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{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-12-11T23:14:25+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-12-11T23:14:25+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-12-11T23:15:20+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22535/news/finance/rwanda-must-address-skills-gap-in-financial-sector-report", "headline": "Rwanda must address skills gap in financial sector – report", "description": "Rwanda must attract, build and retain a pool of highly specialised financial professionals to serve and support the growth of its financial centre, if...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22535/news/finance/rwanda-must-address-skills-gap-in-financial-sector-report" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/11/66219.jpg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/11/66219.jpg" }, "articleBody": "Rwanda must attract, build and retain a pool of highly specialised financial professionals to serve and support the growth of its financial centre, if the country is to realise its vision to become a financial services hub. This is according to the Financial Sector Skills Survey released by the Kigali International Finance Centre (KIFC), aimed at taking stock of the existing financial talent pool in Rwanda's financial sector and determining the gap in terms of capabilities and skills. Rwanda Finance Limited, the agency tasked with promoting KIFC, targets to attract $600 million in assets into the centre by 2025. However, according to the report, gaps in the availability of skilled and experienced professionals and the current fragmented training system, pose a significant challenge to the growth of the financial centre. According to Anita Mutesi, Senior Capacity Building Program Manager at the Rwanda Finance Limited, the financial sector lacks certified specialised professionals. Only 2 per cent of the approximately 37,000 professionals employed in Rwanda's financial sector, are certified, she said, adding that these professionals are not sufficient to serve the investors coming in through the KIFC. ALSO READ:FEATURED: KIFC, a beacon of financial sector stability, progress in the region Mutesi noted that the skills gap in the financial sector, if not addressed, will jeopardise the efforts of the financial centre. If investors come in and do not find the skills they are looking for, they either leave or bring in their own people, defeating one of KIFC's purposes of creating jobs, she said. Rwanda Finance limited CEO, Nick Barigye, said the survey also highlighted the need for emerging skills for the future. “The demand for expertise in areas such as corporate governance, FinTech, green finance, risk management is growing exponentially,” he said, adding that there is an opportunity to develop specialised training programmes and partnerships that cater to these needs. Employability The report indicates that while 60 per cent of finance and accounting graduates are employed, only 9 per cent actually work in the finance sector, indicating that the sector is not absorbing the graduates. This low employability rate, the reports says, indicates a need for better alignment between university curriculums and industry needs. Christine Baingana, Rwanda Academy of Finance steering committee Chairperson and CEO of Urwego Finance, said there is a need to address the non-alignment of education curriculums and industry needs. Overhauling the education sector is a massive endeavor, but adding elements like critical thinking, analytical thinking and financial modelling would be a good foundation on which the financial sector can build on and upskill the professionals,” she noted. Richard Tushabe, the Minister of State in charge of the National Treasury at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), said the survey should serve as a wake-up call to the education sector ALSO READ: How can the skills gap among youth be addressed? The skills gap and low employability rate of graduates, highlights the urgent need for targeted strategies to realign the education system in our country with industry demands, Tushabe said. Gender disparities The survey also brought to the fore the gender disparities in the financial sector, with more men employed than women. Simon Kibe, a human resource consultant, emphasised the need to do more to accommodate women in the financial services sector, citing a bias towards men. There is a bias towards men in the sector probably because they can spend long hours at work. The sector needs to customise the workplace to accommodate the needs of women, especially those with young children and enable them to play at the same level as men, she observed. A number of financial institutions in the country have established a mother's room, designed to cater to the needs of nursing mothers and their infants during working hours, a move that is slowly helping to promote gender equality in the financial sector. Low hanging fruits Developing specialised skills for the financial sector takes a significant amount of time, but given its target to become a financial hub in the region and the wider continent, the country does not have the luxury of time. “The private sector should be encouraged or incentivised to provide internship to graduates, Kibe said, adding that mechanisms such as waiving Pay As You Earn (PAYE) for interns in the short employment period could encourage the culture of professional internships. Kato Kimbugwe, Managing Director, Vanguard Economics, said, The low hanging fruit for me is internship programmes, driven by the private sector, and linked to universities.” The report also recommends a training levy that will be used to train staff in specialised roles and reduce poaching. To attract and retain specialised skilled staff in the financial sector, the report recommends salary incentives, by benchmarking with other countries in the region or by offering performance-based bonuses.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tesi Kaven" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }
Show ’em if you got ’em! Mayor Eric Adams’ legal team threw down the gauntlet Monday — claiming federal prosecutors don’t have the goods for another indictment despite saying months ago that they were “moving quickly” on more charges. “[T]he incriminating evidence the government hoped to obtain does not exist,” celebrity attorney Alex Spiro wrote in the early morning filing. “The government’s ‘evidence’ thus reveals what defense counsel knew all along: this case is an egregious overreach by prosecutors with no interest in a search for the truth,” Spiro added. The high-profile attorney — who is also repping Jay-Z in his underage sex allegation lawsuit — also claimed that none of the discovery turned over so far contains any damning evidence and more than two dozen witnesses provided testimony that allegedly clears the mayor. However, Spiro notes, the defense team still doesn’t have all the witness statements, which he claims the feds want to withhold right up until trial in April . Adams, who has vigorously denied any wrongdoing, was slapped with a historic federal indictment in September accusing Hizzoner of accepting bribes — free or heavily discounted luxury travel — in exchange for political favors. In the days following, lead prosecutor Hagan Scotten told the judge a “superseding indictment” was “quite likely” and the feds were “moving quickly.” But the feds have yet to bring any new charges against the mayor or anyone else involved in the alleged scheme that included hiding the real source of thousands of dollars in campaign donations. The filing is just the latest in a contentious back-and-forth between the Adams’ lawyers and SDNY prosecutors — both accusing each other of trying to sway public opinion in court filings and press statements. Last week, prosecutors accused the defense of breaking federal trial rules over Spiro claiming the case “isn’t real” as well as his attacks on key witness Rana Abbasova. “Adams, like every criminal defendant, is entitled to a zealous defense. His counsel is free to make arguments about the Indictment, the evidence, or the Government’s witnesses to the Court,” Acting SDNY US Attorney Edward Kim wrote. “But rather than test those allegations in a court of law ... defense counsel has instead chosen to litigate this case in press statements, where he can simply pretend certain facts do not exist.” Spiro shot back in the Monday morning filing that the allegations were “baseless” attacking the prosecutor’s letter to the judge as merely a “government press release” meant to subvert the very same rule. Adams has pushed to move up his case to the start of April to give him more time to campaign for reelection before June’s Democratic primary. He is set to stand trial on April 21.syahrir maulana This article renews the Hold rating of my latest review of OUSM of July 2023, in light of current portfolio and updated data. OUSM strategy O’Shares U.S. Small Cap Quality Dividend ETF ( BATS: OUSM ) was launched on Quantitative Risk & Value (QRV) provides you with risk indicators and data-driven, time-tested strategies. Get started with a two-week free trial now. Fred Piard, PhD. is a quantitative analyst and IT professional with over 30 years of experience working in technology. He is the author of three books and has been investing in data-driven systematic strategies since 2010. Quantitative Risk & Value Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Comeup 2024: Robotics, AI semiconductor startups shine at Seoul event
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Themus Fulks' 26 points helped Milwaukee defeat IU Indianapolis 88-81 on Sunday. Fulks also contributed five rebounds and five assists for the Panthers (10-4, 3-0 Horizon League). Kentrell Pullian scored 20 points while going 5 of 9 from the floor, including 4 for 7 from 3-point range, and 6 for 8 from the line. Erik Pratt shot 5 for 9, including 1 for 4 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points. Sean Craig led the way for the Jaguars (5-10, 1-3) with 22 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Paul Zilinskas added 21 points and three steals for IU Indianapolis. Jarvis Walker finished with 12 points and four assists. Milwaukee's next game is Thursday against Oakland on the road. IU Indianapolis hosts Youngstown State on Wednesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .CleanSpark, Inc. ( NASDAQ:CLSK – Get Free Report )’s share price fell 4.1% during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $9.81 and last traded at $9.94. Approximately 9,931,228 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 68% from the average session volume of 31,515,906 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.36. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Macquarie raised their target price on CleanSpark from $20.00 to $24.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of CleanSpark from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $10.50 to $17.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $23.00 price target on shares of CleanSpark in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Finally, HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $27.00 price objective on shares of CleanSpark in a report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, CleanSpark currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $23.17. Get Our Latest Analysis on CLSK CleanSpark Trading Down 5.6 % Hedge Funds Weigh In On CleanSpark Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in CleanSpark by 32.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 871,793 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,905,000 after acquiring an additional 215,124 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its holdings in shares of CleanSpark by 13.6% in the 2nd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 44,617 shares of the company’s stock valued at $712,000 after buying an additional 5,347 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of CleanSpark by 33.0% in the 2nd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 29,937 shares of the company’s stock valued at $477,000 after buying an additional 7,426 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its stake in CleanSpark by 21.5% during the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 969,896 shares of the company’s stock worth $15,470,000 after buying an additional 171,627 shares during the period. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers raised its stake in CleanSpark by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 313,148 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,995,000 after buying an additional 13,746 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 43.12% of the company’s stock. CleanSpark Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) CleanSpark, Inc operates as a bitcoin miner in the Americas. It owns and operates data centers that primarily run on low-carbon power. Its infrastructure supports Bitcoin, a digital commodity and a tool for financial independence and inclusion. The company was formerly known as Stratean Inc and changed its name to CleanSpark, Inc in November 2016. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for CleanSpark Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CleanSpark and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Devon Energy Corp. stock rises Wednesday, still underperforms marketBengaluru: A cybercrook hacked the login ID of the Tours and Travels division of Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL) for SpiceJet airlines and booked 17 air tickets fraudulently. The staff concerned found that the 17 bookings were made within 10 minutes, causing MSIL a loss of Rs 2.9 lakh. According to the complaint filed by Ravi Kumar K, 50, working in the MSIL head office on Cunningham Road, the miscreant hacked the MSIL website and login ID of SpiceJet on Dec 17 and booked the tickets fraudulently between 7.30pm and 7.40pm. Kumar told police the hacker used a mobile number — 7465910880 — and email ID — gariyavikki80@gmail.com — to hack and log into the SpiceJet login ID BLRMS22266. The hacker also managed to crack the password. By the time the incident came to Kumar's notice on Dec 19, about 14 people had travelled using the tickets booked by the hacker. A police officer said according to Kumar, 11 people travelled to Dubai from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, while three travelled from Dubai to Mumbai. Soon after the fraud came to Kumar's notice, he informed his seniors in the office and cancelled three tickets booked from Delhi to Dubai. "We have asked Kumar to provide details about all 17 air passengers for whom the hacker had booked the tickets, including those who were about to fly to Dubai from Delhi. We will get in touch with the individuals to ascertain through whom they had booked the flight tickets. Meanwhile, our technical team is working to trace the miscreant who procured the sim card and the Gmail ID used to hack. A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 318 (cheating). MSIL started the tour and travels 25 years ago, but for the first time they are encountering such an issue," the officer added. The loss mentioned in the complaint is the amount MSIL was to pay to the airlines company. The hacker must have earned more than what MSIL has lost, according to police. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes.With Boston College trailing defending champion Miami, Flutie threw the Hail Mary and found receiver Gerard Phalen, who made the grab while falling into the end zone behind a pair of defenders for a game-winning 48-yard TD. Flutie and many of his 1984 teammates were honored on the field during BC’s 41-21 victory over North Carolina before the second quarter on Saturday afternoon, the anniversary of the Eagles’ Miracle in Miami. “There’s no way its been 40 years,” Flutie told The Associated Press on the sideline a few minutes before he walked out with some of his former teammates to be recognized after a video of The Play was shown on the scoreboards. It’s a moment and highlight that’s not only played throughout decades of BC students and fans, but around the college football world. “What is really so humbling is that the kids 40 years later are wearing 22 jerseys, still,” Flutie said of his old number. “That amazes me.” That game was played on national TV the Friday after Thanksgiving. The ironic thing is it was originally scheduled for earlier in the season before CBS paid Rutgers to move its game against Miami, thus setting up the BC-Miami post-holiday matchup. “It shows you how random some things are, that the game was moved,” Flutie said. “The game got moved to the Friday after Thanksgiving, which was the most watched game of the year. We both end up being nationally ranked and up there. All those things lent to how big the game itself was, and made the pass and the catch that much more relevant and remembered because so many people were watching.” There’s a statue of Flutie winding up to make The Pass outside the north gates at Alumni Stadium. Fans and visitors can often be seen taking photos there. “In casual conversation, it comes up every day,” Flutie said, when asked how many times people bring it up. “It brings a smile to my face every time we talk about it.” A week after the game-ending Flutie pass, the Eagles beat Holy Cross and before he flew off to New York to accept the Heisman. They went on to win the 49th Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day. “Forty years seem almost like incomprehensible,” said Phalen, also standing on the sideline a few minutes after the game started. “I always say to Doug: ‘Thank God for social media. It’s kept it alive for us.”’ Earlier this week, current BC coach Bill O’Brien, 55, was asked if he remembered where he was 40 years ago. “We were eating Thanksgiving leftovers in my family room,” he said. “My mom was saying a Rosary in the kitchen because she didn’t like Miami and wanted BC to win. My dad, my brother and I were watching the game. “It was unbelievable,” he said. “Everybody remembers where they were for the Hail Mary, Flutie pass.”
Meeting Jimmy Carter — and getting a scoop about Bush, Blair and Iraq from the perfect gentlemanWhile is often associated with the pursuit of excellence and winning at all costs, many might assume this meant following a strictly regimented lifestyle with a balanced diet and avoiding all vices to maintain his A-Game every night. However, contrary to those beliefs, the five-time MVP's relationship with cigars wasn't limited to post-championship celebrations or retirement, but by the latter phase of his career, he developed a tendency to smoke cigars before every home game. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.Photos: Remembering former President Jimmy Carter
MONTREAL, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stingray (TSX: RAY.A; RAY.B), an industry leader in music and video content distribution, business services, and advertising solutions, today announced the acquisition of Loupe Art, a leading visual art streaming service on Smart TVs and Digital Signage. This strategic acquisition aims to expand Stingray's presence on Connected TVs and significantly enhance its offering for businesses, particularly in digital signage. Founded in 2016, Loupe Art's platform includes over 10,000 original artworks from more than 750 artists across 50 countries. It offers expertly curated art collections and themed episodes that combine visual art with music, providing an unparalleled ambient entertainment experience. Loupe Art reaches audiences worldwide through partnerships with major platforms such as Apple TV, Amazon, Google TV, Samsung, LG, Comcast, LocalNow, Freecast, WhaleTV+ and others. The acquisition will enable Stingray to leverage Loupe's patented technology and extensive content catalog to enhance its FAST channels on Connected TVs. It will also bolster Stingray Business by integrating Loupe's tailored art displays into its digital signage solutions, offering businesses a flexible and customized visual experience across their locations. "By integrating Loupe Art's groundbreaking platform with Stingray's extensive expertly curated music catalog and robust distribution network, we are poised to revolutionize the way art and music are experienced in homes and businesses worldwide," said Eric Boyko, President, Co-founder, and CEO of Stingray. "This acquisition not only broadens our content offerings but also strengthens our position as a leader in the digital media landscape." "Joining forces with Stingray opens up exciting new possibilities for Loupe," said Michele Tobin, CEO of Loupe Art. "We are eager to expand the reach of our artists' work, bringing their creative expressions to a broader audience through Stingray's impressive distribution channels. Together, we look forward to transforming how art is experienced in everyday life, enriching public and private spaces alike. " With this acquisition, Stingray continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and growth in the digital media sector. By combining Loupe Art's cutting-edge technology and rich artistic content with Stingray's extensive reach and expertise, the company is well-positioned to deliver enhanced value to its customers and partners globally. Stingray remains dedicated to providing exceptional entertainment experiences that seamlessly integrate art and music, enriching environments across both residential and commercial spaces. About Stingray Stingray (TSX: RAY.A; RAY.B), a global music, media, and technology company, is an industry leader in TV broadcasting, streaming, radio, business services, and advertising. Stingray provides an array of global music, digital, and advertising services to enterprise brands worldwide, including audio and video channels, over 100 radio stations, subscription video-on-demand content, FAST channels, karaoke products and music apps, and in-car and on-board infotainment content. Stingray Business, a division of Stingray, provides commercial solutions in music, in-store advertising solutions, digital signage, and AI-driven consumer insights and feedback. Stingray Advertising is North America's largest retail audio advertising network, delivering digital audio messaging to more than 30,000 major retail locations. Stingray has close to 1000 employees worldwide and reaches 540 million consumers in 160 countries. For more information, visit www.stingray.com . About Loupe Art Loupe Art is an innovative patented streaming art platform that transforms connected TVs and digital signage into customized art galleries. Loupe expertly curates original artworks from a wide range of diverse global artists to deliver unique, immersive art experiences. Loupe for Business offers Public Art solutions ranging from remotely programmable art streams that reflect mood, daypart, season, style, color and brand attributes to bespoke curation services for Real Estate, Workplace, Hospitality and Healthcare customers. Loupe Art is available to consumers in-home on Samsung TV Plus, Apple TV, Fire TV, Google TV, LG, Comcast, LocalNow, Freecast and WhaleTV+. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information with respect to Stingray's goals, beliefs, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions. Forward-looking information is identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "may", "would", "should", "could", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "plan", "foresee", "believe", and "continue", or the negative of these terms and similar terminology, including references to assumptions. Please note, however, that not all forward-looking information contains these terms and phrases. Forward-looking information is based upon a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Stingray's control. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk factors identified in Stingray's Annual Information Form for the year ended March 31, 2024, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Consequently, all of the forward-looking information contained herein is qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements, and there can be no guarantee that the results or developments that Stingray anticipates will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences or effects on Stingray's business, financial condition or results of operation. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date hereof, and Stingray does not undertake to update or amend such forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.
( ), ( ) and ( ) have secured their spots on , while ( ) looks on longingly on the watchlist. But retail giant ( ) is already a full-fledged member on this list of top growth stocks. And Costco is in buy range while holding support above its . Costco Stock Shops For Support Following a on Dec. 18, the Nasdaq has managed to cling to support at its . Costco also pulled back last week, coming off an all-time high. The retail behemoth also fell below its 21-day line but remains in buy range from a 923.83 entry it initially cleared on Nov 8. The 50-day line presents the next test for Costco. Down again Monday at midday, the stock stands just above that benchmark. Costco stock is not alone in trying to navigate this uncertain market heading into the end of the year. Support And Resistance For Costco, Nvidia And More As Costco remains in buy range from its buy point, and also flash signs of both support and resistance. Meta trades above its 50-day line, but remains below its 21-day benchmark. The Instagram and Facebook parent also stands 1% below the 602.95 buy point it first cleared earlier this month. It has not triggered any . Nvidia has encountered increased volatility since June, when it began forming a late-stage base. The artificial intelligence giant cleared a 140.76 entry in October but has shown seesaw action since then. Nvidia remains below its 50-day line since breaching it sharply on Dec. 10. Plus, note how the 21-day line has undercut the longer-term 50-day benchmark, an indication of technical weakness. On the other hand, and Alphabet-owned trade above those key moving averages. With its relative strength line rising sharply in recent months, Tesla looks to shake off the Dec. 18 sell-off and recharge its run. Since breaking past its 182.4 entry in a third-stage cup with handle, Google has held tough. Up again Monday, the search, cloud and AI powerhouse has become slightly extended. Costco And Its 'Secret' To Growth While not a high-flying growth stock in the vein of Nvidia, Meta, Alphabet and others, Costco has proved to be a steady yet great winner in past bull markets. The stock's tremendous run since the market bottom in 2009 provides all the evidence. Recurring revenue from membership fees drives solid and steady growth for Costco. The company marks up prices at one rate across the board, while all of the company's profits come from annual member fees, according to " ." Costco's earnings have more than tripled from $5.33 a share in fiscal 2016 (ended in August) to $16.11 in fiscal 2024. shows six quarter of rising fund ownership for Costco. .Stock market today: Wall Street wavers at the start of a holiday-shortened week
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Intel’s new Lunar Lake hardware is a reflection of modern chip design. It’s tempting to call it a “processor” or “CPU” — old habits die hard, after all — but it’s really a system-on-a-chip (SoC), both in terms of architecture and philosophy. The CPU cores are joined by integrated GPU cores, a neural processing unit (NPU), and even on-chip RAM. Also, unlike past Intel chips, Lunar Lake seems set on striking a balance between the three. That’s keenly felt in Intel’s approach to Lunar Lake’s integrated graphics (iGPU). Building on the success of Intel Core Ultra, Intel’s new processors also offer Intel Arc graphics — but this time around, Intel has returned to providing each iGPU a name unique to its configuration, and the best version here is the Intel Arc 140V with eight Xe Cores and a max frequency of 2.05GHz. Meanwhile, Intel’s competition hasn’t been spinning its wheels. AMD’s latest Ryzen AI processors have their own integrated graphics updates in the form of the Radeon 880M (succeeding the well-respected Radeon 780M) and the new Radeon 890M (which clearly thumped an earlier Intel Arc iteration ). So, how well does the iGPU in Intel’s Lunar Lake chips perform? Is it a minor boost over previous incarnations? Or a major update? Spoiler alert: Lunar Lake’s visual chops are good enough to let you play many modern games without paying extra for a discrete graphics card. Keep reading for our in-depth benchmark test results. This article was updated to include benchmark results from the Asus Zenbook S 14 with Intel Core Ultra 7 258V. Additional testing was conducted after initial results suggested the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition might be delivering lower-than-typical graphics performance for this configuration. Hardware specifications for our tests Our game benchmarks below were conducted on two laptops: a Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition with Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor and an Asus Zenbook S 14 with Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor. The Intel Core Ultra 7 processors are high-end Core Ultra 7 chips for slim-and-light laptops, though more mid-range in terms of overall core count and performance (as opposed to, say, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K). These chips are common choices for thin, light, Intel-powered laptops sold above $1,000. Cheaper laptops may offer them as upgrades. While neither the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V nor 258V are the most powerful SKUs in Intel’s latest line-up, their iGPU looks impressive on paper. Both are badged as Intel Arc 140V, which is the best version of Arc integrated graphics in the Lunar Lake line-up. They have eight Intel Xe Cores, the same number as higher Lunar Lake SKUs. With that out of the way, let’s get to the benchmarks. 3DMark Let’s start things off with 3DMark’s Time Spy and Night Raid tests. Time Spy is a more demanding (but still not especially punishing) benchmark while Night Raid is a less demanding benchmark meant for entry-level graphics hardware, including integrated graphics. Matthew Smith / IDG The Asus Zenbook S 14’s Arc 140V shows strong synthetic benchmark performance, scoring 31,946 in Night Raid and 4,236 in Time Spy. That’s a big improvement over the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition’s results of 28,193 and 3,585, respectively. While the Zenbook puts Intel closer to competing with AMD’s Radeon 890M, AMD still maintains an advantage of 39,966 in Night Raid, though it falls behind in Time Spy. That suggests we’ll see varied results in actual games, with Asus’ implementation providing stronger performance than our initial Lenovo test unit. Onward, to the games! Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Let’s give a polite round of applause to . First released in October 2016, the game is now eight years old — and over the course of that journey, it has roughly doubled its active player base since the months following its launch (based on publicly available Steam stats). With due out in 2025, the sun is setting on this title. But, at the moment, it’s still by far the most popular and commercially successful entry in the franchise. It’s also a less demanding game that’s playable even when frame rates dip below 30 FPS, which makes it easy to enjoy on mid-range, thin-and-light laptops with integrated graphics. Matthew Smith / IDG The Asus Zenbook’s Arc 140V delivers 72.46 FPS average with 43.35 FPS 1% lows. While this matches the Lenovo’s average frame rate of 72.6 FPS, the improved 1% low (compared to Lenovo’s 55.6 FPS) suggests more stable performance. However, both Intel Arc 140V laptops trail significantly behind AMD’s Radeon 890M and Radeon 880M, which average 126.5 and 89.9 FPS, respectively. Even the older Radeon 780M beats Intel’s Arc 140V by a few frames per second. That’s a huge advantage for AMD in this title. Dota 2 Although not often discussed in “mainstream” gaming news, still typically sits among the top three games on Steam and has a vibrant esports scene. It’s also the least demanding game used for this test. Matthew Smith / IDG ‘s average frame rate sees another marginal uplift for the Intel Arc 140V. Though it churned out a slightly better average frame rate, its advantage comes down to just a handful of frames, which is trivial in a game that averages above 100 FPS. The minimum frame rate is more impactful. The Asus Zenbook S 14 beat a 1% low of 60 FPS, which means it can generally achieve 60 FPS or better in even the most demanding scenes. Intel Arc 140V beat the 1% lows from the AMD Radeon 880M and 890M laptops by roughly 10 FPS. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition was not as quick, however, and more-or-less tied its AMD-powered peers. Final Fantasy XIV is a personal favorite and remains among the most popular MMORPGs on the market. The latest expansion, , brought a graphics update that noticeably improves texture quality and polygon count. That makes it somewhat challenging for iGPUs to handle, though most can deliver an average around 30 FPS or better at High (Laptop) detail. Matthew Smith / IDG These results are the opposite of what we saw from . The Intel laptops dominate, with the Asus Zenbook S 14 averaging nearly 52 FPS and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition averaging about 45 FPS. Both figures leave AMD’s Radeon 890M and Radeon 880M behind. Total War: Warhammer III Though it sits in the same grand strategy genre as , Creative Assembly’s is far more demanding. It’s enough to challenge the most capable iGPUs, even at just 1080p and the Low detail preset. Intel’s Arc 140V is no exception. Matthew Smith / IDG This is a disappointing result for Intel. While the Asus Zenbook S 14 with Intel Arc 140V delivered a small performance boost over the prior generation of Intel Arc, the game still can’t provide a consistent 30 FPS at these settings. The slower Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is even worse off, as it averaged a tad under 30 FPS. AMD’s Radeon 890M notches a win here, raising the minimum frame rate above the crucial 30 FPS line. The Radeon 880M, on the other hand, finds itself tied with Intel Arc 140V. It’s playable, I suppose, but barely. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Though over 10 years old at this point, is a game that keeps on giving. It remains popular and, thanks to graphical upgrades in the , it’s still somewhat demanding for iGPUs when played at 1080p resolution and High detail. Matthew Smith / IDG These results are good for Intel. While none exactly hit 60 FPS, it’s important to note the game has a 60 FPS cap. Because of that, it’s the minimum frame rate that matters most — and Intel’s Arc 140V beats both the AMD Radeon 890M and Radeon 880M by that metric. On the other hand, the older Dell Inspiron 14 Plus with Intel Arc delivered performance very close to the Asus Zenbook S 14 and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition with Intel Arc 140V. plays well on Intel Arc 140V, but Intel’s prior-gen hardware is nearly as good. Cyberpunk 2077 We finish off with , a notoriously demanding game that, despite a lackluster launch, has roared back to popularity in part thanks to its visually stunning and immersive world. Matthew Smith / IDG This is a good result for the Intel Arc 140V, which delivers a noticeable improvement over its predecessor. Asus’ Zenbook S 14 took a clear lead over the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, as the Asus averaged about 48 FPS against the Lenovo’s 40 FPS. Compared to the AMD-powered systems, Intel’s Arc 140V seems to edge out the AMD Radeon 880M, but it falls behind the AMD Radeon 890M. Still, it’s important to note the Intel Arc 140V scored both average and minimum frame rates above 30 FPS at these settings. That means the game should feel playable on Intel’s Arc 140V — which, given how demanding this game can be, is impressive. Intel Arc 140V performance discussion Intel’s Arc 140V is definitely superior to the prior-gen Intel Arc offering. How much so depends on the game, but best-case scenarios see that it can increase average frame rates by up to 25 percent. That would be significant in any case, but it’s especially important for integrated graphics solutions that often struggle to hit the 30 FPS target in modern titles. An extra 25 percent can mean the difference between clearing a minimum frame rate of 30 FPS or falling short a few frames — and that’s exactly what happens in . However, not every game saw a noticeable performance boost. was no quicker on the new Intel Arc 140V than it was on an older Dell Inspiron 14 Plus with first-gen Intel Arc. The performance uplift was also rather marginal in and . To be fair, though, all these games were enjoyable at the settings we used for testing. We also saw a notable difference in performance between the and . While the former felt like a respectable upgrade over the prior generation, the latter just barely edged ahead. We’ve also tried other laptops with Intel’s Arc 140V, like the , and we’ve found that performance leans closer to the Asus Zenbook S 14 than the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition (so far). But this goes to show that, in 2024, you can’t count on a graphics solution to perform similarly across all laptops that use it. You’ll need to read a review of the specific laptop you want to buy. How does the Intel Arc 140V compare to AMD’s Radeon 880M and Radeon 890M? We’d say the Intel Arc 140V has a general edge over the AMD Radeon 880M but isn’t as quick overall as the AMD Radeon 890M. As mentioned, it depends on the particulars of a given laptop. The verdict on Intel’s Arc 140V In summary, the Intel Arc 140V is a good update over prior Intel Arc integrated graphics. It pushes integrated graphics performance in a way that is at times meaningful, especially in more demanding games (like ) that struggle to offer a steady 30 FPS. In other games, like , the performance increase is evident in benchmarks but slim enough that it’s hard to notice in real gameplay. The real winner in all of this, truth be told, is you. Intel Arc and AMD Radeon integrated graphics solutions are competitive, and that competition is forcing both companies to put their best feet forward. In fact, Intel Arc 140V and AMD Radeon 880M/Radeon 890M graphics can now deliver performance that isn’t far behind some laptops with Nvidia GTX 3050 mobile graphics — and thanks to that, there’s a buffet of modestly priced laptops that can handle today’s most popular PC games. Matthew S. Smith is a freelance technology journalist with 15 years of experience reviewing consumer electronics. In addition to PCWorld, his work can be found on Wired, Ars Technica, Digital Trends, Reviewed, IGN, and Lifewire. Matthew also covers AI and the metaverse for IEEE Spectrum and runs Computer Gaming Yesterday, a YouTube channel devoted to PC gaming history.WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee found “substantial evidence” that former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz solicited prostitutes, used illicit drugs like cocaine and ecstasy and may have violated Florida’s statutory rape law while he was a member of Congress, according to a long-awaited report released Monday . The committee interviewed a witness who said she had sex with Gaetz twice at a party in Florida while she was still 17, and multiple witnesses corroborated the account, according to the report. “The Committee concluded there was substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible gifts, the provision of special favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress,” the report states. Gaetz, who resigned from Congress last month and from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney general, has repeatedly denied the allegations. Earlier Monday, the former congressman filed a lawsuit as a last-ditch effort to block the release of the report, which had already been leaked to several outlets, including CNN and ABC News. “This action challenges the Committee’s unconstitutional and ultra vires attempt to exercise jurisdiction over a private citizen through the threatened release of an investigative report containing potentially defamatory allegations,” the filing stated. Gaetz has long battled allegations of misconduct, including that he had sex with a minor and used illicit drugs. ABC News reported in November that he paid more than $10,000 to two women who were later witnesses in both Justice Department and House probes into his alleged sexual misconduct. Gaetz has not been charged with any crimes, a point he made in a lengthy social media post Wednesday after learning the report would be made public. The House Ethics Committee, like the Justice Department , did not find sufficient evidence that Gaetz violated federal sex trafficking laws. Committee investigators, though, did find evidence that Gaetz regularly paid for sex while a member in the House. “In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated — even some I never dated but who asked,” Gaetz wrote on social media Wednesday. “I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court — which is why no such claim was ever made in court. “My 30’s were an era of working very hard — and playing hard too,” said Gaetz, who is now 42. At least two individuals testified before Ethics Committee investigators that they had witnessed Gaetz using cocaine and ecstasy. According to the report, Gaetz also set up a “pseudonymous e-mail account from his House office in the Capitol complex for the purpose of purchasing marijuana.” In addition, the Ethics panel found that he made “tens of thousands of dollars in payments to women that the Committee determined were likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use.” Per the report, Gaetz would occasionally pay women using “another person’s PayPal account or through an account tied to a pseudonymous e-mail.” The committee interviewed more than half a dozen “witnesses who attended parties, events, and trips with Representative Gaetz from 2017-2020. Nearly every young woman that the Committee interviewed confirmed that she was paid for sex by, or on behalf of, Representative Gaetz,” the report states, although some of those relationships were described as “a date-for-hire arrangement that may not necessarily implicate state prostitution laws.” Gaetz, according to the report, declined to answer the committee’s questions about the payments he made to the women. One of those payments, in the amount of $400 in cash, was allegedly made to the 17-year-old, identified in the report as Victim A, with whom Gaetz is alleged to have had sex at a July 15, 2017, party at a Florida lobbyist’s home, according to the report. The report states that Victim A “did not inform Representative Gaetz that she was under 18 at the time, nor did he ask her age,” but it also notes that a person charged with statory rape in Florida “may not claim ignorance or misrepresentation of the minor’s age as a defense.” Under Florida law , it is a felony for a person 24 years of age or older to engage in sexual activity with a 16- or 17-year-old. The victim told the committee that she had sex with Gaetz twice during the party, including at least once in the presence of other attendees. “At the time, she had just completed her junior year of high school,” the report states. Under scrutiny It has been a whirlwind nearly two months for Gaetz and the normally secretive Ethics panel, which is made up of five Republicans and five Democrats. Shortly after winning a fifth term representing Florida’s 1st District last month, Gaetz announced his resignation from Congress on Nov. 13, the same day Trump announced him as his choice for attorney general. News of Gaetz’s potential promotion sparked outrage from Democrats and some Republicans, along with demands that the Ethics report be made public, or at least shared with senators who would be tasked with confirming the Florida Republican. Amid the uproar, Gaetz pulled his name from consideration on Nov. 21 , seemingly imperiling the release of the report. The Ethics Committee does not have jurisdiction over former members, and cases end when a member leaves office. The committee has in some cases, however, released reports after a member has resigned. Gaetz, who on Sunday teased a potential Senate run from Florida in 2026, is expected to join the One America News network next month as an anchor. On Dec. 5, the committee met for a second time on the Gaetz report and issued a statement saying members were “continuing to discuss the matter.” The same day, two separate attempts by Democrats to force the committee to release the report were rejected on the House floor. According to the Ethics report, the committee voted to release the report at a subsequent meeting on Dec. 10. Assuming all five Democrats backed the release of the report, at least one Republican would have also had to vote in favor of making the document public, though the exact breakdown remains unclear. House Ethics Chairman Michael Guest, a Mississippi Republican, was among the committee members who objected to the release of the report. “While we do not challenge the Committee’s findings, we take great exception that the majority deviated from the Committee’s well-established standards and voted to release a report on an individual no longer under the Committee’s jurisdiction, an action the Committee has not taken since 2006,” Guest said in a dissenting view attached to the report. Democrats, including Illinois Rep. Sean Casten, who introduced one of the measures that would have forced the release of the report, cheered the news. “The release of the Gaetz Report is welcome news for all who care about integrity, accountability, and transparency in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Casten said in a statement Monday. ©2024 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
During his first presidency and in his campaign leading up to the 2024 election, Donald Trump repeatedly pledged to crack down on illegal immigration. As president-elect, Trump posted on Truth Social on Nov. 18 confirming his plans to declare a national emergency and use the U.S. military for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Trump commented “TRUE!!!” with a repost of a Truth Social post from Tom Fitton, who runs the conservative group Judicial Watch . Fitton’s post reads, “GOOD NEWS: Reports are incoming @RealDonaldTrump administration prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program.” Several VERIFY readers, including Debbie, Jacq and Matty, asked us whether Trump can use the military to carry out mass deportations. THE QUESTION Can the president use the military to carry out mass deportations? THE SOURCES David Bier , director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute Peter Margulies , law professor at Roger Williams University Elizabeth Goitein , senior director of the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty & National Security Program Brennan Center for Justice President Joe Biden’s Executive Order #14097 Department of Homeland Security The Posse Comitatus Act U.S. Section 502(f) National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 Lawfare , a nonprofit organization THE ANSWER Yes, it's legal for the president to use the military to help carry out mass deportations and other immigration enforcement actions. The National Guard, with approval from a state's governor, can detain individuals, but the other branches of the military can offer mostly logistical support. WHAT WE FOUND A president has the executive power to deploy the military to assist with immigration enforcement, but there are legal limits on the role the military can play. The Posse Comitatus Act, a 143-year-old law, prohibits the president from using active-duty, full-time service members, such as soldiers or Marines, as a police force, according to the Brennan Center for Justice . That means federal military branches like the U.S. Army or Air Force can’t perform tasks such as detaining individuals or making arrests on U.S. soil, even under a national emergency declaration. David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, explained that active-duty service members, barred from acting like police under Posse Comitatus, would likely focus on non-law enforcement tasks. That could include building infrastructure, like temporary detention facilities, transporting detainees and providing armed backup for domestic law enforcement. The Posse Comitatus Act, however, does not apply to the National Guard, Peter Margulies, a law professor at Roger Williams University, told VERIFY. “The National Guard is a state militia and can be called out by the president with the cooperation of the state governors, and so you could have the National Guard from, let's say, Texas, be used for apprehension. That would not create Posse Comitatus issues,” Margulies said. Trump's post on Truth Social mentioned declaring a national emergency, but the president can request National Guard assistance or federal military assistance with or without declaring a national emergency , according to Chris Mirasola, a contributor for non-profit Lawfare. The Brennan Center for Justice explains that declaring a national emergency grants a president with swift authority during times of crises without waiting for Congressional approval, including diverting federal funds or resources. Both Bier and Margulies told VERIFY Trump's deportation agenda would likely face significant legal challenges and be subject to congressional oversight. And if he declares a national emergency, Congress has the ability to eventually terminate that declaration , but it would require passing a law with a veto-proof supermajority, “which is increasingly difficult in our polarized political environment,” Goitein told VERIFY. Military involvement in immigration enforcement is not unprecedented. In 2019, then-President Trump declared a national emergency to redirect military funds to construct the U.S.-Mexico border wall. More recently, President Joe Biden used a national emergency declaration to deploy the National Guard to the southern border to assist with processing and facility operations tied to drug enforcement. According to Google Trends data , online searches about mass deportation have spiked, with some appearing to link the military's involvement to martial law. Martial law involves the suspension of ordinary law and government functions, with military authorities assuming control. Margulies said even if Trump uses the military in his administration’s deportation efforts, it would not equate to declaring martial law. Margulies explained that martial law hasn’t been used since the Civil War and is “profoundly unlikely” to happen as part of Trump’s proposed initiative because he doesn’t need martial law to execute his deportation plans. Related Articles What we can VERIFY about Trump’s plan to close the U.S. Department of Education Yes, president-elect Donald Trump is legally required to sign an ethics agreement No, the president cannot change Social Security The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter , text alerts and our YouTube channel . You can also follow us on Snapchat , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . 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