After-hours movers: SentinelOne, Synopsys, PVH Corp, Verint Systems, American Eagle( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) NEW YORK, Dec. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) resulting from allegations that Unisys may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So What: If you purchased Unisys securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. To join the prospective class action, go to or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email ... for information on the class action. What is this about: On October 22, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had charged four companies, including Unisys, with“making materially misleading disclosures regarding cybersecurity risks and intrusions.” Further, the SEC also charged Unisys with disclosure controls and procedures violations. On this news, Unisys' stock fell 8.6% on October 22, 2024. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: , on Twitter: or on Facebook: . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 ... MENAFN29122024004107003653ID1109040109 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Chandigarh: Fluoride contamination in the groundwater has been detected beyond permissible limits in parts of over 62% of districts in Punjab and Haryana, raising serious health concerns for residents. Elevated fluoride levels in drinking water have been linked to various health issues, including arthritis, infertility, hypertension, neurotoxicity, and an increased risk of skeletal cancer. Additionally, prolonged exposure can damage organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, and testis. Of the 45 districts in the two states — 23 in Punjab and 22 in Haryana — fluoride levels above 1.5 mg/L were found in 34 districts, 17 each in Punjab and Haryana. In Haryana, 879 water samples were tested, of which 208 (23.66%) exceeded the safe fluoride threshold. The affected districts include Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad, Gurugram, Hisar, Jhajjar, Jind, Karnal, Mahendragarh, Mewat, Palwal, Panchkula, Panipat, Rewari, Rohtak, Sirsa, and Sonipat, according to data presented by the ministry of Jal Shakti in the Rajya Sabha. In Punjab, fluoride contamination was detected in 127 out of 922 samples (13.77%) tested. Districts affected include Amritsar, Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar, Nawanshahr, Patiala, Sangrur, Mohali, and Tarn Taran. In contrast, Himachal Pradesh showed a relatively better situation, with elevated fluoride levels reported only in parts of Sirmaur and Una districts. The ministry emphasised that water contamination poses both immediate and chronic health threats. Pathogens like bacteria and viruses are common hazards, while prolonged chemical exposure, such as fluoride, results in long-term health conditions. To combat the issue, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) monitors groundwater quality and conducts regional studies. In 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was introduced to provide safe drinking water to rural households, particularly in areas with groundwater contamination. The mission focuses on habitations with chemical contaminants, allocating 10% of funds to states and Union Territories based on the affected population. States are encouraged to implement piped water systems using alternative safe sources. As an interim solution, the JJM supports the installation of Community Water Purification Plants (CWPPs) in areas impacted by contaminants like fluoride. These plants ensure immediate access to safe drinking and cooking water while long-term solutions are developed. The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis (NPPCF) has also been active in fluorosis-endemic districts. In 2023-24, around 1.01 lakh individuals were screened, with 8.6% suspected of dental fluorosis. By Sept 30, 2024, approximately 3.89 lakh individuals were examined, with 8.4% suspected cases reported. Since the launch of JJM, significant progress has been made. The number of fluoride-affected habitations nationwide dropped from 7,996 in Aug 2019 to 255 as of Dec 6, 2024. All remaining affected areas now have access to safe drinking water through CWPPs or in-house household purifiers (IHPs), marking a substantial step toward improving public health. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Dallion Johnson scored 25 points and made seven 3-pointers to help FGCU defeat CSU Bakersfield 74-54 on Friday. Johnson went 9 of 14 from the field for the Eagles (1-4). Zavian McLean scored 12 points, going 4 of 9 from the floor, including 1 for 5 from 3-point range, and 3 for 4 from the line. Jevin Muniz went 3 of 10 from the field (2 for 5 from 3-point range) to finish with 10 points, while adding eight rebounds. Marvin McGhee led the Roadrunners (3-2) in scoring, finishing with 15 points. Fidelis Okereke added 10 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) The global loading spout market is set for significant growth, driven by industrial expansion, automation, and environmental regulations. Key regions such as East Asia, North America, and Western Europe will lead the market, with technological advancements boosting demand. NEWARK, Del, Dec. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Future Market Insights (FMI), the global sales of loading spouts , a crucial component in bulk material handling systems, are set to witness significant growth in the coming years. The market is estimated to be worth USD 4,283.2 Million in 2024 and is projected to grow at a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.32% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2034, reaching a value of USD 8,324.3 Million by the end of the decade. This growth is being driven by the increasing demand for efficient and sustainable solutions in logistics, mining, and bulk material handling across various industries. The loading spout market is experiencing rapid growth due to several factors, including the rise in global trade, infrastructure development, and a focus on reducing operational costs and environmental impacts. The growing need for optimized bulk material handling systems, particularly in sectors such as food grains, minerals, cement, and shipping, is fueling the demand for loading spouts. One of the key drivers for the market's growth is the increasing demand for scalable, efficient, and dust-free loading and unloading of materials. Loading spouts are designed to enhance productivity and reduce material losses by ensuring that the handling process remains clean, safe, and efficient. Their ability to handle materials such as grains, powders, and minerals without excessive spillage or dust is a key advantage, particularly in industries where these factors are critical. Technological Advancements and Efficiency Boosting Market Demand Technological advancements in loading spout design are another major factor propelling market growth. The loading spout is equipped with flexible extension and retraction capabilities, which make it suitable for diverse loading requirements. These spouts are designed to be easy to install, adaptable to various types of materials, and able to provide controlled material flow, reducing the risk of spillage and dust emissions. As industries continue to focus on reducing operational downtime and improving material efficiency, leading manufacturers in the loading spout sector are increasingly implementing cutting-edge technologies. This includes innovations that reduce operational costs and enhance the lifespan of the equipment. With a lifespan of up to 10 years or longer, loading spouts provide durable and long-term solutions, making them an attractive choice for industries that rely on bulk material handling . Addressing the Challenges with Innovative Solutions One of the most significant challenges in traditional loading systems is material spillage and dust emissions during the loading process. This leads to operational inefficiencies, product loss, and environmental compliance issues. Such problems not only drive up operational costs but also create safety hazards, ultimately reducing overall productivity and profitability. To address these challenges, manufacturers are focusing on developing innovative loading spout solutions that minimize dust and material losses. These new solutions include advanced features such as automated controls, self-adjusting nozzles, and energy-efficient designs. As these technologies become more prevalent, companies are increasingly adopting them to enhance material handling operations while ensuring compliance with stringent environmental regulations. Sustainability is becoming a key focus for many industries, and the loading spout market is no exception. The rising awareness of the environmental and health impacts of dust pollution has prompted industries to seek more eco-friendly and energy-efficient loading solutions. The growing emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and ensuring that bulk material handling processes meet environmental regulations is driving the demand for advanced loading spouts that offer both operational efficiency and environmental compliance. Manufacturers in the loading spout industry are increasingly focusing on developing solutions that address these concerns. Eco-friendly loading spouts that minimize dust emissions and reduce material wastage are becoming increasingly popular, particularly in industries with strict environmental regulations. “As industries continue to expand and adopt more efficient and environmentally responsible practices, the loading spout industry is expected to play a critical role in shaping the future of bulk material handling across a wide range of sectors. With innovations aimed at reducing operational costs, enhancing material flow, and improving environmental compliance, the loading spout market is poised to meet the evolving needs of industries worldwide,” - opines Nikhil Kaitwade , Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights (FMI). Key Takeaways from the Report: Explore Report Details for More Valuable Insights! Competitive Landscape and Market Outlook The global loading spout industry is highly competitive, with a mix of established material handling equipment manufacturers and specialized companies focusing on bulk loading technologies. This competitive landscape is encouraging innovation, with manufacturers striving to develop more advanced, efficient, and application-specific loading spout designs. As global trade continues to expand and industries push for more automation and operational efficiency, the demand for advanced loading spout technologies is expected to remain strong. The focus on improving throughput rates, reducing material losses, and enhancing worker safety will continue to shape the market's future growth trajectory. Leading Industry Players: Market Segmentation Analysis: By Loading System: By Product Type: By End Users: By Region: Spanish Translation: Según Future Market Insights (FMI), las ventas globales de bocas de carga , un componente crucial en los sistemas de manipulación de materiales a granel, experimentarán un crecimiento significativo en los próximos años. Se estima que el mercado tendrá un valor de USD 4283,2 millones en 2024 y se proyecta que crecerá a una sólida tasa de crecimiento anual compuesta (CAGR) del 5,32 % durante el período de pronóstico de 2024 a 2034, alcanzando un valor de USD 8324,3 millones para fines de la década. Este crecimiento está siendo impulsado por la creciente demanda de soluciones eficientes y sostenibles en logística, minería y manipulación de materiales a granel en varias industrias. El mercado de las bocas de carga está experimentando un rápido crecimiento debido a varios factores, entre ellos el aumento del comercio mundial, el desarrollo de infraestructuras y el enfoque en la reducción de los costos operativos y los impactos ambientales. La creciente necesidad de sistemas optimizados de manipulación de materiales a granel, en particular en sectores como los cereales, los minerales, el cemento y el transporte marítimo, está impulsando la demanda de bocas de carga. Uno de los principales impulsores del crecimiento del mercado es la creciente demanda de una carga y descarga de materiales escalable, eficiente y sin polvo. Las bocas de carga están diseñadas para mejorar la productividad y reducir las pérdidas de material al garantizar que el proceso de manipulación se mantenga limpio, seguro y eficiente. Su capacidad para manipular materiales como granos, polvos y minerales sin derrames excesivos ni polvo es una ventaja clave, en particular en industrias donde estos factores son críticos. Los avances tecnológicos y la eficiencia impulsan la demanda del mercado Los avances tecnológicos en el diseño de las bocas de carga son otro factor importante que impulsa el crecimiento del mercado. La boca de carga está equipada con capacidades flexibles de extensión y retracción, lo que la hace adecuada para diversos requisitos de carga. Estas bocas están diseñadas para ser fáciles de instalar, adaptables a varios tipos de materiales y capaces de proporcionar un flujo de material controlado, lo que reduce el riesgo de derrames y emisiones de polvo. A medida que las industrias continúan enfocándose en reducir el tiempo de inactividad operativa y mejorar la eficiencia de los materiales, los fabricantes líderes en el sector de las bocas de carga están implementando cada vez más tecnologías de vanguardia. Esto incluye innovaciones que reducen los costos operativos y mejoran la vida útil del equipo. Con una vida útil de hasta 10 años o más, las bocas de carga brindan soluciones duraderas y a largo plazo, lo que las convierte en una opción atractiva para las industrias que dependen del manejo de materiales a granel . Abordar los desafíos con soluciones innovadoras Uno de los desafíos más importantes de los sistemas de carga tradicionales es el derrame de material y las emisiones de polvo durante el proceso de carga. Esto genera ineficiencias operativas, pérdida de producto y problemas de cumplimiento de las normas medioambientales. Estos problemas no solo aumentan los costos operativos, sino que también generan riesgos de seguridad, lo que en última instancia reduce la productividad y la rentabilidad generales. Para abordar estos desafíos, los fabricantes se están centrando en el desarrollo de soluciones innovadoras de bocas de carga que minimicen la pérdida de polvo y de material. Estas nuevas soluciones incluyen características avanzadas como controles automatizados, boquillas autoajustables y diseños energéticamente eficientes. A medida que estas tecnologías se vuelven más frecuentes, las empresas las adoptan cada vez más para mejorar las operaciones de manipulación de materiales y, al mismo tiempo, garantizar el cumplimiento de las estrictas normas medioambientales. El papel de la sostenibilidad en la configuración del crecimiento del mercado La sostenibilidad se está convirtiendo en un tema clave para muchas industrias, y el mercado de las bocas de carga no es una excepción. La creciente conciencia sobre los impactos ambientales y de salud de la contaminación por polvo ha impulsado a las industrias a buscar soluciones de carga más ecológicas y energéticamente eficientes. El creciente énfasis en la reducción de las emisiones de carbono y en garantizar que los procesos de manipulación de materiales a granel cumplan con las regulaciones ambientales está impulsando la demanda de bocas de carga avanzadas que ofrezcan tanto eficiencia operativa como cumplimiento ambiental. Los fabricantes de la industria de las tuberías de carga se centran cada vez más en el desarrollo de soluciones que aborden estas preocupaciones. Las tuberías de carga ecológicas que minimizan las emisiones de polvo y reducen el desperdicio de material son cada vez más populares, en particular en industrias con estrictas regulaciones ambientales. Conclusiones clave del informe: “A medida que las industrias continúan expandiéndose y adoptando prácticas más eficientes y responsables con el medio ambiente, se espera que la industria de las bocas de carga desempeñe un papel fundamental en la configuración del futuro del manejo de materiales a granel en una amplia gama de sectores. Con innovaciones destinadas a reducir los costos operativos, mejorar el flujo de materiales y mejorar el cumplimiento ambiental, el mercado de las bocas de carga está preparado para satisfacer las necesidades cambiantes de las industrias en todo el mundo”, opina Nikhil Kaitwade , vicepresidente asociado de Future Market Insights (FMI). Panorama competitivo y perspectivas del mercado La industria mundial de las bocas de carga es altamente competitiva, con una combinación de fabricantes de equipos de manipulación de materiales establecidos y empresas especializadas que se centran en tecnologías de carga a granel. Este panorama competitivo fomenta la innovación, y los fabricantes se esfuerzan por desarrollar diseños de bocas de carga más avanzados, eficientes y específicos para cada aplicación. A medida que el comercio mundial continúa expandiéndose y las industrias presionan por una mayor automatización y eficiencia operativa, se espera que la demanda de tecnologías avanzadas de bocas de carga se mantenga fuerte. El enfoque en mejorar las tasas de rendimiento, reducir las pérdidas de material y mejorar la seguridad de los trabajadores seguirá dando forma a la trayectoria de crecimiento futuro del mercado. Principales actores de la industria: Análisis de segmentación del mercado: Por sistema de carga: Por tipo de producto: Por los usuarios finales: Por región: About Future Market Insights (FMI) – Industrial Automation The industrial automation division of Future Market Insights (FMI) offers a novel approach and innovative perspective in analyzing the industrial automation market. Comprehensive coverage of capital, portable, process, construction, industrial, and special-purpose machinery across the manufacturing sector and distinctive analysis of the installed base, consumables, replacement, and USP-feature-application matrix make us a pioneering voice in the industry. We are preferred associates with established as well as budding industry stakeholders and channel partners when it comes to sustaining, growing, and identifying new revenue prospects. Author by: Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.) has over a decade of experience in market research and business consulting. He has successfully delivered 1500+ client assignments, predominantly in Automotive, Chemicals, Industrial Equipment, Oil & Gas, and Service industries. His core competency circles around developing research methodology, creating a unique analysis framework, statistical data models for pricing analysis, competition mapping, and market feasibility analysis. His expertise also extends wide and beyond analysis, advising clients on identifying growth potential in established and niche market segments, investment/divestment decisions, and market entry decision-making. Nikhil holds an MBA degree in Marketing and IT and a Graduate in Mechanical Engineering. Nikhil has authored several publications and quoted in journals like EMS Now, EPR Magazine, and EE Times. Explore Future Market Insights, Inc. Extensive Coverage in Industrial Automation Domain: The global material handling equipment market is expected to be valued at USD 6,555.9 Million in 2033. The global stationary battery storage industry is projected to grow from an estimated USD 18,443.8 Million in 2024. The global gas detection equipment market size is to exceed USD 6,801.6 Million in 2034. The global industrial safety gloves market share will surpass USD 13.5 Billion by 2034. The global scissor lift industry size is projected to reach a value of USD 4251.7 Million by 2034. The global oil and gas seal industry value is forecasted to surpass USD 1871.8 Million in 2034. The global inflatable tent sales are projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period 2024 to 2034. The global variable air volume systems demand is expected to surge at 10.2% CAGR in the forecast period from 2024 to 2034. The global head protection equipment industry revenue to reach USD 8.4 Billion mark by 2034. The global test and measurement equipment industry revenue share will cross USD 61,534.3 Million by 2034. Explore the latest news on Locomotive Drive Shaft Market Outlook: 2024-2034 About Future Market Insights (FMI): Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai, and has delivery centers in the UK, USA and India. FMI's latest market research reports and market analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers. Join us as we commemorate 10 years of delivering trusted market insights. Reflecting on a decade of achievements, we continue to lead with integrity, innovation, and expertise. Contact Us: Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-347-918-3531 For Sales Enquiries: ... Website: LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs | YouTube Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN29122024003118003196ID1109040146 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Welltower Inc. stock rises Friday, still underperforms marketJason Mackey: After strong start to season, Mike Tomlin deserves blame for Steelers' frustrating loss to Browns
NJ Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a gubernatorial candidate, roasted for faking Spotify stats to look like a Bruce Springsteen superfanI Tried the $299 Feno Smartbrush to Clean My Teeth. It's a MouthfulLOS ANGELES , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Salt AI, a pioneer in AI workflow orchestration, today announced it has raised $3M in seed funding and appointed technology veteran Aber Whitcomb as Chief Executive Officer. Whitcomb, former Co-Founder and CTO of MySpace and Jam City, brings decades of experience scaling breakthrough technologies across social media, mobile gaming, and blockchain. The funding round was led by Morpheus Ventures with participation from Struck Capital, and Irregular Expressions. The investment will accelerate development of Salt's proprietary AI orchestration platform and expand its market presence. "We're pleased to back the Salt AI team. Aber Whitcomb's impressive track record of success in launching and scaling businesses, paired with the immense market opportunity makes this an exciting investment for us," said Kristian Blaszczynski , Partner at Morpheus. "Very soon, AI will power almost every industry and Salt will be the engine on which enterprises execute." Salt offers a unified AI collaboration environment where organizations can securely connect their firewalled data to build AI automations, agentic workflows and bespoke AI solutions. With a visual drag and drop interface, and full-code capabilities, every member of an organization can collaborate in real time to build powerful AI on the Salt platform. Teams can deploy in one click to Salt's cloud infrastructure that autoscales to meet the real-time needs of any use case. "We're at an inflection point where AI can transform how companies operate, but only if we make it truly accessible and actionable," said Aber Whitcomb , CEO of Salt AI. "Salt's platform enables teams to create powerful AI agents and workflows that automate complex tasks and drive real business impact. I'm excited to lead Salt as we help organizations build and scale their AI capabilities." Salt integrates with all major closed-source and open-source LLMs and supports diffusion models for generative art. Users can connect to 30+ enterprise data sources for both reading and writing, with new connections being released weekly. To learn more about Salt AI's platform and start building AI workflows today, visit www.salt.ai and register for their free trial. About Salt AI Founded in 2023 by Aber Whitcomb and Jim Benedetto , Salt's mission is to empower every organization to harness AI to work smarter and gain competitive advantage. The platform features a visual-first interface for non-technical collaborators, and full-code capabilities for technical builders. Users can connect to all major closed and open-source LLMs and diffusion models, and integrate with 30+ enterprise data sources. Salt is the leading unified AI collaboration environment that enables organizations to build, deploy, and scale AI solutions. About Morpheus Ventures Founded in 2016, Morpheus Ventures is one of the largest early-stage investors based in Los Angeles , and is investing in the disruption of large markets across the technology landscape from consumer to enterprise technologies including data analytics, machine learning, robotics, transportation, and SaaS. The firm is headquartered in Los Angeles and backs great entrepreneurs worldwide. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/salt-ai-raises-3m-elevates-aber-whitcomb-to-ceo-302334106.html SOURCE Salt AIZURICH (AP) — Saudi Arabia scored a major win in its campaign to attract major sports events to the kingdom when it was formally appointed as the 2034 World Cup host on Wednesday. Still, many questions remain about the tournament as well as the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three games in South America. Here are some of the key issues that need to be answered over the next decade: Saudi Arabia proposes 15 stadiums — eight still on paper — in five cities: Eight in the capital Riyadh, four in the Red Sea port city Jeddah, and one each in Abha, Al Khobar and Neom, the planned futuristic mega-project. Each would have at least 40,000 seats for World Cup games. The opening game and final are set for a 92,000-seat venue planned in Riyadh. Some designs are vivid . In Neom, the stadium is planned 350 meters (yards) above street level and one near Riyadh is designed to be atop a 200-meter cliff with a retractable wall of LED screens. Saudi Arabia aims to host all 104 games, though there has been speculation that some games could be played in neighboring or nearby countries. Surely not in the traditional World Cup period of June-July, when temperatures in Saudi Arabia routinely exceed 40 Celsius (104 degrees). FIFA moved the Qatar-hosted World Cup to November-December 2022, though those dates were not loved by most European clubs and leagues whose seasons were interrupted. Also, that slot is complicated in 2034 by the holy month of Ramadan through mid-December and Riyadh hosting the multi-sport Asian Games. January 2034 could be a possibility even though that would be just before the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The International Olympic Committee has signaled it won’t be opposed to back-to-back major events. In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Saudi World Cup bid official Hammad Albalawi said the precise dates of the tournament are up the world soccer body. “That’s a decision by FIFA. We stand ready to be part of this conversation. But ultimately it’s a FIFA decision together with the confederations,” Albalawi said. Giving more rights and freedoms to women in a traditionally conservative society is fundamental to Saudi messaging around the modernization program known as Vision 2030. The kingdom decided in 2017 to let women attend sports events, initially in major cities and in family zones separate from men-only sections. By 2034, at the promised pace of social reforms, female fans should not be restricted. Saudi Arabia launched a women’s professional soccer league in 2022 with players joining from clubs in Europe. They face no restrictions playing in shorts and with hair uncovered. The Saudi prohibition of alcohol is clear and understood before FIFA signs any sponsor deals for 2034. But will there be any exceptions? The alcohol issue was problematic for the World Cup in Qatar because the expectation was created that beer sales would be allowed at stadiums even before Qatar won its bid in 2010. One year later, FIFA extended a long-time deal to have Budweiser as the official World Cup beer through 2022. Qatar then backtracked on that promise three days before the first game, causing confusion and the sense of a promise broken. In Qatar, alcohol was served only at luxury suites at the stadiums. Visitors could also have a drink in some hotel bars. But Saudi Arabia has even stricter rules on alcohol — and there is no indication that will change. Albalawi noted that Saudi Arabia has successfully hosted dozens of sports events where alcohol wasn't served. “We’re creating a safe and secure family environment for fans to bring their families into our stadiums,” he said. Saudi promises to reform and enforce labor laws, and fully respect migrant workers, have been accepted by FIFA but face broad skepticism from rights groups and trade unions. A formal complaint is being investigated by the U.N.-backed International Labor Organization. Protecting the migrant workers needed to build stadiums and other tournament projects — a decade after it was a defining issue for Qatar — looms as a signature challenge for Saudi Arabia. Saudi-Israeli relations had been improving when FIFA all but gave the 2034 World Cup to the kingdom on Oct. 4 last year. Three days later Hamas attacked Israel and diplomacy got more complicated. Any soccer federation bidding to host a FIFA tournament accepts a basic principle that whichever team qualifies is welcome. That did not stop Indonesia putting up barriers last year to Israel coming for the men’s Under-20 World Cup. Indonesia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel which had qualified through a European tournament nine months before the issue flared. FIFA moved the entire tournament to Argentina and the Israeli team reached the semifinals. Israel played at the 1970 World Cup but has never advanced through qualifying in Europe, where it has been a member of UEFA for 30 years. Europe should have 16 places in the 48-team World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Most of the attention at the FIFA Congress on Wednesday was on the Saudi decision, but the soccer body and its members also formally approved the hosts of the 2030 World Cup — the most spread out and longest ever. One game each in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, the original host in 1930, will be played from June 8-9. The tournament resumes four days later for the other 101 games shared between Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Six countries, three continents, multiple languages and currencies. Fans traveling on planes, trains, automobiles and boats across about 14 kilometers (10 miles) of water between Spain and Morocco. The final is due on July 21, 2030 and a decision on where it will be played could cause some tension between the host countries. Morocco wants it in the world’s biggest soccer venue — the planned 115,000-seat King Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca. Spain, meanwhile, has proposed to host the final in either of the remodeled home stadiums of club giants Real Madrid or Barcelona. Associated Press writer Baraa Anwer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, contributed to this report.
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NCHM JEE 2025 Registration Process Starts At exams.nta.ac.in/NCHM; Details HereAs artificial intelligence is sprinting forward, many argue that the public policy to regulate the technology is falling behind. And with the federal government playing catch-up, states are taking small steps to fill that vacuum, but several sectors, including attorneys general, argue that state-level efforts offer an inadequate, patchwork of rules when what's really needed, they argue, is a uniform standard on the national and international stage. Others cautioned against rushing to regulate without careful analysis of a proposed policy's ramifications for businesses, consumers and companies' freedom to innovate. Like the internet, U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen said the genie cannot be put back in the bottle. Today, AI can be used in every industry in some form or another. Used right, advocates say, its potential is vast — the technology can make jobs faster, smarter, more efficient. When used for nefarious purposes, it can make scamming, defrauding or ruining people's reputations faster and easier. On the international stage, Pettersen said the race to set AI policy is playing out between the United States and China, and she's worried about the latter gaining the upper hand. Recently elected to her second term in Colorado’s 7th District, Pettersen said public policy to regulate AI must take center stage next year, when a new Republican Congress takes over. U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat in Colorado’s 6th District, looks to start making progress by year’s end. “Great legislation starts with its first hearing, and I feel a great sense of urgency,” Hickenlooper said during a Nov. 19 Senate hearing focused on protecting consumers from AI deepfakes. A “deepfake” refers to AI-generated images or videos that look real, a phenomenon further popularized by a viral Tiktok of a deepfake of “Tom Cruise” goofing around. With Donald Trump winning the presidency and Republicans securing the majority in both chambers of the U.S. Congress, Pettersen said she is confident regulating AI will remain a priority, given both House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries came together to create the AI Working Group in 2024. Pettersen was appointed to the bipartisan group, which is exploring how AI impacts financial services and housing industries. While there is bipartisan interest in developing AI regulations, Pettersen said a “dysfunctional Congress” creates challenges, especially in an election year, in which the working group’s progress was stalled to some degree. “I really worry about areas like this where we need to be leading the way globally and making sure that China is not the one doing that,” Pettersen said. “I don’t want a future where China’s leading on AI. It needs to be the United States and we have to come together in Congress to bring comprehensive pragmatic, bipartisan solutions. It cannot matter (which party) has the majority. This needs to continue to be a bipartisan effort.” Pettersen said it is vital that the U.S. is setting global standards that other countries will follow, noting that such safeguards are “critical for our national security and for consumers.” When asked if China is already leading the U.S. in setting global policy, Pettersen said no, but admitted the race is on. “China is making significant investments,” she said. “We can’t get behind them, and this is really going to define, you know, what the next 100 years looks like for global leadership, and we need to make sure that it’s people here in the United States that are benefitting not only from these technologies in their lives, but also the financial benefit of innovating and leading here in the U.S.A." Already, China is advocating that the United Nations take the leading role on global governance of AI , a move that could sideline the U.S. While both China and the U.S. agree that AI poses risks, China has built extensive surveillance systems, which carry AI components, that tracks its citizens through chat apps and mobile phones. The U.S. has criticized China's approach. Pettersen said the risk to public interest continues to grow “exponentially” as companies develop AI technology at record pace. Comparing it to when the internet first came online, Pettersen said the U.S. must navigate the guardrails. The illustration shows how states are taking action to regulate artificial intelligence. Pettersen said besides focusing on the global aspect, setting national standards is needed as a preemptive guide for states to follow. “The debate will continue, but right now, what we’re seeing is that without federal action, we’re seeing patchwork approaches across states,” the congresswoman said. “It makes it incredibly difficult, I think, for AI industries and how they’re navigating some of those regulations. So, I think a national standard will help give states those protections and guidance.” Hickenlooper said states are moving forward and conceded it is a patchwork approach. He said some states are focusing on laws that protect election integrity, others on non-consensual intimate imagery, while some have done nothing at all. In Colorado, Attorney General Phil Weiser told Colorado Politics he is taking AI regulation seriously while awaiting federal guidelines, calling state policy "second best." "The first best world is one where we have federal leadership and federal public policy frameworks in the areas of AI,” Weiser said. “If we can’t live in the first best world, the second-best world for us to live in is a world where states are providing that leadership." He added: "And I do prefer state leadership in technology to no leadership in technology policy. And, if you will, the third best world, or maybe you say the worst world, is there is no leadership at all, and technology companies have no guardrails when it comes to protecting consumer privacy or how they manage data or how they use artificial intelligence.” The best way to build trust and operate in a way that consumers can believe in requires the federal government to provide policy leadership, Weiser said. In 2024, the Colorado legislature passed a first-of-its-kind bill that sponsors said would protect consumers from "bias" in artificial intelligence development. Several organizations representing the technology industry had urged Polis to veto the bill, arguing it would harm small businesses developing artificial intelligence technology. At its core, Senate Bill 205 establishes regulations governing the development and use of artificial intelligence in Colorado and focuses on combatting "algorithmic discrimination." It defines "algorithmic discrimination" to mean any condition in which AI increases the risk of "unlawful differential treatment" that then "disfavors" an individual or group of people on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, race, religion, veteran status, English proficiency and other classes protected by state laws. In May, Gov. Jared Polis reluctantly signed the measure into law, which is slated to go into effect in February 2026. In the meantime, Weiser’s office is tasked with implementing the law by creating audit policies and identifying high-risk AI practices. While Polis signed the law, he and Weiser vowed to revise it before it actually takes effect. In a statement to Colorado Politics, the governor’s office said, “Governor Polis believes this legislation was the beginning of a conversation around AI and looks forward to continuing to discuss this issue with legislators and stakeholders and ensure the final product supports innovation before the 2026 implementation date. Governor Polis is a former tech entrepreneur and supports technological advancements like AI that can support consumers, reduce bias, and help drive Colorado’s economy.” In June, Weiser, Polis, and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, the bill's sponsor, signed a letter promising several steps before implementing the law in 2026. This includes creating a task force to revise the new law in the upcoming 2025 session to minimize unintended consequences. The goal, they said, is to “provide for a balanced regulatory scheme that prevents discrimination while supporting innovation in technology.” The letter also identified the areas the task force will tackle, including the following: • Refining the definition of artificial intelligence systems to the most high-risk systems • Focusing on the developers of these high-risk systems, rather than on small companies that are deploying the technology • Shifting from a proactive disclosure regime to traditional enforcement • Making clear that consumer right of appeal refers to the ability for consumers to appeal to the attorney general. • Considering other measures the state can take to become the most welcoming environment for technological innovation Alvin McBorrough, founder and managing partner of OGx, a Denver consulting firm that focuses on technology and analytics, applauded Colorado lawmakers for approving Senate Bill 205 . “The ultimate goal is to provide protection for the well-being of the citizens, public interest, and trust,” McBorrough said. “It’s a pretty comprehensive role that has been developed to make sure that developers and deployers of AI technology systems have some level of control around it.” As a practitioner and advisor in the AI industry, McBorrough said he reviewed the new law and asked himself if it’s better to have some form of regulation right now that can be tweaked — instead of none at all. “I was a proponent leaning towards going forward and coming up with some kind of framework and put that in place,” he said. “You can always come back and approve upon it, but if there is nothing, there is a free for all, and that is what is happening right now.” McBorrough said one of the biggest drawbacks in AI is the development of "algorithmic" biases, which can have negative impacts in housing, healthcare and education. “We’ve never seen one technology so profound and so promising,” McBorrough said. “I think at the end of the day, just from a human perspective, I will say this is going to be another area that will profoundly impact all of us — the way we learn, the way we play, and the way we continue to grow. We have to make sure that whatever we are developing is 100% on the up and up.” On the other hand, some 200 business leaders, including some of Colorado's most prominent executives, earlier wrote the governor about their "collective concern" regarding the new law. Also earlier, Eli Wood, the founder of software company Black Flag Design, expressed worries the legislation would inadvertently disadvantage small startups, such as his company, that heavily depend on open-source AI systems. Wood said the bill could penalize small businesses for "algorithmic" bias identified in their system, even if the bias originated from the open-source system rather than the one developed by the small business itself. Alvin McBorrough, founder and managing partner of OGx, a Denver consulting firm that focuses on technology and analytics, speaks at a recent AI Tomorrow Workshop in Boulder. In chairing a Nov. 19 Senate hearing, Hickenlooper heard testimony about the dangers the public faces if or when AI technology falls into the wrong hands. Hickenlooper is pushing for the passage of several AI-related bills to protect minors and veterans from AI misuse. During the hearing, Hany Farid, a professor at the University of California Berkeley School of Information, said lawmakers considering a five- or 10-year plan need to realize that without regulations, “everything is going to get worse.” Farid pointed out that ChatGPT went from zero to one billion users in a year. According to Bloomberg, generative AI is slated to become a $1.3 trillion industry by 2032. In 2022, the AI industry was worth $40 billion. “Five years is an eternity in this space,” Farid said. “We need to be thinking tomorrow and next year. Here is what we know — hundreds of billions of dollars are being poured into predictive AI and generative AI. The technology is going to get better, it’s going to get cheaper, and it's going to become more ubiquitous. That means the bad guys are going to continue to weaponize it unless we figure out how to make that unbearable for them.” By unbearable, Farid said the answer is for lawmakers to hold big tech companies accountable as developers of a technology that, in the hands of "deployers," can be weaponized for scams and other bad behavior. Weaponizing AI includes a variety of scams that are starting to cost the general public money, time and dignity. Farid said a restaurant or retailer can tell AI to produce 20 positive reviews to post online. Fake videos and images can ruin someone’s reputation, while senior citizens and veterans can be scammed out of money because the technology is so realistic, he said. Dorota Mani testified that her daughter became a victim of "deepfake" pornography distribution. Mani testified that her daughter’s high school classmate created "deepfakes" — nude images of her that were circulated around school. Because the school did not have any AI policies — and the state and federal government have no laws against the production of fake nude images — the student who produced them faced very little to no consequence. “I want to start with saying that our situation is really not unique,” Mani said. “It has been happening and it is happening right now. Last year, when we found out, or we were informed by the school, what has happened to us, the first thing we did, obviously, was we called a lawyer in the school sector. We were informed that nothing can be truly done because there are no school policies and no legislation, and the lawyers repeat exactly the same thing." She added: "So, when my daughter heard from the administration that, you know, she should be wearing a victim's badge and just go for counseling, she came home, and she told me, ‘I want to bring laws to my school so that way my sister, my younger sister, will have a safer digital future’.” In November, explicit images of nearly 50 female students created controversy inside a Pennsylvania school district. According to reports , the explicit photos were created and posted by a ninth-grade male student and not removed or reported to police for months. Mani said this is but another case proving schools are unprepared to battle "deepfake" posts, and why guidance from the federal government is imperative. Mani applauded current efforts to pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act . Co-sponsored by Hickenlooper, the TAKE IT DOWN Act seeks to protect minors from AI scams. The measure passed the Senate on Dec. 3. If signed into law, the measure will criminalize the publication, without the subject's consent, of intimate imagery on social media and other online sites. The bill requires social media companies to develop procedures to remove content upon notification from a victim. For instance, once a platform like Facebook is informed of a deepfake video or image, the company would have 48 hours to take it down. “The TAKE IT DOWN Act allows the victims to take control over their own image, and I think that is so important,” Mani said. “It gives the freedom to anybody affected to just move on with their life, which sometimes that's all they want.” According to a 2019 Sensity report, these types of deepfake pornography, created without the consent or knowledge of the subjects, accounts for 96% of the total deepfake videos posted online. Justin Brookman, the director of technology policy for Consumer Reports said recent research suggests that generative AI can be used to scale “spear phishing,” which is the personalization of phishing messages based on personal data to make them more convincing. With only a few seconds of a person’s voice and image easily found on social media, Brookman and fellow panelists agreed that believable "deepfakes" are being created, costing consumers billions in losses each year. The cost of creating "deepfakes" is getting cheaper with technology. Brookman estimated that what once cost spear phishing creators $4.60 per message is now only 12 cents. Brookman said the federal government can be more effective by beefing up the staffing at the Federal Trade Commission, even if no laws or new regulations are passed. In his report to the Senate committee, Brookman said scams and fraud are already illegal under a variety of federal and state civil criminal laws. However, the FTC only has 1,292 full-time employees to pursue its competition and consumer protection missions. The number of FTC staff has plateaued for about 14 years, Brookman said, noting that in 1979, the agency had 1,746 employees. “The FTC is expected to hold giant sophisticated tech giants accountable for their transgressions, but they are severely hamstrung by unjustifiable resource constraints,” Brookman said. The Associated Press contributed to this story.US authorities on Tuesday charged the man suspected of gunning down a health insurance CEO in New York earlier this month with murder, including a charge of second-degree murder "as an act of terrorism." Mangione, 26, is accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street on December 4, triggering a nationwide manhunt that ended last week when he was spotted at a Pennsylvania McDonald's. The former data engineer remains jailed in that state as he fights efforts to extradite him to New York to face charges there over the killing, which brought into focus widespread public anger against the US health care system. Mangione "is charged with one count of murder in the first degree and two counts of murder in the second degree, including one count of murder in the second degree as an act of terrorism," said Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg. Bragg said the terrorism charge was included because the shooting met the prerequisites for such a determination under New York law. "In its most basic terms, this was a killing that was intended to evoke terror and we've seen that reaction," he said. "This was not an ordinary killing." The maximum penalty for the murder charges Mangione faces is life in prison without parole, Bragg said. The suspect was also charged with several crimes related to his possession of a weapon, which authorities said was a 3D-printed "ghost gun." "We allege he... took out a nine-millimeter 3D-printed ghost gun equipped with a 3D-printed suppressor and shot (Thompson) once in the back and once in the leg," said Bragg. "These weapons are increasingly proliferating throughout New York City and the entire country. Evolving technology will only make this problem worse," he said. "Last year, over 80 ghost guns and ghost gun parts were recovered in Manhattan alone." In the wake of Thompson's killing, many social media users have lionized Mangione, with some even calling for further killings of other CEOs. Jessica Tisch, the New York City police commissioner, criticized members of the public who had praised the murder. "In the nearly two weeks since Mr Thompson's killing, we have seen a shocking and appalling celebration of cold-blooded murder," said Tisch. Mangione is due in Pennsylvania court on Thursday for a hearing on his extradition to New York. Police say a "life-changing, life-altering" back injury may have motivated Mangione, although they added that there was "no indication" that he was ever a client of UnitedHealthcare. When he was arrested, Mangione had a three-page handwritten text criticizing the US health care system. Police have said that Mangione's fingerprints matched those found near the crime scene, and that shell casings match the gun found on him when he was arrested. Bragg said that the suspect traveled to New York on November 24 with the intention of murdering Thompson. On December 4, he is alleged to have waited "for nearly an hour" outside the hotel where Thompson was shot early that morning. "This was a frightening, well planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation," said district attorney Bragg. bur-aha/md
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the US by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the US Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump.Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on treatments for transgender minors
2024 was a major year for new vehicle launches, with new generations of key models like the Toyota LandCruiser Prado, plus the first of a new wave of Chinese auto brands entering the market. or signup to continue reading But many models also departed the Australian market, headlined by the departure of what had been the longest-running auto brand in Australia: Citroen. In fact, there were so many discontinuations that we split all the SUVs axed in Australia . Scroll below for all the passenger cars axed this year, or click on one of the links below to take you directly to a vehicle. If you love the look of the , rest assured you'll still be able to buy a car that looks like this – it'll just have electric power. BMW of the 4 Series Gran Coupe and its back in April, but never confirmed timing for the combustion-powered model. Somewhat unusually, the electric version sold in considerably greater numbers than the petrol model. To the end of November, BMW sold 1866 i4s in Australia this year, against just 243 examples of the 4 Series Gran Coupe. That led to BMW pulling the plug on the petrol-powered range. "The high volume of new BMW models introduced to the local market prompts us to constantly assess our product portfolio in line with customer demand and our commitment to offering products that suit individual needs," a BMW Australia spokesperson told in a statement. "This has led us to restructure the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe lineup." The 4 Series Gran Coupe was the second BMW to bear the Gran Coupe nameplate, which has been applied to a five-door liftback (the 4 Series Gran Coupe), a four-door sedan (the ), and what you could arguably call four-door coupes (the and ). This nomenclature was born in a period where BMW was busily chasing niches, including coupe SUVs like the and and the unusual Gran Turismo models which were more upright five-door hatchbacks. The second-generation 4 Series Gran Coupe was revealed in June 2021 and arrived here later that year, sharing the same plunging double-kidney grille as coupe and convertible 4 Series models. While it later gained an electric version, the i4, it never received a full-fat M version like the other 4 Series body styles. There was no M4 version of the first-generation 4 Series Gran Coupe, either. With the axing of the base 420i in 2023, just two variants remained: the turbocharged four-cylinder, rear-wheel drive 430i and the turbocharged six-cylinder, all-wheel drive M440i xDrive. Though the Gran Coupe brought superior practicality over the , if not the Touring wagon, it cost up to $14,100 more than its booted counterpart. 4 Series Gran Coupe sales had peaked in 2015 and 2022 with 858 sales in both years – incidentally, both of which were the first full years of their respective generations. Citroen had been hanging on like grim death in Australia, even as its sales winnowed away each year. From a height of 3803 sales in 2007, Citroen fell below 1000 annual units in 2016 and continued sliding. Its retail network continued to shrink, and Peugeot Citroen Australia's decision to make Peugeot its exclusive commercial vehicle brand here killed one of its higher-volume models, the Berlingo. Most embarrassingly for the brand, it was outsold by Ferrari in 2020 and 2021. But there were signs Peugeot Citroen Australia was taking the brand seriously here, introducing the in 2021 and in 2022. These replaced the old C4 and C5 that hadn't been on sale here for several years, and came after several years of Citroen focusing on more traditionally SUV-shaped models. Not that the C4 and C5 X were conventional passenger cars themselves, with their higher-riding stances blurring the lines between cars and SUVs. Though it was the C5 X that wore the 'X' suffix commonly used for SUVs, it was the C4 that was classified as an SUV in VFACTS industry sales reports. There was a C4 X, mind you, but this was a sedan version of the C4 that we never received. Confused? We were too. Disinterested? Well, it seems Australians were. C4 sales peaked at 94 units in its first full year on sale, before falling; the same happened with the C5 X, with 68 sold in its first full year on sale. From launch to the end of November 2024, Citroen sold just 200 C4s and 168 C5 Xs. The rarest of them all is the C5 X Plug-in Hybrid, for which orders opened in May... just three months before Citroen announced it was pulling up stumps here. Being an order-only vehicle and priced just over $16,000 higher than the regular C5 X, itself not the most affordable vehicle of its size, it may be one of the rarest Citroens ever sold here. The C4 and C5 X may have lacked the clever hydropneumatic suspension of older Citroens, but with their quirky styling and focus on comfort – in suspension tuning and even in the construction of their seats – these cars were distinctively Citroen. Alas, it seems buyers just didn't care. While we received new generations of Citroen's small and medium/large cars, the latest – revealed in October 2023, and in April this year – was kept from us. That was perhaps an early warning that the brand wasn't going to stick around here for long, and in August this year distributor Inchcape Australia announced it would close orders for all Citroen vehicles. The third-generation C3 arrived here in 2017, with an extremely mild facelift coming in 2021. That means the C3 is much the same as when it arrived here around seven years ago, and sales figures have reflected that. From a height of 122 sales in 2018, sales fell to double digits in 2019 and have subsequently remained relatively steady, if very, very low. The price has climbed since launch and this year sat at $32,267 before on-road costs for the single Shine variant, putting it up against vehicles the segment above. But even comparing it with similarly sized vehicles with similarly premium pricing, the C3 comes up short. From its 2017 launch to the end of November this year, Citroen has sold 544 C3s. In contrast, Audi sold 462 and Skoda sold 433 in 2023 alone. Showing just how far Citroen sales have dropped off over the years, as well as the decline in light car sales, the brand sold upwards of 908 examples of the first-generation C3 in 2003. The is cute as a bug, but its ability to survive year after year well after rivals were replaced made it seem like more of a cockroach. It's still being manufactured, but Fiat announced it was axing the petrol-powered 500 in Australia in August. As of December, however, it still has stock at its dealers. The 500 and its hotter sibling are sold alongside the new-generation Fiat 500e and Abarth 500e, electric-only micro cars with similar styling but much more modern underpinnings and technology. With the set to be joined by a mild-hybrid petrol-powered variant in 2026, this should finally spell the end of the old 500, which has been in production since 2007 and which launched here in 2008. In that time, Fiats from the little Panda to the Dodge Journey-based Freemont have come and gone from the Australian market, but the little 500 has kept on ticking with the occasional minor refresh. Though it no longer sells in quite the same volumes as it did in the early/mid 2010s – where it sold between 2000 and 3000 units annually – it still sells in consistent volumes in a segment that consists solely of it and the . Last year, Fiat sold 581 examples of the 500 and its Abarth sibling in Australia, an increase on the year before despite the axing of their cabriolet models. When the E-Type ended production in 1974, it left a hole in Jaguar's lineup. The XJ-S that succeeded it was more of a grand tourer, a tradition which its XK replacement followed in. It wasn't until the , which entered production in 2013, that Jaguar had a genuine spiritual successor to the E-Type. An E-Type successor had existed in development hell during the 1980s and 1990s, before Jaguar revealed the F-Type concept in 2000... only for a planned production version to be scrapped before it could see the light of day. Fast-forward to the 2011 Frankfurt motor show and the F-Type as we came to know it was previewed in concept form, albeit featuring a supercharged V6 hybrid powertrain that never reached production. Instead, the production coupe – which looked essentially identical to the concept – was launched with a choice of supercharged V6 or V8 powertrains. Like the E-Type, there was also a convertible; unlike the iconic Jag, there was an all-wheel drive option. Also in a departure from past Jaguar two-doors, a turbocharged four-cylinder engine joined the range. Designed under Ian Callum, the F-Type was widely regarded as gorgeous. Somehow a facelift, revealed in 2019, arguably improved the styling with a more aggressive look up front. The F-Type featured all-aluminium construction, and Jaguar touted the coupe as the most torsionally rigid production car it had ever built. While the four- and six-cylinder powertrains weren't shrinking violets, the supercharged V8 was the star. For 2022, Jaguar Australia dropped the four- and six-cylinder engines entirely, leaving the blown 5.0-litre in 331kW/580Nm P450 and 423kW/700Nm R tunes. In June 2024, Jaguar revealed the final F-Type and what it says will be its final combustion-powered sports car: a supercharged 5.0-litre V8-powered convertible in classic green-over-tan. A total of 87,731 F-Types were produced between 2013 and 2024. When Jaguar used the Ford Mondeo platform to create its first BMW 3 Series rival, many scoffed. To Jaguar's credit, it went back to the drawing board and developed a rear/all-wheel drive sports sedan with tasteful, modern styling and poised dynamics. Look out, BMW! Except the is now being axed almost a decade after it entered production in 2015, as part of Jaguar's pivot to being a more exclusive, electric-only brand. Jaguar is done trying to take on BMW and is aiming higher, with JLR design boss Gerry McGovern saying in 2023: "What we won't worry about is being loved by everybody, because that's the kiss of death." "That's what's put Jaguar where it is today, which is with no equity whatsoever," he said. The XE never could match its German rivals in the sales race, and JLR confirmed the sedan wasn't profitable – something likely not helped by its use of aluminium suspension componentry and a bonded and riveted aluminium unitary structure, unusual for this segment. The 3 Series rival was offered with a range of powertrains, including turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines plus a supercharged V6. Jaguar even developed the limited-run SV Project 8, which featured a supercharged V8 engine. Sadly, the SV Project 8 never came here, nor did it presage a more widely available rival. The six-cylinder and diesel engines were also eventually phased out in Australia. Disappointing sales and the resultant lack of profitability doomed the XE, which was axed in the US in 2020 but grimly held on for a few more years in markets such as ours. Unusually, Jaguar Australia switched the XE from rear-wheel drive to all-wheel drive for 2021 for reasons unclear. For 2023, the XE range was whittled down to a single model and, though it still appears on Jaguar's local website, production ended this year. In its best year, 2016, global sales for the XE reached 44,095 units. The same year, BMW produced over 400,000 3 Series models globally. In Australia, the XE's best year was also 2016 with 1524 sold, beating the Infiniti Q50 and and falling just short of the . But sales fell each year, plunging to double-digits in 2022. Last year, the XE was outsold by every single one of its rivals, with its 58 sales bested by the (81 sales) and Volvo S60 (152). From launch to the end of November 2024, Jaguar sold 4332 XEs in Australia. While rivals received significant facelifts or new generations, the XE was left to soldier on as its lineup shrunk. It's a sad end for what was an extremely promising BMW 3 Series rival. If any car could make Jaguar's XE look like a sales success, it's the second generation of the brand's rival. The first-generation was a breath of fresh air when it was revealed in 2007, with the Ian Callum-penned sedan casting aside the shackles of Jaguar's retro design language in favour of a more modern yet still elegant look inside and out. The second generation wasn't as impactful. Also attributed to Mr. Callum, the design was conservative, looking more like a stretched version of the XE with which it shared its new platform. Unlike the XE, however, there was a wagon version; this made the trip to Australia, even though the first-generation model was offered here only in sedan guise. Globally, the XF was offered with a choice of turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines, plus a turbo-diesel V6 and a supercharged petrol V6. Sadly, there was no supercharged V8 XFR as there had been with the first generation. To Jaguar Australia's credit, it offered almost every available powertrain, and even brought the niche wagon here. But the British 5 Series rival was met with buyer apathy: sales shrunk compared to the outgoing model, with just 433 sold in 2016. That was down from the over 800 units Jaguar shifted in 2013 and 2014. Sales fell below three digits in 2019 with 50 units, and below two digits in 2023 with just 6 sold. By this point the XF range had been shrunk to a single variant, as for model year 2021 Jaguar axed all rear-wheel drive, diesel, six-cylinder and wagon variants in favour of a lone all-wheel drive turbo-petrol four-cylinder. Technically, Maserati didn't sell any in Australia in 2024, with global production wrapping late last year. No further examples were delivered this year but as it appeared on Maserati's local website during 2024, we've included it in this article. The Quattroporte nameplate is taking a leave of absence, with a replacement – featuring electric power – delayed until 2028. It's not the first time the Quattroporte nameplate has taken a lengthy leave of absence, with gaps of several years between the first and second and the third and fourth generations. The Quattroporte competed in an extremely low-volume segment in Australia, battling the likes of the and . Maserati executives would therefore clearly bristle at the mention of the Quattroporte sharing a platform with Chrysler and Dodge. "From the Chrysler 300 we carried over the electrical system, a portion on the platform where seats are hinged and some elements of the air conditioning, that is all," then-Maserati global CEO Harald Wester told back in 2013. The current, sixth-generation Quattroporte entered production that year, underpinned by what Maserati called its M156 platform which was also used by the and . The gorgeous, lithe Pininfarina styling of its predecessor made way for an in-house design that was more fuller-figured and conservative, with a clear kinship with the cheaper Ghibli. If it looked bigger than the previous Quattroporte, that's because it was – in length alone, the Quattroporte VI grew by over 200mm. A Ferrari-developed twin-turbo V8 remained available, along with a twin-turbo V6 developed with the Prancing Horse brand. This was also the first Quattroporte to offer a diesel engine, a turbocharged V6 mill sold here from 2014 to 2019. While the Quattroporte had a decade-long production run, there were updates made during this time. In 2016, the Quattroporte received a new infotainment system and more standard equipment including a suite of active safety features. This suite was expanded in a subsequent update in 2018. In 2020, Maserati revealed a hot Trofeo version of its luxury limo, featuring a 433kW/730Nm tune of the twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 – up 43kW and 80Nm on the GTS. This coincided with another minor facelift for the Quattroporte line that saw the old Chrysler-derived infotainment system swapped for one running on Android Automotive. The Quattroporte consistently sold in the double digits each year in Australia, before slumping to just three units in 2023. Even in a low-volume segment, that was very low. The was first a stunning coupe and convertible in the 1960s, then a rather brutalist two-door in the 1990s, before being revived as a BMW 5 Series sedan rival that was revealed at the 2013 Shanghai motor show. It represented a return to a segment which Maserati last occupied in 1995 with the 430, a descendant of the Biturbo. With the introduction of the Ghibli and Levante, which entered production in 2013 and 2016 respectively, Maserati was chasing broader market appeal and therefore greater sales volumes. By the 2000s, after the end of the Biturbo era, its lineup had receded to a small, more exclusive one. In 2013, it announced plans to sell 50,000 vehicles each year around the world in 2015, more than eight times as many as it sold in 2011. The Ghibli used the M158 platform of the new sixth-generation Quattroporte, and shared its twin-turbocharged V6 petrol and turbocharged V6 diesel engines. There was a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive, while an eight-speed automatic transmission was standard across the range. The Quattroporte's twin-turbo V8 wasn't added until 2020, while at the other end of the spectrum the Ghibli gained a turbocharged four-cylinder mild-hybrid powertrain. Other changes to the Ghibli during its lengthy run mirrored those of the Quattroporte: new infotainment and a suite of active safety tech for 2017, and an expanded suite in 2018 enabled by the switch to an electric-assisted power steering setup. The Ghibli helped Maserati reach its 50,000-unit target, albeit a couple of years late. Alas, the brand's sales dropped from then. In 2022, Maserati announced its plans to transition to an EV-only lineup by 2028, but conspicuous by its absence from these plans was the Ghibli nameplate. Instead, both it and the Quattroporte are set to be replaced by a single sedan model bearing the latter's nameplate, though this has subsequently been delayed to 2028. In Australia, from a height of 345 sales in 2015, the Ghibli gradually declined before an uptick in 2021 to 152 sales. They then slumped to double digits, and just 17 Ghiblis found homes in Australia this year to the end of November. From its debut year, the Levante took over as Maserati's best-selling vehicle locally, a title it maintained until the launch of the smaller SUV in 2023. The Ghibli remains on Maserati's local website, but with production having ended it's only a matter of time before the nameplate is retired for a third time. Even as it rolls out new electric vehicles (EVs) like the , Mini has updated its long-running three- and five-door hatchbacks and convertible and given them a slightly fresher look. The same treatment hasn't been extended to the long-running , which Mini ended production of in February after two generations. It's probably best to blame the as, in many markets including ours, given the choice of a wagon or an SUV most buyers will opt for the latter. BMW launched Mini as a standalone brand in 2000, and for the first several years of its life it only sold a hatchback. A convertible followed, before the Clubman was launched as Mini's third body style. It came during a period where Mini was rapidly and creatively expanding its lineup or, to put it less charitably, throwing things at a wall and seeing what stuck. If debuted in 2007, and was followed in 2010 by the Countryman SUV (which did stick) and the Roadster, Coupe and Paceman (which didn't). Mini wisely added a pair of conventional rear passenger doors with the second-generation Clubman, which launched in Australia in 2015, replacing the suicide door setup of its predecessor. A more practical alternative to the hatchback it was based on, the second-generation Clubman stuck with the rear barn doors of its predecessor – highly unusual for a wagon in 2024. The second-generation Clubman moved to the UKL2 platform underpinning vehicles like the . While this platform was used for a raft of vehicles including BMW and Mini-branded hatchbacks, sedans and even a people mover, the quirky Clubman was the only wagon. While it offered a choice of petrol powertrains (though as with its predecessor, no diesel in Australia), including a hot John Cooper Works model with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive. Between the launch of the second-gen model and the end of November 2024, Mini Australia sold 3143 Clubmans. It was a steady if unexceptional seller, but over the same period Mini sold around twice as many Countryman SUVs. The may have been the prettiest mid-sized Peugeot since the 406 Coupe of the 1990s, but that wasn't enough to save it. While it lives on in Europe, in September Peugeot Australia pulled the plug on the liftback and wagon "in response to changing consumer preferences in the segment". It arguably wasn't a surprise, given Ford, Kia and Volkswagen, among other brands, had already exited the mid-sized segment. Peugeot sales have also been broadly on a downward trajectory over the past decade. Peugeot Australia added a plug-in hybrid version of the 508 Fastback in 2022, with a Sportwagon PHEV following in 2023. But with one hand Peugeot Australia giveth, and with one another it taketh away. Later in 2023, Peugeot axed the petrol-powered 508s, leaving only the pricier PHEVs. Unusually, the Sportwagon PHEV was introduced after Peugeot revealed a facelifted version of the 508 in Europe, for which it conspicuously didn't announce specific local launch timing. The facelifted model never came, and when Peugeot UK announced earlier this year it was axing the 508, its local demise appeared inevitable. The second-generation 508's best year in Australia was 2021, with 240 sold. That was a far cry from the first-generation model which in 2012, its first full year on the market, recorded 1085 sales. In fairness to the 508, mid-sized passenger car sales have fallen over the past decade or so. But in 2023, the 508's 156 sales saw it outsold by the and , and even more niche models like the You can still buy a in Australia, but it's quite a different creature. The last examples of the RS Trophy hot hatch, the sole remaining member of the combustion-powered Megane range, were sold earlier this year as the new electric joined the local lineup. The RS-badged Megane hatch, sent off with a special-edition RS Ultime, was the last member of a once significantly wider lineup of small Renaults. The current, fourth-generation Megane was revealed in 2015 and went on sale locally late in 2016. Wagon and sedan models, introduced in 2017, were dropped in 2019 along with the entry-level Zen hatch, while the RS Sport and RS Cup hatchbacks were axed in 2021. That left just the RS Trophy. Not only was the Australian Megane lineup winnowed down locally, the car was discontinued in almost every market. Turkish production continues, however, of the sedan. This mirrors what happened with the , with a once-wide lineup continually chipped away at in Australia until a single hot hatch was left, before the nameplate was axed entirely. The Focus is also being discontinued globally. Renault only sold 69 Meganes in Australia in 2023. That was well down on the 1259 units it shifted in 2017, its first full year on sale. The Megane RS Trophy (and RS Ultime) used a turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, mated with either a six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, producing 221kW of power and 420Nm of torque (400Nm in the manual) Those outputs remained competitive even among a growing contingent of hot hatches on the local market. While Renault is moving away from hot petrol-powered models, it's entering the hot electric hatch fray with both its namesake brand and its Alpine spinoff. It remains to be seen whether these hot EVs will come here, however. Content originally sourced from: Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . AdvertisementAlameda musician Baumbusch reimagining the listening experience
US stocks surge to records, shrugging off upheaval in South Korea, FranceTRAVERSE CITY — The Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office is seeking approval to purchase 62 new Taser 10 devices for use by patrol officers at a total cost of $289,721. The money would come from an existing fund balance in the department’s 2024 budget, rather than a new allocation. The proposal is on the agenda for Wednesday morning's county board meeting. “Tasers give our officers a less than lethal way to respond to a dangerous situation,” said Capt. Brandon Brinks of the sheriff’s office. “In many cases, simply telling a person that we may use a Taser is enough to get them to comply. It’s a powerful deterrence.” Their current X26 Tasers are no longer supported by the manufacturer, Axon Enterprise Inc., and the remaining X26P units will soon be discontinued, according to company reports. Furthermore, the existing Tasers are old, failing and unreliable, Brinks said. Saving money also is a factor. By purchasing all 62 Taser 10 units before the end of 2024, instead of buying them piecemeal over time, the county will save about $20,000 vs. the higher 2025 price, he added. Furthermore, Axon will pay the county $14,991 to buy back the department’s current Tasers. The proposed purchase comes with a five-year service and warranty contract that includes training, maintenance, technical support, duty use and evidence collection. The contract also includes a “train the trainer” module so that the sheriff’s office can train and re-certify officers each year, as required by department policy. Training is typically conducted in the basement of the law enforcement center at 851 Woodmere Avenue. That space features open areas, hallways, doorways and stairwells that can be used to simulate an interaction with a “non-compliant” suspect. “All of our officers also get training in de-escalation tactics that can reduce the chances of a violent encounter,” Brinks said. TASER TECHNOLOGY A Taser is a hand-held “electronic control device” or “energy weapon” that fires small barbed darts into a person, penetrating the skin. It then shoots up to 50,000 volts of modulated electricity through thin insulated copper wires that run from the device to the darts, incapacitating most subjects immediately, according to manufacturer reports. When both darts hit, if the electrical circuit is completed and maintained, it can cause the attacker’s muscles to contract and they may lose voluntary muscle control. Being “tased” can be painful, but is usually not lethal. In most cases, the effects are temporary. Certified Tase users are usually trained to monitor the subject for 20 minutes to make sure they recover normally, according to Axon. Small burns from the dart entry areas may also occur. Overall, Tasers are much less lethal than guns and less injurious than methods like batons, pepper spray and manual (physical) control, according to a study by the Accident Network Law Group. Another study of 1,000 Taser subjects led by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center concluded that 99.7 percent of the subjects had suffered no injuries, or minor ones such as scrapes and bruises, while three persons suffered injuries severe enough to need hospital admission, and two died. In cases where Taser-related deaths have occurred, nationwide, law enforcement agencies reported about 500 fatalities between 2010 and 2021, according to PBS News report. In many of those cases, death was related to pre-existing medical conditions, drug use or incorrect use of the Taser device, according to an ABC News investigation. Some studies have found that Tasers can affect cardiac (heart) and brain function. Using Tasers on subjects with significant mental illnesses also can be hazardous. Thanks to better training and technology, 72 percent fewer fatal incidents were reported in 2021 vs. 2018, ABC reported. That possibility of fatalities is why Axon markets the devices as “less lethal” than regular firearms. Closer to home, the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office said its officers used Tasers 40 times between 2016 and 2024 out of a total of 173 “use-of-force” incidents. “There were no use-of-force complaints or policy violations in any of those cases, and no significant injuries,” the report stated, reiterating that even a threat of Taser use is enough to quiet many offenders. HISTORY & DEVELOPMENT A NASA researcher named Jack Cover began developing the first Taser in 1969 and completed a working prototype in 1974. Using a loose acronym, he named it after the title of a book called “Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle.” The first Taser sold in 1976 used gunpowder as a propellant and was classified as a firearm by the U.S. Bureau of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. A later “Air Taser” model was not classified that way. In 1993, two brothers in Arizona founded the original TASER company, which was rebranded Axon in 2017 as it branched out into body cameras and software. Typically, Tasers can shoot their darts up to 35 feet. Those available to civilians are usually limited to about 15 feet, according to industry officials. Factors such as wind, angle and subject's clothing (thickness and/or material) can affect the actual effective range. The Taser 10 model sought by the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office has several advantages over earlier models. It can shoot darts up to 45 feet, providing more space and time to de-escalate conflicts, according to Axon. Equipped with a laser-sighting device, it can shoot up to 10 individually targeted probes without the need to reload a new cartridge. Because of its increased velocity, it can better penetrate thick clothing and tough materials, according to the company. Owning certain Taser models is legal for Michigan civilians 18 years or older, if they have a concealed pistol license and complete related training. Each device must have an active identification and tracking system. Also, Michigan residents can only use a Taser for protection or self-defense, according to legal experts. Civilians cannot carry a Taser within state and local government buildings, including schools.