowboys (3-2). Brandon Murray shot 4 of 10 from the field and 5 for 7 from the line to add 13 points. Sincere Parker shot 4 for 8 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points. Ty Pence led the way for the Redbirds (3-2) with 14 points and six rebounds. Malachi Poindexter added 13 points for Illinois State. Logan Wolf had 11 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from .

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Here's What 'Canceled Call' Means On An iPhoneMCLEAN, Va., Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Appian (Nasdaq: APPN) announced today that management will be presenting and hosting meetings with institutional investors at the following upcoming conferences. Scotiabank Annual Global Technology Conference in San Francisco. The fireside chat is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10th at 2:35pm Pacific Time. Barclays Annual Global Technology Conference in San Francisco. The fireside chat is scheduled for Wednesday, December 11th at 8:05am Pacific Time. It will be webcast live at the following link: https://cc.webcasts.com/barc002/121124a_js/?entity=64_2J0GXVM Replays of the fireside chat will be available for a limited time under the “News and Events” section of the Company’s investor relations website at http://investors.appian.com About Appian Appian is a software company that orchestrates business processes. The Appian Platform empowers leaders to design, automate, and optimize important processes from start to finish. With our industry-leading platform and commitment to customer success, Appian is trusted by top organizations to drive transformational process change. For more information, visit appian.com . [Nasdaq: APPN] Investor Contact Jack Andrews Vice President, Investor Relations investors@appian.com Media Contact Cindy Cheng Senior Director, Global Communications pr@appian.com Source: Appian Corporation