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Adetutu Sobowale A Nigerian scholar, Adebola Adeniji, has proffered solutions to the biodiversity crisis by ensuring endangered wildlife gets suitable habitats. Adeniji, who is a PhD student in the Ecological Science and Engineering interdisciplinary program at Purdue University, said the research was her contribution to the global effort to combat the escalating biodiversity crisis. The scholar, in a statement on Monday, explained that she used machine learning and artificial intelligence to model suitable habitats for endangered species. “The biodiversity crisis, driven by habitat loss and degradation, climate change, over-exploitation of species, and pollution, poses one of the greatest challenges of our time. Many species are being driven to the brink of extinction, threatening the natural world and human survival,” Adeniji said. According to her, the research focuses on using passive acoustic monitoring to record sounds of vocalizing biodiversity in different ecosystems. “I employed a convolutional neural network, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence technique, to detect species from their vocalizations. This innovative approach enables the accurate identification of species and their habitats, crucial information for conservation efforts,” the scholar added. Adeniji explained further that her application of machine learning modelling to predict suitable habitats for endangered wildlife, with a focus on birds and mammals, is instrumental in protecting and preserving these species. “My pioneering work on modelling the suitable habitat for the white-bellied pangolin in Nigeria fills a critical research gap and contributes to the protection of this endangered species. The research also uncovers factors that influence the occurrence of endangered species, which will be used to predict their potential habitat. “This study is essential for conservation efforts, helping to prioritize and protect critical areas for the species’ survival,” the scholar said. Giving further insights, Adeniji said she leveraged Geographic Information System software such as ArcGIS to analyze the environmental variables that would be used in the model. “The research will play a crucial role in the conservation and restoration of habitats for endangered species, contributing to their preservation and preventing their extinction. As the world grapples with the challenges of biodiversity loss, the work demonstrates the power of innovation and technology in protecting the natural world,” she added. Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: health_wise@punchng. com Tags #Climate change biodiversity conservationKBC Group NV lifted its holdings in Vertex, Inc. ( NASDAQ:VERX – Free Report ) by 46.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,099 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 662 shares during the period. KBC Group NV’s holdings in Vertex were worth $81,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in VERX. Blue Trust Inc. acquired a new position in Vertex in the second quarter worth approximately $28,000. Quest Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vertex in the 2nd quarter worth $37,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new position in shares of Vertex in the 2nd quarter worth $40,000. Amalgamated Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Vertex during the second quarter worth $68,000. Finally, Sandia Investment Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Vertex during the first quarter valued at $159,000. 59.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Analyst Ratings Changes VERX has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Vertex from $42.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Needham & Company LLC lifted their target price on shares of Vertex from $45.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. JMP Securities boosted their price target on shares of Vertex from $47.00 to $61.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Vertex from $42.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Vertex from $43.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $52.30. Vertex Stock Up 0.7 % VERX stock opened at $53.83 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $42.74 and a two-hundred day moving average of $37.94. The company has a market cap of $8.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 299.06, a PEG ratio of 9.61 and a beta of 0.67. Vertex, Inc. has a 12-month low of $23.31 and a 12-month high of $54.50. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29. Vertex ( NASDAQ:VERX – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.02. Vertex had a return on equity of 24.92% and a net margin of 4.73%. The business had revenue of $170.40 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $165.70 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.06 earnings per share. Vertex’s quarterly revenue was up 17.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Vertex, Inc. will post 0.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity In related news, CEO David Destefano sold 159,107 shares of Vertex stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.61, for a total value of $7,893,298.27. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 332,290 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,484,906.90. The trade was a 32.38 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Also, insider Item Second Irr. Trust Fbo Jac sold 52,713 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, October 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.02, for a total transaction of $2,162,287.26. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,144,993 shares in the company, valued at $46,967,612.86. The trade was a 4.40 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 4,330,722 shares of company stock worth $197,009,011 in the last three months. 44.58% of the stock is owned by insiders. Vertex Company Profile ( Free Report ) Vertex, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides enterprise tax technology solutions for retail trade, wholesale trade, and manufacturing industries in the United States and internationally. The company offers tax determination; compliance and reporting, including workflow management tools, role-based security, and event logging; tax data management; document management; analytics and insights; pre-built integration that includes mapping data fields, and business logic and configurations; industry-specific solutions; and technology specific solutions, such as chain flow accelerator and SAP-specific tools. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VERX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vertex, Inc. ( NASDAQ:VERX – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Vertex Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vertex and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Distributed Photovoltaic Inverter Market Key Industry Trends Size and Growth Forecast 2032Donald Trump’s choice of billionaire financier Stephen Feinberg as the No. 2 official at the Pentagon is part of a move by the president-elect to back up Pete Hegseth, his choice for defense secretary, with deputies focused on bringing in business experience and new technology. Feinberg is co-founder and majority owner of Cerberus Capital Management LP and has a net worth of about $7.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The private equity firm has major investments in defense technology companies. If confirmed by the Senate, Feinberg would hold a job historically focused on hands-on management of the Pentagon and related concerns, such as industrial production. The role of deputies at the Pentagon has taken on outsized significance in the incoming administration. Trump’s pick of Hegseth to lead the complex bureaucracy, with its budget of more than $840 billion, has met with resistance, in part over his limited management experience. In addition, the former Fox News host, who served in the Army National Guard in Iraq and Afghanistan, has denied allegations of sexual misconduct, alcohol abuse and mismanagement of two veterans organizations he headed. His confirmation by the Senate remains uncertain. Hegseth’s public comments have focused on making good on Trump’s pledge to crack down on what he sees as “woke” initiatives at the Pentagon. In announcing his choice for deputy defense secretary on Sunday, Trump called Feinberg “an extremely successful businessman,” and also said that he will nominate: “Especially with Feinberg’s appointment, it signals a more business-oriented approach” to managing the Defense Department, said Clementine Starling-Daniels, director of the Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense program. “There are some real benefits to taking a different approach there,” she said, but there are also risks in backing new, smaller-scale projects to the detriment of “large complex programs” like Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 fighter plane. Some of Cerberus’s portfolio companies have invested in hypersonic missile technology with both civilian and military applications. In addition, one of its companies, Tier 1 Group, provided paramilitary training to Saudis who later participated in the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the New York Times reported in 2021. Starling-Daniels also cited the limited experience of Trump’s top choices with the Pentagon’s complex bureaucracy. “If you don’t balance a secretary of defense with a deputy secretary of defense who really is attuned to how the department functions, I’m concerned that no matter what the policy priorities are, they will be really hard to enact,” she said. Colby, who would be the Pentagon’s policy chief, served as deputy assistant secretary of defense early in Trump’s first term. He has championed Trump’s vision to end the US role as “global policeman” and backed calls for allies to boost defense spending so the US can focus on the strategic threat from China — a theme he hit in his book, The Strategy of Denial, published in 2021. “A highly respected advocate for our America First foreign and defense policy, Bridge will work closely with my outstanding Secretary of Defense Nominee, Pete Hegseth, to restore our Military power, and achieve my policy of PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH,” Trump wrote on social media in announcing the picks, using Colby’s nickname. As acquisition chief, Duffey will be on the the front line of decisions on whether the Pentagon cuts back on traditional projects like the F-35 and turns instead to Silicon Valley for drones and AI. Billionaire Elon Musk, who’s become a top Trump adviser, has said “some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35” in an age of drones. Overseeing Pentagon spending in the Office of Management and Budget in Trump’s first term, Duffey instructed the Pentagon to hold back $250 million in military aid to Ukraine while Trump was pressuring Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Joe Biden. Michael, who would be research and engineering chief, was ousted from Uber in 2017, amid turmoil over allegations of a toxic workplace culture. “Emil will ensure that our Military has the most technologically sophisticated weapons in the World, while saving A LOT of money for our Taxpayers,” Trump said in one of his posts. Trump also announced that Joe Kasper would serve as chief of staff for the defense secretary. Kasper was a former Pentagon official in Trump’s first term before he was appointed as a deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
AAA: Record Number of People Expected to Travel for ThanksgivingPandas An An and Ke Ke celebrate their 1st Christmas in Hong Kong HONG KONG (AP) — A pair of five-year-old pandas, named An An and Ke Ke, celebrated their first Christmas early in a Hong Kong park, munching on special treats and looking cute for the cameras. An An, the male panda, was presented with an ice slab that had “Merry Christmas” written on it with sweet potato and carrots while Ke Ke, his female companion, got a snowman garnished with slices of carrot and apple in a special press event Monday before visitors streamed to the park. China sent the pair to Hong Kong in late September in a bid to boost tourism in the city. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby: Spurs-Knicks Christmas game is also an animated one at Disney World NEW YORK (AP) — There’s a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. While Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are facing the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, an alternate animated telecast will have the teams playing in the Magic Kingdom, with some Disney characters participating. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. 'Squid Game' returns looking for win with season 2 The first season of “Squid Game” was Netflix's most-watched series and went on to win a variety of accolades including the Emmy Award for lead actor in a drama series for Lee Jung-jae and a directing award for Hwang Dong-hyuk. The show returns for its second season on Dec. 26 and is already nominated for a Golden Globe for best drama. It's rare for TV shows made in Korea to have more than one season but Lee describes Hwang as “a genius.” A third and final season has already filmed. Netflix is also invested in expanding its “Squid Game” universe with a reality competition series and an English-language version in development. In the ruins of a bombed-out church in Lebanon, there's now a tiny Christmas tree DARDGHAYA, Lebanon (AP) — A Christmas tree stands among the fallen stones in the ruins of a Catholic church in southern Lebanon that was hit by an Israeli airstrike during the war with Hezbollah. It's a small and modest tree. There are no lights because the war destroyed power lines. The ground is too uneven to set up the Nativity scene. The priest says his blood pressure went up and he lost his balance when he saw the church's destruction. Now he leads Mass in an underground room that serves as a temporary worship space. He tells the community it “is more like the cave where Jesus was born.” Burt, the huge Australian crocodile who had a cameo in ‘Crocodile Dundee,’ dies at 90 The Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia, says the huge crocodile that rose to fame with a cameo in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” has died. The aquarium says Burt died over the weekend and was at least 90 years old. A saltwater crocodile, Burt was estimated to be more than 5 meters long. The 1986 movie stars Paul Hogan as the rugged crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the movie, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to fill her canteen in a watering hole when she is attacked by a crocodile, before being saved by Dundee. Elaborate holiday light displays are making spirits bright in a big way CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow might be enough to brighten some homes this holiday season. But others are adorned with thousands of blinking lights synched to blasting music. In Mesa, Arizona, 14 homeowners have been going all-out on holiday lights for 30 years, and those buying homes in the neighborhood often find the attics full of décor left behind by previous owners. In Santa Clarita, California, residents began coordinating their holiday lights to bring some joy to their community after an earthquake. And in Edmond, Oklahoma, those looking to the western sky will easily spot the Miranda family’s elaborate display featuring images and music from the movie “Wicked.” Santa braves the sticky heat of the Amazon jungle to bring gifts to children in Brazilian village CATALAO, Brazil (AP) — Santa Claus has braved the sticky heat of the Amazon rainforest this weekend, taking two boats to bring gifts to the children of a small village near the Brazilian city of Manaus. The visit was arranged by Amigos do Papai Noel, a Brazilian charity that has been taking gifts to children in the Amazon rainforest for the past 26 years. More than 600 children from different villages gathered in Catalao to receive presents from Santa, who dressed in his traditional nightcap, white gloves and red suit, while enduring the stifling jungle heat. NASA's Parker Solar Probe aims to fly closer to the sun like never before NEW YORK (AP) — A NASA spacecraft is about to make the closest approach to the sun. The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 to get a close-up look at the sun. On Tuesday, Parker will pass within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles of the sun’s surface. That's nearly seven times closer to the sun than previous spacecraft. Scientists won’t hear from Parker until a few days after the flyby. It’ll continue circling the sun at this distance until at least September. Scientists hope to better understand what drives the solar wind and why the corona is so much hotter than the sun's surface. 174 Colorado skiers and snowboarders rescued after a lift cracks WINTER PARK, Colo. (AP) — Officials are investigating what caused a crack in a Colorado ski lift that forced the evacuation of over 170 stranded skiers and snowboarders. The evacuation happened Saturday on a gondola lift at Winter Park Resort. A spokesperson says the lift stopped automatically when a crack was detected in a structural piece of the lift. Passengers were lowered down by ropes over the course of about five hours. No injuries were reported during the rescues, which came at the start of the busy holiday season. 'Sonic 3' bests 'Mufasa: The Lion King' at the box office NEW YORK (AP) — In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” sped past the Walt Disney Co.’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” to take the top spot at the box office. The results came just ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters. According to studio estimates, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend. “Mufasa,” however, was humbled in its opening weekend, coming in notably shy of expectations. It returned just $35 million in domestic ticket sales.CRIME HUNTER: Pom Pom Mom murder plot was RAH! RAH! RAH!
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Stock market today: Losses for Big Tech pull US indexes lowerDETROIT (AP) — If Donald Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, the price increases that could follow will collide with his campaign promise to give American families a break from inflation. Economists say companies would have little choice but to pass along the added costs, dramatically raising prices for food, clothing, automobiles, booze and other goods. The president-elect floated the tariff idea, including additional 10% taxes on goods from China, as a way to force the countries to halt the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the U.S. But his posts Monday on Truth Social threatening the tariffs on his first day in office could just be a negotiating ploy to get the countries to change behavior. High food prices were a major issue in voters picking Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris, but tariffs almost certainly would push those costs up even further. For instance, the Produce Distributors Association, a Washington trade group, said Tuesday that tariffs will raise prices for fresh fruit and vegetables and hurt U.S. farmers when other countries retaliate. “Tariffs distort the marketplace and will raise prices along the supply chain, resulting in the consumer paying more at the checkout line,” said Alan Siger, association president. Mexico and Canada are two of the biggest exporters of fresh fruit and vegetables to the U.S. In 2022, Mexico supplied 51% of fresh fruit and 69% of fresh vegetables imported by value into the U.S., while Canada supplied 2% of fresh fruit and 20% of fresh vegetables. Before the election, about 7 in 10 voters said they were very concerned about the cost of food, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. “We’ll get them down,” Trump told shoppers during a September visit to a Pennsylvania grocery store. The U.S. is the largest importer of goods in the world, with Mexico, China and Canada its top three suppliers, according to the most recent U.S. Census data. People looking to buy a new vehicle likely would see big price increases as well, at a time when costs have gone up so much that they are out of reach for many. The average price of a new vehicle now runs around $48,000. About 15% of the 15.6 million new vehicles sold in the U.S. last year came from Mexico, while 8% crossed the border from Canada, according to Global Data. Much of the tariffs would get passed along to consumers, unless automakers can somehow quickly find productivity improvements to offset them, said C.J. Finn, U.S. automotive sector leader for PwC, a consulting firm. That means even more consumers “would potentially get priced out of the activity” of buying a new vehicle, Finn said. Hardest hit would be Volkswagen, Stellantis, General Motors and Ford, Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska wrote Tuesday in a note to investors. Stellantis and VW import about 40% of the vehicles they sell from Canada and Mexico, while it's 30% for GM and 25% for Ford. GM and Stellantis import more than half of their high-profit pickup trucks from the two countries, according to Bernstein. If Trump does impose the tariffs in January, the auto industry would have little time to adjust, putting operating profits at risk for the automakers, Roeska said in an email. “A 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada would severely cripple the U.S. auto industry,” he said. The tariffs would hurt U.S. industrial production so much that “we expect this is unlikely to happen in practice,” Roeska said. The tariff threat hit the stocks of some companies that could be particularly hurt, such as auto manufacturers and Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States. But the overall market held relatively steady near records as investors saw Trump’s proposal as more of an opening position for negotiations rather than as a definitive policy. It's not clear how long the tariffs would last if they are implemented, but they could force auto executives to move production to the U.S., which could create more jobs in the long run. But Morningstar analyst David Whiston said in the short term automakers probably won't make any moves because they can't quickly change where they build vehicles. To move to the U.S., they would have to buy equipment and revamp their parts supply chain, which can take years. “I think everyone is going to be in a wait-and-see mode,” Whiston said. Millions of dollars worth of auto parts flow across the borders with Mexico and Canada, and that could raise prices for already costly automobile repairs, Finn said. The Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. said tariffs on tequila or Canadian whisky won’t boost American jobs because they are distinctive products that can only be made in their country of origin. In 2023, the U.S. imported $4.6 billion worth of tequila and $108 million worth of mezcal from Mexico and $537 million worth of spirits from Canada, the council said. “At the end of the day, tariffs on spirits products from our neighbors to the north and south are going to hurt U.S. consumers and lead to job losses across the U.S. hospitality industry just as these businesses continue their long recovery from the pandemic,” the council said in a statement. Electronics retailer Best Buy said on its third-quarter earnings conference call that it runs on thin profit margins, so while vendors and the company will shoulder some increases, Best Buy will have to pass tariffs on to customers. “These are goods that people need, and higher prices are not helpful,” CEO Corie Barry said. Walmart also warned this week that tariffs could force it to raise prices, as did Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who talked with Trump after his call for tariffs, said they had a good conversation about how the countries can work together on the challenges they face. "This is something that we can do, laying out the facts and moving forward in constructive ways. This is a relationship that we know takes a certain amount of working on and that’s what we’ll do,” Trudeau said. Trump's transition team wouldn't comment on the call. Also Monday, Trump turned his ire to China, saying he has “had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail.” The Chinese Embassy in Washington cautioned on Monday that there will be losers on all sides if there is a trade war. Trump's threats come as arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico have been falling . The most recent U.S. numbers for October show arrests remain near four-year lows. But arrests for illegally crossing the border from Canada have been rising over the past two years. Much of America’s fentanyl is smuggled from Mexico. Border seizures of the drug rose sharply under President Joe Biden. The tariffs would also throw into doubt the reliability of the 2020 trade deal brokered in large part by Trump with Canada and Mexico, the USMCA, which replaced NAFTA and is up for review in 2026. Trump transition team officials did not immediately respond to questions about what authority he would use, what he would need to see to prevent the tariffs from being implemented and how they would impact prices in the U.S. Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department and Economy Department also had no immediate reaction to Trump’s statements. ___ Rugaber reported from Washington. AP reporters Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit, Stan Choe and Anne D'Innocenzio in New York, and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.