Payal Kapadia Is Thrilled As All We Imagine As Light Gets More Shows, Urges Fans Not To Miss Chhaya Kadam Starrer。

Thank you, property rights!

Drones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023 . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed.

They come in long convoys of tractors, sometimes with months of food supplies with them, to stage protests. Their demands may differ, but concerns about rising costs and falling incomes are common. Farmer angst around the world has been intensifying since 2021, from Paris and London to Delhi . And increasingly, their protests have started looking similar. In London, hundreds of farmers stormed Britain’s heart of government, Whitehall, this week, protesting a proposed 20% inheritance tax they say will be a stab in their backs. Their angst reflects broader dissatisfaction among many farming communities around the world, especially since the pandemic, including in India and mainland Europe. According to the Centre for International Policy Studies, dozens of farm groups in six continents have been protesting agricultural policies since 2021. Read more: SC panel ready with list of issues affecting farm sector The London scenes brought back memories of a standoff outside Delhi, where an uprising by farm unions during 2020-21 prompted the government to scrap three market-oriented agricultural laws. There are other echoes of Delhi in London. “No farmers, no food,” said a protester on BBC. Another held a placard: “Small farmers will die. They’ll have to borrow to pay tax.” “Tax businesses not farms. A 20% inheritance tax? It’s ridiculous, if you ask me,” said Sarah Boulden, a farmer from Wiltshire, southwest England. These concerns are similar to the core issues raised by farmers in food bowl states, such as Punjab. “The reasons vary. The demands differ. But what may be common (about the disenchantment) is the feeling that governments don’t realise the old ways are gone, and the new problems are new,” said Jeremy Clark, a London-based campaigner with the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), over phone on Wednesday. The latest challenges all over the world, to a large extent, have emanated from changing markets, declining profits and climate change, resulting in a “unappreciated crises”, Clark said. The protest in London was joined by celebrity TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson and James Dyson, a prominent business tycoon who supported Brexit. Farm unions in India, the world’s second-biggest wheat and rice producer, are seeking guarantees, backed by law, for minimum purchase prices of crops. In Europe, farmers in Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy and France etc. have driven tractors across their countries to protest curbs on how much fertilisers they can use and even how many acres they can sow. The new EU measures are part of concerted steps being taken to meet climate and emission goals. Subsidies for crop inputs are being slashed. In India, experts say subsidies alone haven’t been enough for producers to keep up with cultivation costs. Farmers have also become politically savvy. “In Europe, the protests were held in the run-up to the EU parliamentary polls, while in India too farmers were seen intensifying protests ahead of major elections,” said Mukul Paranjape, a researcher with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. While India doesn’t tax farm income, cultivators have long claimed they never get federally fixed floor prices for many commodities. Studies have shown that Indian farmers are “net taxed” or implicitly taxed due to the government’s efforts to keep food prices low. India’s agriculture sector hasn’t been generating enough revenues to keep farmers profitable for nearly two decades, according to a landmark 2018 report by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a grouping of 36 countries, and ICRIER, a think tank. The study looked at, among others indices, gross receipts — or total assets without adjusting for expenses— to the farm sector. Agriculture in India suffers negative total revenues despite large subsidies because of missed income opportunities due to frequent export bans and prohibition on stockpiling. So, prices paid by farmers have outstripped prices earned by them. Farm movements aren’t new. The Farmers’ Alliance, an American agrarian movement during the 1870s, sought to improve the economic conditions through collective bargaining through cooperatives and political advocacy. Cultivators in the US then faced similar problems as those in developing economies, such as India, a country with excess farm labour and small landholdings. Small land parcels typically lack economies of scale, which refers to falling costs with rising production. In January 1979, nearly 5000 farmers drove tractors to Washington, D.C., in a movement known as tractorcade to protest the Carter administration’s foreclosure of all loans, just as north Indian farmers had done in Delhi in January 2021, a protest that had turned violent. The group that led the rebellion, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, has planned a renewed phase of protests from next month with their old demand: guaranteed floor prices. The Union government announces minimum support prices for more than 20 crops to set a floor rate, so that farmers get a basic price assurance. However, government agencies buy only rice and wheat at the assured rates in sufficiently large quantities, which means several other produce, such as soyabean, groundnut, mustard, millets, lentils and maize etc, are sold for any price depending on what the markets offer. “These problems are not unique to India in the sense that European farmers think that regulations to make farming environment-friendly will hit their earnings. It’s ultimately an income issue,” Paranjape said. The centre-left Kier Starmer government will levy, from April 2026, a 20% tax on inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m, which were previously exempt. Still, this is half the non-farm inheritance tax rate. The argument for inheritance tax has been influential, especially after radical French economist Thomas Picketty published his book “Capital in the Twenty-First Century”, which called for “confiscatory” tax on inherited wealth to cut down inequality. Picketty, who marshalled centuries of data, argued that wages will always rise at a far slower pace than earnings from assets and profits, forever increasing the gap between rich and poor. His solution is a globally coordinated wealth tax, so that rich asset owners can’t relocate their assets to tax havens. In a recent paper, Picketty suggested a similar tax for India. “Raise phenomenally large tax revenues while leaving 99.96 per cent of the adults unaffected by the tax. In a baseline scenario, a 2 per cent annual tax on net wealth exceeding ₹ 10 crore and a 33 per cent inheritance tax on estates exceeding ₹ 10 crore in valuation would generate a massive 2.73 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in revenues,” his India paper suggested. In the UK, the farm inheritance tax will similarly apply on big-ticket estates worth more £1 million. However, farmers say that while they are “asset rich” in terms of their land, many are cash poor. Clarks said that many farmers would be forced to sell their estates. “Farmers don’t mind paying taxes. Bring them on provided farmers can earn profits that can match non-farm earnings,” Clarks said. Rising costs of cultivation are a common concern across farming communities. According to Britain’s agriculture department, there are about 210,000 farm estates worth £1 million or more that could be subjected to the inheritance tax. Clarks says piggery costs have risen by 54%, cattle rearing by 44% and grain farming by 43% due to higher food, fuel and fertiliser prices because subsidies have been declining since Brexit. An average farm last year made profits of about £45,300, according to government estimates. But farmers say this an exaggerated estimate because it excluded farms with lower earnings. In India too, farmers complain of rising costs and uncertainties from extreme weather. India sets inflation-indexed minimum support prices such that they give one-and-a-half times profit over costs. However, cultivators want these prices to be legally enforceable. Moreover, they want the government to use a broader measure of cultivation costs. The government uses the so-called “A2” formula, a narrower measure that includes all out-of-pocket expenses, plus the value of family labour. Farmers instead want the government to use the “C2 formula”, which includes the actual paid-out costs (on seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, etc) plus the notional value of family labour and rent, besides interest on owned land and capital. “Agriculture worldwide is on its knees. Farmers have reached the end of the rope,” Clark said. This is what Indian farmers allege too. There’s a sense of a rupture in the “social contract” between farmers and governments.The New Jersey Devils hope the momentum they built leading up to the NHL's holiday break will carry over after the three days off, as the Metropolitan Division leaders start a two-day, home-and-home series with the third-place Carolina Hurricanes on Friday in Newark, N.J. Coach Sheldon Keefe's team has won five of its last six games, including the previous two by shutouts. Jacob Markstrom stopped a dozen shots in the Devils' 5-0 win over the visiting New York Rangers on Monday. That came just two days after he made 12 saves in a 3-0 home victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. According to the league's record book, the Devils have posted three straight shutouts once, April 1-6, 1997. Jack Hughes scored two goals and added an assist in Monday's win. Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer each notched a goal and an assist, and Jesper Bratt and Luke Hughes both recorded a pair of assists. The Devils' offense has been on display during the last six games, with the team scoring 19 times in the five wins. However, the team's defense has been playing equally as strong. New Jersey has not allowed an opponent to put more than 20 shots on goal in seven games. That's the longest such streak since the NHL started tracking the stat beginning in the 1955-56 season. It's a streak Keefe didn't even know the league tracked when he talked to reporters after the win over the Rangers, but he said it is the result of a team showing the willingness to defend the middle of the rink and keeping the opposition from getting multiple attempts on scoring chances. "Whether it's having the puck well and managing it well or closing space when we don't have it, it's just a really tremendous buy-in and commitment from our guys," Keefe said. "Couldn't ask for more in that regard." That shot-on-goal streak may be in jeopardy Friday as the Devils face a Hurricanes team that averages 31.6 shots per game. Carolina wraps up a four-game road trip Friday. On Monday, it lost for the second time in three contests, falling 5-2 against the Nashville Predators. The Hurricanes trailed 4-0 less than three minutes into the third period before Jordan Staal and Sebastian Aho scored 40 seconds apart, but that was as close as the team would get. Coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters afterward the Hurricanes' struggles of late are not due to a lack of effort. "We got to keep working it, trying to find the right combinations to spice things," he said. "We know a couple things that we know work, and then it's just finding the rest. But (Monday), we just as a group weren't hard enough to play against for the majority of the game, and we got what we deserved." The holiday break may have come at an opportune time for Martin Necas. The center continues to lead Carolina in scoring, with 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists) in 34 games. However, the 25-year-old Czech is mired in a season-long eight-game goal drought. He's gone the last four games without an assist, which is another season-long streak, and has posted only one in his last six. This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.

Drone operators worry that anxiety over mystery sightings will lead to new restrictionsTORONTO — Canada's main stock index gained more than 150 points Wednesday after the Bank of Canada cut interest rates, while U.S. stock markets were mixed, led by a 1.8 per cent gain on the Nasdaq after the latest inflation report. The Bank of Canada cut its key interest rate by half a percentage point to 3.25 per cent. The outsized interest rate cut didn’t come as a surprise, but was welcomed by markets, said Brian Madden, chief investment officer with First Avenue Investment Counsel. On the TSX, “the leadership seems to be a combination of rate-sensitive areas like real estate and financials, and then pro-growth cyclicals like tech, indicating the strength in the U.S.,” he said. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 153.37 points at 25,657.70. “With the policy rate now substantially lower, we anticipate a more gradual approach to monetary policy if the economy evolves broadly as expected,” he said. It was noteworthy that the Bank of Canada gave such a strong indication of what’s to come, said Madden. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 99.27 points at 44,148.56. The S&P 500 index was up 49.28 points at 6,084.19, while the Nasdaq composite was up 347.65 points at 20,034.89. Governor Tiff Macklem said the central bank will likely take a more cautious tack after December. In the U.S., the latest report on consumer inflation showed price growth ticked higher in November to 2.7 per cent. The “hotly anticipated” report came in exactly as expected, said Madden, and markets took it largely as good news. The U.S. Federal Reserve is still “all but certain” to cut its own rate by a quarter of a percentage point next week, said Madden. Also helping markets Wednesday were tech stocks, with Google continuing its gains from the day before after announcing its new quantum computing chip. The tech giant’s stock rose 5.5 per cent. Another tech name in the news was Broadcom, which saw its stock rise 6.6 per cent after an announcement that it’s working with Apple to develop an AI chip, noted Madden. Broadly, Wednesday saw a continuation of the momentum markets have enjoyed since the U.S. election, said Madden. The Canadian dollar traded for 70.65 cents US compared with 70.59 cents US on Tuesday. The January crude oil contract was up US$1.70 at US$70.29 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up 22 cents at US$3.38 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was up US$38.30 at US$2,756.70 an ounce and the March copper contract was down a penny at US$4.26 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian PressCalgary Stampeders sign Paredes to extension, restructure Adams's contract

STUART, Fla., Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida ("Seacoast” or the "Company”) (NASDAQ: SBCF) announced that on December 18, 2024, its Board of Directors (the "Board”) renewed the Company's share repurchase program, which was set to expire on December 31, 2024. Under the renewed repurchase program, which will expire on December 31, 2025, the Company may repurchase, from time to time, up to $100 million of its shares of common stock, representing approximately 4% of the Company's outstanding common stock. The repurchase program permits shares to be repurchased in the open market, by block purchase, in privately negotiated transactions, in one or more transactions from time to time, or pursuant to any trading plan adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act”). Open market purchases will be conducted in accordance with the limitations set forth in Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act and other applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The timing and actual number of shares repurchased will be made at the Company's discretion and will depend on a variety of factors including, without limitation, price, corporate and regulatory requirements, market conditions, Seacoast's financial performance, and bank capital and liquidity requirements and priorities. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares. The repurchase program may be suspended, terminated or modified by the Board without notice at any time for any reason, including, without limitation, market conditions, the cost of repurchasing shares, the availability of alternative investment opportunities, capital and liquidity objectives, and other factors deemed appropriate by Seacoast's management. About Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (NASDAQ: SBCF) Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida is one of the largest community banks headquartered in Florida with approximately $15.2 billion in assets and $12.2 billion in deposits as of September 30, 2024. Seacoast provides integrated financial services including commercial and consumer banking, wealth management, and mortgage services to customers at 77 full-service branches across Florida, and through advanced mobile and online banking solutions. Seacoast National Bank is the wholly-owned subsidiary bank of Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida. For more information about Seacoast, visit www.SeacoastBanking.com. Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements” within the meaning, and protections, of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, statements about future financial and operating results, cost savings, enhanced revenues, economic and seasonal conditions in the Company's markets, and improvements to reported earnings that may be realized from cost controls, tax law changes, new initiatives and for integration of banks that the Company has acquired, or expects to acquire, as well as statements with respect to Seacoast's objectives, strategic plans, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Company's beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates and intentions about future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond the Company's control, and which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida ("Seacoast” or the "Company”) or its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Seacoast National Bank ("Seacoast Bank”), to be materially different from results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You should not expect the Company to update any forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact could be forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements through the use of words such as "may", "will", "anticipate", "assume", "should", "support", "indicate", "would", "believe", "contemplate", "expect", "estimate", "continue", "further", "plan", "point to", "project", "could", "intend", "target" or other similar words and expressions of the future. These forward-looking statements may not be realized due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: the impact of current and future economic and market conditions generally (including seasonality) and in the financial services industry, nationally and within Seacoast's primary market areas, including the effects of inflationary pressures, changes in interest rates, slowdowns in economic growth, and the potential for high unemployment rates, as well as the financial stress on borrowers and changes to customer and client behavior and credit risk as a result of the foregoing; potential impacts of adverse developments in the banking industry, including those highlighted by high-profile bank failures, and including impacts on customer confidence, deposit outflows, liquidity and the regulatory response thereto (including increases in the cost of our deposit insurance assessments), the Company's ability to effectively manage its liquidity risk and any growth plans, and the availability of capital and funding; governmental monetary and fiscal policies, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, as well as legislative, tax and regulatory changes including proposed overdraft and late fee caps, including those that impact the money supply and inflation; the risks of changes in interest rates on the level and composition of deposits (as well as the cost of, and competition for, deposits), loan demand, liquidity and the values of loan collateral, securities, and interest rate sensitive assets and liabilities; interest rate risks (including the impacts of interest rates on macroeconomic conditions, customer and client behavior, and on our net interest income), sensitivities and the shape of the yield curve; changes in accounting policies, rules and practices; changes in retail distribution strategies, customer preferences and behavior generally and as a result of economic factors, including heightened inflation; changes in the availability and cost of credit and capital in the financial markets; changes in the prices, values and sales volumes of residential and commercial real estate, especially as they relate to the value of collateral supporting the Company's loans; the Company's concentration in commercial real estate loans and in real estate collateral in Florida; Seacoast's ability to comply with any regulatory requirements and the risk that the regulatory environment may not be conducive to or may prohibit or delay the consummation of future mergers and/or business combinations, may increase the length of time and amount of resources required to consummate such transactions, and may reduce the anticipated benefit; inaccuracies or other failures from the use of models, including the failure of assumptions and estimates, as well as differences in, and changes to, economic, market and credit conditions; the impact on the valuation of Seacoast's investments due to market volatility or counterparty payment risk, as well as the effect of a decline in stock market prices on our fee income from our wealth management business; statutory and regulatory dividend restrictions; increases in regulatory capital requirements for banking organizations generally; the risks of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, including Seacoast's ability to continue to identify acquisition targets, successfully acquire and integrate desirable financial institutions and realize expected revenues and revenue synergies; changes in technology or products that may be more difficult, costly, or less effective than anticipated; the Company's ability to identify and address increased cybersecurity risks, including those impacting vendors and other third parties which may be exacerbated by developments in generative artificial intelligence; fraud or misconduct by internal or external parties, which Seacoast may not be able to prevent, detect or mitigate; inability of Seacoast's risk management framework to manage risks associated with the Company's business; dependence on key suppliers or vendors to obtain equipment or services for the business on acceptable terms; reduction in or the termination of Seacoast's ability to use the online- or mobile-based platform that is critical to the Company's business growth strategy; the effects of war or other conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, including hurricanes in the Company's footprint, health emergencies, epidemics or pandemics, or other catastrophic events that may affect general economic conditions and/or increase costs, including, but not limited to, property and casualty and other insurance costs; Seacoast's ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting; potential claims, damages, penalties, fines, costs and reputational damage resulting from pending or future litigation, regulatory proceedings and enforcement actions; the risks that deferred tax assets could be reduced if estimates of future taxable income from the Company's operations and tax planning strategies are less than currently estimated, the results of tax audit findings, challenges to our tax positions, or adverse changes or interpretations of tax laws; the effects of competition from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, non-bank financial technology providers, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market and other mutual funds and other financial institutions; the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for expected credit losses; risks related to, and the costs associated with, environmental, social and governance matters, including the scope and pace of related rulemaking activity and disclosure requirements; a deterioration of the credit rating for U.S. long-term sovereign debt, actions that the U.S. government may take to avoid exceeding the debt ceiling, and uncertainties surrounding the federal budget and economic policy; the risk that balance sheet, revenue growth, and loan growth expectations may differ from actual results; and other factors and risks described under "Risk Factors” herein and in any of the Company's subsequent reports filed with the SEC and available on its website at www.sec.gov. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in other periodic reports that the Company files with the SEC. Such reports are available upon request from the Company, or from the Securities and Exchange Commission, including through the SEC's Internet website at www.sec.gov. CONTACT: CONTACT: Chloe Swicegood [email protected] (850) 702-9800How does SLKOR achieve rapid growth without overtime work? 12-19-2024 10:24 PM CET | Logistics & Transport Press release from: ABNewswire "No Overtime" Yet Achieving 100% Growth -- The Underlying Logic of the Development of SLKOR In recent years, all industries have been highly competitive. Working overtime but experiencing negative performance growth has become the norm. Major Internet companies like Alibaba have carried out large-scale layoffs. ByteDance has cut to the core. Liu Qiangdong of JD.com has let go of the laid-back employees. The bosses and proprietresses of the electronic component businesses in Shenzhen Huaqiangbei are at a loss. However, in this harsh market and dispiriting atmosphere, there is also a breath of fresh air. This year, Kinghelm and SLKOR have continued to maintain a 100% high-speed growth. In July and September, Kinghelm [ https://www.kinghelm.net/ ] and SLKOR [ https://www.slkoric.com/ ] received overproduction awards. Some outstanding employees got a pay raise. The company often organizes team outings and team building activities. Several key employees in the overseas business department went abroad for further study. The "SLKOR Basketball Summer Camp" has continued. What are the secrets and underlying logics of the success of Kinghelm and SLKOR? Can they be presented for everyone to replicate and refer to? I believe that it is precisely the people-centered concept of "working well for a good life" and the constructed organizational and organizational behavior mechanisms. At the same time, ensuring the company's knowledge density, personnel organizational structure, quality system, work process, incentive mechanism, and an efficient business closed loop from product research and development to cash recovery has achieved high company efficiency and generous profit sharing among colleagues, realizing high-speed development even during the industry's downturn. The phenomenon of "no overtime" reflects the company's basic cultural values and scientific management. The company stipulates that work ends at 17:40. Once, a SF Express delivery man came to pick up parcels at 17:45 and found no one in the company. Later, he joked with the front desk lady, "Will the employees of your company be fined if they leave work late?" Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241218/6387013291569033472558541.png Here are some of my viewpoints, which involve fields such as economics, management, psychology, organizational behavior, and the humanities and social sciences. It is precisely "coming from practice and then going back to practice" that helps Kinghelm and SLKOR move forward steadily. These theories can only shine when organically combined with practice, and also help the "Kinghelm" and "SLKOR [ https://ru.slkoric.com ]" brands to go deeper, more solidly, and further on the path of internationalization! I. Conducting cultural and institutional construction around core elements Kinghelm Electronics and Slkor Semiconductor [ https://tr.slkoric.com ] are enterprises that rely on the talent teams from Yonsei University, Tsinghua University, and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China as the technical foundation. They promote the efficient development of the company through new materials, new products, new markets, new concepts, and micro-innovations. The top-level design, institutional construction, organizational system, corporate culture, and ethics of the company all revolve around the two elements of "new" and "fast". In the previous agricultural and industrial societies, production operations were basically organized around production tools (machinery and equipment) or production process flows. For example, in the SMT factory of my friend "Brother La Zi", it is centered around the high-speed placement machine of "Yamaha" from Japan, and is equipped with feeder machines, wave soldering/reflow soldering, visual quality inspection, packaging machinery and other equipment as well as corresponding professional personnel in the surrounding area. Our Kinghelm factory in Luzhai, Guangxi, also arranges the positions and deploys professional manpower according to the production process and assembly flow of the Beidou GPS antenna RF connector. In the current intelligent information society, production tools and labor organization methods have undergone fundamental changes. There have emerged many new design software and operating systems. While improving efficiency, they also pose new challenges to the resulting production management concepts, as well as the organization of various professional personnel, task decomposition, work nodes, performance appraisal, incentive policies, R & D and production processes. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241218/6387013292779571084464289.png For this reason, Kinghelm and SLKOR configure the latest version of Kingdee Cloud Starry Sky for the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software of the information management system. The office process and goal management have introduced the multi-dimensional table KOR concept of Feishu. Combined with the knowledge engineering that Kinghelm and Slkor have accumulated over the years, great value has been created. Our company also continuously conducts micro-innovations. For example, the selection of "Star of the Week" aims to encourage creative colleagues and maintain an innovative atmosphere in the company. Now the overseas business department has organized a "English Corner" for half an hour every day in our balcony garden, and the effect is very good! In addition, for the technical and management elements that support the company's development at each stage, the company has respectively hired international first-class consulting consultant teams. They play the role of supplementing, correcting, and supervising third-party information. They can see things from different perspectives and horizons beyond ours, thus enabling the company to develop healthily and sustainably. II. The development model of long-termism Mr. Chen Dongsheng of Taikang Life Insurance said that long-termism is the best competition model, that is, to achieve sustainable and cumulative development and form a moat. The original development plan of Kinghelm and Slkor was that we would not do things that four or five people could do, nor would we engage in undertakings that could be accomplished in four or five years. We firmly adhere to the long-termism development model that emphasizes accumulation, replicability, and knowledge engineering! Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241218/6387013293420731304602599.png Kinghelm and Slkor adheres to the corporate culture of "upholding integrity", "making progress", "perseverance", and "attention to detail", focusing on enhancing its own product quality, service level, and innovation in marketing strategies to strengthen competitiveness and achieve the goal of sustainable development. I believe that in order to make products more competitive and obtain greater profits, technological innovation and continuous product iteration are required. This requires the support of internal systems and external ecosystems, as well as the long-term accumulation of talents, technologies, and connections, which is also the foundation of research and development and innovation. For this reason, while Slkor Semiconductor previously introduced the silicon carbide power device production technology from Yonsei University in South Korea, it also vigorously cultivated domestic technical forces. Currently, the domestic technical backbones come from Tsinghua University and returned senior talents, leading the company's development with new materials, new processes, and new products. At present, the important nodes in the industrial chain of Slkor Semiconductor are basically domesticated, and the layout of the domestic industrial ecosystem is getting better and better. Over the years, the "dual-wheel Drive" high-speed and stable development model of Kinghelm and Slkor has long been formed. On this basis, we seize the development opportunity of "domestic substitution" and the trend of scientific and technological progress such as artificial intelligence (AI), continuously conduct micro-innovations in internal research and development and management and other links of the company, combined with long-term, diversified, and multi-channel international and domestic publicity and promotion strategies, thus achieving an increase in market share. Both Kinghelm and Slkor have developed into internationally renowned brands, serving more than 15,000 customers worldwide! Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241218/6387013294193158555309773.png III. Implementing Zhang Xingrang's "Full-load Working Method" I remember that the first TV set in our production team was a 14-inch black-and-white "Chengdu Brand". The earliest management method I saw on TV was the "Full-load Working Method" proposed by Comrade Zhang Xingrang, the director of Shijiazhuang No. 1 Plastic Factory and then promoted nationwide. This method aims to tap the potential of enterprises, seek the best economic benefits, and achieve the goal of scientific management by improving efficiency and reducing waste. The implementation of the "Full-load Working Method" involves all aspects of enterprise operation and management, including product quality, equipment operation, material use, capital turnover, cost reduction, and personnel workload arrangements. It is necessary to make all aspects of the enterprise reach an optimal state through specific, data-based, and time-bound methods; and compare the best level of the enterprise's economic and technical indicators with that of domestic and foreign counterparts in benchmarking management to determine the current work standards, thereby ensuring the scientific and advanced nature of the work standards. In the operation and management of Kinghelm and Slkor, we also learn and practice this method, and thus have achieved good development results. As the saying goes, "idleness breeds trouble." I believe that in actual work and organizations, dealing with complex interpersonal relationships is mentally and physically exhausting, and sometimes even exceeds the work itself. So our solution is to make everyone's work relationships as simple as possible, without small groups such as fellow villagers and classmates. Try to find things to do as much as possible during working hours and don't be idle. This is also the original intention of Zhang Xingrang's invention of the "Full-load Working Method". Simple interpersonal relationships and simple operation modes can last. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241218/6387013294951783264761051.png IV. Evaluation and Incentives for Knowledge Workers In 1957, the management guru Peter Drucker first put forward the concept of "knowledge workers" in his book "Landmarks of Tomorrow". Before that, workers mainly obtained remuneration and means of livelihood by selling their physical strength. The individual's labor achievements could be easily measured by the two indicators of quantity and quality. At that time, many scientific management theories were also based on this for research, emphasizing the use of scientific and standardized management methods to achieve the highest labor productivity. Now, our colleagues in Kinghelm and Slkor have all received higher education and are in a "knowledge society" centered on knowledge production and creativity. In their work, they produce knowledge, creativity and information through mental activities, thus contributing their wisdom to the development of society and the company. However, it also brings new problems. That is, their contributions and values are difficult to quantitatively evaluate, and some effects also have a certain lag. This is a process that we need to solve when conducting value assessment, evaluation and incentives! Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241218/6387013295620213224585563.png Kinghelm and Slkor [ https://es.slkoric.com ] attach great importance to knowledge, cultivate talents, and focus on stimulating the innovative vitality of knowledge-based talents. For training and empowerment, the company gives full play to the role of training as the second productive force. Not only does it invite famous teachers from Tsinghua University, Peking University, and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China for systematic training and guidance, but also General Manager Song Shiqiang, combined with the company's management practice, takes the lead in carrying out special training sessions that are targeted, operable, and full of practical knowledge. There are also communication expert and headquarter technical advisor Mr. Zhang Wujun and power electronics expert Mr. Li Jianxiong, who graduated from Tsinghua University, contributing highly effective training courses for many middle-level cadres. Such intensive and high-intensity training has always been fueling and building up strength for Kinghelm and Slkor to continuously create a learning organization and cultivate knowledge-based talents. Kinghelm and Slkor encourage innovation and provide immediate incentives, and will conduct regular internal employee evaluations. For example, the competency evaluation of middle-level cadres is also a timely assessment of everyone's work performance. Among them, the evaluation of middle-level cadres is divided into superior scoring, subordinate scoring, and self-evaluation, among which the subordinate scoring accounts for up to 60%, striving to be as objective, fair, and comprehensive as possible. After each evaluation result is announced, General Manager Song Shiqiang will also preside over a meeting titled "Summary of the Company's Middle-level Cadre Evaluation" to provide in-depth assistance and guidance based on the evaluation results. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241123/6386795589533768509438045.png "Kinghelm, Connecting the World". The products of the "Kinghelm" brand include Beidou GPS dual-mode antennas, Bluetooth, WiFi, Zigbee antennas, NB-IoT, LORA, UWB, Beidou B3 frequency point antenna series, as well as the matching RF patch cords, connectors, terminals; now the products of Kinghelm have expanded to three major series, including various connectors for board and wire, board-end sockets, SMA connectors, signal switch series, as well as wire harnesses for automobiles and motorcycles, special wires for industrial, medical and scientific research purposes, and non-standard customized products. Such as board-to-board connectors, wire-to-board connectors, pin headers, pin sockets, BTB connectors, WTB connectors, floating connectors, Rastlink, Rastlink connectors, Rast connectors, automotive connectors, vehicle-mounted connectors, high-speed connectors, PCI connectors, frame connectors, PCB connectors, waterproof connectors, plug connectors, RJ45, fisheye connectors, FPC connectors, FFC connectors, SMC connectors, Press Fit connectors, industrial connectors, Wafer connectors, communication connectors, customized connectors, simple pin headers connectors, etc. Introduction of Mr. Song Shiqiang Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20240705/6385578673336110728800995.png Mr. Song Shiqiang Mr. Song Shiqiang has once again received an honor and has been invited by the Chinese Institute of Electronics as a lecturer of the expert panel. The term is from June 2024 to June 2026, lasting for 2 years. This represents the high recognition and affirmation by the country and society of Mr. Song Shiqiang himself, as well as Slkor Semiconductor and Kinghelm Electronics for their contributions to the development of the semiconductor industry. Mr. Song Shiqiang is the founder and general manager of Slkor Semiconductor and Kinghelm Electronics, both of which are national high-tech enterprises. He is also the first cultural scholar who has conducted in-depth research on the "Huaqiangbei Spirit" and refined and summarized the "Huaqiangbei Culture". He is also a researcher of the Private Economy of the State Council Economic Development Research Center, a member of the Electronic Information Expert Database of the China Association for Science and Technology, an expert in Huaqiangbei business research, and a popular science columnist. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20240705/6385578675514021618312910.png The Chinese Institute of Electronics has invited General Manager Song Shiqiang as a lecturer of the expert panel. The Chinese Institute of Electronics now has 173,000 individual members, more than 1,700 corporate members, 47 professional branches, 18 expert committees, and 9 working committees. It has already formed a career development pattern with two-wheel drive of academic exchanges and education and training, and multiple undertakings such as scientific and technological evaluation, policy research, scientific and technological journals, standard development, and international cooperation going hand in hand. Song Shiqiang said that being invited by the Chinese Institute of Electronics as a lecturer of the expert panel is the first recognition from a national academic unit since I changed my major and crossed industries. I am very honored to be in the same frame as Professor Zhou Zucheng, Professor Hua Ruxing, and Teacher Zhu Yiwei from Tsinghua University. This is both an encouragement and a spur for me. I will contribute my due efforts to the high-quality development and "core" take-off of the Chinese semiconductor industry. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241218/6387013300939189766702235.png Song Shiqiang was with professors from Tsinghua University, including Zhou Zucheng, Hua Ruxing and Zhu Yiwei. Media Contact Company Name: Shenzhen SLKOR Micro Semicon Co., Ltd. Contact Person: Support Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=how-does-slkor-achieve-rapid-growth-without-overtime-work ] Phone: +86 13008868302 Address:2010, Block A, Bairuida Building Vanke City Community Bantian Avenue, Longgang District City: Shenzhen Country: China Website: http://www.slkoric.com This release was published on openPR.Google forges ahead with its next generation of AI technology while fending off a breakup threat

NEW YORK , Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of The Cato Corporation (" Cato " or the "Company") (NYSE: CATO ). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Cato and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On November 22, 2024 , Cato issued a press release stating that "[i]n light of the current economic conditions and current sales trends the Board of Directors of [ Cato ] suspended the regular quarterly dividend." On this news, Cato's stock price fell sharply during intraday trading. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York , Chicago , Los Angeles , London , Paris , and Tel Aviv , is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz , known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud , breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Danielle Peyton Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 646-581-9980 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLPPortland, Oregon, swears in new government and mayor who campaigned to end homelessness

Francisco ‘Dodong’ Nemenzo Jr., ex-UP president, activist; 89ANCHORAGE, Alaska--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 19, 2024-- Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), an Alaska Native regional corporation, announced the purchase of OSC Edge (OSC), a leading provider of IT engineering, integration and testing and data management services to government and private-sector businesses. “I applaud the Board’s decision to move forward with this acquisition. It reflects our shared commitment to growth, innovation and creating long-term value for our Shareholders,” CIRI CEO Swami Iyer said. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, OSC Edge provides expert solutions in Enterprise IT to the government and commercial organizations. OSC’s staff, comprising over 300 team members spanning 27 U.S. states, multiple countries, and 3 continents, is committed to providing the highest quality IT engineering, integration and testing, and data-management services. OSC Edge is a graduated 8(a) company. As a CIRI subsidiary, OSC will gain access to new networks, enhanced operational capabilities and the potential for increased scalability, positioning the company for greater success in a competitive environment. Co-founder Tiffany Bailey will remain as OSC’s president and CEO. “I’m incredibly excited about this new chapter and the opportunities that come with being part of the CIRI family,” Bailey said. “This acquisition marks a significant milestone for our company and I truly believe it will fuel our growth and success.” OSC adds to CIRI’s diverse and strategic business portfolio that currently exceeds $1 billion in assets. The acquisition aligns with CIRI’s long-term business strategy. Cook Inlet Region, Inc., also known as CIRI, is one of 12 land-based Alaska Native regional corporations created pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). CIRI’s regional boundaries roughly follow the traditional Dena’ina territory of Southcentral Alaska. CIRI was incorporated on June 8, 1972, and is owned today by a diverse group of more than 9,400 Shareholders who live in Alaska and throughout the world. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219707075/en/ CONTACT: Lori Nelson 907-263-5131 media@ciri.com KEYWORD: ALASKA GEORGIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY SECURITY OTHER TECHNOLOGY PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT SOFTWARE NETWORKS INTERNET HARDWARE DATA MANAGEMENT OTHER POLICY ISSUES SOURCE: Cook Inlet Region, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/19/2024 04:30 PM/DISC: 12/19/2024 04:30 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219707075/en

Doha: The registration for the 16th edition of Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival (Marmi 2025) came to a close today, December 26. Under the patronage of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, the festival will take place from January 1 to February 1, 2025, at Marmi area in Sealine. The final day of registration was held at Qatari Al Gannas Association headquarters in Katara Cultural Village, with strong participation from falconers across Qatar and GCC countries. Chairman of the Marmi Festival, Muteb Al Qahtani, explained in a statement that the number of participants in each competition will be determined individually, followed by a draw, and results will be published and shared with participants. He also mentioned that the date for Young Falconer Championship would be announced later, but registration will take place on-site. Al Qahtani revealed that generous prizes have been allocated for the festivals winners, supported by the Social & Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM). The winner of Al-Muzayen competition in "Al-Hor Ashqar" category will receive QR 700,000, the second-place winner will receive QR 500,000, and third-place winner will receive QR 300,000. For "Al-Hor Adham and Black" category, the first-place winner will receive QR 400,000, the second-place winner will receive QR 300,000, and the third-place winner will receive QR 200,000. In Haddad Al-Tahaddi competition, the qualifier will win a cash prize of QR 100,000, along with two Lexus cars for the final, and a QR 100,000 prize for the winner of the final. The winner of Al-Talaa competition will take home QR 300,000, the second-place winner will receive QR 200,000, and the third-place winner will earn QR 100,000. In the local Al Daou competition across seven rounds, the first-place winner will receive QR 200,000, the second-place winner will receive QR 100,000, and the third-place winner will receive QR 50,000. For the international Al Daou competition, the first-place winner will receive QR 100,000, the second-place winner will get QR 70,000, and the third-place winner will be awarded QR 50,000. The winner of Elite Race will receive QR 300,000, with the second-place winner taking QR 200,000, and the third-place winner receiving QR 100,000. In Saluki Racing competition, the first-place winner in each category will receive QR 100,000, the second-place winner will take QR 70,000, and the third-place winner will receive QR 50,000. As for Young Falconer Championship, the first-place winner will be awarded QR 25,000, the second-place winner will get QR 20,000, the third-place winner will receive QAR 15,000, the fourth-place winner will take QR 10,000, and the fifth-place winner will earn QR 8,000.In a surprising move, South Korea's cabinet ministers have tendered their collective resignation to the prime minister, as reported by the Chosun Ilbo newspaper on Wednesday. The information was sourced from a close contact within the ruling party. This dramatic turn of events comes on the heels of a controversial declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol, which was revoked after a decisive parliamentary vote against it. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is expected to convene with the leadership of the ruling People Power Party and senior aides to President Yoon at 2 p.m. (0500 GMT), as per the Chosun Ilbo report. (With inputs from agencies.)

Wesley Learns Book Drive: Bridging Financial Literacy Gaps 12-03-2024 10:50 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Authority Titans Image: https://www.getnews.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1733251785.jpg Denver, Colorado - December 3, 2024 - The Global Children Financial Literacy Foundation (GCFLF) has announced Denver Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez as the inaugural sponsor of the 2025 Annual Wesley Learns Book Drive. This initiative, led by GCFLF co-founders Chadrick Davis and Prince Dykes, aims to empower underserved communities through financial education and first-time stock ownership opportunities. The Wesley Learns Book Drive is more than a campaign-it's a movement to address critical gaps in financial education. This initiative will impact five major U.S. cities: Denver, Atlanta, New York City, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. Denver will proudly kick off the campaign in April 2025 during Financial Literacy Month, setting the stage for transformative community involvement. Why Financial Literacy Matters: Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez, a passionate advocate for financial literacy and member of Denver's Budget & Policy Committee, expressed her enthusiasm for the program:"As a proud sponsor of the Global Children's Financial Literacy Foundation, I am thrilled to support a program helping shape the future of Denver's youth. Financial literacy is the key to success, and I hear directly from young people in our city-they want to understand money and how to save, invest, and plan for their dreams. This program not only makes learning about finances fun and accessible but also encourages Denver families to come together and have important conversations about a topic that can sometimes feel uncomfortable. We're building a stronger, more empowered Denver for future generations by fostering informed decision-making and strengthening family bonds." Image: https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXe9n00lRfzKfy2zON-lyZJ-KhM3z3D0rForhRqDM8tcTJdEr88ETYModKaImvEXfX7maOWfU2XcJuMuQoGkIjAn85cicUHGS13cnitSobvnP0Ftk3o8iHi0Jccm_cACrkEwZIqB?key=Nd4HPBmNVJ1n2fHaexOk_lwo Photo Courtesy: Chadrick Davis & Prince Dyke / Flor Alvidrez This partnership aims to: * Donate financial literacy books to underserved children. * Create first-time shareholders, empowering young people to take their first steps into financial independence. Councilwoman Alvidrez's leadership amplifies the importance of bridging financial education gaps and ensuring all children, regardless of their background, have the tools to succeed. Wesley Learns Book Drive: Transforming Education Into Action The Wesley Learns Book Drive combines education and real-world application, providing children with engaging financial literacy resources like the Wesley Learns book series, authored by GCFLF Co-Founder Prince Dykes. Featuring iconic figures like NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis, the series simplifies complex financial concepts, making them accessible and inspiring for young readers. The campaign's timeline spans from October 15, 2024, to March 31, 2025, culminating with a kickoff event in Denver in April 2025. This event will spotlight community involvement and showcase the collective effort to empower the next generation through financial literacy. A National Movement with Local Impact The Wesley Learns Book Drive will reach five U.S. cities through partnerships with local city councils and community leaders. Each city will tailor the program to address its unique challenges, creating a nationwide ripple effect of empowerment and inclusion. Chadrick Davis, GCFLF Co-Founder, emphasized the campaign's importance:"This initiative is about more than books. It's about sparking conversations, building confidence, and fostering inclusion. Financial literacy is the foundation for success, and by investing in our children today, we're creating a better tomorrow for everyone." Support the 2025 Wesley Learns Book Drive The success of the 2025 Wesley Learns Book Drive relies on community support. GCFLF invites individuals, families, educators, and organizations to participate by: * Visiting the website: Visit their website to contribute to this life-changing initiative. * Volunteering: Partner with local events or sponsor a drive in your community. * Raising Awareness: Share the message through social media and community networks. About Global Children Financial Literacy Foundation (GCFLF): The Global Children Financial Literacy Foundation (GCFLF) is committed to empowering underserved communities through innovative financial education programs and first-time stock ownership opportunities. Co-founded by Chadrick Davis and Prince Dykes, the foundation bridges the gap in financial literacy by offering engaging resources and real-world applications for young people. Through initiatives like the Wesley Learns Book Drive, GCFLF fosters inclusion, confidence, and informed decision-making to build a better tomorrow for all. Stay informed about the initiative by following their updates on Facebook [ https://www.facebook.com/gcflf/ ], Instagram [ https://www.instagram.com/childrenfinancialliteracy/?hl=en ], and LinkedIn [ https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-children-financial-literacy-foundation/?viewAsMember=true ]. Media Contact Company Name: Global Children Financial Literacy Foundation (GCFLF) Contact Person: Chadrick & Prince Dykes Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=wesley-learns-book-drive-bridging-financial-literacy-gaps ] Phone: 240608-2647 Country: United States Website: http://www.gcflf.org This release was published on openPR.Build Asia 2024 fosters global deals and innovation in construction sector

NEW YORK (AP) — An early rebound for U.S. stocks on Thursday petered out by the end of the day, leaving indexes close to flat. The S&P 500 edged down by 0.1% following Wednesday’s tumble of 2.9% when the Federal Reserve said it may deliver fewer cuts to interest rates next year than earlier thought. The index had been up as much as 1.1% in the morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 15 points, or less than 0.1%, following Wednesday’s drop of 1,123 points, while the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.1%. This week’s struggles have taken some of the enthusiasm out of the market, which critics had been warning was overly buoyant and would need everything to go correctly for it to justify its high prices. But indexes remain near their records , and the S&P 500 is still on track for one of its best years of the millennium with a gain of 23%. Traders are now expecting the Federal Reserve to deliver just one or maybe two cuts to interest rates next year, according to data from CME Group. Some are even betting on none. A month ago, the majority saw at least two cuts in 2025 as a safe bet. Wall Street loves lower interest rates because they give the economy a boost and goose prices for investments, but they can also provide fuel for inflation. Micron Technology was one of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500 Thursday. It fell 16.2% despite reporting stronger profit for the latest quarter than expected. The computer memory company’s revenue fell short of Wall Street’s forecasts, and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said it expects demand from consumers to remain weaker in the near term. It gave a forecast for revenue in the current quarter that fell well short of what analysts were thinking. Lamb Weston, which makes French fries and other potato products, dropped 20.1% after falling short of analysts’ expectations for profit and revenue in the latest quarter. It also cut its financial targets for the fiscal year, saying demand for frozen potatoes is continuing to soften, particularly outside North America. The company replaced its chief executive. Such losses helped overshadow a 14.7% jump for Darden Restaurants, the company behind Olive Garden and other chains. It delivered profit for the latest quarter that edged past analysts’ expectations. The operator of LongHorn Steakhouses also gave a forecast for revenue for this fiscal year that topped analysts’. Accenture rose 7.1% after the professional services company likewise topped expectations for profit in the latest quarter. CEO Julie Sweet said it saw growth around the world, and the company raised its forecast for revenue this fiscal year. Amazon shares added 1.3%, even as workers at seven of its facilities went on strike Thursday in the middle of the online retail giant’s busiest time of the year. Amazon says it doesn’t expect an impact on its operations during what the workers’ union calls the largest strike against the company in U.S. history. In the bond market, yields were mixed a day after shooting higher on expectations that the Fed would deliver fewer cuts to rates in 2025. Reports on the U.S. economy came in mixed. One showed the overall economy grew at a 3.1% annualized rate during the summer, faster than earlier thought. The economy has remained remarkably resilient even though the Fed held its main interest rate at a two-decade high for a while before beginning to cut them in September. A separate report showed fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, an indication that the job market also remains solid. But a third report said manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region is unexpectedly contracting again despite economists’ expectations for growth. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.57% from 4.52% late Wednesday and from less than 4.20% earlier this month. But the two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for action by the Fed in the near term, eased back to 4.31% from 4.35%. The rise in longer-term yields has put pressure on the housing market by keeping mortgage rates higher. Homebuilder Lennar fell 5.2% after reporting weaker profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. CEO Stuart Miller said that “the housing market that appeared to be improving as the Fed cut short-term interest rates, proved to be far more challenging as mortgage rates rose” through the quarter. “Even while demand remained strong, and the chronic supply shortage continued to drive the market, our results were driven by affordability limitations from higher interest rates,” he said. A report on Thursday may have offered some encouragement for the housing industry. It showed a pickup in sales of previously occupied homes. All told, the S&P 500 slipped 5.08 points to 5,867.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 15.37 to 42,342.24, and the Nasdaq composite lost 19.92 to 19,372.77. In stock markets abroad, London’s FTSE 100 fell 1.1% after the Bank of England paused its cuts to rates and kept its main interest rate unchanged on Thursday. The move comes as inflation there moved further above the central bank’s 2% target rate, while the British economy is flatlining at best. The Bank of Japan also kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged, and Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.7%. Indexes likewise sank across much of the rest of Asia and Europe. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

A BRITISH teenager who had a holiday romance with a 17-year-old girl in Dubai spoke of his shock at being jailed yesterday. Marcus Fakana, 18, had sex with the teenage Londoner during a fling in the Muslim emirate. 1 Marcus Fakana, 18, was jailed after a holiday romance with a 17-year-old girl in Dubai Credit: PA But he was held by Dubai police after her parents reported him. Now, a court has handed him a 12-month sentence. Markus, from Tottenham, North London, was said to be “shocked beyond belief”. He will serve his term alongside terrorists at the high-security Al-Awir jail. READ MORE ON DUBAI DAZZLING DUBAI From safaris to eye-popping feasts, how Dubai makes the perfect family break Apprentice builder Fakana’s family were said to be devastated last night. Detained in Dubai founder Radha Stirling said: “It is just shocking. His life is being ruined. “He feels abandoned by the British government.” The Foreign Office said: “We’re supporting a British man in UAE and are in contact with his family.” Most read in The Sun WARMING UP Scots set for 21C swing as temperature rise to bring an end to sub zero freeze SEARCH ENDS Missing traveler is found after month-long search that led to dad's suicide GET OUT I'm an ex-Gers star who was sacked after one game - I was surprised I got that long JUNGLE WINNINGS Coleen Rooney signs first big money deal after I’m A Celeb success I jetted off on ultimate lads’ weekend...only to be arrested, tortured at ‘Dubai Alcatraz’ & threatened with death by firing squadAiden McGeady has revealed that he ditched his car after it took him five hours to drive a 30-minute journey from the Spartak Moscow training ground to his home. And one of the reasons for the snarl up on the Moscow motorways was a sudden road closure to allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to get through the city. McGeady joined Spartak from Celtic in the summer of 2010 and he stayed there until his January 2014 move to Everton, playing almost 100 games and scoring 13 goals. READ MORE: Aiden McGeady details awkward way Celtic stars brought him ‘down a peg or two’ READ MORE: Warning issued as accounts show millions in combined League of Ireland losses While he also detailed some of the long flights to play domestic games, the Moscow traffic was something that he really struggled with during his short time driving in the Russian capital. He said : “The club did amazing things to help you. The club gave you a car and a driver. “The driver, I felt sorry for the guy, he was driving us about. He’d drop you if you went to go shopping and he’d wait on you. You’d go to a restaurant and he’d wait for you. “You’d then go back home and you’d say, oh, I’m going out tonight, and he’d sit in the car and wait for you. The guys worked 24 hours a day sometimes. “So I’d go to training with a driver and my missus would sit in the house. So I was like, I need to get a car so she can do her own thing as well, if she wants to go to the gym or go shopping. “So I got a car and drove to training a few times. I only stayed about half-an-hour with no traffic to the training ground. “I drove one day and on the way back it took me about five hours to drive home, because Moscow is a different world. Six lane motorways either side and this was just queued back. “And obviously when Putin goes about as well, every road in Moscow is shut. See if Putin is about, the policemen just stop the roads and they just stand there, and you are going, what’s going on here? Putin must be going about! “Then 15 black cars fly by at 70 miles an hour and it’s, on you go again. It took me five hours to go home! “Whenever there’s a crash over there, what they do here is, if you crash you move into the side of the road, if you bump cars you move into the side and let the traffic go. “Over there, you are not allowed to move the car until the police come to identify whose fault it was. So if you are blocking a road, you are blocking the road until the police come. “So it was five hours in my car to go home after training one day. And I just said to my driver the next day, I need to get out of this car, I cannae do this anymore. “That was my experience of traffic. People don’t realise it’s a different world.” Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts

By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. Related Articles National Politics | Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump extends unprecedented invites to China’s Xi and other world leaders for his inauguration National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November’s election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”Drones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023 . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed.

PHILADELPHIA , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC ) announced today it will release its fourth quarter 2024 earnings on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 , after the stock market close via PR Newswire and the company's website https://investors.fmc.com . The company will host a webcast conference call on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 , at 5:00 p.m. ET that is open to the public via internet broadcast and telephone. At this time, management will provide commentary on the results from the fourth quarter and full year 2024, guidance for the first quarter and full year 2025, as well as an update on the three-year outlook and the company's strategy. The call time has been extended to 90 minutes from the usual 60 minutes to accommodate the number of topics and Q&A adequately. Conference Call Details: Internet broadcast: https://investors.fmc.com United States (Local): +1 404 975 4839 United States ( Toll-Free ): +1 833 470 1428 Global Dial-In Numbers: Global Dial-in Number Access Code: 338624 Pre-Registration Link: https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=2f7e0221&confId=75596 A replay of the call will be available via the internet and telephone from 6:30 p.m. ET on February 4, 2025 , until February 24, 2025 . Internet replay: https://investors.fmc.com United States (Local): 1 929 458 6194 United States ( Toll-Free ): 1 866 813 9403 Access Code: 793208 About FMC FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC's innovative crop protection solutions – including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture – enable growers and crop advisers to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment. With approximately 5,800 employees at more than 100 sites worldwide, FMC is committed to discovering new herbicide, insecticide and fungicide active ingredients, product formulations and pioneering technologies that are consistently better for the planet. Visit fmc.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn ® . SOURCE FMC CorporationGaza population ‘growth’ projections predate recent Israel-Palestine war