Prepare for uncertain, shock-prone future, Bank of Canada head tells B.C. crowd
BOCA RATON, Fla., Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FlexShopper, Inc. (Nasdaq: FPAY) (“FlexShopper” or the “Corporation”) reminds right holders, who wish to subscribe for units or over-subscribe, that many broker-dealers ask for unit rights subscription and over-subscription submissions by or before Wednesday, December 18, 2024 even though the anticipated expiration of the rights offering is Friday, December 20, 2024. FlexShopper encourages its right holders to contact their broker or financial advisor’s Corporate Actions Department immediately to participate in the rights offering. Rights offering information can be found at https://www.sec.gov and https://investors.flexshopper.com . The rights offering includes an over-subscription privilege, which entitles each right holder that exercises all its basic subscription privileges in full the right to purchase additional units that remain unsubscribed at the expiration of the rights offering. Both the subscription rights and over-subscription privileges are subject to the availability and pro-rata allocation of units among participants. All subscription rights and over-subscription privileges may only be exercised during the subscription period. If a rights holder does not exercise their subscription rights before the expiration date, such rights will be deemed expired and void and will have no value. FlexShopper has commenced the rights offering to raise capital to equitize its balance sheet through funding the repurchase of over 90% of its Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock, and by repaying a portion of its credit facility and other outstanding debt facilities. Any remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions of other companies. Officers and directors of the Corporation have given indications they intend to purchase at least $5.0 million in the rights offering in a combination of units and Series A, B and C rights. In addition, holders of the subordinated debt are able to convert into unsubscribed units prior to closing. All units will be at the same price and on the same terms as the other investors in the offering. The rights offering allow FlexShopper’s stockholders of record as of December 2, 2024, to purchase up to 35,000,000 units. The rights offering was made through a dividend in the form of two non-transferable basic subscription rights for each share of common stock or common stock equivalent owned on the record date. Each right permits the holder to purchase one unit at a fixed subscription price of $1.70 per unit. Each unit consists of one share of common stock, as well as short-term Series A, B and C rights to purchase additional shares of common stock at varying discounted market-based prices. If shares of common stock are held in the rights holder’s name, and subscription rights will not be exercised through a broker, dealer, custodian bank or other nominee (including any mobile investment platform), then the subscription certificate, all other required subscription documents and subscription payments should be sent by mail to Continental Stock Transfer, the Subscription Agent, at the address below, to be received before the expiration date. Participants should refer to the instructions included with the subscription documents for complete information regarding completing and submitting the subscription documents. A copy of the prospectus and related materials were sent to holders of record on December 3, 2024. Additionally, a copy of the prospectus may be requested from, and questions relating to the rights offering may be directed to, the information agent for the rights offering, as follows: Rights Offering Information Agent MacKenzie Partners, Inc. 7 Penn Plaza, Suite 503 New York, NY 10001 Telephone at (212) 929-5500 (bankers and brokers) or (800) 322-2885 (all others) rightsoffer@mackenziepartners.com FlexShopper has engaged Moody Capital Solutions, Inc. (“Moody Capital”) to act as dealer-manager for the rights offering. Moody Capital Solutions, Inc. invites any broker-dealers interested in participating in the rights offering to contact info@moodycapital.com . Moody Capital is offering a selected dealer fee of $0.051 per unit to registered broker-dealers (who do not manage accounts on a discretionary basis) in connection with the solicitation and exercise of the subscription rights and acceptance by the Corporation of such subscription. Moody Capital has a selected dealer agreement and W-9 that must be completed before such selected dealer can accept payment from Moody Capital. Moody Capital is also offering 3% to selected dealers on the solicitation and exercise of Series A, Series B and Series C rights. The Corporation recommends that current shareholders consider notifying their broker or financial advisor about the rights offering to ensure their ability to participate in the rights offering. The Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on November 29, 2024. The prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the rights offering has been filed with the SEC on December 2, 2024, and is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. About FlexShopper FlexShopper, Inc. is a leading national financial technology company that offers innovative payment options to consumers. FlexShopper provides a variety of flexible funding options for underserved consumers through its direct-to-consumer online marketplace at Flexshopper.com and in partnership with merchants both online and at brick-and-mortar locations. FlexShopper’s solutions are crafted to meet the needs of a wide range of consumer segments through lease-to-own and lending products. Forward-Looking Statements The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”) provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Corporation. The information contained in this press release may include, but are not limited to, statements about undertaking the Rights Offering, as well as, operating performance, trends, events that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, statements about sales levels, restructuring, profitability and anticipated expenses and cash outflows. All statements in this document other than statements of historical fact are statements that are, or could be, deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Act and words such as “may,” “intend,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast” and other terms of similar meaning that indicate future events and trends are also generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made, are not guarantees of future performance or expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. For the Corporation, these risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: our ability to obtain adequate financing to fund our business operations in the future; the failure to successfully manage and grow our FlexShopper.com e-commerce platform; our ability to maintain compliance with financial covenants under our credit agreement; our dependence on the success of our third-party retail partners and our continued relationships with them; our compliance with various federal, state and local laws and regulations, including those related to consumer protection; the failure to protect the integrity and security of customer and employee information; and those discussed more fully in documents filed with the SEC by the Corporation, particularly in Item 1A, Risk Factors, in Part I of the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and Part II of the Corporation’s subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Corporation cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. In addition, there may be events in the future that the Corporation may not be able to predict accurately or control which may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Except as required by U.S. federal securities law, we assume no obligation, and disclaim any obligation, to update forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. Contact Information For FlexShopper: Investor Relations ir@flexshopper.com Investor and Media Contact: Andrew Berger, Managing Director SM Berger & Company, Inc. Tel: (216) 464-6400 andrew@smberger.comThe draw for the first 32-team Club World Cup brought us approximately 172 mentions of how “amazing” next summer’s tournament is going to be, a very drawn-out trophy reveal and a message from Donald Trump. But after an hour and 40 minutes in Miami, Florida on Thursday, we finally found out which clubs will play each other in the group stage of the competition next June and July in the United States. Here, our correspondents James Horncastle, Felipe Cardenas, Jeff Rueter, Seb Stafford-Bloor and Dermot Corrigan debate the pick of the opening-phase games and which teams and players will catch the eye and share their predictions for the tournament overall. GO DEEPER Club World Cup draw: Inter Miami vs Al Ahly opens tournament, Man City to face Juventus Which group game stands out? James Horncastle: River Plate-Inter in part because Inter are, perhaps, the European club most identified with Argentinian players. Javier Zanetti, Inter’s vice president and a former Argentina international, applauded today’s draw from the audience. The barbecues at the Inter training ground are legendary. Zanetti has a couple of Argentine steakhouses in Milan. Advertisement Felipe Cardenas: I’m with Horncastle on this one. River-Inter will feature great kits, nostalgia, and two footballing cultures that have a lot in common. My pick though is Monterrey vs River. Monterrey’s newly-minted manager Martin Demichelis facing off against the club he was previously in charge of and their coach Marcelo Gallardo, the man whose shadow he couldn’t escape there. It could be a very petty match-up. Jeff Rueter: Benfica-Boca Juniors. Two teams who are among the very best in legacy footballing nations but are more often viewed from Europe’s top levels as developmental clubs burgeoning with promising talent. Getting to see them square off is a delight, and could be a way for Boca to issue a particularly poignant reminder of their caliber. They’ll also likely be competing to advance from Group C, as Bayern Munich is a favorite to win the whole tournament. And if nothing else, it’s a tremendous kit match-up. Seb Stafford-Bloor: River-Inter for me, too. There’s so much shared culture between those two sides and even if we don’t know quite what the atmosphere will be like, that could — if it’s allowed — be one of the most colourful occasions of the group stage. Bring all your flares and tifos. Dermot Corrigan: Atletico Madrid versus Paris Saint-Germain in Group B will definitely provoke interest in Spain. PSG ’s Spanish head coach Luis Enrique talked to Atletico about possibly replacing Diego Simeone a few years back. Simeone survived and Atletico won 2-1 at PSG in the Champions League , with a late Angel Correa goal, just a few weeks ago. Which team could emerge as the hipsters’ favourite? Horncastle: Monterrey. Their stadium is on my bucket list. Sergio Canales, one of the first young talents to have their skills hyped up and set to EuroTechno on early YouTube, plays for them along with former Porto duo Oliver Torres and Jesus Corona. Although the long hair of his playing days has gone, Demichelis still looks mean. I would love to see him in a remake of From Dusk Till Dawn. An easy choice. Cardenas: Inter Miami ’s pink uniform is about as hipster as it gets, but my pick is newly-crowned South American champion Botafogo. This is a good team that loves to attack and score goals at will. They’re young. They’re creative. And they’re showmen, who are led by American owner John Textor . It’s a new-money side with some really good players. Advertisement Rueter: The Seattle Sounders could rightfully feel hard done by being overlooked as tournament host, as FIFA ’s eagerness to ensure Inter Miami showed up to the party snubbed the 2022 North American champion. Winger Pedro de la Vega has had a tough first year in MLS , but a tournament like this could remind the league why he was so coveted. Otherwise, the likely answer is “whichever non-European team is able to beat more familiar opponents without fully committing to anti-football.” Let’s say Flamengo, as they’ve been drawn in a group with Chelsea . Stafford-Bloor: The financial disparities between the continents being what they are, it’s hard to know how many true underdogs will stick around long enough to win those hipsters’ hearts. So, we need someone possessing a bit of romance, who is good enough to last and make it through the group, but who will ultimately be crushed mercilessly under the foot of Champions League capitalism in the quarter-finals. I’ll take Boca Juniors and River Plate. Corrigan: I’m not going to claim a deep knowledge of Liga MX, but Monterrey have a very interesting mix of former La Liga talents. Ex- Real Madrid , Valencia , Real Sociedad and Real Betis playmaker Canales will be 34 when the tournament starts but can still run a game from No 10. Former Sevilla trio Oliver Torres, Lucas Ocampos and Jesus Corona are also talented, if erratic. And 36-year-old (37 by tournament time) Hector Moreno brings grizzled experience at the back. One-time Argentina centre-back Demichelis is already building a reputation as a coach, having presumably picked up a thing or two during his playing career under managers including Manuel Pellegrini, Louis van Gaal, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Jurgen Klinsmann, Alejandro Sabella and Diego Maradona. So, on their day, Monterrey could give anyone a game — including Inter and Demichelis’ previous employers River. While there’s also potential for it all blowing up spectacularly for them against Urawa Red Diamonds. Which player could put himself in the transfer shop window? Horncastle: Instinct brings us to the South American teams. Until, that is, you realise Chelsea and Real Madrid have bought all the teenage Brazilians, and Brighton and Manchester City have already signed the bright young Argentinians. It’s perhaps symptomatic of where the world is at right now that the second coming of John Kennedy is not in the White House, but on the Fluminense team sheet. He scored their winner in last year’s Copa Libertadores final against Boca. Advertisement Cardenas: If Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios is still on their team come next summer, the playmaker will certainly be a name to follow. Rios, 24, was excellent during Colombia’s run to the Copa America final this past summer. He’s a player whose skill and flair stand out, but whose work rate is equally as impressive. Rios has been unnerved by the pressure of playing at Palmeiras, which has placed him on the scouting boards of several European clubs. Rueter: Seattle boasts an incredible midfield prospect who could benefit from the Club World Cup. Obed Vargas (pictured below) is a precocious 19-year-old holding midfielder who can play as either a No 6 or No 8, a product of Seattle’s academy who’s already a vital starter for the perennial MLS contender. Vargas is also a rarity: despite being born in Alaska, he has opted to represent Mexico rather than the United States, making him the first Alaskan member in the team’s history. It’s a matter of when, not if, he follows this summer’s departure of Aidan Morris from MLS to Europe, either in a similar tier as the English (second-tier) Championship , or a larger league with a loan-led development plan in mind. Stafford-Bloor: Jamie Gittens. His market value seems to be rising week-by-week at Borussia Dortmund and his performances in the Bundesliga and Champions League this season certainly qualify him as one of the most destructive players in Europe. If that form continues into next summer, he could easily be one of the most watchable players at this tournament and someone who clubs start viewing less with interest and more as a player they urgently need. GO DEEPER How Dortmund's 'golden boy' Jamie Gittens is becoming one of Europe's most destructive players Corrigan: Borja Baston had only played for Atletico Madrid, Murcia, Huesca, Deportivo La Coruna, Real Zaragoza, Eibar, Swansea City , Malaga, Alaves, Aston Villa , Leganes and Oviedo, before arriving at Mexican outfit Pachuca in July. The Spanish centre-forward with a good touch for a big man has scored goals wherever he went (except for Villa, and so far with Pachuca). And his career history, presumably there’s a decent chance that, still just 32, he could well be on the move again next summer. But what better way to secure an interesting and lucrative next adventure than by banging in a few goals against Real Madrid, Al Hilal or Red Bull Salzburg with the world watching? Who’s your predicted winner? Horncastle: To be consistent with my picks over the past year: Inter. To be eclectic: Al Hilal. Cardenas: Inter Mia... kidding! I’ll say Chelsea. Enzo Maresca’s young crew of talented and hungry footballers will raise the Club World Cup trophy. Will anyone care, though? Rueter: Erm... FIFA? On the pitch, Bayern has long wanted to become among the best-supported clubs in the United States, and winning a Club World Cup could help get over that rare missed Bundesliga title from last season. Stafford-Bloor: Real Madrid. More than the two Premier League clubs, they can be trusted to take this competition seriously. Clearly, they have the footballing tools — maybe Kylian Mbappe will have found some form by then, too — and this is the kind of title that they would pursue with real vigour. Advertisement Corrigan: Atletico are one of the European teams who actually look really excited to be involved in this — both CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin and club president Enrique Cerezo travelled to Miami for today’s draw. The club’s owners are keen to promote their brand in the United States, coach Simeone needs another trophy to maintain his position of power, and Conor Gallagher could become England ’s first football World Cup winner since 1966. Does football need a revamped Club World Cup? Horncastle: In abstract, now that technology has made the world a much smaller place, the Club World Cup should be the extracurricular activity outside of domestic competition. The summer scheduling makes it feel important and not an inconvenient league interruption, like other winter tournaments. All that being said, the financial disparities between continents and the way FIFA president Gianni Infantino has forced this vanity project on the game at a time when players are playing more than ever makes it hard to be enthusiastic. Cardenas: It’s actually very American to supersize an international club tournament. ‘The bigger, the better’ seems to be FIFA’s new mantra, and clearly, the U.S. is the ideal market for an expanded format. To be honest, I like the concept. But I also really liked the old Intercontinental Cup, or the Toyota Cup, that pitted the South American club champion against its European counterpart. Was that too exclusive? Probably. But Sao Paulo versus Milan in Tokyo in 1993, in those classic kits, will never get old. Rueter: Not one bit. Players, coaches, staff — to say nothing of journalists — are gasping for time off between competitions. There’s a point where there’s just too much of a good thing, and an oversaturated market dilutes the product. I would argue we are well past that point. Stafford-Bloor: Of course not. I actually quite like the idea in theory, but it feels 30 years too late. Imagine some of these teams facing each other in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before all the talent was plundered by European clubs, and snatched away before it was old enough to grow a bad moustache. If this tournament was introduced instead of another — displacing something currently in the calendar, rather than simply adding to it — then it would be a different conversation. Corrigan: If you were starting organised football from scratch, there could well be a place for a World Cup of clubs. The idea of the best teams from all continents coming together sounds quite exciting. It could also help big, historic teams outside Europe to attract and retain a better standard of players in their home countries for longer. But the reality of the game’s current calendar means there is just no room to fit in a new competition of this size. GO DEEPER Club World Cup: Inter to Chelsea to Auckland City, all 32 teams at 2025 tournament profiled What does it need to make it succeed? Horncastle: Not DJ Khaled saying: “Another one” feat: Gianni Infantino. In all seriousness, FIFA needs to really hype this thing up and generate interest. Now that the games are going to be free-to-view on DAZN, I want ticketing to be accessibly priced, travel to be subsidised and for fans from Tunisia, Argentina and South Africa to be able to show up. If the games are corporatised, atmosphere-less and fail to sell out, it’ll look and sound terrible. These supporters are already squeezed enough as their clubs demand international travel for the Champions League, Copa Libertadores and so on. The Club World Cup only adds to that cost. Last but not least, given how much casual transcendental interest is tied up in his star system, it’ll need Lionel Messi to step up and drop ‘Another one’ for Gianni . Advertisement Cardenas: Good football. Blood, sweat and tears. Underdogs, upsets, and breakout stars. That has always been the recipe for success at any international tournament. If the new Club World Cup looks like the pre-season competitions we already see some of these European clubs playing here in the U.S. every July, it’ll flop. Or if the minnows are thoroughly beaten and humiliated, the tournament will fail. If the world’s top players and teams believe that it could jeopardise their club seasons, it will carry on with very little interest. In the end, what is the incentive here for Europe’s top teams? The UEFA Champions League is the pinnacle of the club game. In South America, the Copa Libertadores defines greatness. I don’t see how the Club World Cup can eclipse those realities. It’ll take time. Rueter: Players and coaches to treat it with full seriousness. That’s the sole metric, no matter how much money is at stake or pomp and grandeur is pumped into venues. If those involved don’t appear bought in and the games more closely resemble the fervour of a charity match or pre-season friendly, why should those of us on the outside looking in care? Stafford-Bloor: Credibility. There must be the sense that this is actually competitive and that the participating teams are bothered by the outcome. If not, then the results do not matter and the fans will not care. An enormous prize fund would be a good motivator but the market seems lukewarm at best and Infantino is some way off delivering on his bold promises. Perhaps one of his new, deep-pocketed friends will step in to make up the shortfall? Corrigan: Structural changes to the existing match calendar, to give it some space. But that would mean FIFA and UEFA both ceding some power and money. As well as agreement from regional and national federations and leagues. Which all seems quite unlikely. What should organisers be fearing most? Horncastle: Salt Bae? Elon Musk? Elon Musk and Salt Bae? Frankly, I am disappointed that the draw did not involve Infantino beaming in from a Space X flight while particles of salt, gold leaf and a rib-eye float around him in micro-gravity as Salt Bae mouths, ‘Wooooooow’, when Al Hilal are suddenly paired with RB Salzburg (or FC Salzburg, to use the new name FIFA has given them). A missed opportunity. Cardenas: Security issues. The Copa America final in Miami back in July was a near-tragic event , when thousands of fans (both with and without tickets) were jammed against the Hard Rock Stadium gates as they attempted to enter. Stadium security, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL officials all looked overwhelmed, and frankly, terrorised, by their lack of preparation for a major final. There was also a notable episode of fan violence in the stands during the Colombia vs Uruguay semifinal . Several Uruguay players, including Liverpool ’s Darwin Nunez , climbed into the stands and clashed with Colombia supporters. They proved that American organizers are still naive when it comes to the security responsibilities that are a part of international football. Preparing for altercations between rival ultras or barras bravas must be part of the scouting report next summer. Rueter: Apathy, but this feels like a brave venture of sorts for FIFA. Although the diehard fans of the sport loathe its global body, its tournaments and ventures still always carry a bit of aura. That’s beginning to crack, though. For all of its efforts to bloviate the importance of The Best FIFA Football Awards — yes, that’s its fully serious branding — we still fixate on the Ballon d’Or as the calendar’s hottest award series. If this competition becomes little more than an afterthought to the average fan, that’s an outright calamity: too big to fail, no more. Advertisement Stafford-Bloor: Indifference. Mexican Waves. Paper aeroplanes. More than anything: experimental line-ups. If teams approach this as an exercise in collecting as much money as possible while risking as little as they can get away with — second-choice goalkeepers, third-choice right-backs, star players being subbed off after 55 minutes — it will be harder to sell the broadcasting rights next time around in 2029. Corrigan: Figures at clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester City are already openly complaining about the length of the season . Top players either crying off early from this due to injury or fitness problems, or looking disinterested and even rebellious if they do arrive in the States, would be a real problem for the tournament’s credibility. Individual shock results in the group stage, with high and mighty European giants being sent home early, might entertain the neutrals but a knockout phase mostly featuring smaller teams and lower-profile players will not attract a big audience. Organising the next iteration of the tournament in 2029 would become even more difficult. (Top photo: FIFA president Gianni Infantino and draw host Alessandro Del Piero; Eva Marie Uzcategui/FIFA via Getty Images)Remy Ma wants all the smoke in 2025. In a new interview with 15 Minutes of Fame hosted by Shotgun Suge, Remy announces a new rule activation in her Chrome 23 battle rap league, stating that she will retaliate against any battle rapper who says something crazy about her. "I just want to put this disclaimer out there," Remy began in the clip. "I'm a rapper, too. So, if you have any plans of trying to come up there and talking crazy to me. I'm fighting back." Remy refers to the anticipated Read The Room battle presented by Chrome 23 on Sunday, January 5, 2025, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Remy Ma announced the new rule as the upcoming headliners, Shotgun Suge and Eazy The Block Captain, face off ahead of the battle. She addressed the new rule directly to Shotgun Suge as a forewarning. "I fight back, now," she said, directing her attention to Suge. Not backing down, Suge told Remy Ma of the possibility of being mentioned in the battle. "You might gonna get it tho ... definitely a shot coming," he replied. Remy immediately followed with, "No, I'm not. I shoot back." Remy's new rule goes into effect following her recent headlines involving her husband, Papoose , Eazy The Block Captain, and boxing champ Claressa Shields. Remy and Shields exchanged words over the holidays that exposed the boxing champ in an alleged relationship with Papoose. Read more: Remy Ma Shouts Out Eazy The Block Captain At Show Amid Papoose Cheating Drama View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) Eazy would come to Remy's defense during the face-off, proclaiming to have a response for Shotgun Suge should he attempt to mention Remy's name in the battle. "Let him shoot at you," Eazy said to Remy. "I got something for him." Remy Ma is welcoming the shots. She says to Shotgun Suge, "Listen to him [Eazy] if you want to. I'ma be like, 'I was waiting for you to say that.'" Naturally, Remy's rule and comments would spark reactions across social media. On The Shade Room's Instagram account, a user commented, "Should’ve fought back to keep your husband happy; instead, you went and got the great value version of Papoose." Another user bought up Remy's past, commenting, "Boasting about shooting ya old friend over a stack [cry laughing face emoji] girl stoppp." Read more: Papoose Clarifies Fat Joe’s Recent Remarks About Remy Ma Drama
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Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Donald Trump has urged the US Supreme Court to pause a federal TikTok law that would ban the popular social media app or force its sale, with the Republican US president-elect arguing that he should have time after taking office to pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. TikTok and its owner ByteDance are fighting to keep the popular app online in the United States after Congress voted in April to ban it unless the app’s Chinese parent company sells it by January 19. Reuters Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Introducing your Newsfeed Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Latest In North America Fetching latest articles Most Viewed In World
Nano Dimension Announces Changes in Board CompositionWASHINGTON , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Shield AI, the defense technology company building autonomy for the world, has announced it is expanding its work with Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR ), a leading provider of AI systems, to develop and deliver large-scale command and control of autonomous uncrewed systems, including operations in GPS- and communications-denied environments. With Warp Speed, Palantir's manufacturing OS for American re-industrialization, Shield AI is doubling down on its commitment to delivering scalable, AI-powered solutions to protect service members and civilians. By leveraging Shield AI's advanced Hivemind software development kit, along with Palantir's suite of powerful software solutions—including enterprise resource planning, geospatial intelligence, and operational decision-making tools—the partnership combines the strengths of both companies to address the most critical defense challenges. "Shield AI and Palantir have both built technology products proven in the most demanding environments," said Brandon Tseng , Shield AI's President, Co-founder, and former Navy SEAL. "Our partnership is about bringing together Palantir's software dominance and Shield AI's expertise in autonomy to deliver the best possible outcomes for customers. It's exciting to scale up what we've been working on together in this next chapter of our partnership." This announcement builds on work Shield AI and Palantir showcased at the Association of the U.S. Army's (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Expo in October, where the companies demonstrated the integration of Shield AI's Hivemind with Palantir's Gaia. This integration created a unified command-and-control system for autonomous systems. Hivemind's proven autonomy capabilities—demonstrated on platforms like the V-BAT , F-16, MQM-178 Firejet, and Nova quadcopter—now seamlessly integrate with Gaia's geospatial intelligence tools, enabling real-time mission execution and precision targeting. "The American Industrial Base needs Warp Speed," said Shyam Sankar , Palantir's Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President. "Shield AI stands out in their field, having achieved mission impact and product results where others have struggled. This partnership, and Shield AI's deploying of our newly announced manufacturing OS will enable faster and better delivery to customers, and ultimately aid in the defense of the West." About Palantir Technologies Inc. Foundational software of tomorrow. Delivered today. Additional information is available at https://www.palantir.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may relate to, but are not limited to, Palantir's expectations regarding the amount and the terms of the contract and the expected benefits of our software platforms. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and were based on current expectations as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management as of that time with respect to future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. These risks and uncertainties include our ability to meet the unique needs of our customer; the failure of our platforms to satisfy our customer or perform as desired; the frequency or severity of any software and implementation errors; our platforms' reliability; and our customer's ability to modify or terminate the contract. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is included in the filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. Media Contact Lisa Gordon, [email protected] About Shield AI Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense technology company whose mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. In pursuit of this mission, Shield AI is building the world's best AI pilot. Its AI pilot, Hivemind, has flown jets (F-16; MQM-178 Firejet), a vertical takeoff and landing drone (MQ-35 V-BAT), and three quadcopters (Nova, Nova 2, iPRD). The company has offices in San Diego , Dallas , Washington DC and abroad. Shield AI's products and people are currently in the field actively supporting operations with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. allies. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X and Instagram. Media Contact Lily Hinz , [email protected] SOURCE Shield AI
Bengals trying to end another 3-game skid in visit to suddenly surging CowboysFigure 1 Site Rendering of NOVONIX's New Facility BRISBANE, Australia, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NOVONIX Limited (NASDAQ: NVX, ASX: NVX) ("NOVONIX” or "the Company”), a leading battery materials and technology company, announced today a conditional commitment to NOVONIX through one if its wholly-owned U.S.-based subsidiaries ("Borrower”), from the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE”) through the Loan Programs Office ("LPO”) for a direct loan of up to US$754.8 million ($692 million in principal and $62.8 million in capitalized interest) to be applied towards partially financing a proposed new facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee (the "New Facility”). The proposed financing is being offered under the DOE LPO's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing ("ATVM”) Loan Program. If finalized, the loan would be applied towards partially financing the construction of the New Facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to manufacture synthetic graphite primarily for use in electric vehicle ("EV”) batteries. At full capacity, the new facility is expected to produce approximately 31,500 tonnes per annum ("tpa”) of synthetic graphite, which can support the production of lithium-ion batteries for approximately 325,000 EVs each year. China currently has over 95% market share for battery grade graphite 1 . The new facility is expected to reach full production capacity by the end of 2028 and is anticipated to create 450 full-time operational jobs and 500 construction jobs. Dr. Chris Burns, CEO of NOVONIX said, "This announcement is the culmination of years of hard work and is another critical milestone for our anode materials business towards our target production of 150,000 tpa in North America. This conditional commitment from the government to invest in our new facility continues to underscore the focus on localizing critical materials in the battery supply chain, such as graphite. Recent announcements from China to further scrutinize the export of battery-grade graphite to the United States highlight the importance of domestic production of high-performance, battery-grade synthetic graphite. Our offtake agreements with strong partners have strengthened our leadership in onshoring the synthetic graphite supply chain in North America and supporting the path towards U.S. energy independence.” This year, NOVONIX has signed binding offtake agreements to supply synthetic graphite to Panasonic Energy 2 , Stellantis 3 , and PowerCo 4 . To meet this demand, the Company has previously discussed plans to build a new facility in the southeastern United States which could expand up to 75,000 tpa or production capacity. This proposed ATVM Program loan would support the construction of the first phase of the New Facility and the initial production capacity of 31,500 tpa. NOVONIX plans to subsequently expand the production capacity of this site to its target of 75,000 tpa of synthetic graphite production, any such expansion being dependent on customer demand and access to additional financing. NOVONIX's Riverside facility, also located in Chattanooga, is poised to become the first large-scale production site dedicated to high-performance synthetic graphite for the battery sector in North America. It is slated to begin commercial production in 2025, with plans to grow output to 20,000 tpa to meet current customer commitments. Previously, the Company announced that the DOE's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains ("MESC”) awarded the Company a US$100 million grant 5 and that it was selected for a US$103 million investment tax credit 6 towards the funding of the Riverside facility. Key terms of the DOE's conditional commitment, including those set forth in a non-binding term sheet attached to the conditional commitment letter signed by the DOE, NOVONIX and the Borrower, include: This announcement has been authorised for release by Admiral Robert J Natter, USN Ret., Chairman. About NOVONIX NOVONIX is a leading battery technology company revolutionizing the global lithium-ion battery industry with innovative, sustainable technologies, high-performance materials, and more efficient production methods. The Company manufactures industry-leading battery cell testing equipment, is growing its high-performance synthetic graphite material manufacturing operations, and has developed a patented all-dry, zero-waste cathode synthesis process. Through advanced R&D capabilities, proprietary technology, and strategic partnerships, NOVONIX has gained a prominent position in the electric vehicle and energy storage systems battery industry and is powering a cleaner energy future. To learn more, visit us at www.novonixgroup.com or on LinkedIn and X . For NOVONIX Limited Scott Espenshade, [email protected] (investors) Stephanie Reid, [email protected] (media) Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements about the Company and the industry in which we operate. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by use of words such as "anticipate,” "believe,” "contemplate,” "continue,” "could,” "estimate,” "expect,” "intend,” "may,” "plan,” "potential,” "predict,” "project,” "should,” "target,” "will,” or "would,” or other similar expressions. Examples of forward-looking statements in this communication include, among others, statements we make regarding our target production capacity and commencement of commercial production at our Riverside facility, our plans to build a new production facility and achieve initial and total production capacities, and our efforts to finance this new production facility with a loan from the LPO. We have based such statements on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Such forward-looking statements involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the timely deployment and scaling of our furnace technology, our ability to meet the technical specifications and demand of our existing and future customers, the accuracy of our estimates regarding market size, expenses, future revenue, capital requirements, needs and access for additional financing, the availability and impact and our compliance with the applicable terms of government support, including the DOE MESC grant and, if a definitive agreement is executed and the loan is funded, the LPO loan, our ability to satisfy the conditions precedent to our entering into definitive loan documents and to the DOE's funding the LPO loan and, if the loan is obtained, our ability to comply with the restrictions and obligations under the loan documents, our ability to obtain patent rights effective to protect our technologies and processes and successfully defend any challenges to such rights and prevent others from commercializing such technologies and processes, and regulatory developments in the United States, Australia and other jurisdictions. These and other factors that could affect our business and results are included in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC”), including the Company's most recent annual report on Form 20-F. Copies of these filings may be obtained by visiting our Investor Relations website at www.novonixgroup.com or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes, and actual performance and outcomes may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement in this communication is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. 1 Benchmark Minerals Intelligence Anode Price Assessment September 2024 2 Panasonic Energy and NOVONIX Sign Binding Off-Take Agreement - NOVONIX 3 NOVONIX and Stellantis Sign Binding Offtake Agreement - NOVONIX 4 NOVONIX and PowerCo SE Sign Binding Offtake Agreement - NOVONIX 5 NOVONIX Finalizes US$100 Million Grant Award from U.S. Department of Energy - NOVONIX 6 U.S. Government Selects NOVONIX to Receive US$103 Million in Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Tax Credits - NOVONIX A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9a660b84-f19e-4636-b981-d532b2029ace
Tuesday, December 17, 2024 Malaysia has proudly announced a major milestone for its tourism sector, successfully welcoming 1,009,114 Indian tourists between January and November 2024. This achievement surpasses the initial target of 1 million Indian visitors, marking a 47% growth compared to the same period in 2019, before the global travel industry was upended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even more impressively, it reflects a 71.7% surge in Indian tourist arrivals compared to 2023, underscoring Malaysia’s growing appeal as a preferred destination for Indian travelers. This significant growth is seen as a resounding success for Malaysia’s tourism sector, which has been working to revive its pre-pandemic glory. Spearheading this effort is the Malaysian government’s strategic decision to introduce free visa entry for Indian tourists in December 2023, a move that has proven to be a game-changer. Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, called the achievement “transformative,” emphasizing the critical role of the visa-free entry policy. “The introduction of free visa entry in December 2023 has opened up new opportunities for travel, driving a significant increase in the number of Indian tourists visiting Malaysia,” the minister stated. See Also: Tourism Malaysia Unveils The Malaysia Mix Campaign to Showcase the Ultimate Blend of Nature, Culture, and Luxury for Discerning North American Travelers The introduction of visa-free entry for Indian tourists in December 2023 has been a key factor in this success. By eliminating the visa requirement, Malaysia has simplified the travel process for millions of potential visitors from India. No longer having to navigate a cumbersome visa application process, Indian tourists now find it easier and more appealing to choose Malaysia as a holiday destination. The free visa entry policy has not only boosted arrivals but also enhanced Malaysia’s competitiveness against other Southeast Asian destinations like Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia. With simpler entry requirements, Malaysia became a more accessible and budget-friendly option, attracting more first-time visitors and repeat travelers. See Also: China, Indonesia, Cambodia, Maldives, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam Propel TUI Group’s Bold Expansion and Pioneering Future in Asia Indian tourists have significantly contributed to the tourism sectors of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka in recent years. Below is a table summarizing the available data on Indian tourist arrivals to these countries: Country Year Indian Tourist Arrivals Thailand 2019 1,900,000 Vietnam 2019 169,000 Cambodia 2019 66,000 Sri Lanka 2024 (up to mid-August) 246,922 Thailand : In 2019, Thailand welcomed approximately 1.9 million Indian tourists, making India one of its top source markets. The vibrant nightlife, cultural landmarks, and shopping experiences in cities like Bangkok and Pattaya have been major attractions for Indian travelers. Although the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant drop in international arrivals in 2020 and 2021, the Thai tourism industry has been actively working to recover, with a focus on attracting tourists from India and other neighboring countries. Vietnam : Vietnam has seen a steady increase in Indian tourist arrivals, with about 169,000 visitors in 2019. The country’s rich history, cultural heritage, and natural beauty, along with improved flight connectivity between major Indian cities and Vietnamese destinations like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, have contributed to this growth. Vietnam has been promoting itself as an attractive destination for Indian tourists, offering visa exemptions and tailored travel packages to boost arrivals. Cambodia : In 2019, Cambodia received around 66,000 Indian tourists. The iconic Angkor Wat temple complex and other historical sites are significant draws for Indian travelers. The Cambodian government has been working to enhance tourism infrastructure and promote the country as a destination for cultural and heritage tourism to attract more visitors from India. Sri Lanka : As of mid-August 2024, Sri Lanka recorded 246,922 Indian tourist arrivals, making India the largest source of tourists for the island nation. Sri Lanka’s diverse attractions, including beaches, wildlife, and cultural sites, along with its proximity to India, have made it a popular destination for Indian travelers. To further boost tourism, Sri Lanka’s cabinet approved a pilot program offering free 30-day tourist visas to visitors from 35 countries, including India, starting October 1, 2024. This initiative aims to position Sri Lanka as a free visa destination, similar to Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. See Also: Malaysia Breaks New Tourism Records With 1 Million Indian Tourists After Visa Waiver The tourism sectors in these countries are actively implementing strategies to attract more Indian tourists, recognizing the potential of this growing market. Efforts include easing visa processes, enhancing flight connectivity, and offering tailored experiences to meet the preferences of Indian travelers. How It Worked The free visa policy was only one part of Malaysia’s tourism growth strategy. The second major contributor to the influx of Indian tourists was the expansion of flight routes from India. In 2024, multiple new routes were launched, with airlines like IndiGo playing a crucial role. Previously, most Indian tourists had to rely on flights to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital and primary entry point. However, with the launch of new direct flights to popular tourist destinations like Penang and Langkawi, Malaysia became far more accessible. Direct routes reduced travel time, making short getaways from India to Malaysia more feasible. See Also: How Digital Platforms Are Shaping the Future of Travel in APAC: Traveloka’s Study Reveals How Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia Are Embracing Technology in Tourism New Route Highlights With momentum on its side, Malaysia has set its sights on even greater achievements as it prepares for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 . The Visit Malaysia campaign aims to draw millions of new visitors and showcase the country’s natural wonders, cultural heritage, and culinary experiences. The success with Indian tourists in 2024 is being seen as an early win, setting the stage for larger targets in 2026. Airline Direct Routes from India Destinations in Malaysia Flight Frequency Type of Service Malaysia Airlines Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad Kuala Lumpur Daily Full-Service Airline AirAsia Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Trichy, Tiruchirappalli Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi Daily Low-Cost Airline IndiGo Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi Daily (New routes to Penang & Langkawi from Dec 2024) Low-Cost Airline Malindo Air (Batik Air Malaysia) Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Trichy Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu Daily Full-Service Airline Scoot (via Singapore) Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Amritsar, Coimbatore Kuala Lumpur (via Singapore) Daily Low-Cost Airline Singapore Airlines (via Singapore) Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, Hyderabad Kuala Lumpur (via Singapore) Multiple Daily Flights Full-Service Airline Air India Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai Kuala Lumpur 3-4 times per week Full-Service Airline Vistara Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore Kuala Lumpur 3-4 times per week Full-Service Airline SriLankan Airlines (via Colombo) Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore Kuala Lumpur (via Colombo) Daily Full-Service Airline Thai Airways (via Bangkok) Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad Kuala Lumpur (via Bangkok) Multiple Daily Flights Full-Service Airline Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong) Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore Kuala Lumpur (via Hong Kong) Daily Full-Service Airline Key Goals for Visit Malaysia 2026 The government’s multi-pronged strategy includes strengthening tourism infrastructure, promoting sustainable tourism, and enhancing cultural tourism to encourage longer stays and repeat visits. See Also: Malaysia-Thailand Border Revival: New Bridges and Rail Links to Boost Tourism, Trade, and Connectivity Across Kelantan, Narathiwat, and Beyond by 2027 The growing number of Indian tourists flocking to Malaysia is driven by several key factors, including affordability, accessibility, and diverse attractions. The country’s blend of vibrant city life, pristine beaches, natural reserves, and culinary delights appeals to a broad spectrum of travelers. Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, expressed his pride in reaching the 1 million tourist milestone. He acknowledged the positive impact of the visa-free entry policy and the expansion of flight connectivity from India. “The increased connectivity from India helps to further strengthen Malaysia as a choice destination, especially in the lead-up to Visit Malaysia Year 2026,” the minister stated. He added that the achievement would inspire more initiatives to make Malaysia a top travel destination for Indians and tourists from other regions. See Also: Malaysia Airlines Enhances Festive Connectivity with 112 Red-Eye Flights to Sabah and Sarawak, Fixed Fares for Chinese New Year 2025 Having achieved its target for Indian tourist arrivals in 2024, Malaysia is now focusing on sustaining this growth. Its next goal is to exceed these figures as it approaches Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Efforts will be directed toward improving air connectivity, launching marketing campaigns, and enhancing tourist experiences at major destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Langkawi. See Also: Australia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam among Ninety Six Visa Free Travel Countries Surging Indonesia Tourism Sector: New Report You Need to Know The tourism industry is optimistic that the 2024 growth trend will continue, especially with a more robust travel infrastructure, strategic marketing, and the successful implementation of visa-free entry for Indian visitors. Read Travel Industry News in 104 different regional platforms Get our daily dose of news, by subscribing to our newsletters. Subscribe here . Watch Travel And Tour World Interviews here . Read more Travel News , Daily Travel Alert , and Travel Industry News on Travel And Tour World only.Officer kills pet dog mistaken for a coyote in Massachusetts town. The owner says it was unnecessary
Enghouse Acquires Aculab PLCIt’s hard to do a comprehensive Top 10 movie list when Winnipeg cineastes are once again at that frustrating annual juncture: We’re hearing about some of the buzziest films of the year — titles like , even the much-awarded feature from former Winnipegger Matthew Rankin — but still waiting on them to sneak into our town some time in 2025. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * It’s hard to do a comprehensive Top 10 movie list when Winnipeg cineastes are once again at that frustrating annual juncture: We’re hearing about some of the buzziest films of the year — titles like , even the much-awarded feature from former Winnipegger Matthew Rankin — but still waiting on them to sneak into our town some time in 2025. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? It’s hard to do a comprehensive Top 10 movie list when Winnipeg cineastes are once again at that frustrating annual juncture: We’re hearing about some of the buzziest films of the year — titles like , even the much-awarded feature from former Winnipegger Matthew Rankin — but still waiting on them to sneak into our town some time in 2025. Maybe we can’t be exhaustive. We can, however, be exhausted. This was a wearying, chaotic year out there in the real world, and a lot of those anxieties — about environmental devastation, artificial intelligence, civil strife, political polarization — seemed to have seeped onto the big screen. Here are some random observations on the movie year that was — the best, the worst and the most nervous. With a bang? With a whimper? How about with a riff on a Neil Young song? From the multiplex to the arthouse, there were a lot of catastrophic cinematic scenarios this year. Taking a deeply angry but deadpan funny approach to global cataclysm, is from the made-in-Manitoba directorial team of Guy Maddin, Galen Johnson and Evan Johnson. This unclassifiable horror/comedy/soap centres on the leaders of the G7 countries, who can be seen wandering ineffectually in a forest as the world descends into some unspecified disaster. , from Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude, is also furiously hilarious (or maybe hilariously furious) as it deals with the ruthlessness of multinational capitalism, the breakdown of liberal democracy and the toxicity of social media. A road-trip flick that drives in circles, it evokes a state of numbness so entrenched that even the apocalypse will feel — as the title suggests — slightly anti-climactic. As Marvel’s proliferating timelines and intricately interconnected multiverses have some fans wondering whether we’ve reached peak Marvel Cinematic Universe, seems to offer a very meta answer. The boffo blockbuster is packed with stunt cameos and smirky in-jokes about how superhero movies are just cynical corporate cash-grabs constructed out of infinitely recycled Intellectual Property. Let’s hope admitting you have a problem is the first step to solving it. Meanwhile, over at DC, proved that the only thing worse than a villain origin story is a villain origin story sequel — especially when it involves Joaquin Phoenix singing Jacques Brel. In June, a London cinema cancelled the premiere of a film written by ChatGPT after complaints from patrons. The film was titled — with what one assumes is machine-learning humour — Meanwhile, over in movies still being scripted by actual people, some of the robots were really lovely. In the warm, beautiful cartoon , Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o), an AI-powered service bot that’s been stranded in the wilderness, ends up overriding her programming to care for an orphaned gosling. And in Pablo Berger’s wordless and wonderful all-ages animated feature, a lonely dog in ‘80s New York buys a mail-order robot and ends up finding a pal. Speaking of AI, here’s what Gemini, Google’s generative AI Chatbot, says about Coralie Fargeat’s highly stylized body-horror flick “The film is about a woman who has reached the age of 50, which some say is a feminist twist.” Good to know that just being a woman over 50 is now a revolutionary political act. But Demi Moore takes it farther than that, bringing ferocious physicality and fierce self-loathing to a speculative sci-fi premise that sees her facing off with a younger, fresher alternative self (played by Margaret Qualley). When it comes to questions of faith and doubt, with its handsome production values, ambitious ideas and impeccable performances (from Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and more), is the highbrow take. a horror movie with an uncomfortable premise — two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) are caught in a trap set by a very sinister Hugh Grant — goes low. Prepare for post-screening theological discussio; both films get in some good points. In an unapologetically mopey comic drama from writer-director-star Joanna Arnow, the main character’s penchant for full-frontal nudity and hilariously awkward, arbitrary SM encounters feels deliberately anti-erotic. Meanwhile in — from our leading auteur of desire, Luca Guadagnino — a three-way kissing scene involving Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor might be the sexiest thing on screen this year. And everyone keeps their clothes on. Mike Faist (from left) Zendaya and Josh O’Connor are shown in a scene from “Challengers.” (Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures) Neither Joshua Oppenheimer’s nor Francis Ford Coppola’s works. But Oppenheimer’s weird, wistful musical set at the end of the world reminds you that failure can be good thing — idiosyncratic, original, vulnerable and human. , on the other hand, feels like a failure-failure. Coppola’s self-funded, long-gestating passion project — about a brilliant innovator (Adam Driver) living in a fusion of futuristic New York and ancient Rome — is so bloated and self-indulgent, so visually and ideologically incoherent, it almost argues against itself. This might be an ode to the untrammelled power of the individual creative genius, but one almost wishes some studio bean-counter was telling Coppola to just stop, already. arts@freepress.mb.ca Studying at the University of Winnipeg and later Toronto’s York University, Alison Gillmor planned to become an art historian. She ended up catching the journalism bug when she started as visual arts reviewer at the Winnipeg Free Press in 1992. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Sustainable solution: Ammonia produced with biomethane achieves net-zero emissions
Just about everyone dreams about cars they wish they could own, and there’s no better time than the holidays to make a list of vehicles you’d love to have in your driveway. The car pros at Edmunds rounded up five of their favorite dream-worthy vehicles. But rather than just list the most outlandish and expensive exotics, they focused on highlighting models that are expensive but not so pricey that it’d be completely unrealistic for you to own one one day. The vehicles are ordered in ascending order of price and include destination fees. Ford F-150 Raptor R Off-road trucks look fantastic and are extremely capable. What truck enthusiast wouldn’t have one topping their wish list? The king of the hill for 2025 is the F-150 Raptor R. The regular Raptor is already impressive, and the R takes it to the next level with a bonkers 720-horsepower supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine, upgraded Fox dual-value shock absorbers, and massive 37-inch all-terrain tires. An R-specific grille and hood are also part of the R’s upgrades. Thankfully, the Raptor R isn’t all bark and bite. It also has plenty of features to make it a livable truck for daily driving. Standard features include leather upholstery, cooling front seats, a premium sound system, and a surround-view camera to help make this big truck easier to park. Starting Price: $112,825 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Few sedans can match the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for opulence, luxury and prestige. This grand sedan showcases nearly every luxury, technology and performance innovation that Mercedes-Benz has concocted. Everything you touch inside is likely covered in leather, heated, or bathed in disco-worthy ambient light. A novel could be written about all of the S-Class’ luxury and comfort features, but one of the most notable is the E-Active Body Control system. It scans the road surface ahead and adjusts the suspension to deliver the best ride possible. The S-Class also boasts an extensive list of advanced safety features and has an augmented reality head-up display that projects images that appear to float in front of the car. For the ultimate S-Class, get the 791-horsepower AMG S 63 E Performance model. Starting Price: $118,900 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Who needs a European exotic car when the Corvette ZR1 is just as capable? A sports car fanatic’s wish list wouldn’t be right without the ZR1. The new Corvette hit a record-setting top speed of 233 mph, making it the fastest car ever built by an American automaker and the fastest current production car priced under $1 million, according to Chevrolet. The top speed record was possible thanks to the ZR1’s turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine that cranks out a staggering 1,064 horsepower. Its carbon-fiber aero package kept it glued to the track by generating over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. Chevrolet also says the ZR1 can accelerate through the quarter mile in less than 10 seconds. We expect the Corvette ZR1 to go on sale in early 2025. Estimated starting price: $150,000 Cadillac Escalade-V Does your wish list include a big and powerful SUV? If it does, the Escalade-V should top it. The big Caddy roars like a muscle car thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that churns out 682 horsepower and helps it hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The Escalade-V also boasts enormous 24-inch wheels and large Brembo brakes that help bring the three-ton SUV to a stop. But the Escalade-V isn’t only about brute power. It also has three rows of seating, plenty of cargo space and offers impressive tech like Super Cruise, a hands-free highway driving system, and an enormous 55-inch curved display that spans the dashboard. Starting Price: $161,990 Lucid Air Sapphire What if we told you there was a car that could outpace almost anything on a drag strip, keep up with high-end sports cars on a racetrack, and be comfortable enough for daily errands? Well, if that sounds amazing, add the Air Sapphire to your dream list. The Air Sapphire is a high-performance electric luxury sedan made by Lucid, an electric vehicle startup. It’s one of the most powerful production cars in the world, producing an astonishing 1,234 horsepower from its three electric motors. Lucid says it has a top speed of 205 mph and can rocket to 60 mph in a mind-numbing 1.9 seconds. You can adjust the vehicle’s setting for exceptional track performance or simply provide a comfortable ride around town. Starting price: $250,500 Edmunds says Even if you can’t afford any of these vehicles, you can still picture one sitting in your driveway or imagine yourself cruising around town in it. And who knows, maybe holiday magic will give you the opportunity to own one in the future. ____ This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds . Michael Cantu is a contributor at Edmunds.
Shares of Uber Technologies ( UBER -9.60% ) fell 9.6% in today's trading. At first it may seem odd for Uber to be falling, as the company didn't make any major announcements today. However, a possible future competitor did, with big potential long-term implications. Waymo is coming to Miami On Thursday, autonomous ride-hailing company Waymo, which is majority owned by Alphabet ( GOOG -1.01% ) ( GOOGL -0.99% ) , announced it would be expanding to Miami in 2025, with the goal of offering autonomous rides by 2026. Waymo was founded in 2009 as one of Alphabet's "Other Bets," or "moonshot" projects that could one day turn into a big business. Waymo was then spun off into a separate subsidiary company in 2016, and has attracted outside funding to help Alphabet bring its technology to market. In fact, Waymo just raised another $5.6 billion from a group of major venture capital firms in late October. Deepwater Asset Management recently estimated that Alphabet still owns about 70% of the company today. With its own ride-hailing app, Waymo is already delivering autonomous rides in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Therefore, Waymo could potentially become a big competitor to Uber, which dominates ride-hailing today. Yet the two companies have also partnered in the recent past. In September, Uber and Waymo announced they would jointly bring autonomous rides to Austin and Atlanta through the Uber app. As part of that partnership, Uber will provide fleet management services. However, Waymo identified another partner, Moove, for fleet management in Miami. So, perhaps Uber being cut out of the Miami announcement led to such a big sell-off today. Uber dominates ride-hailing today, but that could change Investors might have thought Uber would partner Waymo in each additional city Waymo enters. However, it looks as if Uber isn't the only game in town for fleet management. If Uber can leverage its dominant ride-hailing network effects in the age of autonomy , this sell-off could be an opportunity to buy. However, there's also a chance Uber may be disrupted by autonomy. In that case, all bets are off.Harvey Fineberg Announces Plan to Step Down
The U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a seeking public input on the potential writing of ethical guidelines to address ethical concerns involving the use of “pervasive data” in research. NTIA is seeking public input to determine whether non-binding ethical guidelines should be crafted to guide researchers in navigating these challenges responsibly. Pervasive data captures intimate details about individuals from their browsing behaviors to their social media interactions. While this data holds immense potential for advancing societal understanding and technological innovation, it also poses risks to and individual rights. NTIA said “such guidelines, if warranted, would detail how researchers can work with pervasive data while meeting ethical expectations of research and protecting individuals’ privacy and other rights. These guidelines, although voluntary, would serve as a crucial reference for researchers, institutions, data intermediaries, and online service providers. They would seek to bridge the gap between existing legal regulations, such as the Common Rule, and the unique ethical dilemmas posed by pervasive data. NTIA says pervasive data has become a cornerstone of contemporary research, offering insights into human behavior, societal dynamics, and the digital ecosystem. “These insights are essential for informing policy in the digital age, and researchers and organizations have called for ethical guidelines to help ensure this work is done responsibly,” NTIA said, noting, however, that this data is often collected without explicit consent, raising questions about how it can be used ethically in research while respecting individuals’ privacy and autonomy. “NTIA will rely on these comments, along with engagements with researchers, civil society, research institutions, industry, and other government bodies, to consider whether to draft and issue guidelines to assist researchers working with pervasive data,” the agency said. “The ethical guidelines outlined for consideration in this Request for Comments would be non-binding and would not supersede any existing laws or regulations or pre-empt future laws. For example, human subjects research conducted or supported by one of the U.S. government departments or agencies that have adopted the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects would need to adhere to any applicable regulatory requirements. Federal agencies and federal data are bound by additional laws and regulations, which these voluntary ethical guidelines would not supersede.” NTIA’s efforts are underscored by the limitations of existing ethical frameworks. For example, , commissioned in 1979 by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, laid the groundwork for ethical research in the United States by introducing principles such as respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. These principles informed the Common Rule, which regulates federally funded human subjects research. However, the Common Rule’s applicability to pervasive data is limited. It primarily governs research involving identifiable private information obtained through direct interaction or intervention, leaving significant gaps in addressing the broader societal risks posed by pervasive data. Moreover, certain types of research using pervasive data may fall outside the Common Rule’s jurisdiction. For instance, NTIA pointed out, studies involving anonymized or publicly available data often bypass institutional review board oversight. Yet, even anonymized data carries the risk of , potentially exposing individuals to harm. These gaps highlight the need for updated ethical guidelines that reflect the nuances of pervasive data in research. Internationally, the ethical use of pervasive data is gaining attention. The European Union’s Digital Services Act, for example, mandates that large online platforms share data with researchers to study systemic risks in the information environment. While this approach facilitates transparency, it also underscores the importance of robust ethical standards to protect individuals and uphold trust in the research process. NTIA’s proposed guidelines could align U.S. practices with global standards, fostering international collaboration and ensuring that research is conducted with a shared commitment to ethical principles. One of the most pressing concerns in research involving pervasive data is the risk to privacy, NTIA said, pointing out that online platforms collect vast amounts of data, often without users fully understanding how it will be used, creating tension between the potential benefits of research and the right of individuals to control their personal information. Privacy risks extend beyond reidentification; they also include emotional distress, reputational harm, and the perpetuation of discrimination. Additionally, misuse of pervasive data can erode public trust in research, deterring individuals from engaging in the digital economy or participating in studies. NTIA’s proposed guidelines would address these risks by promoting transparency, accountability, and informed consent. Researchers would be encouraged to consider the potential for harm at every stage of their projects, from data collection to dissemination. This proactive approach aligns with the principles of the which builds on the by emphasizing respect for law and public interest in network and security research. By adopting similar principles, NTIA would be ensuring that ethical considerations remain central to research involving pervasive data. Another critical issue is the potential for systemic risks. Research using pervasive data can unintentionally exacerbate societal inequalities or contribute to harmful technologies. For example, algorithms trained on biased data may perpetuate discrimination, while the misuse of research findings can undermine trust in institutions. Ethical guidelines must therefore extend beyond individual-level risks to address the broader implications of pervasive data research. This includes considering the environmental impact of data processing and the unintended consequences of machine learning models. NTIA’s initiative also recognizes the importance of fostering a culture of ethical awareness among researchers. While many researchers already take voluntary measures to mitigate risks, the absence of a unified set of guidelines can lead to inconsistencies. The proposed guidelines would provide a benchmark for ethical research, encouraging adherence to best practices across disciplines and institutions. Public engagement is a cornerstone of NTIA’s approach. By soliciting input from diverse stakeholders, including researchers, civil society organizations, industry representatives, and government bodies, NTIA aims to ensure that the guidelines are comprehensive and reflective of varied perspectives. This participatory process is essential for addressing the complex ethical challenges posed by pervasive data. NTIA’s effort to draft ethical guidelines for pervasive data research marks a significant step in balancing innovation with privacy and ethical integrity. As pervasive data continues to shape our understanding of the digital world, it is imperative to establish standards that protect individuals while enabling responsible research. The proposed guidelines have the potential to set a precedent for ethical practices, fostering trust and ensuring that the benefits of research are realized without compromising fundamental rights. NTIA’s initiative underscores the need for a thoughtful and collaborative approach to pervasive data. By prioritizing privacy and ethical responsibility, these guidelines can serve as a roadmap for navigating the complex intersection of technology, research, and human rights in the digital age. As public input shapes the development of these guidelines, NTIA has an opportunity to lead the way in defining ethical standards for the responsible use of pervasive data. | | | | | | | | |College and University Management Software Market to Exhibit a Remarkable CAGR of 11.80 % by 2030, Size, Share, Trends, Key Drivers, Demand, Opportunity Analysis and Competitive Outlook