jili41

jili41 Vistra Corp. ( NYSE:VST – Get Free Report ) traded down 4.2% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $136.74 and last traded at $138.00. 1,056,270 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 84% from the average session volume of 6,696,441 shares. The stock had previously closed at $144.11. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have weighed in on VST. Guggenheim raised their price target on Vistra from $133.00 to $177.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Vistra from $99.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 24th. BNP Paribas began coverage on shares of Vistra in a research report on Monday, October 14th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $231.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of Vistra in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $178.00 target price on the stock. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price target on Vistra from $157.00 to $150.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $149.10. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Vistra Vistra Price Performance Vistra Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, December 20th will be given a dividend of $0.221 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.63%. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 20th. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 16.42%. Vistra announced that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Thursday, November 7th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to buy up to 2.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued. Insider Transactions at Vistra In other news, EVP Stephen J. Muscato sold 207,100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.34, for a total value of $33,413,514.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 318,287 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,352,424.58. The trade was a 39.42 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, Director Scott B. Helm sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $139.77, for a total transaction of $2,795,400.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 343,350 shares in the company, valued at $47,990,029.50. This represents a 5.50 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 342,100 shares of company stock valued at $55,087,314. 1.42% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vistra A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its position in shares of Vistra by 115.3% during the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,532,657 shares of the company’s stock worth $217,758,000 after buying an additional 1,356,488 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its holdings in shares of Vistra by 1,358.2% in the second quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 1,228,144 shares of the company’s stock worth $105,596,000 after acquiring an additional 1,143,918 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Vistra by 6.8% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 16,355,255 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,938,752,000 after purchasing an additional 1,037,402 shares in the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its holdings in shares of Vistra by 36.0% during the 3rd quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 3,781,908 shares of the company’s stock valued at $448,320,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000,307 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP increased its position in Vistra by 315.9% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,175,811 shares of the company’s stock worth $101,096,000 after purchasing an additional 893,093 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.88% of the company’s stock. About Vistra ( Get Free Report ) Vistra Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation company. The company operates through six segments: Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure. It retails electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across states in the United States and the District of Columbia. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Vistra Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vistra and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Trump touts $100 bn SoftBank investment, vowing 100,000 jobs

Greater Lowell Community Foundation announces new round of Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund grantsIonQ ( IONQ -9.82% ) stock is falling in Monday's trading. The quantum-computing company's share price was down 7.9% as of 3:15 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 index was down 0.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite index was down 0.7%. IonQ stock is falling today in conjunction with an uptick in focus on potential bearish catalysts for the tech industry and broader market. In addition to concerns that upcoming inflation data could come in higher than previously anticipated, China also announced that it had launched an antitrust investigation into Nvidia . But even with today's pullback, IonQ stock is up roughly 182% this year. What will the latest inflation data mean for IonQ stock? On the heels of an impressive rally, stocks are taking a breather in Monday's trading. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to release its latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data on Wednesday, and investors are looking to the upcoming report to provide insight on the state of inflation. While the Federal Reserve is broadly expected to deliver another cut for interest rates this month, some investors are feeling skittish ahead of the upcoming CPI report. If the latest update shows that prices in the basket of goods included in the CPI rose more than expected, that could cause investors to become more bearish on the Fed's timeline for rate cuts. If that winds up being the case, it could be particularly bad news for IonQ and other stocks with growth-dependent and otherwise speculative valuations. Stocks in these categories have enjoyed strong bullish momentum amid assumptions that inflation is largely under control and that the Fed will continue cutting rates, but they could face intense bearish pressures if that winds up not being the case. Nvidia news spurs an uptick in tech-sector cautiousness Nvidia has been this year's hottest and most influential stock, and news for the company has often had ripple effects for other companies in the tech sector. Today, China announced that it had launched an antitrust probe into the company. Nvidia has a dominant position in the market for high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) used to power advanced artificial intelligence ( AI ) applications. Access to its GPUs has become a divisive issue amid already rising tensions between the U.S. and China. Notably, IonQ has recently been demoing technologies using Nvidia's CUDA-Q software platform for hybrid quantum-classical computing. China's Nvidia antitrust investigation is unlikely to have any material effect on IonQ in the near term, but geopolitical dynamics and potential regulatory issues could emerge as bearish catalysts that put significant pressure on valuations for growth-dependent tech stocks.

Just five companies are expected to grab more than half of global ad dollars this year, with the advertising industry set to exceed $1 trillion in revenue for the first time. Those companies include ( ), ( ) and ( ), along with China's ( ) and privately held ByteDance, the Financial Times reported, citing a new Group M report. Those five leaders are far different from the traditional Big 5 ad agencies that dominated the pre-social media advertising landscape. As a result, traditional players are regrouping as Big Tech and artificial intelligence continue to ascend in (and disrupt) the global advertising market. One of the fastest-rising names on the S&P 500 Monday was ( ), one of the world's largest legacy ad agencies, which announced plans to merge with peer ( ). Digital Pushes Advertising Industry Above $1 Trillion Media agency GroupM issued a report estimating that global advertising revenue will rise 9.5% in 2024, climbing a further 7.7% in 2025 to $1.1 trillion. Digital advertising continues to power growth at the expense of traditional advertising channels such as television, print and radio. The firm said in a new report that digital advertising will account for 73% of total advertising in 2025 and almost 77% in 2029. Advertising growth is outpacing GroupM's expectations despite macroeconomic uncertainties in major ad markets. It expects most of the growth to benefit the largest sellers of digital advertising from the technology sector — such as Alphabet's YouTube, Meta's Facebook and ByteDance's TikTok — rather than advertising agencies and other marketing service providers. But the report warned that possible tariff wars and a stronger dollar after Donald Trump's presidential election win could chill the advertising market. Alphabet stock rose less than 1% on Monday, trading about 4% below a 182.49 buy point. Meta fell in buy range. Omnicom And Interpublic To Merge On Monday, Omnicom Group said that it has agreed to buy rival Interpublic Group in a $13.25 billion, all-stock deal. The merger of the two major ad agencies would create the world's largest advertising company, with more than $25 billion in combined revenue. It would reduce the traditional "Big 5" ad agencies to the "Big 4." Interpublic investors would receive 0.344 Omnicom shares for each share held. The deal is expected to be accretive to earnings for shareholders of both companies, according to their news release. Interpublic stock surged 13% in early trade Monday, trimming that gain to 3.5% at the close. Omnicom sank more than 10%. "We are pretty confident this is not going to create any regulatory issues," Reuters quoted Omnicom CEO John Wren telling analysts on a call. "The world isn't divided into four companies — you have things like Google, Facebook, Amazon ... servicing people's marketing needs," Wren added. 'Top Stocks For E-commerce Growth' Meanwhile, e-commerce sales continue to fuel digital retail advertising growth. In a note to clients on Monday, Bank of America analysts projected that global e-commerce will grow 8% through 2030, with the e-commerce share of total retail sales expanding to 29%. The firm named Amazon and Alibaba as "our top stocks for global e-commerce growth and earnings exposure," along with smaller internet retailers ( ), Korea's ( ), and Singapore-based ( ). Amazon stock pegged a new high on Monday, building on a successful November earnings breakout. But it closed fractionally lower. , still below a falling 50-day moving average. But Chewy, Coupang and Sea shares fell. as well. Both ( ) and ( ) have blurred the lines between offline and online retail. Shares of Walmart fell on Monday, after chalking up record highs every day last week. Costco also retreated.Dumka: The counting of votes for the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections begins on Saturday, and all eyes are on Dumka, one of the most significant constituencies in the state. This historically stronghold seat for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is now a battleground between incumbent Basant Soren of JMM and Sunil Soren of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The outcome remains uncertain, with both parties vying for control in this crucial tribal region. Dumka saw a voter turnout of 70.56%, contributing to the state’s overall turnout of 68.01%. Voting took place from 7 am to 6 pm on Wednesday, marking the conclusion of an intense electoral exercise across Jharkhand. Basant Soren, the sitting MLA and son of JMM president Shibu Soren, is seeking re-election. He won the Dumka seat in a by-election in 2020 by a margin of over 6,800 votes, defeating BJP’s Louis Marandi. As a key figure within JMM, Basant is determined to maintain the party's stronghold in the region. Sunil Soren, a former BJP MP, has been fielded by the BJP to challenge the dominance of JMM in Dumka. Sunil has a history of defeating members of the Soren family, including JMM president Shibu Soren in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and his son Durga Soren in the 2005 Assembly elections. His political experience makes him a strong contender in this high-stakes contest. Babu Ram Murmu, contesting on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket, is also in the fray. However, his impact on the election outcome is expected to be minimal compared to the two leading candidates. One of the key issues in Dumka is the alleged infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into the tribal areas of Santhal Pargana. BJP leaders have accused the JMM-led state government of failing to address the issue, which they argue poses a threat to the local tribal population. Corruption accusations against the Hemant Soren government have also been a significant point of contention. The BJP has been vocal in criticizing the ruling party for failing to deliver on promises and for alleged involvement in corruption. The monthly cash transfer scheme, introduced by the JMM government, has sparked debate. JMM supporters claim the scheme has been beneficial for the poor, while BJP critics argue that it is a populist move designed to win votes. In the 2020 Assembly by-election, Basant Soren (JMM) won the Dumka seat with 80,559 votes, defeating BJP’s Louis Marandi, who secured 73,717 votes. In the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly election, Basant's elder brother, Hemant Soren, won the seat with 81,007 votes, while BJP’s Louis Marandi came second with 67,819 votes. The NOTA (None of the Above) option received 3,665 votes, signaling some voter dissatisfaction.

By: Aroona Khan Contrary to prevailing views that economic interdependence promotes peace and cooperation among the states, experts argue that economic interdependence has security implications due to asymmetric economic relations among states. A state may be dependent on other states for critical goods and commodities. States fear that the other side may leverage such dependence to devastate its economy. States are trying to reduce such exposure which is leading to more tensions and military competition. The United States and China are the most significant trade partners. However, this trade is asymmetric. It implies that trade balance between the two supports the former. The latter fears that in future, China may exploit such dependence on critical goods and materials. Furthermore, the U.S. is also persuading its allies to de-risk their economies to reduce their vulnerabilities and diversifying their trade relationship. It is also convincing them to use the U.S. sponsored supply chain coalitions. That is why the United States’ administration has been trying to decrease China’s capability to purchase advanced US materials such as semiconductors, chip-making materials, and the other essential technologies since the year 2022. Now just few weeks before Donald Trump’s return as president, the United States announced new export restrictions on China’s advanced semiconductors on December 2, 2024. China has condemned the United States’ hawkish stance. As the U.S. is increasing its efforts to reduce the export of the state-of-the-art chips to China. These chips are used in artificial intelligence and advanced weapon systems. The U.S. commerce secretary said that Joe Biden’s presidency had been tough in strategically addressing the issue of China’s military upgrading through export controls. The national security adviser Jake Sullivan also said that the United States has taken important measures to protect the use of our technology by our adversaries which is important for the national security. The United States has banned the deals to 140 companies; these include Chinese chip firms Piotech and SiCarrier. The U.S. Commerce Department said that these restrictions are introduced to reduce China’s development of advanced artificial intelligence that is used for advanced warfare and weaken China’s growth of its semiconductor ecosystem. These rules included the ban on China-bound deliveries of high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips. These chips are used in applications such as Artificial intelligence training, software utensils and chipmaking materials. These also included the equipment made in Singapore and Malaysia. The firms that are mostly affected are Chinese or Chinese-owned industries in Singapore, Japan, and South Korea. After the latest restrictions of United States on exports of advanced chips to China, the government of the Netherlands said it is also concerned about the United States’ tension and is closely monitoring the latest restrictions and would soon decide if it will increase its own controls on China. The Netherlands-based computer chip equipment maker ASML said that if their government would enforce the new rules, these latest restrictions would affect its export of deep ultraviolet lithography (DUV) systems to the chip making plants in China. As they are already following the restrictions of the US government on the selling of extreme ultraviolet lithography machines (EUV) to China. Following these restrictions, China, announced that it had forbidden exports of the important minerals such as germanium, gallium, and antimony to the United States. These are rare minerals, which are mined in small quantities. These minerals are used in the materials used for the military such as in different kind of weapons systems and technical products such as semiconductors and chips that are used in advanced computers and artificial intelligence. These elements are also used in electrical machinery such as vehicles and other devices. China announced it the next day after the United States’ latest restriction on its chip sector. These trade problems between the United States and China had increased just before newly elected President Donald Trump joined next month. According to the Chinese officials, this was an important initiative as the United States was violating export controls. The Chinese industry associations have said that these restrictions and sanctions would affect the global chip industry and will increase the prices in the United States. These trends reflect that political and military tensions are increasing between the two states. Expectations are that the incoming Trump administration will intensify these trends next month. These developments may have negative repercussions on global economic interdependence and promote competitive environments among states. These trends will also affect the companies globally that are producing or depend on the semiconductors as these bans on exports would eventually cause the prices to increase. The writer is associated with the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. She can be reached at [email protected] Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );Germany to tighten criminal law as people-smuggling ‘action plan’ agreed with UK3 nourishing recipes to cut down on ultra-processed food in 2025

Guess which ASX 200 stock is falling amid 'challenging' outlook( MENAFN - GetNews) GSD announces it has beefed up efforts to launch initiatives laser-focused on harnessing GEN AI and Quantum Computers to address pressing global challenges and ensure American competitiveness in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. GSD Venture Studios , a global force in venture creation, announced plans to advance U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. The studio's founder and CEO, Gary A. Fowler, in a recent interview pointed out the transformative nature of AI and quantum computing, describing them critical tools for reshaping industries and solving complex problems. “AI and quantum computing are, in fact, the world's keys to unlocking solutions for some of the world's most pressing challenges,” Fowler said.“Bolstering America's position in these fields is important not only for economic and national security but also for making sure these advancements are used to improve lives.” As Fowler explains, AI has already revolutionized healthcare, education, and finance, enabling predictive analytics, personalized learning, and smarter decision-making. Although still developing, quantum computing is expected to tackle problems at unprecedented speeds, with potential applications ranging from drug discovery to advanced encryption methods. Fowler stressed that staying ahead in these technologies will require a coordinated approach involving industry, academia, and government.“Collaboration is key to driving innovation, and fostering a strong talent pipeline is equally important,” he said.“Investing in STEM education and encouraging careers in AI and quantum computing are extremely important steps in making sure America remains at #1 and in making the world a better place .” The studio's announcement comes amid growing competition from emerging economic giants like China and members of the European Union, which are making headway in AI and quantum technologies investments. Fowler acknowledged the heightened global race but stressed that international cooperation could be equally critical. “While competition drives progress, collaboration will ensure these technologies are developed responsibly,” he points out.“In fact, America, as the world leader in economy and infrastructure, shares opportunities with other top countries to address issues like climate change, public health, and ethical frameworks through joint efforts.” The initiative also seeks to tackle challenges inherent in these technologies, adds Fowler. Quantum computing faces pressing challenges such as hardware scalability and qubit stability, while AI development must address ethical concerns, including algorithmic bias and data security. GSD Venture Studios plans to address these issues through targeted research and partnerships that align public and private sector goals. Fowler pointed to the studio's role as an“enzyme needed for further innovation,” calling for the need for clear strategies and measurable outcomes.“Innovation requires not only great and important ideas but also a clear roadmap,” he said.“By fostering an environment that rewards creativity and collaboration, we can define the next era of technological progress.” GSD Venture Studios is focused on creating pathways for progress in AI and quantum computing by uniting resources, expertise, and funding. Fowler expressed optimism about the initiative's potential to drive meaningful advancements and strengthen the U.S.'s role as a global technology leader. “The future of AI and quantum computers isn't just about technology-it's about how we choose to shape that future,” Fowler said.“This is an opportunity to redefine what's possible and ensure that innovation serves humanity in meaningful ways.” About GSD Venture Studios GSD Venture Studios is a leader in venture creation and has led the way in helping innovators and entrepreneurs scale groundbreaking ideas to meet global challenges. Founded by AI pioneer Gary A. Fowler, the studio combines expertise, funding, and resources to bring transformative solutions to market. Its mission is to foster collaboration and build resilient ventures that drive progress in critical sectors, from technology to sustainability. For more information, visit GSD Venture Studio . MENAFN16122024003238003268ID1108999827 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

( MENAFN - GetNews) "Microsoft (US), google (US), AWS (US), IBM (US), Cisco (US), Dynatrace (US), Splunk (US), Solarwinds (US), Netscout (US), New Relic (US), Logic Monitor (US), Paessler AG (Germany), Netreo (US), ManageEngine (US), Idera (US), Sematext (US), Datadog (US), Icinga (Germany), Nagios (US), Zabbix (Latvia), Sentry (US), UptimeRobot (Malta), Atera (Israel)."Monitoring Tools market by Offering (Software (by Deployment) & Services), Type (Infrastructure Monitoring, Application Performance Monitoring, Security Monitoring and End User Experience Monitoring), Vertical and Region - Global Forecast to 2028. The Monitoring Tools market is projected to expand from USD 24.5 billion in 2023 to USD 63.7 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 21.1% during the forecast period. Monitoring tools, also referred to as network or performance monitoring solutions, are software systems designed to track the performance, health, and availability of various components across networks, systems, and applications. These tools gather data from multiple sources, including servers, network devices, applications, and databases, offering real-time insights and analysis to ensure seamless and efficient operations. Download PDF Brochure@ Healthcare & Lifesciences to account for higher CAGR during the forecast period The monitoring tools market in the Healthcare & Life Sciences vertical has witnessed significant growth and innovation in recent years. With the increasing complexity and demands of the healthcare industry, monitoring tools have become invaluable in ensuring the efficient delivery of patient care, optimizing processes, and enhancing overall operational effectiveness. Monitoring tools in this sector encompass a wide range of technologies and solutions designed to monitor various aspects of healthcare and life sciences, including patient health, medical devices, drug development, and clinical trials. In the healthcare industry, monitoring tools are used to track vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation, providing healthcare professionals with real-time data for accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions. These tools enable remote monitoring, allowing patients to be monitored from their homes, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits, and improving patient convenience. These tools play a vital role in improving healthcare outcomes, enhancing patient care, and ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical devices and treatments. As the industry continues to evolve, collaboration between healthcare providers, technology companies, and regulatory authorities will be crucial to address challenges and drive further innovation in monitoring tools for the healthcare and life sciences sector. Services Segment to account for higher CAGR during the forecast period The market for Monitoring tools is bifurcated based on offering into software and services. The CAGR of services is estimated to be highest during the forecast period. Professional and managed services have a significant impact on the monitoring tools market by offering a range of valuable services to businesses. Professional services providers assist with the implementation, configuration, and customization of monitoring tools, ensuring optimal functionality and alignment with specific business requirements. They provide consulting and advisory services, guiding organizations in selecting the right monitoring tools and developing effective monitoring strategies. These providers also offer training and educational programs, equipping businesses with the necessary knowledge and skills to utilize monitoring tools effectively. Managed services providers, on the other hand, offer ongoing monitoring and management of infrastructure and applications, relieving businesses of the burden of maintaining and optimizing their monitoring environment. They provide proactive monitoring, incident management, and performance optimization, ensuring efficient operations and minimizing downtime. These services enhance the effectiveness of monitoring solutions, allowing businesses to focus on their core activities while ensuring their monitoring needs are met by skilled providers. Asia Pacific to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period The CAGR of Asia Pacific is estimated to be highest during the forecast period. Monitoring tools is rapidly growing in Asia Pacific, which includes China, India, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, and ANZ (Australia and New Zealand). Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market for monitoring tools. In this region, monitoring tools technologies are utilized for rural and agricultural development. The region encompasses a diverse range of countries, including but not limited to China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Southeast Asian nations. The increasing adoption of digitalization and the growing importance of data-driven decision-making across various industries, such as IT, telecommunications, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, have been key drivers of the monitoring tools market in the region. Several factors have contributed to the rise in demand for monitoring tools in Asia Pacific. The surging number of internet users, mobile phone subscribers, and connected devices has created a vast pool of data that requires efficient monitoring and analysis. The escalating cybersecurity threats have prompted organizations to invest in advanced monitoring solutions to safeguard their networks, infrastructure, and sensitive information. The Asia Pacific region is witnessing a dynamic vendor landscape, with both local and international monitoring tool providers vying for market share. To gain a competitive edge, vendors are investing in product innovation, scalability, and ease of integration with existing systems. Request Sample Pages@ Unique Features in the Monitoring Tools Market Monitoring tools offer end-to-end tracking across diverse IT environments, including networks, servers, applications, and databases. This holistic approach ensures visibility into every critical component, enabling organizations to identify and address performance bottlenecks effectively. A standout feature of modern monitoring tools is their ability to provide real-time performance analytics. These tools collect and process data continuously, delivering instant insights into system health and alerting users to anomalies or potential issues before they escalate. Many monitoring tools now incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to predict potential failures and optimize system performance. These capabilities help organizations take proactive measures to prevent downtime and enhance operational efficiency. With businesses increasingly adopting hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures, monitoring tools are designed to integrate seamlessly across various environments. This feature ensures unified visibility and control, regardless of where the systems or applications are hosted. Modern monitoring solutions offer highly customizable dashboards and reporting capabilities, allowing users to tailor visualizations and metrics to their specific needs. This flexibility enables IT teams to focus on the most relevant data for decision-making. Monitoring tools are built to scale alongside an organization's growth. Whether managing a small network or a global enterprise infrastructure, these solutions can adapt to increasing data volumes and complexity without compromising performance. Major Highlights of the Monitoring Tools Market As organizations shift to multi-cloud and hybrid environments, monitoring tools are becoming essential to ensure seamless integration, unified visibility, and efficient management across diverse platforms. This trend is a key driver of market growth. Businesses are prioritizing proactive system management to minimize downtime and optimize performance. Monitoring tools equipped with real-time analytics and predictive capabilities are gaining traction for their ability to identify and mitigate issues before they impact operations. The incorporation of AI and ML technologies in monitoring tools is revolutionizing the market. These features enhance anomaly detection, predict potential failures, and enable automated incident management, making systems more resilient and efficient. The growing frequency of cyber threats has expanded the scope of monitoring tools to include security features. Organizations are increasingly leveraging these tools to detect vulnerabilities, monitor suspicious activities, and ensure compliance with regulations. Monitoring tools are witnessing widespread adoption in industries such as IT, healthcare, BFSI, and manufacturing. These sectors rely on these solutions to ensure the reliability and performance of critical systems, applications, and networks. The market's tools are designed to scale with organizational needs, accommodating everything from small networks to large, global infrastructures. This scalability is a significant factor driving their adoption in enterprises of all sizes. Inquire Before Buying@ Top Companies in the Monitoring Tools Market Major vendors in the global Monitoring tools market are Microsoft (US), Google (US), AWS (US), IBM (US), Cisco (US), Dynatrace (US), Splunk (US), Solarwinds (US), Netscout (US), New Relic (US), Logic Monitor (US), Paessler AG (Germany), Netreo (US), ManageEngine (US), Idera (US), Sematext (US), Datadog (US), Icinga (Germany), Nagios (US), Zabbix (Latvia), Sentry (US), UptimeRobot (Malta), Atera (Israel), Better Stack (Czech Republic), Sumo Logic (US), Checkmk (Germany), Exporise (US), ITRS (UK), Riverbed Technology (US), Nlyte Software (US). Microsoft (US) Microsoft Corporation is a multinational technology firm that provides consumers and organizations all over the world with a vast array of software, hardware, and services. Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing are the three primary business segments through which the corporation conducts its operations. Microsoft operates in over 190 countries worldwide, with its headquarters located in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft is a leading player in the Monitoring Tools market, offering a diverse range of solutions to cater to the evolving needs of businesses. One of Microsoft's flagship offerings in this space is Azure Monitor. Azure Monitor is a cloud-native monitoring and observability solution specifically designed for Azure resources and applications. Additionally, Microsoft offers System Center Operations Manager (SCOM), another prominent monitoring tool. SCOM provides businesses with a holistic view of their on-premises and hybrid cloud infrastructure. Microsoft's presence in the Monitoring Tools market extends beyond these specific offerings, as the company continues to invest in research and development to deliver innovative solutions. With a strong focus on cloud-native technologies and a commitment to meeting customer needs, Microsoft remains a trusted partner for businesses seeking robust monitoring tools to enhance their operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and deliver exceptional user experiences. Cisco (US) Cisco was founded in 1984 in San Francisco, US, by a small group of computer scientists from Stanford University. Cisco provides a wide range of service offerings, including technical support and advanced services. The company provides its technical products in routing and switching, home networking, IP telephony, optical networking, security, storage area networking, and wireless technology. The company caters to industries, such as cities and communities, education, financial services, government, healthcare, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, retail, sports and entertainment, transportation, and utilities. The company operates in 115+ countries and has global reach in the Americas, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific. Cisco's flagship monitoring tool, Cisco DNA Center, offers businesses a centralized platform for managing and monitoring their network infrastructure. With its intuitive interface and advanced analytics capabilities, Cisco DNA Center enables organizations to monitor network performance, track devices, detect anomalies, and troubleshoot issues efficiently. In addition to network monitoring, Cisco provides robust security monitoring solutions to protect against evolving threats. Cisco SecureX integrates with Cisco's security products, enabling businesses to consolidate security alerts, monitor security events, and respond to incidents effectively. Furthermore, Cisco offers network monitoring solutions for specific industries and use cases. Such as Cisco Meraki provides cloud-managed monitoring tools for networking and security in retail, healthcare, education, and other sectors. MENAFN16122024003238003268ID1108999895 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Arts and health working together can change lives. Here’s how Australia can do it better

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Rivers: ‘If Care Is Not Taken, You Will Arrange Wife For Fubara’ – Wike Lists Positions Odili’s Family Members Are OccupyingRIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 25, 2024-- Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) (the “Company”) today announced, as required under the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) Listed Company Manual, that it received a notice (the “NYSE Notice”) from the NYSE on November 19, 2024 that the Company is not in compliance with Section 802.01E of the NYSE Listed Company Manual as a result of its failure to timely file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) prior to November 18, 2024, the end of the extension period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The NYSE Notice has no immediate effect on the listing of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE. On July 19, 2023, the Company disclosed that beginning around mid-2007, the Company incorrectly classified certain credit card accounts into its highest merchant and merchant acquirer pricing tier (the “card product misclassification”). Based on information available as of June 30, 2023, the Company recognized a liability of $365 million that was accounted for as the correction of an error. The Company determined that the revenue impact was not material to the consolidated financial statements of the Company for any of the impacted periods. While it was therefore determined that it was not necessary for the Company to restate any previously issued interim or annual financial statements, the cumulative misstatement was deemed material to the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 condensed consolidated financial statements, and therefore the Company determined that adjustment of the full $365 million only through 2023 earnings was not appropriate. Therefore, the $365 million liability (the “Initial Liability”) was recorded as of June 30, 2023 with offsetting adjustments to merchant discount and interchange revenue and retained earnings, along with consequential impacts to deferred tax accruals. Comparable corrections were made for all prior periods presented in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023 and subsequently in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. On February 19, 2024, Discover and Capital One Financial Corporation (“Capital One”) jointly announced that they entered into an agreement and plan of merger pursuant to which the companies will combine in an all-stock transaction (the “Merger”). In the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024, the Company disclosed that it had determined to increase its liability to $1.2 billion (the “Liability Increase”) through a charge to other expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024, to reflect the total amount the Company then expected was probable to be disbursed in relation to the card product misclassification. The Company determined the Liability Increase was appropriate based on its experience through that date with remediation efforts, discussions through the first quarter of 2024 with its regulators, Board of Directors and other stakeholders, the pending Merger, which was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors during the quarter, and a desire to advance resolution of the matter more quickly to mitigate further risk. As part of the review of the Company’s historical financial statements by the Staff of the SEC (the “Staff”) undertaken in connection with the Staff’s review of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Capital One in connection with the Merger (and the preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus contained therein) (the “Registration Statement”), the Staff provided comments to the Company relating to the Company’s accounting approach for the card product misclassification. The Company has responded to these comments and has engaged in several verbal discussions with the Staff. The Staff has indicated that it disagrees with the Company’s application of revenue recognition guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in connection with the Company’s recording of the Initial Liability. The Staff has, however, indicated that it would not object to an approach whereby the Company determined the cumulative revenue error related to the card product misclassification to be the maximum amount agreed to be paid by the Company in restitution in respect of the card product misclassification (excluding interest and legal expenses) (the “Alternative Approach”). This amount is approximately $1,047 million. On November 25, 2024, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Audit Committee”), acting on the recommendation of management, and after discussion with Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”), the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, concluded that (i) the Company’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and (ii) the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q previously filed with the SEC for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023, September 30, 2023, March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024 (collectively, the “Prior Periods”), should no longer be relied upon and should be restated to reflect the Alternative Approach. In addition, the Audit Committee concluded that management’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 and Deloitte’s report on the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023 as well as Deloitte’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, should no longer be relied upon. In order to implement the Alternative Approach in the Restated Financial Statements (as defined below), approximately $600 million of the Liability Increase will be reallocated from being recorded as other expense in the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 to a revenue error correction in prior periods. In addition, $124 million of the Liability Increase representing interest that the Company committed to pay as part of its counterparty restitution plan will also be reallocated from the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 to the third and fourth quarters of 2023. Cumulative historical earnings, capital and the aggregate amount of the counterparty restitution liability will not be affected by application of the Alternative Approach. However, separate work being done to validate the remediation methodology with a third-party consultant has resulted in the identification of approximately $60 million of incremental overcharges, which will be reflected in the Restated Financial Statements. As a result, the Company expects the Restated Financial Statements to reflect the following approximate impacts: as of December 31, 2023, (i) an increase in assets of $190 million, (ii) an increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities of $783 million, and (iii) a decrease in retained earnings of $593 million. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, pre-tax income would be reduced by approximately $190 million to $3,636 million and $77 million to $5,641 million, respectively. For the third quarter of 2024, pre-tax income would decrease by approximately $6 million to $1,282 million while pre-tax income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 would increase by approximately $700 million to $4,462 million (as compared to the pre-tax income reported in the financial information with respect to the quarter ended September 30, 2024 in the exhibits furnished with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 16, 2024). Amendments to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Form 10-K/A”), and the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024 (the “Form 10-Q/As” and together with the Form 10-K/A, the “Restated Financial Statements”), are expected to be filed prior to or concurrently with the filing of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024 in order to reflect the Alternative Approach and the other modifications described above to the Prior Periods. The Company is working expeditiously to file the Restated Financial Statements as soon as reasonably practicable. The Company currently expects to complete the filings prior to year-end, however there can be no assurance of the actual timing. The Company expects that Capital One will file a pre-effective amendment to the Registration Statement promptly following the Company’s filing of the Restated Financial Statements, and that as soon as practicable following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and the mailing of the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus contained therein to each company’s stockholders, each company will hold its respective special meeting of stockholders for purposes of obtaining the requisite stockholder approvals of the Merger. About Discover Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a digital banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The Company issues the Discover® card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal loans, home loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its banking business. It operates the Discover Global Network® comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchants and cash access locations; PULSE®, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International®, a global payments network with acceptance around the world. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, which speak to our expected business and financial performance, among other matters, contain words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "aim," "will," "may," "should," "could," "would," "likely," "forecast," and similar expressions. Other forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the restatement of the Company’s financial statements. Such statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication and there is no undertaking to update or revise them as more information becomes available. Actual future events could also differ materially due to numerous factors that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, among other things, risks relating to the final impact of the restatements on the Company’s financial statements; the impact of the restatements on the Company’s evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; delays in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements and/or the declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement; the risk that additional information will come to light that alters the scope or magnitude of the restatement; the risks and uncertainties set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q; and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in any subsequent reports that the Company files with the SEC from time to time. Although the Company has attempted to identify those material factors that could cause actual results or events to differ from those described in such forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Given these uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Important Information About the Merger and Where to Find It Capital One has filed the Registration Statement with the SEC to register the shares of Capital One’s common stock that will be issued to the Company’s stockholders in connection with the Merger. The Registration Statement includes a preliminary joint proxy statement of Capital One and the Company that also constitutes a preliminary prospectus of Capital One. The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to the stockholders of each of the Company and Capital One in connection with the Merger. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE (AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS) BECAUSE SUCH DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents and other documents filed with the SEC by the Company or Capital One through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov or by contacting the investor relations department of the Company or Capital One at: Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and security holders of the Company and Capital One are urged to read carefully the entire Registration Statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus, including any amendments thereto, because they contain important information about the Merger. Free copies of these documents may be obtained as described above. Participants in Solicitation The Company, Capital One and certain of their directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of each of the Company and Capital One in connection with the Merger. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of the Company and Capital One and other persons who may be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of the Company or of Capital One in connection with the Merger will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus related to the Merger, which will be filed by Capital One with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of the Company and their ownership of the Company common stock can also be found in the Company’s definitive proxy statement in connection with its 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, as filed with the SEC on March 15, 2024, as supplemented by the Company’s proxy statement supplement, as filed with the SEC on April 2, 2024, and other documents subsequently filed by the Company with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of Capital One and their ownership of Capital One common stock can also be found in Capital One’s definitive proxy statement in connection with its 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, as filed with the SEC on March 20, 2024, and other documents subsequently filed by Capital One with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents regarding the Merger filed with the SEC when they become available. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125018559/en/ CONTACT: Investor Contact: Erin Stieber, 224-405-4555 investorrelations@discover.comMedia Contact: Matthew Towson, 224-405-5649 matthewtowson@discover.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA ILLINOIS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: Discover Financial Services Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/25/2024 06:06 PM/DISC: 11/25/2024 06:06 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125018559/en

EU recalls ambassador from Niger amid dispute over allocation of aid money

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) today announced that Tim Keating has joined the company as senior vice president, Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, effective today. “Tim is a strong addition to lead our government relations team,” said Ava Hahn, AMD senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. “As high-performance and AI chips play an increasingly larger role in our daily lives over the coming years, Tim’s extensive public policy expertise and deep understanding of regulatory landscapes will play a critical role expanding our engagements with key stakeholders.” Keating has decades of experience, including more than 14 years at Boeing as executive vice president, Government Relations. Before Boeing, he was the senior vice president of Global Government Operations at Honeywell International and served as special assistant to the President of the United States and as staff director for White House Legislative Affairs. He also held several positions with the U.S. House of Representatives. Keating received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Scranton and an honorary doctorate of business administration from the University of South Carolina. About AMD For more than 50 years AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics and visualization technologies. Billions of people, leading Fortune 500 businesses and cutting-edge scientific research institutions around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work and play. AMD employees are focused on building leadership high-performance and adaptive products that push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring tomorrow, visit the AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) website , blog , LinkedIn and X pages. AMD, the AMD Arrow logo and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Contact: Brandi Martina AMD Communications (512) 705-1720 Brandi.martina@amd.com Mitch Haws AMD Investor Relations 512-944-0790 mitch.haws@amd.com

Barclays PLC boosted its holdings in Cars.com Inc. ( NYSE:CARS – Free Report ) by 340.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 108,177 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 83,642 shares during the period. Barclays PLC owned about 0.17% of Cars.com worth $1,813,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in Cars.com by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 596,327 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,748,000 after purchasing an additional 20,463 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its stake in shares of Cars.com by 9,934.6% during the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 10,737 shares of the company’s stock valued at $212,000 after buying an additional 10,630 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Cars.com in the second quarter worth approximately $242,000. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its holdings in shares of Cars.com by 6.6% during the second quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 191,507 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,773,000 after purchasing an additional 11,900 shares during the period. Finally, TD Asset Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of Cars.com by 8.7% during the second quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 19,900 shares of the company’s stock valued at $392,000 after acquiring an additional 1,600 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.15% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CARS has been the topic of several research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Cars.com from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Barrington Research restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $25.00 price objective on shares of Cars.com in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, UBS Group raised their target price on Cars.com from $17.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Cars.com Price Performance CARS stock opened at $17.36 on Friday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $18.00 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.07. Cars.com Inc. has a one year low of $15.05 and a one year high of $21.24. The company has a market capitalization of $1.12 billion, a PE ratio of 29.93 and a beta of 2.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 1.79 and a current ratio of 1.79. Insider Transactions at Cars.com In other news, Director Jill A. Greenthal sold 4,524 shares of Cars.com stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.86, for a total value of $89,846.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 101,963 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,024,985.18. The trade was a 4.25 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CFO Sonia Jain sold 24,971 shares of Cars.com stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.74, for a total transaction of $492,927.54. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 229,229 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,524,980.46. This represents a 9.82 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders own 2.12% of the company’s stock. About Cars.com ( Free Report ) Cars.com Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a digital automotive marketplace that connects local car dealers to consumers in the United States. The company offers a suite of digital solutions that creates connections between individuals researching cars or looking to purchase a car with car dealerships and automotive original equipment manufacturers. Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Cars.com 3 Healthcare Dividend Stocks to Buy S&P 500 ETFs: Expense Ratios That Can Boost Your Long-Term Gains How to Use Stock Screeners to Find Stocks How AI Implementation Could Help MongoDB Roar Back in 2025 Mastering Discipline: Overcoming Emotional Challenges In Trading Hedge Funds Boost Oil Positions: Is a Major Rally on the Horizon? Receive News & Ratings for Cars.com Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cars.com and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Even when Penn State quarterback Drew Allar gets some praise, it's usually a backhanded compliment. They say he's a good game manager and stays within himself, or that he doesn't try to do too much. They mention he might not be flashy, but he gives the team a chance to win. And here's the thing about Penn State since Allar stepped under center: The Nittany Lions have won games. A lot of them. Sometimes that's hard to remember considering the lukewarm reception he often gets from fans. “I get it — we have a really passionate fan base and they're a huge part of our success,” Allar said Sunday at College Football Playoff quarterfinals media day. “For us, we always want to go out there every drive and end with a touchdown, so when we don't do that, there's nobody more frustrated than us.” The polarizing Allar is having a solid season by just about any standard, completing more than 68% of his passes for 3,021 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions to a 12-2 record and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl for Tuesday's game against No. 3 seed Boise State. But in a college football world filled with high-scoring, explosive offenses, Allar's no-frills performances often are the object of ire. The Penn State offense is a run-first bunch , led by the talented combo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. “If we had a nickel for every time there was a Monday morning quarterback saying some BS stuff, we'd all be pretty rich,” offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said. “I think part of being a quarterback, especially at Penn State but really anywhere, is how you respond to and manage criticism.” The 20-year-old Allar has made strides in that department after a trying 2023 season that finished with a 10-3 record. He says that's largely because once fall camp started back in August, he logged off the social media platform X. Allar said negative online experiences wore on him last year, and his phone number was leaked a few times, which added to the stress. He finally realized that controlling outside narratives was impossible, so the best course of action was to eliminate a needless distraction. “I’ve been more mentally free, as much as that sounds crazy,” Allar said. “I think that’s been a huge difference for me this year.” The biggest criticism of Allar — and really Penn State as a whole during the 11-year James Franklin era — is that he isn't capable of winning the big games. He's 0-2 against rival Ohio State and threw a late interception against Oregon in the Big Ten title game earlier this month, which sealed the Ducks' 45-37 victory . He wasn't great in the CFP's first round, either, completing just 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards as Penn State muscled past SMU 38-10 on a cold, blustery day to advance to the Fiesta Bowl. But the quarterback is confident a better performance — aided by a game that will be played in comfortable temperatures in a domed stadium — is coming. “For me, I just have to execute those (easy) throws early in the game and get our guys into rhythm,” Allar said. “Get them involved early as much as I can and that allows us to stay on the field longer, call more plays and open up our offense more. That will help us a ton, building the momentum throughout the game.” Allar might be a favorite punching bag for a section of the Penn State fan base, but that's not the case in his own locker room. Star tight end Tyler Warren praised his quarterback's ability to avoid sacks, saying that the 6-foot-5, 238-pounder brings a toughness that resonates with teammates. “He’s a football player,” Warren said. “He plays quarterback, but when you watch him play and the energy he brings and the way he runs the ball, he’s just a football player and that fires up our offense.” Now Allar and Penn State have a chance to silence critics who say that the Nittany Lions don't show up in big games. Not that he's worried about what other people think. “I think it's a skill at the end of the day — blocking out the outside noise," Allar said. "Focusing on you and the process and being honest with yourself, both good and bad.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballToll Brothers Reports FY 2024 ResultsCustomers of Oregon’s largest investor-owned electric utility pay more than 40% more for their electricity today than they did just four years ago. The massive increase in such a short period has garnered scrutiny from state leaders, and calls for greater transparency about what’s truly driving the increases. Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat, issued a public letter Monday to Portland General Electric, or PGE, CEO Maria Pope requesting she provide documentation within 30 days of customer use and load growth, as well as details about how the company has spent historic federal subsidies meant to reduce ratepayer burden. In a press conference in Portland Monday focused on Medicare, Wyden said rising electricity prices is among the number one concerns he hears from Oregonians. “A lot of them feel like they’ve just been hit by a wrecking ball,” Wyden told reporters. “The people I’m hearing from are balancing the food bill, against the rent bill, against the gas bill, and there’s another PGE rate hike, apparently, on offer right now, and folks are just telling me this is not sustainable.” PGE, which serves 900,000 customers in Oregon, raised rates , on average, by 11% in 2022, 7% in 2023, and 18% in 2024. It is currently asking the Oregon Public Utilities Commission to raise rates, on average, by about 7.3% in 2025. The commission will vote on whether to approve the rate hike by the end of the year. Wyden also expressed anger at the high number of customers PGE has shutoff from electricity due to late or nonpayment. In April, three months after a cold snap in January, PGE shut off power to a record number of households – 4,700 in one month alone – due to nonpayment, according to the Citizens’ Utility Board, a watchdog group established by Oregon voters in 1984 to represent the interests of utility consumers. Representatives from PGE did not respond to a request for comment by Monday afternoon. In petitioning the Public Utilities Commission to approve their most recent rate increase, PGE officials listed capital investments, rising insurance costs, a desire for higher profit margins and increased employee pay as reasons they needed to collect more revenue from customers. The company’s stock ( POR ), is up nearly 16% over the last year, and Pope’s executive compensation has doubled in the last four years. She went from receiving more than $3.5 million in base salary and other compensation in 2020 to about $7 million in 2023, according to data from the Securities and Exchange Commission and The Oregonian / Oregon Live . ‘Blowing the whistle’ Wyden is requesting a number of details that would offer transparency about which users in the state are driving load growth, and whether they are paying for the costs of that growth or whether the company is shifting that to other small business and residential customers. He’s asked for a sector-based breakdown of all rate increases approved by the Public Utilities Commission in the last five years, and details about specific steps PGE is taking to limit cost increases across its customer base. Bob Jenks, executive director of the Citizens’ Utility Board, said that it shows Wyden, like many in the state, are concerned that PGE is charging residential customers more so that it can afford to supply a growing number of data centers with power. “One of the issues he’s getting at in those questions is the role of data centres and the industrial growth we’re seeing. We’re also concerned that may be where a lot of this rate increase is coming from,” Jenks said. Residential rates for PGE customers have gone up three times faster than rates paid by data centers, according to Jenks. The largest growth in demand for electricity in the Northwest is from data centers owned by tech companies such as Google and Amazon. Demand is growing faster than the West can supply the energy, according to regional transmission authorities. “If it wasn’t for data centers and industrial customers, PGE would have shrunk over the last 10 years,” Jenks said. Wyden is also asking for a full accounting of the number of residential customers the company has disconnected from power over the last five years, details of the total amount of federal funds – including tax incentives such as the Inflation Reduction Act – the company has received over the last five years and how those funds are being spent, with specificity for how they’re being spent to reduce customer burden. “My energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act have supported PGE and utilities across the country by covering up to 30% of the cost of new clean energy installations. Can you please describe what factors are driving the increased costs you are experiencing that are not supported by those credits?” Wyden asked in the letter. The state’s two other investor-owned utilities – Pacific Power and Idaho Power – have also increased rates significantly in recent years. Pacific Power is currently asking the Public Utilities Commission to allow it to increase rates nearly 18% in 2025, for a more than 40% increase in rates since 2020. Idaho Power, which serves about 20,000 customers, was approved by the commission in November to raise its rates rates about 12% on average in 2025. Wyden said it was past time to “put the brakes on any further rate hikes.” “What I wanted to do is blow the whistle on this,” he told reporters. “That is my objective with this letter, to put the brakes on any further rate hikes. After 41%, it’s time to take a timeout and give a break to the ratepayer.” GET THE MORNING HEADLINES. SUBSCRIBE

US billionaire Elon Musk backed the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in a guest opinion piece for Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper published online on Saturday, which prompted the commentary editor to resign in protest. In the commentary, published in German by the flagship paper of the Axel Springer media group, Musk expanded on his post on social media platform X last week claiming that “only the AfD can save Germany”. “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Musk said in the piece. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has classified the AfD at the national level as a suspected extremism case since 2021. Shortly after the piece was published online, the editor of the opinion section, Eva Marie Kogel, wrote on X that she had submitted her resignation, with a link to the commentary. “Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression. This includes dealing with polarising positions and classifying them journalistically,” the newspaper’s editor-in-chief designate Jan Philipp Burgard and Ulf Poschardt, who takes over as publisher on January 1, told Reuters . They said discussion about Musk’s piece, which had around 340 comments several hours after it was published, was “very revealing.” Underneath Musk’s commentary, the newspaper published a response by Burgard. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally false,” he wrote, referencing the AfD’s desire to leave the European Union and seek rapprochement with Russia as well as appease China. The AfD backing from Musk, who also defended his right to weigh in on German politics due to his “significant investments,” comes as Germans are set to vote on February 23 after a coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed. The AfD is running second in opinion polls and might be able to thwart either a centre-right or centre-left majority, but Germany’s mainstream, more centrist parties have pledged to shun any support from the AfD at the national level.

Tools for Humanity (TFH), which calls itself a “contributor” to the iris biometrics and digital identity project, has a new limb. A Substack from Modulus Labs’ Daniel Shorr says his company is joining TFH “to build the largest network of real humans on the planet.” Modulus Labs reportedly developed its product, Accountable Magic, in response to the increasing dysfunctionality of the internet: “misinformation, bots and , the anger economy.” Their cryptographic system is “a way to prevent the manipulation of AI algorithms — mathematically.” Specifically, it focuses on “machine-learning accountability” using (ZKP) protocols. Now, it will be integrated into World’s system for collecting and creating a World ID, thereby recording and verifying “humanness.” According to its website, provides “AI security through novel cryptography.” In practical terms, it is an edge-based system to verify that AI algorithms have not been manipulated – “like Twitter’s blue check but for AI outputs.” Per Shorr’s blog, “ AI will deliver private and verifiably secure authentication on the user’s personal device, playing an important role through Personal Custody.” “Along with and innovations like AMPC (anonymized multi-party computation), this technology will play an important role in distinguishing between bots and humans at the scale of billions. That means online interactions that are safer and more accountable. It means digital authorship that’s verifiable. And it means bringing new communities to the astonishing power of .” A 2023 Fortune Crypto about the startup says that through zero-knowledge proofs, “outside observers can verify that companies or developers used a promised AI algorithm. For example, OpenAI, the juggernaut that developed , can prove that its chatbot wrote a poem without revealing the algorithm’s ‘weights,’ or what an A.I. model learns after training on copious amounts of data.” Its proposition, then, is that using cryptography to keep algorithms accountable will enable developers to “build wildly expressive services that never betray our trust.” A graphic on its site cycles through use cases: appraisals, private identity authentication, AI game economies, “tamper-proof intelligent finance,” “authentic machine artists.” And so do forces continue to muster in the escalating war between that could lead to harm and tech tools to temper them – so that even more exciting algorithms can be developed. | | | | | | |Germany to tighten criminal law as people-smuggling ‘action plan’ agreed with UK

December 16, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology When analyzing artworks, understanding the visual clarity of compositions is crucial. Inspired by digital artists, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) researchers from the Mechanics and Materials Unit have created a metric to quantify clarity in digital images. As a result, scientists can accurately capture changes in structure during artistic processes and physical transformations. This new metric can improve analysis and decision-making across the scientific and creative domains, potentially transforming how we understand and evaluate the structure of images. It has been tested on digital artworks and physical systems. The research is published in the journal PNAS . Defining clarity in art with math At the heart of the methodology lies a straightforward approach, inspired by the practice of digital artists zooming out to evaluate their work. The researchers developed a high-school-level mathematical method to quantify "clarity" in digital images by measuring how clear visual elements stay when blurred. This metric bridges the gap between physics and art, providing a flexible analytical tool for the scientific analysis and artistic creation of digital images . The method involves blurring images by randomly swapping neighboring pixels and then comparing the original images with their blurred versions. The researchers measured how much of the original structure remains intact, assigning higher scores to images with structural elements that remain recognizable even after blurring and zero to images with chaotically distributed pixels or solid colors. "In our study, we defined 'clarity' as the resistance to blurring or structural degradation. Artistically, this definition aligns with a common artistic practice of zooming out of a canvas to assess how clear an artwork appears. Mathematically, clarity can be expressed in terms of the contrast of colors and their spatial distribution ," Prof. Eliot Fried, head of the Mechanics and Material Unit, explained. The metric preserves the color diversity of an image and is effective even after image compression. It is versatile, useful for analyzing different images, detecting structural changes in physical systems, and aligns with color theory, which studies how colors interact and affect our perceptions. Essentially, it shows how much of the pattern within an image survives random changes. "Artists are always experimenting with their techniques and compositions. The idea came to me while drawing an emote. As an experimental physicist, I was inspired to create metrics that can measure artistic qualities like clarity, balance, and harmony. We hope these metrics will allow art researchers to experiment with different compositions and report their findings in an objective, quantitative way," Dr. San To Chan, researcher and first author, said. In digital art, an "emote" typically describes small, expressive images or animations that convey emotions, especially within online communities and on streaming platforms. Video games, Vtubers, and emotes Guided by their metric, the researchers designed an emote for the video game Holo X Break. This practical use proved that their research can be useful even in commercial art projects. "I chose to portray the virtual YouTuber (VTuber) Sakura Miko because I am a '35P'; a member of her fanbase. Together with several other 35Ps, we have previously animated her for a billboard display in New York Times Square to celebrate her 5th anniversary. Following this experience, I felt that featuring her in this research would be an exciting way to connect my enthusiasm as a fan with my professional experience as a scientist," Dr. Chan added. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter— daily or weekly . Outside of his research, Dr. Chan is a freelance artist who has contributed to renowned indie game development projects such as Holocure. This study draws strength from significant professional expertise by incorporating artworks from peer artists, providing a strong foundation for the analysis. Dr. Chan and Prof. Fried are exploring potential applications of their clarity metric beyond its initial scope. They believe their metric could revolutionize art analysis. Just as engines convert thermal energy to mechanical work, artists convert clarity in exchange for artistic qualities such as harmony, balance, and rhythm. Such a thermodynamic perspective on art could help researchers understand the rationales behind certain creative decisions made by artists, providing knowledge that will be useful to human artists to perfect their crafts further. More information: San To Chan et al, Structural stability and thermodynamics of artistic composition, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406735121 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Provided by Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology