Gold demand surges as political uncertainties mountSTORZ & BICKEL Makes History as First Vaporizer Brand to Sponsor NYLON House During Miami Art WeekBy MICHELLE L. PRICE and ROB GILLIES NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Related Articles National Politics | Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan National Politics | Biden says he was ‘stupid’ not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that’s he’s preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect’s threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park.” Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn’t a trolling-free zone for Trump’s adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden’s spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump’s taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
Popular Gen Z term voted word of the year – have you heard of it?By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission . He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior . Ferguson is already one of the FTC’s five commissioners, which is currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling National Politics | Biden says he was ‘stupid’ not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC’s antitrust and consumer protection divisions. “These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, though the extent to which is to be determined,” wrote Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, in a recent analysis . Deals that were blocked by the Biden administration could find new life with Trump in command. For example, the new leadership could be more open to a proposed merger between the country’s two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. Two judges halted the merger Tuesday night. The FTC had filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. The two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart. One of the judges said the FTC had shown it was likely to prevail in the administrative hearing. Yet given the widespread public concern over high grocery prices, the Trump administration may not fully abandon the FTC’s efforts to block the deal, some experts have said. And the FTC may continue to scrutinize Big Tech firms for any anticompetitive behavior. Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trump’s orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khan’s scrutiny of Big Tech firms. In addition to Fergson, Trump also announced Tuesday that he had selected Jacob Helberg as the next undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment.Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans did not exactly do anything to lower the temperature after Sunday’s heated game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ryans addressed Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence , which got Al-Shaair ejected and sparked an on-field fight. While Ryans called the hit “unfortunate,” he seemed to place some blame on Lawrence for sliding too late, then said the Jaguars’ sideline overreacted to the play. “We stand behind Azeez and everything that came from that. Unfortunate hit on the quarterback, but it’s twofold,” Ryans told reporters Monday. “A lot of the quarterbacks in this day and age try to take advantage of the rule where they slide late and they try to get an extra yard. When you’re a defender, a lot of onus is on the defender, whether it’s on the sideline or when it’s on the quarterback. You don’t know what a guy is thinking. You don’t know if a guy’s staying up and continuing the run. Then you get a late slide and you hit the guy. Unfortunate that Trevor got hurt. We hope Trevor is okay, but also, if we’re sliding, we have to get down. If we’re getting out of bounds, get out of bounds. That rule is there to protect the quarterbacks. “Azeez hits the guy, but their sideline overreacts, and it turns into a melee. It wasn’t our guys. Their team overreacted, pushed our guy, dragging our guy to the sideline. That’s uncalled for on that side. We have to be better on the sidelines as well.” DeMeco Ryans defends Azeez Al-Shaair and blasts the Jacksonville Jaguars for their overreaction after Al-Shaair's hit on Trevor Lawrence. pic.twitter.com/PcbGRQdLdK — Jeremy Branham (@JeremyBranham) December 2, 2024 Ryans’ quotes are probably going to stoke more outrage in Jacksonville. Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was unquestionably very late , and Ryans does not seem to contest that. Pinning any of the blame on Lawrence is certainly questionable, as the quarterback went into his slide early enough to at least give Al-Shaair a chance to avoid going in the way the linebacker did. Ryans calling the Jaguars’ response an overreaction might be the one that really sets off Jacksonville fans. Even Al-Shaair admitted he understood why Jaguars players reacted the way they did in the apology he issued earlier Monday . If CJ Stroud took a hit like that from an opponent, there is little doubt that Ryans would be furious, and the Houston sideline would probably react the same way as the Jaguars did in this instance. Lawrence suffered a concussion on the play and did not return to the game. Al-Shaair is certainly facing a fine, and given his status as a repeat offender , a suspension is probably on the table as well. This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.
Lockheed, Northrop stocks dip on Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire newsMore than 100 new edtech jobs are set to be created in Birmingham after a software training business announced it was expanding into the city. Wolverhampton-based School of Coding & AI has struck a deal to launch a new hub in Livery Street from where it plans to teach the next generation of tech and digital professionals. It said it expected to create at least 100 new higher education roles over the next three years. Founded in 2017, the company works with schools, colleges and businesses to boost digital skills by delivering courses in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths), computer science, AI and cyber security. It has formed a new partnership with University of Wolverhampton to open a 12,000 sq ft hub in Livery Place in Birmingham’s business district and plans to open five further campuses across the country in 2025. The new higher education centre will contain an AI learning lab and deliver a range of degrees and higher education courses. Around 300 students are set to enrol in January. The business also expanded into India earlier this year with new offices in Hyderabad and Chandigarh where it provides UK students with fully funded placements and the chance to experience a new culture while developing their skills in software development. In a separate announcement, SI Group, which specialises in performance additives, process solutions and chemical intermediates, is creating 15 roles by relocating its European R&D base from Greater Manchester base to Four Ashes, near Wolverhampton. The new facility will focus on the development of new products and the creation of data for existing products, as well as providing analytical support for R&D, manufacturing and supply chain functions. Its move to the West Midlands will create new roles in the fields of chemistry, polymer science and materials science and the lab will also offer summer internships for local students. The West Midlands Growth Company supported both investments by providing School of Coding & AI and SI Group with consultancy ahead of the moves. Manny Athwal, chief executive of School of Coding & AI, said: "We’re extremely excited to be collaborating with the University of Wolverhampton for this next chapter in our growth journey. "From our new Birmingham campus, we look forward to equipping a new generation of students with the specialist knowledge and expertise to embark on exciting and rewarding careers in tech." Cllr Stephen Simkins, leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, said: "Yet again, Wolverhampton is demonstrating it is a leader in digital technology and innovation. "School of Coding & AI is a beacon for the city and SI Group’s lab relocation shows the region is the place to invest when it comes to R&D. "Both companies are making a real difference to our residents and those beyond the city by creating jobs that align with our skills agenda." University of Wolverhampton vice-chancellor Ebrahim Adia said: "This is a very exciting initiative for the University of Wolverhampton and we look forward to continuing to develop our partnership with the School of Coding and AI and in doing so benefiting our students and the wider economy in what is a key growth sector."By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission . He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior . Ferguson is already one of the FTC’s five commissioners, which is currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling National Politics | Biden says he was ‘stupid’ not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC’s antitrust and consumer protection divisions. “These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, though the extent to which is to be determined,” wrote Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, in a recent analysis . Deals that were blocked by the Biden administration could find new life with Trump in command. For example, the new leadership could be more open to a proposed merger between the country’s two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. Two judges halted the merger Tuesday night. The FTC had filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. The two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart. One of the judges said the FTC had shown it was likely to prevail in the administrative hearing. Yet given the widespread public concern over high grocery prices, the Trump administration may not fully abandon the FTC’s efforts to block the deal, some experts have said. And the FTC may continue to scrutinize Big Tech firms for any anticompetitive behavior. Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trump’s orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khan’s scrutiny of Big Tech firms. In addition to Fergson, Trump also announced Tuesday that he had selected Jacob Helberg as the next undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that the club is planning to have meetings on the organization’s offensive philosophy.As the star of the scathing documentary "Religulous" — "religious" plus "ridiculous" — Bill Maher has never hidden his agnostic views about faith. But that doesn't mean the stand-up comic doubts the reality of evil. Consider his blistering comment on smartphones, drawn from his "Real Time" talk show earlier this year. Far too many people think "they don't need reality," Maher told social psychologist Jonathan Haidt of New York University, author of "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness." "We've made reality obsolete — interesting choice," said Maher. "Parents today, it's kind of the worst of both worlds. Too much hovering in real life, where there is any left, and then none with virtual. You go in your room, lock yourself in there with the portal of evil that is the phone. ... I feel like parents, in each generation, ceded more control to children." In response, Haidt — a self-avowed Jewish atheist — stressed that modern life continues to eat away at the traditions of the past. "As life gets easier, as people get wealthier, as we move away from the old days, authority tends to decay — there tends to be less respect for authority, less respect for the old ways," said Haidt. "Kids need structure, they need moral rules. ... When it seems as though anything is permissible, it doesn't make people happy. It makes them feel disoriented and lost." Maher has made it clear that he is "not a tech enthusiast," noted Emily Harrison, in her "Dear Christian Parent" Substack newsletter. But the shocker in that HBO exchange was his claim that smartphones serve as a "portal of evil" in daily life. "Wait. What? ... Yes, smartphones can do lots of great things but they also have made the proliferation of pornography mind boggling (sic.) large," wrote Harrison. After all, five years ago, PornHub already was reporting 115 million visits "per day with smartphones accounting for almost 84% of their online traffic. So, is the smartphone a 'portal of evil'? Yeah, I'd say so." Here is the question that haunts Harrison: Why haven't more religious leaders been willing to address the scary trends linked to smartphone abuse in the urgent, even fiery language used by secular figures such as Haidt and Maher? "I think many church people don't want to hurt the feelings of people — to shame them, even. ... We don't want to say, 'It's a mistake to give these devices to children.' We don't want to say that smartphones are dangerous to young people — even if the evidence clearly shows that is true," said Harrison, reached by telephone days before speaking at Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's Nov. 21 "Reclaiming Childhood" summit on mental health issues. "As believers, we don't want to say things that make people walk away feeling sad, and our pastors certainly don't want to make people mad," she added. "It's like we don't have enough faith to trust that telling them the truth could help them in the long run." In her newsletters, Harrison has pointed readers to the waves of statistics used by Haidt and other activists. For example, the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that since 2010 — when smartphones entered public life — anxiety has risen 52% among people ages 35-49, 103% among those 26-34 and 139% among those 18-25. An American College Health Association survey found between 2010 and 2020 anxiety rose 134%, depression 106%, anorexia 100% and substance abuse 33%. Also, the diagnosis of ADHD cases rose 72%, schizophrenia 67% and bipolar disorder 57%. It's time, said Harrison, for pastors to urge worshippers to turn off their smartphones on Sunday, and maybe even consider asking them to bring a copy of the Bible, as opposed to a phone app, to church. More parents need to support schools with "bell-to-bell" policies against the use of smartphones. Finally, she believes religious leaders should urge parents to stop giving smartphones to their children under the age of 18. "The whole 'give your kid a smartphone and tell them to stay off TikTok and Instagram' approach just isn't working," said Harrison. "Parents need to say the hard truths out loud and have faith that their kids will be grateful sooner or later."
Topical pain Relief Market Increasing Demand, Growth Analysis and Future Outlook by 2031 12-02-2024 09:15 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Orion Market Research The global topical pain relief market is anticipated to grow at a considerable CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period (2024-2031). The rising prevalence of arthritis in many regions of the world has led to a surge in demand for topical pain relievers. Companies in the worldwide topical pain relief market will be able to generate income as a result of this factor. Additionally, the industry is expected to gain promising pathways as the number of people living with additional joint diseases rises. Different bone-related disorders are more common in the elderly population. As a result, the global expansion in this population is likely to benefit the growth of the topical pain relief market over the forecast period. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in public knowledge of non-opioid side effects. Furthermore, the number of persons suffering from chronic pain is rising. These factors are propelling the global topical pain relief market forward. For instance, in 2021, AdvaCare offers Diclofenac cream is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication used to treat pain and other symptoms of arthritis of the joints (e.g. osteoarthritis), such as inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain. Diclofenac cream is a topical solution used to treat pain and swelling caused by osteoarthritis of the knees. For instance, in 2020 FDA approves GSK's Advil Dual Action with Acetaminophen for over-the-counter use in the US. It is a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen for pain relief, the benefits of both active ingredients when safely treating their headaches, muscle aches, backaches, arthritis, and other joint pain. Get Free Sample link @ https://www.omrglobal.com/request-sample/topical-pain-relief-gel-market-share Segment Covered- By Formulation By Distribution Channel Regions Covered- North America Europe Asia-Pacific Rest of the World Competitive Landscape- including AdvaCare Pharma, Cipla Health Ltd., Exzell Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline Plc. Novartis AG, and Others. Full report of Topical pain Relief Market available @ https://www.omrglobal.com/industry-reports/topical-pain-relief-gel-market-share Key questions addressed by the report What is the market growth rate? Which segment and region dominate the market in the base year? Which segment and region will project the fastest growth in the market? How COVID-19 impacted the market? o Deviation from the pre-COVID-19 forecast o Most affected region and segment Who is the leader in the market? How are players addressing challenges to sustain growth? Where is the investment opportunity? Global Topical pain Relief Market Report Segment By Formulation Cream Gel Spray Others (Patch) By Distribution Channel Online Offline Reasons to Buying From us - 1. We cover more than 15 major industries, further segmented into more than 90 sectors. 2. More than 120 countries are for analysis. 3. Over 100+ paid data sources mined for investigation. 4. Our expert research analysts answer all your questions before and after purchasing your report. For More Customized Data, Request for Report Customization @ https://www.omrglobal.com/report-customization/topical-pain-relief-gel-market-share About Orion Market Research Orion Market Research (OMR) is a market research and consulting company known for its crisp and concise reports. The company is equipped with an experienced team of analysts and consultants. OMR offers quality syndicated research reports, customized research reports, consulting and other research-based services. The company also offers Digital Marketing services through its subsidiary OMR Digital and Software development and Consulting Services through another subsidiary Encanto Technologies. Media Contact: Contact Person: Mr. Anurag Tiwari Email: anurag@omrglobal.com Contact no: +91 780-304-0404 Company Name: Orion Market Research This release was published on openPR.
The Houston Astros have had the upper hand on the Seattle Mariners for as long as both teams can remember, but perhaps this winter, the tides can begin to turn. After losing in the first round of the playoffs, the Astros appear more vulnerable now than they have been since the early 2010s. Meanwhile, the Mariners have been the most frustrating team in baseball the last two seasons, failing to hit well enough to support their excellent pitching staff. The Astros are up against a wall in terms of the budget, having ballooned the payroll to an all-time high of $244 million in 2024. With one of their longest-tenured stars heading to free agency, Houston faces a tough decision regarding whether or not to keep spending big. That could be the opportunity Seattle needs to finally land a big bat. Two-time All-Star and Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman is headed for a big payday this winter. Ben Wrixon of The Score recently predicted that Bregman would head to Seattle, sparking a new chapter in this American League West rivalry. "The Mariners finally land the impact infield bat they desperately need by poaching third baseman Alex Bregman away from their AL West rival. His all-around skill set and championship pedigree won't come cheap, but Seattle has shown a past willingness to spend on the right player," Wrixon said. "Bregman joins Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena, and Cal Raleigh in a revamped Mariners' lineup that finally has enough punch to support MLB's best starting rotation." Bregman, 30, slashed .260/.315/.463 in what was something of a down year by his lofty career standards. T-Mobile Park in Seattle is also a notoriously difficult place to hit, especially in comparison to the righty-friendly environment of Minute Maid Park. It would be a gutsy decision by Bregman to switch teams within the division, but Seattle could be more willing than Houston to show him the money. The star was recently predicted to land a seven-year, $189 million contract by Tim Britton of The Athletic. Will Seattle land their new marquee third baseman this winter? That answer could be revealed in a few short weeks. More MLB: Mets beloved 4-time All-Star predicted to depart for Astros in free agencyNone
Fund manager Bessent scores on Trump victory, hopes for bigger winThrough the Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program (APIP), the Government of Alberta is investing more than $20 million into Rocky Mountain Clean Fuels’ synthetic diesel facility in Wheatland County, and all in an effort to continue bringing more investments and jobs to the province. The grant is intended to support a synthetic diesel plant near Carseland, east of Calgary, that would use natural gas and natural gas liquids to produce synthetic diesel, naphtha and wax. “Alberta is the economic engine of Canada, and our job creation and diversification is key to this. We are committed to making Alberta a world leader in petrochemicals and APIP is helping to attract investment, like this Rocky Mountain Clean Fuels project, as we capitalize on opportunities throughout the province,” said Minister of Energy and Minerals Brian Jean. Officials say naphtha is a petroleum fraction that can be used for gasoline blend stock and diluent. The wax — Fischer Tropsch paraffin wax to be specific — can be used for lubricants, hot melt adhesives, paints and coatings. The government says APIP has played a role in attracting billions of dollars in investment to the province and that Rocky Mountain Clean Fuels is critical to the province’s push for energy diversification and efforts to lower emissions. APIP funds up to 12 per cent of an eligible project’s capital costs, only paid out following the completion of construction. For larger projects such as this one, the grant is paid out over three years. APIP was established in October 2020 to help grow the petrochemical manufacturing sector in the province. Three other projects have received funding through the program: Inter Pipeline’s Heartland Petrochemical Complex; Dow Canada’s Fort Saskatchewan Furnace expansion; and Air Products’ Net-Zero Hydrogen complex. “APIP is helping make our province, including rural areas, an attractive jurisdiction for investment. In addition to the good-paying jobs created for construction and operations, the facility will generate economic spinoffs in the Carseland region,” commented Chantelle de Jonge, MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore. Rocky Mountain Clean Fuels recently opened its $173 million facility and production started at the end of November. The facility is currently producing about 220 barrels per day (bpd) of synthetic diesel, naphtha and wax, and is expected to produce 500 bpd at full capacity, Alberta officials report. They add that the project has created 900 jobs between construction and operations. Future expansions may include increasing daily fuel output; integrating hydrogen production; incorporating carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies; and adding renewable feedstock to further enhance sustainability. “The Rocky Mountain Clean Fuels Enhanced GTL® technology is well-suited to provide significant added value to Alberta’s abundant natural gas resource,” said Doug Geeraert, president and CEO, Rocky Mountain Clean Fuels Inc. “The Government of Alberta has shown its commitment again towards practical entrepreneurial-driven solutions that make this province a leader in energy innovation worldwide. Rocky would like to thank the Alberta government for its tremendous support.” This project is the first to receive APIP funding that is not in the Edmonton region.
NEW YORK , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Osmo , the digital olfaction company, is rethinking how to identify what's real. Today, Osmo launched AI-powered scent sensors, built to authenticate products in ways barcode and RFID (radio frequency identification) tags never could. [Watch Osmo's scent sensor in action here .] Counterfeiting costs retailers and consumers billions of dollars each year. Osmo's sensors work differently than existing authentication technology: they read the unique scent signatures of authentic products, using AI to identify counterfeits with precision and speed. These sensors aren't just a tool—they're a new way to protect trust at scale. Osmo's approach pairs advanced chemical sensors with AI. By training on massive datasets, these sensors recognize subtle scent patterns, ignore background scents, and deliver clear yes-or-no answers in the field. Embedding these sensors in a retailer's supply chains makes authentication faster, simpler, and more reliable. "What's in the air tells the truth," said Alex Wiltschko , CEO and founder of Osmo. "Our AI sensors listen carefully, cutting through noise to confirm authenticity. They work when older methods fall short, helping businesses and customers get what the genuine products they're paying for and deserve—every time." "Counterfeits are just the beginning," said Rohinton Mehta , former Rapid Evaluation and Project Lead at Google X, now SVP of Hardware and Manufacturing at Osmo. "This same system can help ensure food stays fresh, protect the semiconductor supply chain, and even keep data centers running smoothly. The potential is enormous." What Makes Osmo Different? Smarter Sensing: Osmo's sensors are trained to detect the right signals, cutting through background odors to focus on what matters, giving reliable yes-or-no readouts. Osmo offers the first bench of chemical sensors trained using AI. This enhances existing hardware to better recognize patterns, remove background odors, and give reliable, binary yes-or-no readouts in the field. Superior Sensitivity: While humans can detect roughly half of airborne molecules and dogs have a more refined sense of smell, Osmo's sensors detect almost everything in the air, uncovering details others miss. Chemical Fingerprinting: Osmo identifies unique chemical "fingerprints" of substances. This allows it to detect deviations from expected chemical compositions, making it invaluable for quality assurance and security applications. Cost Effectiveness: Osmo provides a scalable and affordable solution for authentication and quality control that fits into real-world workflows. Beyond Authentication: From spotting fake products to ensuring food safety or monitoring air quality, Osmo's sensor technology is designed to adapt. Quality Control: Guaranteeing products meet specific chemical standards. Fraud Detection: Identifying counterfeit or adulterated materials. Chemical Sensing: Detecting specific chemicals in various environments. About Osmo Founded in January 2023 , Osmo launched with $60 million in Series A funding led by Lux Capital and Google Ventures. Osmos's mission is to give computers a sense of smell to improve human health and happiness, combining expertise in AI, chemistry, and engineering to bring scent into the digital age. Osmo has begun work in the fragrance market to create a new generation of better, safer, and more environmentally-friendly scent molecules , designing scent through images or words , and teleporting scent . Beyond fragrance, Osmo is applying its technology in commercial sectors— like detecting counterfeit goods —and public health, where it is discovering new insect repellants . Osmo expects to expand into other industries as the potential for digitized scent grows. Learn more Watch the scent sensor in action: https://youtube.com/shorts/Ce-tEbbpwXo Sign up for the Osmo Community: https://www.osmo.ai/community Press inquiries : [email protected] SOURCE Osmo