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Assembly unanimously passes bill to overhaul prison systemPTC Inc. stock outperforms market despite losses on the day
Controversial billionaire Elon Musk responded to speculation that MSNBC could be put up for sale , asking on Friday how much the cable news network would set him back. The Comcast media conglomerate announced Wednesday it planned to spin some of its NBCUniversal properties — including MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Oxygen and E! — into “a new publicly traded company.” The announcement prompted some social media users, including Donald Trump Jr., to suggest the world’s richest man should buy MSNBC . Many of the left-leaning network’s hosts, including Joe Scarborough, Rachel Maddow and Mika Brzezinski, have been critical of Musk and the MAGA movement he supports . “Hey @elonmusk I have the funniest idea ever!!!” Trump Jr. posted on Friday alongside a graphic joking that MSNBC would sell for the “best offer.” “How much does it cost?” replied Musk, whose net worth was estimated to have reached a record high of $321.7 billion on Friday. Musk’s response was very similar to the one he gave in 2017 when some social media users suggested he buy Twitter. Five years later, he spent $44 billion to purchase the platform , which he renamed X and has since used to promote his right-wing ideology and conspiracy theories . “I mean it can’t be much,” Trump Jr. wrote back. “Look at the ratings.” MSNBC viewership reportedly plummeted 38% after Election Day, according to The Wrap. Musk’s banter with Trump Jr. continued, with the entrepreneur writing, “The most entertaining outcome, especially if ironic, is most likely.” While Comcast made no mention of selling MSNBC to Musk , the big-spending tech wiz has proven he can take over companies despite resistance from their board of directors, just as he did with Twitter. Speculation about Musk buying a progressive cable news network comes a week after satirical site The Onion announced it had purchased Alex Jones’ far-right “InfoWars” empire in a bankruptcy auction. Jones was forced to sell the disgraced brand to satisfy a judgment against him in connection with the lies and conspiracy theories he pushed about the 2012 massacre at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School . A Texas judge has delayed that acquisition while a court reviews details of the bidding process.
In a landmark decision in August, a federal judge ruled that Google operates an illegal monopoly via its search business. The Justice Department is proposing a forced sale of Chrome to remedy the issue. But experts believe a different outcome is more likely. The US Justice Department wants to force Google to sell Chrome – but the measure is unlikely to be adopted, experts suggest The US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday proposed what would constitute a historic breakup of Google, calling for the divestiture of its Chrome browser and potentially its Android operating system, to remedy what has been deemed an illegal monopoly in online search. The filing was made three and a half months after federal Judge Amit P. Mehta ruled that Google’s search business violates US competition law through exclusionary practices. “Restoring competition to the markets for general search and search text advertising as they exist today will require reactivating the competitive process that Google has long stifled: The remedy must enable and encourage the development of an unfettered search ecosystem that induces entry, competition, and innovation as rivals vie to win the business of consumers and advertisers,” the Justice Department wrote in a 23-page filing. In the document, the DOJ recommends forcing the sale of Chrome, citing the browser’s core role in funneling users to Google’s search engine, which is deeply integrated into the browser. Further, the Justice Department is pressing Google to either divest Android – the world’s most ubiquitous mobile operating system – or be banned from making exclusive agreements that make its search engine the default on devices that rely on the Android operating system. Though the Android system is open source, most Android devices come preloaded with Google apps, strengthening the company’s dominance in the search ecosystem, the DOJ argues. The government agency also hopes to force the tech giant to drop any investments it has in AI firms that might compete with search engines. The company has a $2bn stake in Anthropic, the AI company behind popular AI assistant Claude. Google vehemently opposes the proposals. Kent Walker, president of global affairs at Google and parent company Alphabet wrote in a blog post Thursday: “DOJ’s approach would result in unprecedented government overreach that would harm American consumers, developers, and small businesses – and jeopardize America’s global economic and technological leadership at precisely the moment it’s needed most.” If Judge Mehta agreed to require divestment of Chrome or Android, online search – and the digital advertising ecosystem, by extension – would be greatly disrupted. For one, Google’s practice of bundling premium search advertising space with less valuable inventory, under opaque regimes like ad campaign tool Performance Max, has long stifled transparency and made it more difficult for advertisers to optimize their spend. In the words of Adam Epstein, co-CEO of adMarketplace, a native search advertising firm, “Google packages the prime rib of search advertising with a lot of hamburger meat from other sources, and they do it under Performance Max, which allows for very little transparency or optimization.” Separating search advertising into its own market would allow advertisers to better allocate budgets, optimize campaigns and bid more effectively, ultimately creating a healthier advertising ecosystem, he argues. Epstein has advised the DOJ on the ins and outs of the search ad landscape throughout this trial. Plus, Epstein argues that Google’s business practices result in inflated prices, with advertisers overpaying for lower-quality traffic. Increased transparency and competition in selling search traffic – which could be ushered in by the divestment of Chrome and some of the DOJ’s other proposed solutions – may drive down these costs, unlocking substantial opportunities for advertisers and competitors in search alike. He suggests that eroding Google’s dominance would create a fairer market and address long-standing inefficiencies in the digital ad ecosystem. Advertisement Though the judge’s decision over legal remedies remains unclear at this point, legal experts doubt that Google will ultimately be forced to sell Chrome. “It is very unlikely that the courts will ultimately agree to the remedies proposed by DOJ. Divestiture in particular seems very unlikely,” says Doug Melamed, a visiting fellow at Stanford Law School who previously worked in the DOJ’s antitrust division. Forcing the sale of Chrome is unlikely for two key reasons, Melamed says. For one, he says, divestiture – typically reserved for reversing mergers – doesn’t align with the nature of the case, which centers on alleged illegal agreements rather than structural issues. And from a legal perspective, “antitrust remedies must be focused on the particular harms to competition found in the case,” he explains. In addition to the fact that divestiture does not directly address the specific harms created by Google’s exclusionary agreements with device makers, “it is rarely appropriate to order divestiture of businesses that were developed by the defendant” – a precedent established in the Microsoft case, Melamed says. “Divestiture of business units is generally appropriate only when those businesses and the retained businesses were combined by merger.” But Google itself developed both Chrome and Android, making Chrome divestiture look like an inappropriate remedy in Melamed’s view. More plausible remedies, he suggests, would focus on curbing agreements that hinder rivals’ access to critical search distribution channels. This could include restrictions on deals that make Google the default search engine. adMarketplace’s Epstein agrees that while divestiture may be a long shot, more practical “behavioral remedies” could be implemented imminently. In addition to barring Google from signing exclusive distribution agreements, the company must syndicate its ads and search results so that “browsers and apps can have monetization and search results that are relevant to users without having to give total control over the search experience.” This kind of requirement, Epstein says, would open up more competition for AI firms looking to go head-to-head with Google Search. Another potential measure is limiting Google’s use of unconditional revenue-sharing agreements with device manufacturers and browser providers, Melamed says. Although these payments aren’t explicitly tied to default status, they may still incentivize partners to prioritize Google over competitors. A further option could require Google to share certain data with rivals for a fee, mitigating competitive disadvantages stemming from exclusive agreements with device makers. However, Melamed believes that both revenue- and data-sharing proposals face implementation challenges and could have potential adverse effects on innovation or browser supplier revenues – which might undercut the government’s aim to invite greater competition into the search market. More likely, Melamed says, are more narrow “restrictions on agreements that more directly harm rivals.” Advertisement In the unlikely case that Judge Mehta takes the Justice Department’s advice and requires Google to divest Chrome, the decision is sure to face significant hurdles, experts say, citing the appeals court reversal of a similar breakup attempt against Microsoft in the early 2000s. “Ordering the sale of Chrome would obviously be an aggressive remedy and may not survive the appeals process, as we saw with Microsoft over 20 years ago,” says Andrew Frank, vice-president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. Plus, with administrative changes expected under Donald Trump’s second presidential term, some antitrust actions underway today may lose momentum, Frank predicts (though it’s worth noting that this case was launched by the DOJ in the fall of 2020, during Trump’s first administration). Nonetheless, Frank says that “when the dust settles, the outcome [of this case] may be less impactful than the drama suggests.” Antitrust action, writ large, could sputter under Trump’s leadership, Melamed agrees. “The aggressiveness of the Biden antitrust enforcers is unlikely to be continued in the Trump administration because Trump is generally protective of big business and opposed to government regulation,” he says. Plus, considering Trump’s track record of disregard for the law, he can “imagine the Trump team going easy on Google if Google makes other business decisions that Trump seeks, like changing its algorithms to favor pro-Trump information.” However, it’s also possible, he suggests, that Trump will leverage the Justice Department to target tech firms he perceives as hostile Catch up on the most important stories of the day, curated by our editorial team. Stay up to date with a curated digest of the most important marketing stories and expert insights from our global team. Learn how to pitch to our editors and get published on The Drum. Google is appealing the August monopoly ruling. In the meantime, however, the company will submit its own counter-proposals by December 20. The details of Google’s forthcoming filing are purely speculative at this point, but Melamed, for his part, expects that Google will push back against the court’s determination that the company violated federal competition law and argue that divestiture is not appropriate in this case. The company may also make the case that the DOJ’s other suggestions are not justifiable, but Melamed says that he wouldn’t be surprised if Google is open to some kind of restriction on default agreements with device makers. For the time being, “the government, the courts – with bipartisan political support – all are sending sort of the same message to Google, and that is that the practices that were allowed for the last 25 years are now under scrutiny,” says Epstein. “Google needs to look at a different way to ... move forward in this new environment. They do amazing things, [but] leveraging monopolies to get into new markets and own them is probably not going to be their best strategy going forward ... They’re going to have to do a little soul-searching over the next 12 to 18 months.” This antitrust push, among the most aggressive actions against Big Tech in decades, coincides with another landmark competition case between the DOJ and Google, concerning the company’s adtech business. The final outcome of both cases could help shape future competition cases targeting Apple, Amazon, Meta and others. The court is expected to hear arguments on remedies in the spring of 2025, with a decision anticipated by summer. For more, sign up for The Drum’s daily newsletter here .Tim Cook and other U.S. executives attend China expo, meet officials as Trump tariff threat looms
CRANFORD, N.J. , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Citius Oncology, Inc. ("Citius Oncology" or the "Company") CTOR , a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel targeted oncology therapies, today reported business and financial results for the fiscal full year ended September 30, 2024 . Fiscal Full Year 2024 Business Highlights and Subsequent Developments Achieved U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of LYMPHIRTM (denileukin diftitox-cxdl), an immunotherapy for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL); Began trading on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker symbol CTOR on August 13, 2024 , following completion of the merger of Citius Pharma's oncology subsidiary with TenX Keane to form Citius Oncology, Inc., a standalone publicly traded company; Advanced manufacturing, marketing and sales activities in preparation for commercial launch of LYMPHIR in the first half of 2025; key activities included: Manufactured initial inventory for launch and finalized supply chain agreements, Initiated recruitment of targeted field force with contract sales organization, Launched a marketing awareness campaign and engaged with all leading CTCL prescribers, Applied for a unique J-code within the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) to facilitate accurate reimbursement, Secured inclusion of LYMPHIR in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, critical to clinical decision-making in oncology and hematology, influencing treatment practices and payor reimbursement in the U.S., and Initiated development of the patient support center to help patients access LYMPHIR expeditiously; Supported two investigator-initiated trials to explore LYMPHIR's potential as an immuno-oncology combination therapy being conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the University of Minnesota ; and, Shared interim trial results with the clinical community at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Conference (SITC) of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Phase I trial of LYMPHIR with checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab. The combination of these two immunomodulatory agents showed clinical benefit in relapsed or refractory gynecological neoplasms, resulting in: 27% objective response rate and 33% clinical benefit rate with median progression free survival of 57 weeks (range: 30-96 weeks), and A manageable safety profile whereby the regimen was well-tolerated with reversible treatment emergent adverse events and no definitive immune-related adverse events greater than or equal to grade 3 documented. Financial Highlights R&D expenses were $4.9 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $4.2 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 ; G&A expenses were $8.1 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $5.9 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 ; Stock-based compensation expense was $7.5 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $2.0 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 ; and, Net loss was $21.1 million , or ($0.31) per share for the full year ended September 30, 2024 compared to a net loss of $12.7 million , or ($0.19) per share for the full year ended September 30, 2023 . "Reflecting on 2024, Citius Oncology has achieved pivotal milestones that underscore our commitment to advancing cancer therapeutics," stated Leonard Mazur , Chairman and CEO of Citius Oncology. "The FDA's approval of LYMPHIR for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma marks a significant advancement in providing new options for patients battling this challenging disease. It is the only targeted systemic therapy approved for CTCL patients since 2018 and the only therapy with a mechanism of action that targets the IL-2 receptor. Additionally, the successful merger forming Citius Oncology, now trading on Nasdaq under the ticker CTOR, strengthens our position in the oncology sector. We expect it to facilitate greater access to capital to fund LYMPHIR's launch and the Company's future growth. With a Phase I investigator-initiated clinical trial combining LYMPHIR with pembrolizumab demonstrating promising preliminary results, indicating potential for enhanced treatment efficacy in recurrent solid tumors, and preliminary results expected from a second investigator trial with CAR-T therapies in 2025, we remain excited about the potential of LYMPHIR as a combination immunotherapy." "These accomplishments reflect the dedication of our team and the trust of our investors. As we look ahead, we remain steadfast in our mission to develop innovative therapies that improve the lives of cancer patients worldwide," added Mazur. FULL YEAR 2024 FINANCIAL RESULTS: Research and Development (R&D) Expenses R&D expenses were $4.9 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $4.2 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 . The increase reflects development activities completed for the resubmission of the Biologics License Application of LYMPHIR in January 2024 , which were associated with the complete response letter remediation. General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses G&A expenses were $8.1 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $5.9 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 . The increase was primarily due to costs associated with pre-commercial and commercial launch activities of LYMPHIR including market research, marketing, distribution and drug product reimbursement from health plans and payers. Stock-based Compensation Expense For the full year ended September 30, 2024 , stock-based compensation expense was $7.5 million as compared to $2.0 million for the prior year. The primary reason for the $5.5 million increase was due to the amounts being realized over 12 months in the year ended September 30, 2024 , as compared to three months post-plan adoption in the year ended September 30, 2023 . Net loss Net loss was $21.1 million , or ($0.31) per share for the year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to a net loss of $12.7 million , or ($0.19) per share for the year ended September 30, 2023 . The $8.5 million increase in net loss was primarily due to the increase in our operating expenses. About Citius Oncology, Inc. Citius Oncology specialty is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel targeted oncology therapies. In August 2024 , its primary asset, LYMPHIR, was approved by the FDA for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory CTCL who had had at least one prior systemic therapy. Management estimates the initial market for LYMPHIR currently exceeds $400 million , is growing, and is underserved by existing therapies. Robust intellectual property protections that span orphan drug designation, complex technology, trade secrets and pending patents for immuno-oncology use as a combination therapy with checkpoint inhibitors would further support Citius Oncology's competitive positioning. Citius Oncology is a publicly traded subsidiary of Citius Pharmaceuticals. For more information, please visit www.citiusonc.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting Citius Oncology. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "should," and "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, and, unless noted otherwise, that apply to Citius Oncology are: our ability to raise additional money to fund our operations for at least the next 12 months as a going concern; our ability to commercialize LYMPHIR and any of our other product candidates that may be approved by the FDA; the estimated markets for our product candidates and the acceptance thereof by any market; the ability of our product candidates to impact the quality of life of our target patient populations; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to procure cGMP commercial-scale supply; risks related to research using our assets but conducted by third parties; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; market and other conditions; risks related to our growth strategy; patent and intellectual property matters; our ability to identify, acquire, close and integrate product candidates and companies successfully and on a timely basis; government regulation; competition; as well as other risks described in our Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings. These risks have been and may be further impacted by any future public health risks. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Risks regarding our business are described in detail in our SEC filings which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov , including in Citius Oncology's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024 , filed with the SEC on December 27, 2024 , as updated by our subsequent filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. Investor Contact: Ilanit Allen ir@citiuspharma.com 908-967-6677 x113 Media Contact: STiR-communications Greg Salsburg Greg@STiR-communications.com -- Financial Tables Follow – CITIUS ONCOLOGY, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023 2024 2023 Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 112 $ — Inventory 8,268,766 — Prepaid expenses 2,700,000 7,734,895 Total Current Assets 10,968,878 7,734,895 Other Assets: In-process research and development 73,400,000 40,000,000 Total Other Assets 73,400,000 40,000,000 Total Assets $ 84,368,878 $ 47,734,895 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Accounts payable $ 3,711,622 $ 1,289,045 License payable 28,400,000 — Accrued expenses — 259,071 Due to related party 588,806 19,499,119 Total Current Liabilities 32,700,429 21,047,235 Deferred tax liability 1,728,000 1,152,000 Note payable to related party 3,800,111 — Total Liabilities 38,228,540 22,199,235 Stockholders' Equity: Preferred stock - $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized: no shares issued and outstanding — — Common stock - $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000; 71,552,402 and 67,500,000 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively 7,155 6,750 Additional paid-in capital 85,411,771 43,658,750 Accumulated deficit (39,278,587) (18,129,840) Total Stockholders' Equity 46,140,339 25,535,660 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 84,368,878 $ 47,734,895 CITIUS ONCOLOGY, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023 2024 2023 Revenues $ — $ — Operating Expenses: Research and development 4,925,001 4,240,451 General and administrative 8,148,929 5,915,290 Stock-based compensation – general and administrative 7,498,817 1,965,500 Total Operating Expenses 20,572,747 12,121,241 Loss before Income Taxes (20,572,747) (12,121,241) Income tax expense 576,000 576,000 Net Loss $ (21,148,747) $ (12,697,241) Net Loss Per Share – Basic and Diluted $ (0.31) $ (0.19) Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding – Basic and Diluted 68,053,607 67,500,000 CITIUS ONCOLOGY, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023 2024 2023 Cash Flows From Operating Activities: Net loss $ (21,148,747) $ (12,697,241) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Stock-based compensation expense 7,498,817 1,965,500 Deferred income tax expense 576,000 576,000 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Inventory (2,133,871) - Prepaid expenses (1,100,000) (5,044,713) Accounts payable 2,422,577 1,196,734 Accrued expenses (259,071) (801,754) Due to related party 14,270,648 14,805,474 Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities 126,353 - Cash Flows From Investing Activities: License payment (5,000,000) - Net Cash Used In Investing Activities (5,000,000) - Cash Flows From Financing Activities: Cash contributed by parent 3,827,944 - Merger, net (2,754,296) - Proceeds from issuance of note payable to related party 3,800,111 - Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities 4,873,759 - Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents 112 - Cash and Cash Equivalents – Beginning of Year - - Cash and Cash Equivalents – End of Year $ 112 $ - Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information and Non-cash Activities: IPR&D Milestones included in License Payable $ 28,400,000 $ - Capital Contribution of due to related party by parent $ 33,180,961 $ - Prepaid Manufacturing transferred to Inventory $ 6,134,895 $ - View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/citius-oncology-inc-reports-fiscal-full-year-2024-financial-results-and-provides-business-update-302339671.html SOURCE Citius Oncology, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. 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President Joe Biden's administration said Friday that it has cemented deals for billions in funding to South Korean semiconductor giant Samsung Electronics and Texas Instruments to boost their chipmaking facilities in the United States. US officials have been working to solidify Biden's legacy to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's White House return -- and these agreements are among the latest efforts to do so. The United States has been trying to reduce its dependence on other countries for semiconductors, while also seeking to maintain its scientific and technological edge as competition with China intensifies. Samsung's award of up to $4.7 billion in direct funding goes towards its effort to grow its Texas presence into a full-fledged operation for developing and producing leading-edge chips, said the US Commerce Department. The funding will supplement the company's investment of more than $37 billion in the coming years, the department added. Samsung's expansion will help "ensure we have a steady, domestic supply of the most advanced semiconductors that are essential to AI and national security, while also creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard added that Samsung is "the only semiconductor company that is a leader in both advanced memory and advanced logic chips." In a separate notice, the Commerce Department said it also had finalized an award of up to $1.6 billion for Texas Instruments, supporting its efforts to build new facilities. Raimondo noted that shortages of current-generation semiconductors were a problem during the supply chain disruptions sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that TI now plans to grow its US capacity in making these devices. The Biden administration has unveiled billions in grants through the CHIPS and Science Act, a major law passed during the veteran Democrat's term aimed at strengthening the US semiconductor industry. Officials have managed to get many deals across the finish line before Trump returns to the Oval Office, awarding the vast majority of more than $36 billion in proposed incentives that have been allocated. The finalized deals mean funds can be disbursed as companies hit project milestones. bys/sstAbacus Life Announces Closing of Public Offering of 12,500,000 Shares of Common Stock
'The effect will be immediate': Auto expert on Donald Trump's proposed tariffsAirports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike . Here’s the latest: 2.2 billion packages are expected to ship between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve U.S. airlines are preparing for a Thanksgiving holiday rush, and so are the U.S. Postal Service, United Parcel Service and FedEx. | Shipping companies will deliver about 2.2 billion packages to homes and businesses across the U.S. from Thanksgiving to Dec. 31, said Satish Jindel, a shipping and logistics expert and president of ShipMatrix. That’s down from 2.3 billion packages last year. Because the shopping period is a week shorter than in 2023, consumers are shopping further ahead of Black Friday and more purchases are taking place in physical stores, he said. The number of holiday package shipments grew 27% in 2020 and by more than 3% the following year during the pandemic. The numbers have been falling since then, with a projected decline of about 6% this holiday season. Does your airport offer therapy dogs? Looking to de-stress while waiting for your flight? Many airports have a fleet of therapy dogs — designated fidos and puppers that are eager to receive pets and snuggles from weary travelers. Rules and schedules vary from airport to airport, but the group AirportTherapyDogs uses online crowdsourcing to share the locations of therapy dogs across its various social media accounts. Today, Gracie, a toy Australian shepherd, and Budge, an English bulldog, wandered the concourses at Denver International Airport, and an American Staffordshire Terrier named Hugo greeted travelers at Punta Gorda Airport in Florida. Some airports even feature other therapy pals. San Francisco International Airport’s fleet of animals includes a Flemish Giant rabbit and a hypoallergenic pig. What the striking airport workers are saying “We cannot live on the wages that we are being paid,” ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle said at a rally earlier Monday. “I can honestly say it’s hard every single day with my children, working a full-time job but having to look my kids in the eyes and sit there and say, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to have a home today.’” Timothy Lowe II, a wheelchair attendant, said he has to figure out where to spend the night because he doesn’t make enough for a deposit on a home. “We just want to be able to have everything that’s a necessity paid for by the job that hired us to do a great job so they can make billions,” he said. ABM said it is “committed to addressing concerns swiftly” and that there are avenues for employees to communicate issues, including a national hotline and a “general open door policy for managers at our worksite.” What are striking Charlotte airport workers’ demands? Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. They described living paycheck to paycheck while performing jobs that keep planes running on schedule. Most of them earn $12.50 to $19 an hour, union officials said. Rev. Glencie Rhedrick of Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice said those workers should make $22 to $25 an hour. The strike is expected to last 24 hours. Several hundred workers participated in the work stoppage. U.S. flights are running normally Forty-four fights have been canceled today and nearly 1,900 were delayed by midday on the East Coast, according to FlightAware . According to the organization’s cheekily named MiseryMap , San Francisco International Airport is having the most hiccups right now, with 53 delays and three cancellations between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST. While that might sound like a lot of delays, they might not be so bad compared to last Friday when the airport suffered 671 delays and 69 cancellations. Cutting in line? American Airlines’s new boarding tech might stop you now at over 100 airports In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American Airlines has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport. Tips to make holiday travel a bit easier Travel can be stressful in the best of times. Now add in the high-level anxiety that seems to be baked into every holiday season and it’s clear travelers could use some help calming frazzled nerves. Here are a few ways to make your holiday journey a little less stressful: Make a checklist of what you need to do and what you need to bring Carry your comfort with you — think noise-canceling headphones, cozy clothes, snacks and extra medication Stay hydrated Keep up to date on delays, gate changes and cancellations with your airline’s app The timing of this year’s holiday shapes travel patterns Thanksgiving Day takes place late this year, with the fourth Thursday of November falling on Nov. 28. That shortens the traditional shopping season and changes the rhythm of holiday travel. With more time before the holiday , people tend to spread out their outbound travel over more days, but everyone returns at the same time, said Andrew Watterson, the chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines . “A late Thanksgiving leads to a big crush at the end,” Watterson said. “The Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving are usually very busy with Thanksgiving this late.” Airlines did a relatively good job of handling holiday crowds last year, when the weather was mild in most of the country. Fewer than 400 U.S. flights were canceled during Thanksgiving week in 2023 — about one out of every 450 flights. So far in 2024, airlines have canceled about 1.3% of all flights. Advice for drivers Drivers should know that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the worst times to travel by car, but it should be smooth sailing on freeways come Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX. On the return home, the best travel times for motorists are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, the company said. In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, “traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day,” INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said. FAA staffing shortage could cause flight delays Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that he expects his agency to use special measures at some facilities to deal with an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. In the past, those facilities have included airports in New York City and Florida. “If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe,” Whitaker said. The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agency’s lofty hiring goals. Thanksgiving travel, by the numbers Auto club and insurance company AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday. Most of them will travel by car. Drivers should get a slight break on gas prices . The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon on Sunday, down from $3.27 at this time last year. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024. The TSA predicts that 3 million people will pass through airport security checkpoints on Sunday; more than that could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the next busiest air travel days of Thanksgiving week. Charlotte airport workers strike over low wages Workers who clean airplanes, remove trash and help with wheelchairs at Charlotte’s airport, one of the nation’s busiest, went on strike Monday to demand higher wages. The Service Employees International Union announced the strike in a statement early Monday, saying the workers would demand “an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season.” The strike was expected to last 24 hours, said union spokesperson Sean Keady. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. The two companies contract with American, one of the world’s biggest carriers, to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. Northeast should get needed precipitation Parts of the Midwest and East Coast can expect to see heavy rain into Thanksgiving, and there’s potential for snow in Northeastern states. A storm last week brought rain to New York and New Jersey, where wildfires have raged in recent weeks, and heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. The precipitation was expected to help ease drought conditions after an exceptionally dry fall. Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches (43 centimeters), with lesser accumulations in valley cities including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Around 35,000 customers in 10 counties were still without power, down from 80,000 a day ago. In the Catskills region of New York, nearly 10,000 people remained without power Sunday morning, two days after a storm dumped heavy snow on parts of the region. Precipitation in West Virginia helped put a dent in the state’s worst drought in at least two decades and boosted ski resorts as they prepare to open in the weeks ahead. More rain expected after deadly “bomb cyclone” on West Coast Two people died in the Pacific Northwest after a rapidly intensifying “ bomb cyclone ” hit the West Coast last Tuesday, bringing fierce winds that toppled trees and power lines and damaged homes and cars. Hundreds of thousands lost electricity in Washington state before powerful gusts and record rains moved into Northern California. Forecasters said the risk of flooding and mudslides remained as the region will get more rain starting Sunday. But the latest storm won’t be as intense as last week’s atmospheric river , a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows over land. “However, there’s still threats, smaller threats, and not as significant in terms of magnitude, that are still going to exist across the West Coast for the next two or three days,” weather service forecaster Rich Otto said. As the rain moves east throughout the week, Otto said, there’s a potential for heavy snowfall at higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, as well as portions of Utah and Colorado. California’s Mammoth Mountain, which received 2 feet (0.6 meters) of fresh snow in the recent storm, could get another 4 feet (1.2 meters) before the newest system clears out Wednesday, the resort said. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across U.S. during Thanksgiving week Another round of wintry weather could complicate travel leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, according to forecasts across the U.S., while California and Washington state continue to recover from storm damage and power outages. In California, where two people were found dead in floodwaters on Saturday, authorities braced for more rain while grappling with flooding and small landslides from a previous storm . Here’s a look at some of the regional forecasts: Sierra Nevada: The National Weather Service office issued a winter storm warning through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at higher elevations and wind gusts potentially reaching 55 mph (88 kph). Total snowfall of roughly 4 feet (1.2 meters) was forecast, with the heaviest accumulations expected Monday and Tuesday. Midwest and Great Lakes: The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will see rain and snow Monday and the East Coast will be the most impacted on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, forecasters said. East Coast: A low pressure system is forecast to bring rain to the Southeast early Thursday before heading to the Northeast. Areas from Boston to New York could see rain and breezy conditions, with snowfall possible in parts of northern New Hampshire, northern Maine and the Adirondacks. If the system tracks further inland, there could be less snow and more rain in the mountains, forecasters said. —The Associated Press The application deadline for Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards is Friday, December 6, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.Karaoke has been performed with the standard microphone and portable speaker for many years, and we've gotten by fine. But Ikarao , a karaoke speaker company, decided to take karaoke to the next level. They're using technology that we've had at our disposal for years, but for some reason was never implemented well into karaoke speakers to make them more practical and fun. Until now. Their latest flagship product, the Shell S1 Karaoke , is their most affordable karaoke speaker, with a touchscreen tablet, two Bluetooth microphones, and a powerful sound for a small portable speaker. Ikarao sent me their speaker to review. After countless hours of karaoke, I can recommend this to anyone looking for a portable karaoke speaker. There isn't much competition in the market for this kind of device, but the Shell S1 is still a solid product that bests its own catalog of speakers. Shell S1 karaoke speaker pros, cons, and specs Pros Has a 10.1-inch touchscreen tablet Compact and portable karaoke machine Powerful 104dB stereo speaker with optional bass boost Comes with two wireless microphones with 20-hour rechargeable battery life Can connect to a TV with HDMI cable Can play and charge at the same time The integrated Karafun app brings the most out of the speaker. Integrated Spotify app Cons No easy way to cast screen to TV No integrated YouTube app No way to fully customize EQ Specs Battery Life : Up to nine hours with the screen on and 12 hours with the screen off Connectivity : USB, AUX In/Out, HDMI, Wifi, OTG, and Bluetooth V5.4 Inputs : AUX input, microphone input, USB input App : None Drivers : Equipped with two 15W 3.5-inch woofers and two 10W 1-inch tweeters, covering a frequency range of 50Hz – 18kHz Power Output : Peak power of 280 W and a maximum sound level of 104dB Water Resistance : None Size : 13.9 in by 6.9 in by 6.7 in (L × W × H) Weight : 11.7 lbs First impressions of the Shell S1 karaoke speaker My expectations were somewhat low for this review, mainly because I had never heard of Ikarao before. But I was happily surprised. The Shell S1 is a portable, one-stop shop for everything you need for a karaoke session. This makes it easy to pick up and take with you to a friend's house or around the house. But as I'll explain, it's not perfect. I was blown away by how loud this speaker can get—104 dB, to be exact. That's loud enough to fill most living rooms. There is also a bass boost button on the front (along with volume control, power, Bluetooth, and a local play button to switch the input source) that really bumps the bass substantially. I was able to blast music on my surround sound system and sing over it with just the microphone on the S1 (this is useful if you have a surround sound system you want to use along with the speaker). While portable, the speaker is pretty hefty for its size (nearly 12 pounds), which makes sense—you're jamming two microphones, a tablet, and a stereo speaker in one product. Ikarao includes a shoulder strap to make carrying the S1 around easy. The two Bluetooth microphones are cleverly hidden inside the speaker when you lift up the screen, and they automatically charge as they're stored (just like earbud charging cases). They have a range of about 32 feet, and the batteries last 20 hours. They also have convenient volume controls, a power button that also lets you change through mic effects (including some fun ones), and a button that controls the media so you can play, pause, or skip to the next song in the queue (the mics essentially double as remotes). I was also surprised by how little feedback I received when blasting the volume and getting close to the speaker. I really had to try hard to get any. Overall, the microphone experience was excellent. The back of the speaker has all of the interface inputs and outputs. It has another option for a third wire mic with a 3.5mm input, an AUX input, USB On-The-Go (OTG), a USB port, an HDMI so you can hook up the tablet to a TV, a type-C power inlet for charging, and an AUX out to connect to other speakers. Now, let's get to the fun stuff. Features of the Shell S1 karaoke speaker The touchscreen for the Shell S1 is an Android tablet, but it lacks the ability to download apps, meaning I'm stuck with what it comes with (unless Ikarao decides to do OTA updates in the future). There is also no way to fully customize the EQ, but to be honest, it sounds great out of the box. The Shell S1 has an HDMI output that I was able to connect to my TV quickly and easily. However, I have a surround sound system in my living room that doesn't have an AUX connection, meaning I was stuck playing music only through the Shell S1 speaker. If the Shell S1 had the ability to cast its screen to a smart TV, it would not just make it easier to project into a bigger screen for larger parties, but it would also allow those with surround sound systems to use them for karaoke. Ikarao does give the option to cast to a smart TV using a third-party app that is downloaded in the speaker, but the experience was confusing and I can't imagine anyone at a party (especially after a drink or two) managing to figure it out. A swing and a miss from Ikarao. Although the first thing you might see when you open the screen is YouTube, don't get too excited. It's not the YouTube app; it's just a direct link through a Firefox browser to YouTube. If you ask me, this is a huge dropped ball by Ikarao. Karaoke is mostly done through YouTube, where you can find virtually every song imaginable in a karaoke version, all for free. The web version of YouTube through Firefox with a 10-inch touchscreen is clumsy and slow, to say the least. (If you're wondering, yes, this means you can use the browser to do everything an Android tablet lets you do.) Instead of focusing their efforts on YouTube, Ikarao decided to include the Spotify app. Which is cool, if you're a smart portable speaker. But this is supposed to be a karaoke speaker, and Spotify is not karaoke-friendly. Sure, you can make it work by singing over lyrics or by chance finding an actual karaoke version of your go-to song, but good luck reading along the lyrics. You can also play music through local USB drives. Not as exciting as the other options, but very much appreciated if you find yourself somewhere without wifi or just have a obscure taste in music. Of course, you can also connect your phone directly to the speaker through Bluetooth, but then there's no way to follow along with lyrics, which defeats the point of the karaoke machine. So what good option is left? I saved the best for last. The KaraFun app Ikarao partnered up with KaraFun , a well-thought-out karaoke app that starts at $9.99 a month . This could explain why Ikarao decided not to include YouTube in its speaker, and if this is the reason, it's frustrating. Ikarao does offer a six-month subscription to KaraFun with your purchase, but why not also include the YouTube app? Frustration aside, KaraFun does make full use of the speaker's potential. It's a more seamless experience than using YouTube for karaoke, with a huge catalog of karaoke songs, a queue feature, the ability to join sessions and add songs through any phone just by scanning a QR code on the screen, and a fun feature that lets you take pictures and email them at the end of your session. But if you're not ready to add yet another monthly subscription to your budget, then you'll have to make do with the other options. Bottom line The Shell S1 smart karaoke speaker is impressive and one of a kind. It's very close to being the perfect portable karaoke speaker, although it still has the potential to get there if Ikarao decides to add the YouTube app with an update. If that app also lets you cast YouTube to a TV, karaoke bars might run out of business. But for now, the physical HDMI cable will have to do. Unfortunately, the best way to use the Shell S1 to its full potential is with the KaraFun app, which starts at $9.99 per month. But if you don't mind that, the partnership works very well. The speaker is powerful for its size, the bass boost is strong, and the quality of the music does not falter at high volumes. The two Bluetooth microphones are quality, they control the media, have a long battery life, automatically charge when stored, and have very little feedback. The touchscreen tablet looks good and makes it truly an all-in-one karaoke machine. The speaker is very portable and has everything you need to karaoke out of the box. The ability to play and charge means the party never stops as long as there's an outlet close by. For around $300 to $350, this is a top-notch portable karaoke machine.