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Termination Of The Pixie Dust Technologies American Depositary Receipt ProgramGUANGZHOU, China, Dec. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EHang Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: EH) ("EHang" or the "Company"), the world’s leading Urban Air Mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company, today announced the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd., (“Changan Automobile”), a leading Chinese car manufacturer listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (ticker symbol:000625), in the presence of the Chongqing Municipal Government and representatives from various industry sectors. The parties will collaborate on the research and development, manufacturing, sales, and operation of flying car-related products, including electric vertical takeoff and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft and innovative flying cars. Leveraging EHang's strong product development capabilities in aerial vehicles and low-altitude flight management technology solutions and combining Changan Automobile's robust production and manufacturing foundation and rich market resources in the automotive sector, the parties will explore the establishment of a joint venture focused on future mobility ecosystem technologies. This cross-industry strategic partnership will further enrich and expand EHang's eVTOL product line, unlocking a vast potential market for flying cars targeting a broad C-end customer base. Zhao Wang, Chief Operating Officer of EHang and Xiaoyu Zhang, Executive Vice President of Changan Automobile sign a strategic cooperation agreement The signing ceremony was held at the planned site of the Changan Global Science and Art Center in Chongqing. Distinguished attendees included Henghua Hu, Deputy Secretary of the Chongqing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Chongqing, and Xiangdong Zheng, Vice Mayor of Chongqing, and management from Changan Automobile, including Huarong Zhu, Chairman; Jun Wang, President; and Benhong Tan, Chief Human Resources Officer. Also present were EHang's Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman, and CEO; Zhao Wang, Chief Operating Officer, and Conor Yang, Chief Financial Officer. Ceremony highlights included a flight of the EH216-S pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft. The EH216-S pilotless eVTOL performs a flight demonstration at the signing ceremony, while the EH216-F and EH216-L pilotless eVTOLs are displayed on-site As one of China's top four automotive groups, Changan Automobile boasts strong capabilities in R&D, manufacturing infrastructure, supply chain, sales channel resources, and significant market influence in automobile market. EHang, as a pioneer in the global UAM sector, is leading the way in the R&D and design, mass production, certifications and large-scale safe operation for pilotless passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft. Under this agreement, the two parties will leverage their respective strengths and resources to jointly develop flying cars and with cutting-edge technologies, future-oriented design, and market competitiveness. The collaboration covers R&D, production, market promotion, channel development, user experience and after-sales service, while integrating low-altitude economy applications to accelerate the commercialization of flying cars and EHang's pilotless eVTOL products. The signing ceremony of the strategic cooperation agreement between EHang and Changan Automobile The low-altitude economy represents a national strategic emerging industry and a new quality productive force. The 2024 Central Economic Work Conference clearly pointed out the importance of leading the development of new types of productive forces with technological innovation and carrying out large-scale application demonstrations of new technologies, products, and scenarios. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other departments in China have proposed to encourage the research and development of flying car technologies, product validation, and the exploration of commercial application scenarios, with a strong focus on developing unmanned, electric, and intelligent low-altitude equipment. As a new type of aircraft for the development of the low-altitude industry, eVTOLs have vast development potential. According to data by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the scale of China’s low-altitude economy exceeded 500 billion yuan in 2023, and it is expected to reach 2 trillion yuan by 2030, with the market potentially growing to 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035. Earlier this year in September, the Chongqing Municipal Government Office issued the Action Plan for Promoting Low-Altitude Airspace Management Reform and High-Quality Development of the Low-Altitude Economy (2024–2027) . The plan aims to position Chongqing as an innovative benchmark city in low-altitude economy and supports intelligent automobile manufacturers in exploring eVTOL R&D and production. EHang and Changan Automobile are collaboratively aligning with the low-altitude economy development strategy, basing strategies upon Chongqing’s favorable policies to accelerate the complementary integration of the automotive and low-altitude economy industry. The emergence of a new generation of low-altitude mobility products will introduce a higher-quality, more efficient, and environmental-friendly three-dimensional transportation solution designed to meet the challenges of Chongqing's complex mountainous terrain. This innovation will set a new benchmark for advancing the low-altitude economy. Huarong Zhu, Chairman of Changan Automobile, speaking at the strategic cooperation signing ceremony Huarong Zhu, Chairman of Changan Automobile, said: "The cooperation between Changan Automobile and EHang in the development of flying cars is of great significance, allowing both parties to leverage their respective strengths. Over the next five years, Changan Automobile plans to invest more than 20 billion yuan in the low-altitude economy sector to accelerate the development of the flying car industry. Over the next decade, we will invest more than 100 billion yuan to explore integrated mobility solutions across land, sea and air." Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of EHang, speaking at the strategic cooperation signing ceremony Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of EHang, stated: "During this rapid development stage of the low-altitude economy, EHang remains committed to collaborating with upstream and downstream partners to enhance the pilotless eVTOL industrial chain and its ecosystem. We look forward to more cross-industry cooperation with mature domestic automakers, leveraging each other's strengths and resources to create complementary and synergistic effects, continuously enriching and developing eVTOL product series that cater to diverse scenario demands and customers. This strategic partnership with Changan Automobile, aimed at jointly advancing the R&D, manufacturing, sales, and operation of next-generation flying cars product, will further enrich the ecosystem of the low-altitude economy and offer consumers more travel options." About EHang EHang (Nasdaq: EH) is the world’s leading urban air mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company. Our mission is to enable safe, autonomous, and eco-friendly air mobility accessible to everyone. EHang provides customers in various industries with unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) systems and solutions: air mobility (including passenger transportation and logistics), smart city management, and aerial media solutions. EHang’s flagship product EH216-S has obtained the world’s first type certificate, production certificate and standard airworthiness certificate for pilotless eVTOL issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. As the forerunner of cutting-edge UAV technologies and commercial solutions in the global UAM industry, EHang continues to explore the boundaries of the sky to make flying technologies benefit our life in smart cities. For more information, please visit www.ehang.com . About Changan Automobile Changan Automobile is one of the four major Chinese automobile groups, with 40 years of car manufacturing experience, we have 14 manufacturing bases and 34 plants worldwide. As a leading Chinese car manufacturer, CHANGAN Automobile has self-owned brands including CHANGAN UNI, CHANGAN NEVO, CHANGAN LCV, DEEPAL, AVATR, and joint venture brands including CHANGAN Ford, CHANGAN Mazda, and JMC. Changan Automobile has more than 18,000 engineers and technicians from 31 countries around the world, and has established R&D network of ten cities in six countries in Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai, Dingzhou in Hebei, Hefei in Anhui, Turin in Italy, Yokohama in Japan, Birmingham in the UK, Detroit in the US and Munich in Germany. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about management’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to those relating to certifications, our expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, our products and solutions and the commercialization of UAM services, our relationships with strategic partners, and current litigation and potential litigation involving us. Management has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While they believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond management’s control. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause EHang’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Investor Contact: ir@ehang.com Media Contact: pr@ehang.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e078a45c-d232-4360-9ccd-f2c624229d3f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7d1d7cca-a3c7-42da-bbd5-aee441cb9eb3 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8087df72-cd5f-4df3-8772-51fe658cf54f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/32fcc1ba-ca7c-4c2b-9ffd-c491d718d62e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c31ca29-bc7e-48d9-bdbb-283d17141c43 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d5bed0b-bb04-4526-acfb-0c09989d1a6c
U.S. stocks plunged on Wednesday, with all three major indexes posting their biggest daily decline in months, after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point but disappointed some investors with projections that signaled a more cautious path of easing next year. The Fed cut rates by 25 basis points to the 4.25%-4.50% range and its summary of economic projections (SEP) indicated it will make rate cuts totaling a half percentage point by the end of 2025 given the solid labor market and the recent stall in lowering inflation. "If you look at the changes to the statement of economic projection, they really had no choice," said Ellen Hazen, chief market strategist at F.L. Putnam Investment Management in Wellesley, Mass. "So as you look at all the changes that they made, it's very clear that the economy is running a lot hotter than their previous projection. And that has got to contribute to their desire to potentially pause." The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,123.03 points, or 2.58%, to 42,326.87, the S&P 500 lost 178.45 points, or 2.95%, to 5,872.16 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 716.37 points, or 3.56%, to 19,392.69. The Dow suffered its 10th straight session of declines, its longest streak of daily losses since an 11-session skid in October 1974. The Dow and S&P saw their biggest one-day percentage decline since Aug. 5 and the Nasdaq saw its biggest daily decline since July 24. The small cap Russell 2000 dropped 4.4%, its biggest drop since June 16, 2022. Small cap stocks are seen as more likely to benefit from a lower interest rate environment. Despite the declines, the Dow is up nearly 12.3% on the year, while the S&P has rallied about 23% and the Nasdaq has shot up more than 29%, lifted largely by technology companies and enthusiasm around artificial intelligence, along with prospects of a lower rate environment and more recently, the hope of deregulation policies from President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration. However, investors are also wary that some of Trump's expected policies, such as tariffs, could rekindle higher inflation.
SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE ENT In an age when specialized skills and education are the keys to career success, Boerne ISD has established two innovative opportunities through Pathways to Technology Early College High School (P-TECH). With programs in cybersecurity and health science, Boerne ISD offers a dual enrollment opportunity that allows students from Boerne and Champion high schools to gain both a high school diploma and college credits in two of the most in-demand fields today. The cybersecurity program housed at Champion is equipping students with the knowledge and experience necessary to tackle some of the most pressing issues of the digital age. The demand for cybersecurity professionals has never been greater, and our P-TECH students are already well on their way to becoming experts in the field. The program has 181 students enrolled for this school year. Students in the cybersecurity program are working toward an associate of applied science in cybersecurity and information assurance. Students have the opportunity to earn industry-based certifications, and possible careers in this field include network administrator, systems analyst and cybersecurity consultant. The health science program housed at Boerne High is another vital area of focus, offering students a comprehensive education in the healthcare field. The program provides students the opportunity to earn either an associate of science or an associate of applied science in health Science. Careers in this field include nursing, medical assisting, and other healthcare-related fields. Currently, the health science program has 201 students enrolled, with the majority of the students in ninth grade. Students in this program have the opportunity to earn industry-based certifications such as phlebotomy, EKG, and clinical medical assistant. Recruitment for both programs begins in eighth grade, with teachers and advisors meeting with interested students and hosting parent information sessions. The ultimate goal of both programs is for students to complete an associate’s degree prior to high school graduation. Students earning an associate’s degree and/or industry-based certification have the potential to save thousands of dollars in college expenses. To support students in achieving their goals, the district provides a variety of resources and support systems such as college entrance exam preparation, routine tutorials, and advisory meetings. The P-TECH program’s commitment to preparing students for success doesn’t stop at graduation. Administrators and faculty provide work-based learning opportunities, ensuring that students gain real-world experience in their chosen fields before they even complete their degrees. As the 2025-2026 recruitment efforts continue, the future looks brighter than ever for students in the cybersecurity and health science programs. For those interested in applying, the deadline to submit applications is Feb. 7, 2025. If you’re an eighth grader or the parent of one, don’t miss out on this transformative opportunity to jumpstart a career in cybersecurity or health science.
SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — A political party in North Macedonia on Saturday demanded authorities ban social networks whose content incites violence and self-destructive behavior after several young people were seriously injured in connection with the popular “Superman challenge” on TikTok. Health authorities said at least 17 students, ages 10 to 17, were brought to hospitals in the capital Skopje and other towns over the past week with broken bones, contusions and bruises. The children were injured after being thrown into the air by their friends to fly like superheroes and get applause on the internet. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Radiation levels in New York spike as mysterious drones terrorize the Northeast READ MORE: Here's what happened when I tried to fly near NJ's mystery drones By MATTHEW PHELAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 23:56 GMT, 18 December 2024 | Updated: 23:56 GMT, 18 December 2024 e-mail View comments Radiation levels have spiked in New York City , fueling conspiracy theories that the drones terrorizing the Northeast are searching for a missing nuclear warhead. The emissions, clocked by GQ Electronics' Geiger Counter World Map, were detected near the Bronx and Upper West Side Wednesday. The application shows a radiation reading of 1048 counts-per-minute (CPM), i.e. how many particles were detected, in the Bronx: higher than normal background radiation. The average person is typically exposed to background radiation that measures around five to 60 CPM, though CPM varies with sensor devices, according to NASA . And, on the the Upper West Side, the app's reading measured a still high 175 CPM. Now, an attorney and long-time critic of China claims that the spikes are a clue that the northeast's mystery drones might be a secret US government effort to identify 'an implanted nuclear weapon' hidden somewhere in the city by America's enemies. 'This is not something which is just wild speculation,' that lawyer and author, Gordon G. Chang, told reporters Monday. 'For more than a decade,' Chang explained, 'US officials have been worried about the North Koreans taking apart a [nuclear] device, smuggling the parts into the United States and reassembling it in the location of their choice.' A publicly accessible tool - GQ Electronics' Geiger Counter World Map - uncovered two spots in New York City that saw a spike in radioactive particle emissions (in counts-per-minute) this week. Some linked the radiation events to the region's wave of mystery drone sightings 'When you talk about radiation, clearly this could be one of the things that the drones are doing,' Chang told Forbes Newsroom , 'and that would explain why they're over residential areas because the device could be planted in one of those places' Citizens, law enforcement and government officials have all put forward theories as to who or what is behind this recent wave of drone reports — from mass hysteria to foreign espionage , to space aliens , to the testing of an top secret military aircraft . While Chang's account echoes rumors that New Jersey 's mystery drones were US government aircraft equipped with High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) radiation detectors on the hunt for a nuclear bomb , the story has faced serious criticism. For starters, it runs counter to the official stance issues jointly by the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI , the FAA and the Pentagon who all claim that the drones 'do not' currently present 'a national security or public safety risk.' Some former Pentagon officials and military vets have also reported that their own current sources within the government have denied these 'nuke hunt' claims. 'They assured me that's not the case,' Navy veteran and former fighter pilot Lt Ryan Graves told podcaster Joe Rogan in a recent episode . 'There is not a "loose nuke" or any other type of weapon of mass destruction that these objects — whatever they are — are pursuing right now,' Lt Graves stated. The Navy vet told Rogan that his sources were part of the team that would normally leap into action to deal with an imminent nuclear threat to the domestic United States, adding that swarms of aerial drone technology would be a poor system for the job. Some former Pentagon officials and military vets - including former senior Pentagon security official Chris Mellon and retired US Navy Lt Ryan Graves (pictured) - have reported that their own current sources within the government have denied these 'nuke hunt' claims 'Having hundreds of drones trying to identify these isn't necessarily the best way,' Lt Graves explained. 'Gamma radiation is typically well-shielded in weapons.' 'And, at high altitudes — or even moderate altitudes, like we are seeing these drones — it would be pretty difficult to detect them [gamma rays],' he continued, echoing comments by nuclear emergency experts with the Department of Energy. 'The Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration's Nuclear Emergency Support Team does not employ drones for nuclear/radiological detection missions,' a department spokesperson told ABC News . DOE's Nuclear Emergency Support Team, the spokesperson added, 'is not currently conducting any aerial operations in that region.' Former senior Pentagon security official Chris Mellon, no stranger to stories of mysterious UFOs in the sky , corroborated these claims, posting to X.com , 'My own discussions with federal officials track with this as well.' The FBI and other agencies are investigating the alleged drones, but a representative from the Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday, Dec. 11: 'We have no more information as to where these drones are coming from, where they're launching from, where they're landing' 'At this point we really need the president of the United States to actually address the American people,' an attorney and long-time critic of China, Gordon Chang (above), told the business publication Forbes. 'Tell us what the federal government knows and what it doesn't know' Read More EXCLUSIVE Dozens of SUV-sized drones as fast as 120mph terrorized our town's livestock Stories linking the still as-yet-unexplained drone sightings to loose radioactive material gained an injection of interest this Tuesday, when Belleville Mayor Michael Melham went public with news of a very real, damaged shipment of a medical device. 'There is an alert that's out right now that radioactive material in New Jersey has gone missing on December 2nd,' Mayor Melham told Fox 5 New York . 'There was a shipment. It arrived at its destination. The container was damaged, and it was empty.' But the damaged device, which had been shipped from the Nazha Cancer Center in Newfield, New Jersey, was declared to be a 'non-emergency' by authorities. The 'Event Notification Report' issued by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission 's Operations Center on December 13, 2024 found that the device was 'very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals.' The medical device in question, an Eckert & Ziegler model HEGL-0132, only contains trace amounts of the radioactive isotope Germanium-68. But, regardless of the purpose of the drones, Chang emphasized to Forbes that the US government's vague assurances of safety were insufficient, a point also echoed by Mellon, Lt Graves and others. 'At this point we really need the president of the United States to actually address the American people,' Chang told the business publication, 'and tell us what the federal government knows and what it doesn't know.' Pentagon Share or comment on this article: Radiation levels in New York spike as mysterious drones terrorize the Northeast e-mail Add comment
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Southern Miss secures 68-66 victory against MarshallArtificial Intelligence (AI) in Education Market to grow by USD 2.32 Billion (2024-2028), driven by demand for AI-based customized learning, report highlights AI trends - Technavio
Last week, Parliament passed sweeping reforms to Australia's aged care system. These "once-in-a-generation" changes, set to begin next year on July 1, aim to improve how care is provided to older Australians at home, in their communities and in nursing homes. The new Aged Care Act focuses on improving quality and safety, protecting the rights of older people and ensuring the financial sustainability of aged care providers. A key change is the introduction of a new payment system, requiring wealthier people to contribute more for non-clinical services. If you – or a loved one – are planning for aged care, here's what the changes could mean for you. What to expect from the home care overhaul Over the past decade, there's been a noticeable shift towards "ageing at home". The number of Australians using home care has more than quadrupled, surpassing those in nursing homes. To meet growing demand, the government is adding 107,000 home care places over the next two years, with a goal to reduce wait times to just three months. Starting July 1 2025, Support at Home will replace the Home Care Packages program. The table below shows some of the key differences between these two programs. Department of Health 2024 Home Care Packages are currently delivered under four annual government subsidy levels, covering care and provider management costs. Under Support at Home, the number of home care budget levels will double to eight, with the highest level increasing to A$78,000. This aims to provide more tailored support and accommodate those needing higher levels of care. Under the new system, recipients will receive quarterly budgets aligned to their funding level and work with their chosen provider to allocate funds across three broad service categories: clinical care, such as nursing or physiotherapy independence support, including personal care, transport and social support everyday living assistance, such as cleaning, gardening and meal delivery. Clinical care...Lance Terry scored a game-high 22 points, helping lead Georgia Tech to a 92-49 rout of visiting Alabama A&M on Saturday in Atlanta. Javian McCollum added 18 points, while Jaeden Mustaf chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds, as Georgia Tech (6-7) won its second game in three outings. Baye Ndongo had 10 points for the Yellow Jackets, who shot 54.1 percent (33 of 61) from the field and made 10 of 21 (47.6 percent) on 3-pointers. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. As property values continue to outpace inflation, property taxes are taking a bigger bite out of homeowners’ wallets. A new analysis from Construction Coverage breaks down property tax rates by state, county, and city to reveal where homeowners have the greatest burden. Click for more. Where Are U.S. Property Taxes Highest and Lowest? A State, County, and City Analysis
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