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Chris Mubiru leads Northwestern State over North Alabama 71-58Appotronics Highlights Role of Laser Technology in Automotive Industry at Prestigious US Trade ConferenceNone
Big Tech is choking the life out of New Zealand journalism. The advertising monopoly run by platforms like Meta and Google starves local media of revenue, making it harder to pay journalists and sustain quality reporting. New Zealand’s Media and Communications Minister, Paul Goldsmith, is studying Australia’s new tougher approach to Big Tech and he will watch how Australian legislation “unfolds over the next couple of months and if it lands well, consider whether or not we seek to shift our approach in that direction”. A in the Australian characterised politicians threatening to impose regulations as playing chicken with Big Tech. The problem with democratic politicians is that they just aren’t as good at chicken as tech leaders. Considered statements like Goldsmith’s suggest approaching a game of chicken with a plan to swerve when facing off against social media juggernauts focused on profit. We celebrate the diversity of views in our Parliament. Social media companies enjoy that diversity too. They know Aotearoa’s voters better than our politicians and they can use that knowledge to induce a swerve when facing off against a politician who presumes to mess with their money. “Paul Goldsmith wants to deny you access to your internet support group!” In October 2024, I spent time in Brazil giving talks on the ethics of technology at universities across the country. While there, I saw firsthand how Brazil’s Supreme Court justice played chicken with Elon Musk and his social media platform X, and won. In their earlier encounters, Australian politicians wasted a lot of time arguing with Musk and trading insults with him. For example, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Musk an “arrogant billionaire who thinks he’s above the law”. Now that Musk is informally appointed to joint leadership of the US Department of Government Efficiency, he probably views that as his job description. Insults are Musk’s superpower. X gives him immediate and unfiltered access to over 200 million followers making his accusations of “fascist” more impactful than any politico’s qualms. De Moraes’ status as a judge makes him impervious to them. He isn’t allowed to make the mistake of Australian politicians of trash-talking Musk. Instead he leaves that to others. No Portuguese is required to understand about Musk of Brazil’s First Lady, Janja Lula da Silva. Instead of arguing, de Moraes found the most direct way to reason with Musk. He targeted the platform’s revenue. On August 30 this year, de Moraes responded to a refusal to remove far-right content and accounts advocating violence by banning X in Brazil. The ban was lifted on October 8 after Musk paid a significant fine and agreed to appoint a Brazil-based representative to respond to future complaints. Aotearoa’s complaints about Google and Meta differ from Brazil’s beef with X. But the same attitude could work to prompt a reasonable approach to revenue sharing. Big Tech is adept at playing chicken against democratic politicians by giving them reasons for delay. Remember that for Big Tech a delay is as good as a win. They can always come up with further reasons for delay. If you’re serious about playing chicken with Meta it’s essential to promptly dismiss their many non-arguments. In response to Australia’s measures Meta said it was concerned about arrangements requiring “One industry to subsidise another.” Why should a successful technology company subsidise a struggling media industry? But there are many such cases. One example New Zealanders are familiar with is the tax on the tobacco industry that currently subsidises the medical services industry. How long could Facebook users do without their ‘friends’ if New Zealand politicians credibly threatened to block or limit access? Here is the weakness in Big Tech’s obsession with profit in games of chicken with democratic leaders who count on popular support. The survivors among Aotearoa’s journalists have shown they can survive hardship that comes with a hollowed-out media business. For all of his bravado, Musk was forced to swerve by de Moraes after 40 days of reduced Brazilian revenue. If our leaders blocked or restricted access to Facebook could we beat Brazil’s record? If they got better at playing chicken they might only have to credibly threaten to block access to get Big Tech to swerve. We should consider this dispute from the standpoint of Big Tech. Why are they so keen to abandon earlier deals with Australian media? Why don’t they even want to talk to us? These discussions occur at a time when social media companies are rebranding as AI businesses. Social media businesses have spent decades getting to know us. Might they be dreaming of a future in which they can take stories from richer media markets and press the ‘New Zealand-ify’ tab to sprinkle in as many Jacinda or Pinetree Meads references as the AI deems useful? In that possible future, our local journalism really is worth nothing to them. This is why threatening to block access isn’t just about short-term leverage. Without access to New Zealanders’ latest hopes, fears, and debates, stories about us would quickly feel outdated. So in the long run, local media will surely return to us on our own terms. The challenge now is whether our leaders are brave enough to credibly threaten Big Tech’s profits. If Brazil can stand up to Big Tech, surely New Zealand can too.
IRVINE, Calif. , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OrthAlign, Inc. today announced a significant milestone with the successful first clinical use of its Lantern Hip handheld technology. The procedure was performed by Edwin Su, MD, a renowned orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York, NY . "The first clinical case of Lantern Hip is a monumental achievement for our team and the surgeons involved with this project," said Eric Timko , CEO of OrthAlign. "This expansion of our flagship platform to include hips not only enhances our product portfolio, but also positions us for significant growth in both the hospital and the ambulatory surgery center (ASC). We're excited to kick off the new year with Lantern Hip and showcase its impact at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting," says Eric Timko . Lantern Hip is the latest evolution in hip technology, built upon the success of over 375,000 OrthAlign procedures worldwide. Next-generation sensors, powered by accelerometers and gyroscopes, are designed to provide an accurate and simple solution to navigate cup placement and measure changes in leg length and offset. The system enables the surgeon to choose their preferred implant, and is accessible to any site of service. "Lantern Hip allows me to personalize cup position for each patient," said Dr. Su. "I can compare the functional pelvic plane (FPP), the anterior pelvic plane (APP), and the coronal plane during live cup navigation, so I can place the implant in the best position for function and stability. With its triple-sensor technology, Lantern Hip also allows me to feel confident in my leg length and offset restoration. The system was simple for me and my team to integrate into our workflow during our first case, and I expect this will make a positive impact on other surgeons' experience too." OrthAlign will continue to offer surgeons the opportunity to experience Lantern Hip firsthand through webinars and demonstrations at industry events throughout 2025. For inquiries about upcoming events or to schedule a product demonstration, contact your local OrthAlign representative. Visit www.orthalign.com/lanternhip to view the Lantern Hip introductory video. Lantern Hip is indicated for use in direct anterior total hip arthroplasty procedures with the patient in the supine position. About OrthAlign, Inc. OrthAlign is a medical device company with a focus on delivering practical, cutting-edge technologies for orthopedic surgery. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, OrthAlign provides surgeons with user-friendly, cost-effective solutions to help improve patient care in joint replacement. In 2023, the company celebrated a record-breaking year with over $50 million in global revenue, reflecting its dedication to growth and leadership in the industry. Driven by the belief that everyone deserves exceptional healthcare, OrthAlign is committed to making empowering technologies accessible to all. LANTERN ® and ORTHALIGN ® are registered trademarks of OrthAlign, Inc. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/orthalign-inc-announces-first-cases-using-lantern-hip-the-next-evolution-in-total-hip-replacement-technology-302336610.html SOURCE OrthAlignAppotronics Highlights Role of Laser Technology in Automotive Industry at Prestigious US Trade Conference
1 / 14 Godrej Consumer Products | Inflationary environment has created pressure on margins. Expect mid-single digit sales growth this quarter. Demand conditions have remained subdued over the last few months. Surge in palm oil and derivatives prices to the extent of 20-30% year-on-year has impacted the soap category, which contributes to about 1/3rd of the total standalone business. Expect Underlying volume growth to be flattish for the standalone business. GAUM will see fourth straight quarter of healthy margins. 2 / 14 Biocon | API facility (Site 2) in Bengaluru gets Voluntary Action Indicated (VAI) status. Surveillance inspection was conducted between September 23-27, 2024. 3 / 14 Welspun Corp | Bags two more orders in the US for the supply of HSAW and supply of coated pipes. Value of cumulative orders received by the US plant until Q3 FY25 has now crossed ₹7,000 crore. Outlook for US markets remains 'extremely positive' for next couple of years. 4 / 14 Suven Pharma | Acquires 56% stake in US-based NJ Bio. Suven proposes to invest a total of $64.4 million, which includes a $15 million primary equity infusion into NJ Bio for growth initiatives. 5 / 14 Poonawalla Fincorp | Dhiraj Saxena resigns as Chief Technology Officer due to harassment from Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO). 6 / 14 Delta Corp | Revises deal between itself and Deltin Hotels & Resorts. The Hospitality and Real Estate business will be demerged into Delta Penland. There is no change in the share entitlement ratio, which remains at 1:1. 7 / 14 Paytm | Issues clarification on report of selling stake in Japan's PayPay to SoftBank for $250 million. The company said that the board has approved the sale of Stock Acquisition Rights in PayPay to SoftBank for ₹2,364 crore. This transaction will increase the company's cash balance. 8 / 14 Easy Trip Planners | Signs share purchase agreement to acquire 49% stake in Pflege for ₹30 crore. UAE-based Pflege is engaged in the business of Medical Tourism. Will also acquire a 50% stake in Jeewani Hospitality for ₹100 crore and 49% stake in Australia-based Planet Education for ₹39.2 crore. 9 / 14 JSW Energy | Arm gets Letter of Award from NTPC to set up a 400 MW Solar Power Project. 10 / 14 CEAT | To acquire Camso Brand off-Highway tyres and tracks business from Michelin for $225 million. 11 / 14 Bajaj Healthcare | Vadodara-based API manufacturing site gets approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia, which is valid for 24 months. The site already has US and EU regulatory approvals. 12 / 14 Star Health Insurance | Gets show cause notice from IRDAI for non-compliance with various guidelines. The company was inspected between January 31-February 11, 2022. Company has been given 21 days to reply with supporting documents. Company said it is in the process of providing adequate replies to alleged violations. The company said that it is confident there will not be any impact but it cannot be predicted with certainty at this stage. 13 / 14 Laurus Labs | Board approves investment of ₹40 crore in Laurus Bio. Board also approves execution of definitive agreements with Eight Roads Venture & F-Prime Capital, who will invest ₹120 crore in Laurus Bio. Shareholding of investors and Laurus Labs in Laurus Bio now stands at 13.73% and 74.64% respectively. Both have right to make additional investment of up to ₹35 crore in Laurus Bio till December 2025. 14 / 14 Reliance Power | Unit Samalkot Power paid in full outstanding interest in default on term loan with Export-Import Bank of the US. Actual amount involved in the default at $15.48 million.Jeff Bezos denies Tesla stock story and shares a laugh with Elon Musk
SEALSQ Announces Completion of a $25.0 Million Registered Direct OfferingThe Golden State Warriors' dance team took center stage on Christmas Day, delivering a dazzling holiday performance to the Dub Nation, alongside the San Francisco Ballet and Club Fugazi. Backstage, the excitement was palpable as dancers prepared for what would be a memorable and magical show. "It's the perfect start to Christmas," said team director Sabrina Ellison, reflecting on the festive spirit that filled the arena as the dancers made their way to the court. The performance, which blended ballet, gymnastics and hip-hop, was a true team effort. The dancers had rehearsed tirelessly in the days leading up to the event, collaborating with the San Francisco Ballet and Club Fugazi to bring an energetic, holiday-themed show to life. "We just had a magical performance with San Francisco Ballet. Their team has been so wonderful to work with. Their performers were just magical," Ellison added, beaming with pride after the dancers returned through the tunnel. The collaboration was not just about precision and artistry, but also about the joy of coming together as a team to celebrate the season. Fans enjoyed a mix of ballet grace and classic hip-hop moves, showcasing the multi-generational talent of the Warriors' dancers. Even the Grinch made a special appearance, spreading some Christmas cheer despite the Golden State Warriors' narrow loss to the Los Angeles Lakers . Senior squad dancer Tamala Thornton echoed the team's resilient spirit, offering words of encouragement. "Be strong. And we'll get through everything together," Thornton said, her optimism shining through after the nail-biting game. The Christmas Day performance highlighted the power of creative synergy, with dancers from different art forms and ages coming together to create something truly special. "What a beautiful collaboration with my amazing dancers. I'm so excited to be here on Warriors ground," said Ellison, noting the significance of the event for the team. In a season that included both triumphs and challenges, the holiday show was a reminder of the one constant: family. Thornton believes, win or lose, the Warriors' dancers, and the broader community, will always remain united.
The One Thing You Should Never Do With Your Bone-In Meat At Steakhouses
After nearly three months in office, the outlook for the Paetongtarn Shinawatra government is likely to be influenced by several anticipated new stimulus proposals that are expected to be revealed in unison. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) last week forecast a Thai GDP growth rate of 2.3-3.3% in 2025, with an average of 2.8%. Despite a more promising outlook for next year, the NESDC warned that household debt is soaring, coinciding with concerns from the business sector that the government needs to improve in a number of areas to achieve the growth rate projected by the planning agency. Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said the government has yet to effectively stimulate economic growth as expected. He said the tourism industry next year should continue to be a major driver of GDP with 40 million foreign tourists expected to arrive, while growth in other industries may remain stagnant. Mr Thienprasit said there are gaps that could be filled to increase the number of arrivals and spending by tourists, such as promotions during the low season that include attractive programmes and campaigns. Regarding the hospitality sector, he said the government could support the market during the low season by increasing the budget available to organise governmental and public sector meetings and conferences across the country. Foreign investment should also be accelerated, including large projects such as the proposed Land Bridge and the development of comprehensive entertainment complexes that include casinos, said Mr Thienprasit. He said the government's initiative to lure technology investment to Thailand is a good idea, as data centre projects would help create jobs and business opportunities. With the government's priority the 10,000-baht handout aimed at lifting domestic consumption, Mr Thienprasit said the outcome of the scheme remains unclear when compared with investments in major infrastructure projects. He said it would be more productive and practical if the government instead worked to ease the debt burden of many Thais, as this would eventually increase people's spending power. Exports will continue to play a key role in driving Thailand's GDP next year, but the country needs to ensure products labelled as made in Thailand are actually produced by Thais, said Tanit Sorat, vice-chairman of the Employers' Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai). If these goods are produced by Chinese manufacturers, this may negatively affect the export sector, he said. This could become a serious issue if Chinese companies try to avoid the higher tariffs US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to impose on Chinese products by exporting goods to the US via Thailand, Mr Tanit said. A close examination of goods that are produced, processed and packed in Thailand both for domestic sale and export may be required to ensure the products were actually manufactured by Thai companies. "They may be made by Chinese entrepreneurs in Thailand," he said. "We don't know whether this will become an issue, which could cause the Trump administration to launch retaliatory measures against Thailand." Trump announced he would impose tariffs of 10-20% on all imported products, with tariffs of between 60-100% on goods imported from China, according to media reports. Thailand and other countries, especially those that have a trade surplus with the US, are likely to face tariffs of 10-20%, said Mr Tanit. The new US foreign trade policy will likely have a limited impact on Thai exports to the US, he said. EconThai believes exports and tourism will continue to drive the Thai economy next year. A glance at growth forecasts from various state agencies led Mr Tanit to predict a rate of 2.9% next year. "Our economy is growing, but its growth rate will be lower than those of neighbouring countries," he said, adding Southeast Asia is expected to grow by 4-5% in 2025. He applauded the new government for its stimulus efforts. "The 10,000-baht handout should help the economy somewhat as it indirectly helps some businesses to maintain their employment," said Mr Tanit. Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said he believes Thailand's GDP will grow by 3% in 2025, based on the NESDC forecast, as the economy gradually recovers next year. The fiscal 2025 budget was already approved, so the implementation of various policies, including government stimulus measures, will be able to proceed smoothly, he said, helping to drive the economy forward during the coming year. Thai exports were affected by baht strength earlier this year. The value of exports for the first nine months of 2024 tallied US$223 billion, up 3.9% year-on-year, indicating the export sector continues to be a key driver of the economy, said Mr Sanan. Officials expect Thailand will start to register more investments in new S-curve industries, propelling the export sector and GDP growth next year. The tourism sector is projected to fully recover in 2025 as Thailand recorded more than 30 million foreign arrivals during the first 11 months of 2024, which represents 85% of the target of 35 million arrivals set for 2025. If the government can accelerate the promotion of Thailand's soft power through various events and position the country's festivals on the global calendar, he said it will help raise awareness among foreign tourists, attracting high-income tourists to visit or live here. This would increase tourism revenue and create jobs, improving income distribution, said Mr Sanan. In terms of consumer spending, the government already started disbursal of the fiscal 2025 budget and implemented various stimulus measures. In addition, the government's recent debt relief measures should help generate liquidity in the economy, he said. Moreover, the government needs to accelerate efforts to attract foreign direct investment into Thailand by leveraging the opportunities presented by Trump's foreign trade policy, said Mr Sanan, which could restore confidence among both Thai and foreign investors. Chak Reungsinpinya, head of research at Maybank Securities (Thailand), said the brokerage is feeling more bullish and hopeful regarding Thailand's economic future following recent discussions with Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira. According to Mr Chak, the finance minister said some policies are short-term but much-needed, including the cash handout and debt restructuring schemes addressing the economic slowdown. "Mr Pichai emphasised the need to maintain fiscal discipline and expects the budget deficit to fall below 4% of GDP in the fiscal 2025 budget, keeping government debt-to-GDP below 70%, compared with 65% now," he said. Mr Pichai also said the investment budget must exceed the deficit level, meaning that current expenditure needs to be financed solely by government receipts. Over the longer term, tax reforms are needed to help close the fiscal gap, said Mr Chak. "This includes potentially lower personal and corporate income taxes, but higher value-added tax with excess government receipts going towards low-income earners via social programmes," he said. Following the initial 10,000-baht handout in October, Maybank expects Thai GDP growth to reach 3.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024, bringing full-year growth to 2.6%. The brokerage maintained its 2025 GDP projection of 2.8%, with public investment and public consumption remaining the key drivers. "We are mindful of risks to growth from rising trade barriers, especially if the US trade policy targets exporting nations that are closely integrated with China's supply chains," Maybank said in a research note, adding consumer indebtedness need to be reduced to a more manageable level for private consumption growth to recover. "The authorities are planning to implement debt restructuring programmes to address household debt, but these will take time to take effect and support consumption." Prakit Siriwattanaket, managing director of Merchant Partners Asset Management, said the government recently introduced policies to address persistent problems such as high debt levels, in addition to short-term stimulus. In his view, increased government budget disbursement is the main reason Thai GDP exceeded the market forecast of 2.7% in the third quarter this year. "The government deserves credit for increasing budget disbursement from 50 billion baht in August to 89 billion in September. This is what prior administrations wanted to do, but could not accomplish," said Mr Prakit. He said the market expects the Bank of Thailand's Monetary Policy Committee to further trim the policy rate in December to spur economic growth. Amonthep Chawla, chief economist at CIMB Thai Bank (CIMBT), described the 3% year-on-year GDP growth in the third quarter recently as unexpectedly strong, exceeding the bank's forecast of 2.2%. According to the NESDC's latest data, public spending and domestic consumption exceeded the bank's expectations. Foreign tourist arrivals aligned with the bank's forecast and remained a key driver of Thailand's economic growth, he said. Following the NESDC's announcement of third-quarter results, CIMBT's research centre is revising its growth forecasts for 2024 and 2025. The centre is also awaiting updated economic data from the central bank. However, Mr Amonthep said the bank does not expect the country's growth rate for the fourth quarter to reach 4% year-on-year, citing the central bank's assessment that weaker purchasing power among low-income groups, particularly vulnerable and agricultural households, will weigh on economic performance. He said the second phase of the government's 10,000-baht cash handout is unlikely to significantly boost economic growth in the final quarter, as the target beneficiaries, primarily elderly individuals, are expected to spend conservatively. "Initially, we planned to revise our GDP growth forecast for this year to 2.6-2.7% from 2.3%, but the new projected figures are likely to fall just short of 3%," said Mr Amonthep. Thitima Chucherd, head of economic and financial market research at SCB EIC, said the centre plans to slightly boost its 2024 Thai growth projection to 2.6% from 2.5% following the NESDC's third-quarter report. EIC predicted third-quarter GDP growth of 2.6%, aligning with forecasts by other research houses in a range of 2.4-2.6%. The government's various stimulus initiatives, including the second phase of the cash handout programme, are expected to contribute 0.6-0.8 percentage points to growth. As a result, the country's GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2024 could potentially reach 4% year-on-year, noted the research centre. For 2025, Ms Thitima said the Thai economy is expected to face greater challenges, particularly from potential changes in US foreign trade policies under the new administration, which could negatively impact exports in the second half of the year. As a consequence, Thailand's economic growth next year may fall below the current projection of 2.6%, noted EIC. She said EIC is awaiting further details on the implementation of stimulus packages and US economic policies before making final adjustments to its forecasts. Surrounded by leaders and members of coalition parties, Ms Paetongtarn, centre, makes a point ahead of a meeting to discuss the controversial Koh Kut border issue and referendum bill at Government House on Nov 4. Chanat Katanyu Tourists and locals make their way around Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok. Nutthawat Wichieanbut A woman collects plastic bottles to be sold for recycling. A CIMBT economist believes the second phase of the state's cash handout is unlikely to significantly boost growth in the final quarter, as the target beneficiaries, primarily elderly individuals, are expected to spend conservatively. Apichart Jinakul
RITES shares soar 5% on winning $9.7 million order from GuyanaMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he was caught off guard by reports early Tuesday that linebacker Shaq Barrett wants to unretire. The two-time Super Bowl winner signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in March, then abruptly announced his retirement on social media in July, just days before the start of Miami's training camp. “Just to be candid, obviously there's a reason why you target and sign somebody," McDaniel said Tuesday afternoon. “I was fully caught off guard, or caught by surprise this morning as I found out.” McDaniel indicated the Dolphins have not had any conversations with Barrett recently. Miami holds the 32-year-old’s contractual rights. ESPN first reported the news. “It was kind of news as you guys got it,” McDaniel said. He also said he hasn't had a chance to think about Barrett potentially rejoining the team, and that his immediate focus is on Miami's Thursday night game at Green Bay. “The team is counting on me to think about the Packers,” he said. "I'll get with (GM) Chris (Grier), and we'll work through that. There's a ton of implications that go along with it in terms of team and roster stuff, so we'll work through that as we just got the news today.” Barrett has 400 tackles, 59 sacks, 22 forced fumbles and three interceptions in nine seasons — four with Denver and five with Tampa Bay. He was a second-team All-Pro with the Buccaneers in 2019, with a league-high 19 1/2 sacks. The Dolphins waived veteran safety Marcus Maye on Tuesday and activated rookie safety Patrick McMorris from injured reserve. Maye, who signed with the Dolphins in June, played in 11 games with three starts for Miami this season. He had 30 tackles and a tackle for loss. He could re-sign to the team's practice squad if he clears waivers. Maye previously played for New Orleans, but was cut in a money-saving move in March after two seasons with the Saints. Maye's release made room on the roster for McMorris, who was drafted in the sixth round by Miami in April. He began the season on injured reserve because of a calf injury. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflRussian food inflation remains rampant, with butter prices rising 30% since December last year. Sunflower oil and vegetables are among the other items seeing ongoing price rises. Russia's central bank last month hiked interest rates to 21% — their highest level in over 20 years — but the high rates have shown few signs of dampening inflation so far. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied that Russia has exchanged "butter for guns," as the country's leadership has deflected blame for price rises onto "unfriendly" countries. A break-in at a small food store in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg wouldn't usually make headlines around the world, but this time was different. 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are CCTV footage from the store, Dairy Place, in early November appears to show the door being smashed and one person rushing over to empty the cash register. The other person makes a beeline for the fridge, plundering 20kg of butter from the chiller , Russian media reported. The owner of the store said on Telegram that the heist showed butter was now like "gold," according to a Google translation. CNBC could not independently verify the footage. Dairy Place is not the only victim of butter thefts, with a recent spate of similar incidents prompting some stores to lock the product in containers. A standard 200g stick of butter now costs around 200 rubles , or almost $2, with prices up 30% since December 2023, according to data from state statistics service Rosstat. The theft of such a basic product has drawn attention to rampant price rises in Russia. "The cost of basic foods has been growing for the last three years. It is getting worse day-by-day and sped up, especially this year," Stanislav, a Moscow resident, told CNBC. Money Report European stocks set to start the week higher as global markets rally China's central bank keeps medium-term loan rate unchanged amid yuan weakness "It depends on the type of food, of course. Some prices of goods go down, for example, buckwheat. It had a higher cost in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, but now it is three times lower. But this is the single example of a price decrease. All other food prices are growing. I think it is about 10%–40% per year," he added. Russia's annual inflation rate came in at 8.5% in October, well above the central bank's target of 4%. It prompted the bank last month to raise interest rates to 21% — their highest level in over 20 years — and a further hike is expected in December. High interest rates have shown few signs of dampening price growth so far, with food inflation in particular keenly felt by shoppers. Dairy products, sunflower oil and vegetables (especially potatoes, with prices up 74% since December last year) are among the items seeing ongoing upticks in price , according to weekly data from statistics service Rosstat , as demand outstrips supply. Anton Barbashin, a Russian political analyst and editorial director of the journal Riddle, said price rises were inescapable for most citizens, telling CNBC that "literally half of all Russians spend most of their earnings on food, so they feel inflation the most." "Product inflation is now the greatest driver for inflation, as such. So prices for basic goods, food and other personal items are increasing the most," he noted. "So far, the strategy for most Russians has been to downgrade their consumption patterns, opt for lower-quality goods. Postpone any long-term purchases. However, this stress is not spread out evenly. Moscow is still barely feeling the troubles. The most hit are [people in] the smallest towns and rural areas," he noted. Inflationary pressures in Russia, and indeed throughout Europe, have been exacerbated by Moscow's ongoing war against Ukraine, with food costs rising as a result of supply and labor shortages, higher wage costs, sanctions and increased production costs. These have accompanied Russia's shift to a war-orientated economy since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with a massive increase in state defense spending and domestic production of military hardware taking priority over agricultural production. The Russian economy has fared better than expected since the start of its invasion of its neighbor, with the International Monetary Fund expecting it to grow by 3.6% this year. Russia's leadership has looked to dodge criticism for the price rises, blaming "unfriendly" countries (that is, Ukraine's allies) for the conflict, sanctions and supply shortages. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied that Russia has exchanged "butter for guns," as he defended higher defense spending. "To say we spend too much money for guns and forget about butter — this is not so. I would like to underscore that all, exactly all the earlier announced plans of development and achievement of strategic objectives and all the social commitments assumed by the state towards the population — all of them are being performed to the full extent," Putin said at a plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club in October, TASS news agency reported . While many Russians have linked the war and inflation, it's risky for ordinary citizens to openly criticize the invasion — or "special military operation" as Moscow describes it — as any perceived "discrediting" of the army can be punished by up to five years in prison. Stanislav, who preferred not to give his surname given the risks associated with criticism of the war, said he knows that the price rises are linked to the invasion of Ukraine, but said he doesn't have "too many conversations with other people because it is dangerous to say something true in Russia." "Smart people ... understand what is happening with the economy, but most people accuse foreign 'unfriendly' countries [of being to blame for the price rises]. This official term 'unfriendly country' is often used in bills and propaganda," he said. Despite deflecting responsibility for price rises away from itself, and the war, the Kremlin has nonetheless looked to reassure the public it is acting on product shortages. Last year, a shortage of eggs — and price rises of more than 40% — prompted the government to remove import duties on the product . The administration said it would buy eggs from "friendly" countries and, in the first quarter, Russia imported 235 million eggs from Belarus, Azerbaijan and Turkey, Russian media reported. This October, the government said it would monitor butter prices and would support a "systemic increase in production" as the dairy industry continued to struggle to meet demand. Russian analyst Anton Barbashin, who no longer lives in the country, noted that Russia's propaganda machine means there is little sign of mass discontent with the government or president over stubborn inflation. "It has always been a great accomplishment of the Kremlin to separate the issue of Putin's policies and individual struggles of the Russians," he said. "Naturally, it is not a universal rule, but so far we're not seeing these struggles translate into blaming the president or the war." He said that, so far, propaganda was keeping mass dissatisfaction at bay, and some Russians just think, "it is war and war is costly." "But the speed of economic change in Russia is increasing, so we might expect [an] increase of those who want this war to end," he said. "We shouldn't also discard that [the] Kremlin is blaming Western activities and sanctions for economic issues in Russia, offering an easy target for Russians to blame." Also on CNBC UBS: 4 Fed rate cuts to come and slash exposure to European markets Debt brake reform is possible, German finance minister says Economic uncertainty in Germany remains high, BCG partner says
By Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald (TNS) MIAMI — As her students finished their online exam, Arlet Lara got up to make a cafe con leche . Her 16-year-old son found her on the kitchen floor. First, he called Dad in a panic. Then 911. “I had a stroke and my life made a 180-degree turn,” Lara told the Miami Herald, recalling the medical scare she experienced in May 2020 in the early months of the COVID pandemic. “The stroke affected my left side of the body,” the North Miami woman and former high school math teacher said. Lara, an avid runner and gym goer, couldn’t even walk. “It was hard,” the 50-year-old mom said. After years of rehabilitation therapy and a foot surgery, Lara can walk again. But she still struggles with moving. This summer, she became the first patient in South Florida to get an implant of a new and only FDA-approved nerve stimulation device designed to help ischemic stroke survivors regain movement in their arms and hands. This first procedure was at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Lara’s rehab was at at the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, part of a partnership between Jackson Health System and UHealth. Every year, thousands in the United States have a stroke , with one occurring every 40 seconds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of strokes are ischemic, often caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain. For survivors, most of whom are left with some level of disability, the Vivistim Paired VNS System, the device implanted in Lara’s chest, could be a game changer in recovery, said Dr. Robert Starke, a UHealth neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist. He also serves as co-director of endovascular neurosurgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, part of Miami-Dade’s public hospital system. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms, goes through exercises while her therapist activates the device during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA- approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) What to know about the stroke device The Vivistim Paired VNS System is a small pacemaker-like device implanted in the upper chest and neck area. Patients can go home the same day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the stroke rehabilitation system in 2021 to be used alongside post-ischemic stroke rehabilitation therapy to treat moderate to severe mobility issues in hands and arms. Lara’s occupational therapist can activate the device during rehabilitation sessions to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down to the abdomen and regulates various parts of the body’s nervous system. The electrical stimulation rewires the brain to improve a stroke survivor’s ability to move their arms and hands. How it worked on the first Jackson patient Lara also has a magnet she can use to activate the device when she wants to practice at home. Her therapy consists of repetitive tasks, including coloring, pinching cubes and grabbing and releasing cylindrical shapes. After several weeks of rehabilitation therapy with the device, Lara has seen improvement. “Little by little, I’m noticing that my hand is getting stronger. I am already able to brush my teeth with the left hand,” she told the Miami Herald in September. Since then, Lara has finished the initial six-week Vivitism therapy program, and is continuing to use the device in her rehabilitation therapy. She continues to improve and can now eat better with her left hand and can brush her hair with less difficulty, according to her occupational therapist, Neil Batungbakal. Lara learned about the device through an online group for stroke survivors and contacted the company to inquire. She then connected them with her Jackson medical team. Now a year later, the device is available to Jackson patients. So far, four patients have received the implant at Jackson. Starke sees the device as an opportunity to help bring survivors one step closer to regaining full mobility. Strokes are a leading cause of disability worldwide. While most stroke survivors can usually recover some function through treatment and rehabilitation, they tend to hit a “major plateau” after the first six months of recovery, he said. Vivistim, when paired with rehabilitation therapy, could change that. Jackson Health said results of a clinical trial published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet in 2021 showed that the device, “when paired with high-repetition, task-specific occupational or physical therapy, helps generate two to three times more hand and arm function for stroke survivors than rehabilitation therapy alone.” The device has even shown to benefit patients 20 years from their original stroke, according to Starke. “So now a lot of these patients that had strokes 10-15 years ago that thought that they would never be able to use their arm in any sort of real functional way are now able to have a real meaningful function, which is pretty tremendous,” Starke said. More about the device Vivistim’s vagus-nerve stimulation technology was developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Texas Biomedical Device Center and is being sold commercially by Austin-based MicroTransponder, a company started by university graduates. Similar devices are used to treat epilepsy and depression . For Lara, the device is a new tool to help her recovery journey. “Everything becomes a challenge so we are working with small things every day because I want to get back as many functions as possible,” Lara said. Patients interested in Vivistim should speak with their doctor to check their eligibility. The FDA said patients should make sure to discuss any prior medical history, including concurrent forms of brain stimulation, current diathermy treatment, previous brain surgery, depression, respiratory diseases and disorders such as asthma, and cardiac abnormalities. “Adverse events included but were not limited to dysphonia (difficulty speaking), bruising, falling, general hoarseness, general pain, hoarseness after surgery, low mood, muscle pain, fracture, headache, rash, dizziness, throat irritation, urinary tract infection and fatigue,” the FDA said. MicroTransponder says the device is “covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance with prior authorization on a case-by-case basis.” To learn more about the device, visit vivistim.com. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
WILTON, Iowa — Every year the U.S. egg industry kills about 350 million male chicks because, while the fuzzy little animals are incredibly cute, they will never lay eggs, so have little monetary value. That longtime practice is changing, thanks to new technology that enables hatcheries to quickly peer into millions of fertilized eggs and spot male embryos, then grind them up for other uses before they mature into chicks. The system began operating this month in Iowa at the nation’s largest chick hatchery, which handles about 387,000 eggs each day. “We now have ethically produced eggs we can really feel good about,” said Jörg Hurlin, managing director of Agri Advanced Technologies, the German company that spent more than a decade developing the SUV-sized machine that can separate eggs by sex. Even Americans who are careful to buy cage free or free range eggs typically aren’t aware that hundreds of millions of male chicks are killed each year, usually when they are only a day old. Most of the animals are culled through a process called maceration that uses whirling blades to nearly instantly kill the baby birds — something that seems horrifying but that the industry has long claimed is the most humane alternative. “Does the animal suffer? No because it’s instantaneous death. But it’s not pretty because it’s a series of rotating blades,” said Suzanne Millman, a professor at Iowa State University who focuses on animal welfare. Chick culling is an outgrowth of a poultry industry that for decades has raised one kind of chicken for eggs and another for meat. Egg-laying chickens are too scrawny to profitably be sold for meat, so the male chicks are ground up and used as additives for other products. It wasn’t until European governments began passing laws that outlawed maceration that companies started puzzling out how to determine chicken sex before the chicks can hatch. Several companies can now do that, but unlike most competitors, AAT’s machine doesn’t need to pierce the shell and instead uses a bright light and sensitive cameras to detect an embryo’s sex by noting feather shading. Males are white, and females are dark. The machine, called Cheggy, can process up to 25,000 eggs an hour, a pace that can accommodate the massive volume seen at hatcheries in the U.S. Besides the Cheggy machine in the small eastern Iowa city of Wilton, an identical system has been installed in Texas, both at hatcheries owned by Hy-Line North America. The process has one key limitation: It works only on brown eggs because male and female chicks in white eggs have similar-colored feathers. That’s not a huge hindrance in Europe, where most eggs sold at groceries are brown. But in the U.S., white shell eggs make up about 81% of sales, according to the American Egg Board. Brown shell eggs are especially sought by people who buy cage-free, free-range and organic varieties. Hurlin said he thinks his company will develop a system to tell the sex of embryos in white eggs within five years, and other companies also are working to meet what’s expected to be a growing demand. Eggs from hens that were screened through the new system will supply NestFresh Eggs, a Southern California-based business that distributes organic eggs produced by small operations across the country. The eggs will begin showing up on store shelves in mid-July and NestFresh executive vice president Jasen Urena said his company will begin touting the new chick-friendly process on cartons and with a larger marketing effort. “It’s a huge jump in animal welfare,” Urena said. “We’ve done so much work over the years on the farms. How do we make the lives of these chickens better? Now we’re able to step back and go into the hatching phase.” Urena said the new system was more expensive but any price increase on store shelves would be minimal. The animal welfare group Mercy for Animals has tried to draw attention to chick culling for more than a decade in hopes of ending the practice. Walter Sanchez-Suarez, the group’s animal behavior and welfare scientist, said laws in Europe outlawing chick culling and new efforts to change the practice in the U.S. are wonderful developments. However, Sanchez-Suarez sees them as a small step toward a larger goal of ending large-scale animal agriculture and offering alternatives to meat, eggs and dairy. “Mercy for Animals thinks this is an important step, but poultry producers shouldn’t stop there and should try to see all the additional problems that are associated to this type of practice in egg production,” he said. “Look for alternatives that are better for animals themselves and human consumers.”