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An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalitionAs the AI market prepares for a surge in 2025, IBM is emerging as an unexpected standout. Despite a recent stock price increase of 37% this year, or 44% when dividends are factored in, IBM remains an undervalued gem in the tech space. At first glance, IBM’s recent performance may seem underwhelming. Their sales grew by a modest 2% year-over-year in the third quarter, with earnings per share getting a slight uplift due to a lower tax burden. But a deeper look reveals a compelling narrative masked by cyclical market factors and strategic long-term planning. The infrastructure segment showed a 7% decline, primarily driven by a lull in IBM Z mainframe sales. This cycle, however, is expected to turn with the 2025 launch of AI-augmented System Z mainframes, which will feature IBM-developed AI chips. IBM’s strength lies in its strategic focus on long-term AI contracts rather than immediate sales spikes. Launched in 2023, IBM’s generative AI platform, watsonx, has already secured over $3 billion in multi-year contracts. This steady accumulation indicates a tipping point, as IBM is set to transform these agreements into significant revenue streams. Looking forward to 2025, CEO Arvind Krishna anticipates a notable growth in IBM’s portfolio, hinting subtly at a record-breaking performance. With IBM’s stock priced relatively low compared to other AI giants, the company offers a lucrative investment opportunity. As IBM continues to secure long-term contracts and gears up for a new mainframe cycle, savvy investors might find a golden opportunity in Big Blue. Why IBM Could Be the Next Big Player in AI by 2025 In the burgeoning landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), IBM is positioned as a frontrunner to watch closely, especially as the market is poised for a substantial boom in 2025. Amidst its evolving strategies, IBM presents intriguing developments that may place it ahead of its competitors in the AI domain. Capitalizing on Long-Term AI Contracts One of IBM’s most promising strategies is its focus on securing long-term AI contracts rather than prioritizing short-term gains. The introduction of the generative AI platform, watsonx, in 2023 is a cornerstone of this approach. This platform has already garnered over $3 billion in multi-year agreements, reflecting trust and anticipation from clients in IBM’s capabilities. These contracts are not merely symbolic but are poised to mature into robust revenue streams as they are fulfilled over time. Innovative AI Augmentation in Infrastructure The anticipated launch of AI-augmented System Z mainframes in 2025 is another strategic move by IBM that merits attention. These new mainframes will incorporate IBM-developed AI chips, promising enhancements in performance and capabilities that are aligned with cutting-edge AI technologies. This innovation is expected to invigorate IBM’s infrastructure sales, which saw a dip partly due to the existing mainframe sales cycle slowdown. Strategic Market Positioning and Future Insights While IBM’s current market performance shows modest sales growth, its underlying strategic positioning reveals a future of potential. CEO Arvind Krishna’s vision for 2025 suggests the possibility of record-breaking achievements for IBM’s portfolio. With the company’s shares currently undervalued in comparison to other AI titans, IBM presents a unique investment opportunity that could yield high returns as its strategic plans come to fruition. Market Analysis and Predictions Industry analysts predict that IBM’s foresight and calculated initiatives in AI might serve as key differentiators in the tech market. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, IBM’s integration of AI within its products and services is predicted to drive substantial growth, making it a firm to watch closely in the coming years. Conclusion In conclusion, amid the accelerating AI market, IBM’s strategic initiatives, including its focus on long-term contracts and innovation in AI-augmented infrastructure, solidify its potential as a leading force. Investors seeking a promising opportunity in the tech sector should closely monitor IBM as it strides towards what could be a breakthrough period in 2025. As the AI wave progresses, IBM stands out as a company combining visionary leadership with actionable strategies.
Baltimore’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office has arrested a record-breaking 175 sex offenders this fiscal year. That tramples their previous high of 152 arrests in 2023, despite being the smallest of 25 field offices nationwide, serving just the state of Maryland. “A lot of that is due to the cooperation that we have with Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County,” said Baltimore Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. Looking back, Elliston attributes much of the success to repairing relationships with once-strict sanctuary jurisdictions. Mends were made by emphasizing ICE’s targeted enforcement strategies, only allowing for the arrest of accused and convicted criminals. “Instead of us, you know, chasing people around the state, they’re now transferring those sex offenders directly to us in jail. Which makes the whole process much safer for the community, safer for my officers, and much more efficient,” said Elliston. But looking towards a Trump presidency, promising to push mass deportations on day one, some local leaders are already threatening to pull back corporations. “I believe that it is very important to welcome immigrants,” said Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman at a press conference this week, announcing new protections for undocumented immigrants. “We refuse to aid and abet outside agencies attempting to detain deport or remove any residents from our community,” said Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor at a similar event. “What I’m concerned with is that we go back to what has happened in the past, where people have not seen past the politics of it and have sacrificed public safety in order for political benefit,” said Elliston, “The only thing that a local, county or state government really can do to hinder Immigration and Customs Enforcement is to not turn over prisoners, people in jail for a local crime that their police officers arrested them for.” As some jurisdictions scramble to implement new protective policies for noncitizens, Elliston stresses ICE is only asking for access to local law enforcement agencies. Cooperation a Gonzales poll, released earlier this year, found 84% of Maryland residents support. “We are not asking to work with social services. We are not asking to identify victims. We don’t do that. We want to continue working with police departments to make Maryland the safest place we can,” said Elliston, “And the idea that you would create legislation to prohibit that, it’s just not smart. It’s dangerous.” “I think there is a very real fear, though, that essentially, anyone who is undocumented will suddenly be at risk under a Trump administration. Do you foresee that being a reality?” questioned a FOX45 reporter. “So, if you look back to what happened in the last trump administration, right, the policy was enforce the law,” Elliston replied, “But you have resource constraints, right? If somebody’s bicycle that’s stolen in Baltimore City, they’re not assigning a detective to that case.” Although he can’t say exactly what new policies a Trump presidency will bring, Elliston explains his field office has a very limited amount of manpower and prison space. Adding, the priority, no matter who is in office, will always be taking violent offenders off the streets. “Now, that does not mean that everyone will get a pass. It’s just, we won’t be specifically going out looking for those people. If we come across them in another scenario, you know, we may end up taking action,” he said, “But we won’t be out doing some sort of large dragnet. ICE does targeted enforcement operations, and we will continue to do targeted enforcement operations.” Elliston also says he plans on taking to Annapolis this legislative session to push for new statewide policies that would ensure all jurisdictions turn inmates over to ICE.Homeland Security agent pleads not guilty to drug distribution conspiracy charge
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 22 December 2024 - On December 20th, Fushi Technology is set to launch its AI Agent industry vertical applications in the Southeast Asia region to help businesses improve efficiency and optimize operations. Fushi Technology is an investment of Hong Kong-listed company Yeahka Limited (9923.HK). In 2024, Fushi already expanded its client base in Southeast Asia, including over 200 global and regional brands such as Starbucks, MUJI, Pizza Hut, New Balance, Levi's, KOI, and Mr. Coconut, covering markets in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia, with over 20,000 stores in total. Fushi's achievements can be attributed to two key drivers: The first driver is the synergies created by its partnership with Yeahka. Leveraging the payment technology, service expertise, and applied artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that are already validated in China, Fushi provides more attractive business empowerment solutions for merchants across the Asia-Pacific region. The second key driver is that Fushi itself places great importance on the localization of its SaaS product development and operations functionalities. By continually harnessing the market attributes and customer preferences in different vertical industries overseas, Fushi has enriched its in-house product portfolio and greatly improved service efficiency, enhancing the breadth and depth of its business empowerment capabilities for clients, while also increasing customer retention. The launch of Fushi's AI Agent industry vertical application is also driven by the needs of those overseas clients outside of China. Currently, Fushi's AI Agent primarily targets the food and beverage industry. Customers can use conversational natural language, either through voice or text, on the brand's official app or website to inquire about various information related to restaurants and food, as well as place orders and make payments. This will significantly enhance the customer experience and improve order conversion rates. In the future, Fushi will also collaborate with Ascentis, a leading CRM company in Singapore that Fushi recently acquired, to develop a marketing AI agent, allowing businesses to automatically plan and execute marketing campaigns and manage customer relationships through natural language. AI Agents are intelligent entities based on large language models (LLMs) that can autonomously understand, plan, make decisions, and perform complex tasks. Unlike traditional large models, AI Agents not only tell you "how to do" something, but also help you "do it." According to Deloitte, AI Agents are reshaping industries in unprecedented ways. They not only expand the application scope of generative AI but also enhance AI capabilities through multi-agent AI systems. For example, after launching the AI-driven AXON2.0 advertising marketing engine, Applovin saw an increase in advertising monetization rates, with third-quarter revenue rising by 39% year-on-year and net profit growing by 300% year-on-year. As of December 20th, Applovin's stock price has increased by over 700% this year. With AI Agents reshaping traditional industries and technologies, more industry disruptors are expected to emerge. Jared, a partner at Y Combinator and a senior investor, recently analyzed the market, predicting that vertical AI Agents could become a new market that is 10 times larger than SaaS, potentially creating technology giants with market values exceeding $300 billion each. With China's expansion into overseas markets, Fushi is poised to seize new market opportunities, thanks to its long-standing experience in serving merchants in combination with the addition of proprietary AI Agents. Hashtag: #AI http://www.fushi-tech.com The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Marked by music, food, family, and an undeniable festive spirit, Christmas is a season that can be cherished anywhere in the world. Whether you’re celebrating in a snowy winter wonderland or basking in warm sunshine, it’s a time of year that uplifts spirits, spreads joy, and brings people together. But there’s something uniquely special about Christmas in Jamaica. Perhaps it’s the aroma of freshly baked fruitcakes, the vibrant street dances, the lively and energetic Jonkonnu, or the heartwarming memories of gathering with loved ones. Whatever it may be, a Jamaican Christmas is simply irreplaceable. As Admiral Bailey so aptly put it: “When me check it out Lord, nowhere no better than yaad.” Here’s what members of the Jamaican diaspora miss most about Christmas at ‘yaad’: Alshane, New York : “I miss the fruitcake, and it was surreal being around family, enjoying good food and music. All the school events leading up to Christmas and just the vibe—it’s unmatched.” Sandra, United Kingdom : “Even though we didn’t have much, and gifts were rare, waking up knowing I’d see all the family and friends was a joy. We’d play music, dance, and enjoy mommy’s Christmas cake. It was also the time of year when overseas family visited Jamaica, so I knew I’d be going out every day. That’s what I miss the most.” Chris, New Jersey : “I miss the warm weather, waking up to grandma’s and aunty’s cooking, and fighting for the spoon when aunty baked her Christmas cakes. And those Christmas night street dances!” Robert, United Kingdom: “I miss knowing it’s Christmas. Jah know, England boring eno! I miss the street dances, partying, and coming home—all of us piling into the minibus, and the last man paying as we ran up the road. I also miss waking up to mommy blasting Christmas carols on Christmas Day. And the food—jah know, nowhere better than yaad!” Donna, Canada : “For me, I could smell Christmas coming. All the glasses and dishes had to be washed, the curtains cleaned, the walls painted, and the cakes baked. And don’t even mention Christmas dinner with the chicken grandma had been raising. I miss going to Half-Way Tree—the talking, the laughing—it was the best. And Ludo was an everyday thing!” Yvonne, Long Island, USA : “I miss coming to Jamaica with the kids and being around family. I miss aunty’s cooking, partying at night, and stopping for pan chicken on the way home. I also miss going to Hellshire or the countryside during the day. Back then, there was no highway, so I loved crossing Flat Bridge and stopping at roadside vendors for fruits, coconut water, fish, and pepper shrimp. Sitting on the veranda with grandma, watching people pass by, was everything. And she knew everyone! Everything was just nice!” Joan, Long Island, USA : “My favourite childhood Christmas memory was Grand Market and mama’s freshly killed chicken. Grandma raised chickens in the backyard, and on Christmas morning, she’d prepare them. The meat was fresher. I also miss the people dressed in scary costumes dancing around. And, of course, the food.” Veronica, United Kingdom : “My aunt’s Christmas cake was the best! And her cooking was unmatched.” Sofie, New York: “During Christmas, we’d bundle up on the bed, joking and laughing all night. Those were the good old days. I also remember playing Ludo constantly. My grandma was the queen of the Ludo board, playing from sunup to sundown and beating everyone!” Earl, New Jersey : “I miss celebrating the true purpose of Christmas—the birth of Jesus. In America, Christmas feels more commercialized, all about giving gifts. In Jamaica, you get Christmas carols and more. Growing up, Christmas was about family, good times, and reuniting with people you hadn’t seen in a while. Our special Christmas dinner always included duck meat. Grandpa raised ducks just for Christmas, and we’d pick sorrel from the backyard for drinks. They’d hang stockings at the foot of the bed, and on Christmas morning, we’d wake up to find them filled with gifts. Those were the days.”