Michigan St. 78, California 72
The Oklahoma City Thunder have looked like a title contender and they haven’t played at full force yet. Entering the season, there were many singing the praises of the Oklahoma City Thunder . They added Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein — two crucial role players — while only losing Josh Giddey (arguably addition by subtraction) and zero draft capital. They’ve delivered since, as they currently sit atop the Western Conference with a 15-5 record. When factoring in injuries to both Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, the squad’s two centers, their record is impressive. They’ve dealt with other absences, too, like Caruso and Jaylin Williams. The two additions have proved to be positive and the team is certainly headed in the right direction as a title contender. Having an MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a budding All-Star in Jalen Williams helps, too. The Thunder can achieve a historical feat this season The Thunder are on a 60-plus win rate with their current record. They’ve got a good squad, that much is no secret. As mentioned, having a player like Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm is quite beneficial. Still, they’ve got a play style that travels well. Oklahoma City thrives on hard-nosed defense (which has only gotten more physical this year) and getting to the rim offensively to create quality shot attempts. The second of those two is unique and promotes everyone making plays at a high level. Defensively, the Thunder are elite. Not just this season elite, either, but historically elite. Steph Noh revealed a glaring statistic on social media. The Thunder has a historical relative defensive rating at 8.6, which ranks No. 3 all-time (it’s worth noting, the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets are currently No. 10 all-time). After a quarter of the season, the Thunder's defense is looking like one of the most dominant in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/HP3GnLqKma What is a relative defensive rating? In the graphic shared by Noh, it’s described as this: “The difference between a team’s defensive rating and league-average defensive rating in any given season.” The Thunder are an incredibly great defensive squad. The statistic does a great job of showing that as there is an absurd amount of talent in the league, yet Oklahoma City does a great job at slowing their opposition down. The Thunder have yet to maximize their potential in the season Not only does Oklahoma City have a Western Conference-leading record, but they’ve done so while balancing injuries. Not just ticky-tacky injuries, either. Hartentstein missed a portion of the beginning of the season. Before Hartenstein was able to debut in Thunder threads, Chet Holmgren went down with an injury that will leave him out until February or beyond. Those two anchor an elite defense, yet they’ve been unable to share the floor together. Whenever one of Holmgren or Hartenstein are in the Thunder’s lineup, they’ve posted a 12-2 record. They are elite when their centers play. There is optimism the two will play incredibly well off one another, too. Hartenstein can body up defenders while Holmgren plays a “free safety” role, as in a football position, to disrupt the passing lanes with his length and mobility. This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.
PARIS (AP) — After more than 20 years of negotiations, the 27-nation European Union and Mercosur — a South American trade bloc of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia — are still trying to finalize a major trade agreement that is sparking protests by European farmers. A draft deal was announced in 2019 , but disagreements over environmental, economic and political issues are delaying its final approval. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Search for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 to Resume After 10 YearsCORK, Ireland , Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE: JCI) (the "Company" or "Johnson Controls"), a global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, today announced the pricing of its offering of €500 million senior notes due 2033. The net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment, redemption or refinancing of outstanding commercial paper and other near-term indebtedness. General corporate purposes may also include acquisitions, additions to working capital, repurchase of ordinary shares, dividends, capital expenditures and investments in the Company's subsidiaries. Tyco Fire & Security Finance, S.C.A., a subsidiary of the Company, is the co-issuer of the notes. The closing for the transaction is expected to occur on December 11, 2024 , subject to certain customary closing conditions. BofA Securities, Crédit Agricole CIB and ING are serving as joint lead book-running managers to facilitate the transaction. Citigroup, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley are also serving as book-running managers and ANZ, Danske Bank, ICBC Standard Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and TD Securities are serving as co-managers of the offering. The offering of the notes is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, prospectus and related prospectus supplement. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the base prospectus may be obtained by contacting BofA Securities Europe SA at 1-800-294-1322; Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank at 1-866-807-6030; or ING Bank N.V. at +31 20 563 8185. Investors may also obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov . This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. About Johnson Controls: At Johnson Controls, we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As a global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet. Building on a proud history of nearly 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering. Today, with a global team of experts, Johnson Controls offers the world's largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry. Johnson Controls International plc Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Johnson Controls International plc has made statements in this communication that are forward-looking and therefore are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "should," "forecast," "project" or "plan" and terms of similar meaning are also generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Johnson Controls cautions that these statements are subject to numerous important risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond Johnson Controls' control, that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks related to: Johnson Controls' ability to develop or acquire new products and technologies that achieve market acceptance and meet applicable quality and regulatory requirements; the ability of Johnson Controls to execute on its operating model and drive organizational improvement; Johnson Controls' ability to successfully execute and complete portfolio simplification, including the completion of the divestiture of the Residential and Light Commercial business, as well as the possibility that the expected benefits of such actions will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time frame; the ability to hire and retain senior management and other key personnel, including successfully executing Johnson Controls' Chief Executive Officer succession plan; the ability to innovate and adapt to emerging technologies, ideas and trends in the marketplace, including the incorporation of technologies such as artificial intelligence; the ability to manage general economic, business and capital market conditions, including the impact of recessions, economic downturns and global price inflation; fluctuations in the cost and availability of public and private financing for Johnson Controls' customers; the ability to manage macroeconomic and geopolitical volatility, including supply chain shortages and the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas; managing the risks and impacts of potential and actual security breaches, cyberattacks, privacy breaches or data breaches, maintaining and improving the capacity, reliability and security of Johnson Controls' enterprise information technology infrastructure; the ability to manage the lifecycle cybersecurity risk in the development, deployment and operation of Johnson Controls' digital platforms and services; changes to laws or policies governing foreign trade, including economic sanctions, tariffs, foreign exchange and capital controls, import/export controls or other trade restrictions; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; changes or uncertainty in laws, regulations, rates, policies, or interpretations that impact Johnson Controls' business operations or tax status; the ability to adapt to global climate change, climate change regulation and successfully meet Johnson Controls' public sustainability commitments; risks and uncertainties related to the settlement with a nationwide class of public water systems concerning the use of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam; the outcome of litigation and governmental proceedings; the risk of infringement or expiration of intellectual property rights; Johnson Controls' ability to manage disruptions caused by catastrophic or geopolitical events, such as natural disasters, armed conflict, political change, climate change, pandemics and outbreaks of contagious diseases and other adverse public health developments; any delay or inability of Johnson Controls to realize the expected benefits and synergies of recent portfolio transactions; the tax treatment of recent portfolio transactions; significant transaction costs and/or unknown liabilities associated with such transactions; labor shortages, work stoppages, union negotiations, labor disputes and other matters associated with the labor force; and the cancellation of or changes to commercial arrangements. Investors are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. For further discussion of certain of these factors, see Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 , filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 19, 2024 and in our subsequent and future filings with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov . Investors should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and should not consider this list to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date of this communication, unless otherwise specified, and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this communication. INVESTOR CONTACTS: MEDIA CONTACT: Jim Lucas Danielle Canzanella Direct: 414.340.1752 Direct: 203.499.8297 Email: jim.lucas@jci.com Email: danielle.canzanella@jci.com Michael Gates Direct: 414.524.5785 Email: michael.j.gates@jci.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/johnson-controls-prices-senior-notes-offering-302323070.html SOURCE Johnson Controls International plc
Podcast Week: Hamish & Andy’s Remembering Project, Spotify’s new creators platform, Uncomfortable Growth"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
By Naveen Athrappully Contributing Writer The vast majority of U.S. citizens are concerned about their future Social Security receipts, with such anxieties popping up amid the projected depletion of Social Security funds over the next decade. “More than half (53%) of Americans who haven’t retired yet say they expect to rely on Social Security benefits to pay their necessary expenses once they retire,” said a Nov. 21 survey from Bankrate. “But at the same time, 72% of all Americans are concerned that promised Social Security benefits won’t be paid to them upon retirement age.” Generation-wise, baby boomers and Gen X are most anxious, with more than 80% worried about the issue. Among millennials and Gen Z, this number was at 60% to 70%. The Social Security system’s main trust fund is calculated to deplete by 2035, according to a May report from the Social Security board of trustees. When funds are depleted, the Social Security administration will only be able to pay beneficiaries 83% of the promised benefits. Another September report from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget expects Social Security funds to deplete by 2033, following which beneficiaries would be forced to take a larger, 21%, reduction in monthly receipts. For a typical single-income couple, this indicates an annual benefit reduction of $12,400, with dual income couples losing $16,500. And by 2098, the 21% reduction is projected to rise to 31%. With millions of people relying on Social Security to pay for daily necessities, a more than one-fifth reduction in monthly receipts could be broadly devastating. “There’s a vast divide between Americans’ concern about the looming Social Security funding shortfall and the lack of serious and thorough conversation among elected officials about what to do about it,” said Bankrate Senior Economic Analyst Mark Hamrick. “The result is that the American public’s financial well-being is not being tended to.” To complicate matters, many Americans believe they are already behind on their retirement savings, he said. Hamrick advised Americans to undertake proactive steps to ensure their retirement plans. Tackling Social Security Solvency Crisis A recent study from the Employee Benefit Research Institute showed how critical Social Security payments are for retired Americans. About 80% of respondents said Social Security was an income source accounting for roughly half of their total earnings. The majority of retirees have only three months’ worth of savings put aside for emergencies. As such, any reduction in income puts them in financial distress. Facing a looming crisis in Social Security, lawmakers have proposed measures to tackle the issue, which vary depending on the political party. Last February, a group of Democrat lawmakers and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, introduced the Social Security Expansion Act. The bill proposed requiring wealthy American households to “pay their fair share of taxes,” which it claimed could keep Social Security solvent for an additional 75 years. Specifically, it suggested imposing a 12.4% tax on business and investment income of wealthy people. On the other hand, President-elect Donald Trump proposed during his campaign that he would cut down taxes for Social Security payments received by seniors. In August, a group of lawmakers introduced the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act aimed at strengthening the financial state of Social Security and ensuring that “seniors continue to benefit from the programs they have paid into throughout their lives,” said an Aug. 2 statement. The bill proposes doing away with the generic measure of inflation to decide annual cost-of-living adjustments to Social Security payments. Instead, it wants to use an inflation gauge that specifically measures the living costs incurred by senior citizens. The act also seeks to phase out limits on social security contributions. “Social Security provides crucial support to millions of kupuna [elders], people with disabilities, and other vulnerable communities in Hawaii and across the country,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii. “By lifting the cap on Social Security contributions, the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act will help ensure Social Security remains solvent for decades to come.”Georgia QB Carson Beck declares for 2025 NFL Draft
Hi-tech lab to boost cancer researchA2Z Smart Tech stock soars to 52-week high of $6.7 amid growth
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Donald Trump prosecutor Fani Willis was dealt a massive blow Tuesday after her prosecution of the YSL gang — Georgia’s longest-running trial — ended with the acquittals of the last two defendants in the case. A Fulton County jury Tuesday morning found Deamonte Kendrick — who raps under the name Yak Gotti — not guilty on all charges and also acquitted Shannon Stillwell of all charges except for one count of firearm possession by a convicted felon. Stillwell and Kendrick were accused of murdering rival gang member Donovan Thomas Jr. – aka “Big Nut” – during a drive-by shooting outside an Atlanta barbershop on Jan. 10, 2015. Stillwell was also accused of fatally shooting Shymel Drinks in 2022 in alleged revenge for murders days earlier of two other YSL associates. Stillwell was sentenced to 10 years — the maximum penalty for the gun charge. But he will receive credit for the two years he’s already served and can serve the balance of the time while on probation. The duo were both stabbed in separate incidents while jailed during the long-winding trial — with Kendrick getting wounded Sunday and Stillwell last year. In October, co-defendant and Grammy winner Young Thug — whose given name is Jeffrey Williams — copped a surprise plea deal in the case accusing him of being the ringleader of the YSL gang – or Young Slime Life. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced Williams, 33, to 40 years but his sentence was commuted to time served on the condition he complies with the conditions of probation for 15 years. If Williams — who was behind bars for over two years pending the case — violates these terms he must serve 20 years in prison. The case kicked off in 2022 against 28 defendants, accusing them of being part of the Bloods-connected gang and carrying out various crimes including, murder, armed robbery, drug dealing, carjacking and violence. Nine of the defendants pleaded out before trial started, another four — including Williams — copped to their crimes during trial, and another 12 still have cases pending. The final defendant had his charges dropped after he was convicted in an unrelated murder case. The trial is the longest running one in the Peach State’s history and was brought by DA Willis’s office. Jury selection took 10 months and testimony — which featured nearly 200 witnesses — began in November 2023. The case — brought under racketeering charges — was plagued with problems including a prior judge stepping down from overseeing the case in July after he was accused of misconduct by the defense. Williams’ lawyer, Brian Steel was held in contempt of court and sentenced to 10 weekends in jail for confronting Judge Ural Glanville. The state’s top court stepped in to grant Steel bond while he appealed Glanville’s ruling. The judge ultimately recused himself. Defense lawyers in the case blasted the prosecution’s case which relied heavily on evidence including song lyrics and social media posts to allege they were part of an organized criminal gang. Kendrick’s lawyer Doug Weinstein, during closing arguments, accused prosecutors of trying to link together random crimes to “see what sticks” but failed to prove they were all part of a criminal enterprise. He also accused the DA’s office of cherry-picking evidence including social media posts and allegedly unreliable witness testimony while the group were simply using music to lift themselves out of financial struggles and rough upbringings. Defense attorney Max Schardt admitted his client, Stillwell, had broken the law in the past to survive on the tough streets of Atlanta — rather than trying to advance the goals of the YSL gang. Prosecutors claimed that any lies witnesses made at trial were because they were speaking in front of people they “snitched on” while their statements to the police were true. The DA’s office also claimed the social media posts and songs helped prove the testimony by showing the defendants were “bragging about murder.” Willis has come under fire in the past year for her admitted affair with Nathan Wade, whom she hired to lead the prosecution against Trump — which was also brought using racketeering charges. Willis is also the last hold-out in the four criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump. Two federal cases against Trump have since been dropped by special counsel Jack Smith and Trump’s sentencing in the Manhattan state hush money case has been indefinitely postponed by a judge. “We always respect the verdict of a jury,” said DA spokesperson Jeff DiSantis said of the YSL verdicts. With Post wires Originally published as Donald Trump prosecutor Fani Willis dealt major blow after jury acquits two defendants in massive YSL gang trial
SHENZHEN, China , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As technology continues to evolve, consumer electronics have become essential to everyday life. Elephant Robotics, a high-tech company specializing in robotics design and production, is thrilled to announce its participation in the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025. This premier technology trade show will be held in Las Vegas , USA , from January 7-10 , where you can find Elephant Robotics at Booth 8963 in the LVCC North Hall. With a mission to "Enjoy Robots World", the company offers a diverse range of robotic products, including educational collaborative robots, professional robots, the Mercury humanoid robot, and bionic companion robotic pets. Committed to pushing the boundaries of robotics technology, Elephant Robotics aims to provide everyone with opportunities to experience the convenience and benefits of robots in daily life. At CES 2025, the company will showcase innovative robotic solutions and host 3 engaging interactive activities. Elephant Robotics is dedicated to reducing the barriers to robot applications by offering a diverse range of personal desktop robots, including 4 DOF collaborative robotic arms, 6 DOF cobots, 7 DOF robot arms, and mobile robots. These intelligent robot assistants are characterized by their versatility, high openness, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use, making them perfect for creative projects, daily tasks, and production applications. Equipped with a variety of end effectors—including cameras, suction pumps, grippers, and dexterous hands—these robots can perform a wide range of tasks. This versatility enhances the practicality of robotic arms, reducing the workload and increasing efficiency, allowing people to spend more time on creative and recreational activities. Ultimately, these robotics innovations enhance convenience and joy in everyday life. Whether functioning as personal assistants, production tools, or artistic platforms, they are becoming essential components of modern living. Alongside personal entertainment and convenience, the broad commercial applications of robotics technology are a significant aspect of future intelligent living. At CES 2025, Elephant Robotics will present 2 commercial collaborative robots with powerful performance and sleek, integrated design aesthetics. The myCobot Pro 630, a high-performance commercial collaborative robot, boasts a sleek integrated design and advanced capabilities. Equipped with a holographic device, it provides an immersive and dynamic experience for commercial displays and exhibitions, enabling multi-angle movement and captivating 3D visual effects. This robot offers a fresh approach to business marketing and displays with impressive flexibility and a wide range of applications. Additionally, the Mercury X1, a universal wheeled humanoid robot, features a mobile chassis with high-performance LiDAR and 19 DOF dual-arm robotic arms, delivering exceptional agility and intelligence. Mercury X1 can work seamlessly alongside humans to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and expand commercial opportunities in sectors such as service, hospitality, education, scientific and academic research, entertainment and smart home applications. Since its official launch in late 2023, Mercury X1 has received significant market attention, already delivering notable success in sectors like electronics, chips, and the 3C industry. Since its official launch in late 2023, the Mercury X1 has garnered significant market attention, achieving mass delivery just 7 months post-launch. This versatile wheeled humanoid robot is easily integrated into light industrial manufacturing, particularly in sectors such as electronics, and chips. There are some already successful applications include stripping adhesive sleeves from mobile phone components and assembling flexible connectors. By replacing manual labor, the Mercury X1 improves work efficiency and reduces costs. Robots can also be soft and cuddly, bionic companion robot pets are set to become the most heartwarming intelligent companions in daily life. Elephant Robotics will unveil its new series of bionic robotic pets—metaCat AI, metaDog AI, and metaPanda AI—at CES 2025. These AI bionic robotic pets, available in cat, dog, and panda shapes, closely mimic the appearance, texture, sound, and experience of real animals, fulfilling people's need for companionship and emotional comfort. Equipped with AI models, they understand human language and emotions, providing a life-like interaction experience. Designed to provide companionship and emotional support, these pets are equipped with lifelike features such as realistic fur, interactive movements, and engaging behaviors. These AI bionic companions understand human emotions and can respond to voice commands, offering a truly immersive and responsive interaction. Equipped with AI models, they understand human language and emotions, providing a "life-like" smart interaction experience. Particularly beneficial for children, seniors, and individuals with autism or Alzheimer's disease, these AI bionic companion robotic pets help reduce feelings of loneliness, alleviate anxiety, and promote mental well-being. In addition, their AI capabilities allow them to engage in dynamic, lifelike conversations, and even respond to emotional cues, fostering deeper connections with users. In family environments, these pets can serve as both educational and comforting companions, while in healthcare settings, they offer potential in emotional support and mental care. They represent a new frontier in human-robot interaction, where robotics not only enhance productivity but also improve emotional quality of life. Elephant Robotics is not only showcasing its cutting-edge robotic products at CES 2025, but is also offering visitors the opportunity to participate in 3 exciting interactive activities. Innovative Robotics Workshop: In this hands-on workshop, visitors will experience the power of graphical programming tools like myBlockly to control the 6 DOF collaborative robot arm, myCobot 280. By arranging code "blocks" in a fun and intuitive way, participants can easily bring their creative ideas to life. The workshop simplifies programming, allowing participants to enhance their practical skills and hands-on experience through direct interaction with various robotic products. This engaging environment encourages more people to explore the applications of robotic arms in everyday life. Share & Win: Visitors can participate by sharing posts on social media platforms (Facebook, X, LinkedIn) with the hashtag #ElephantRobotics to win a free, limited-edition panda doll keychain. It's an easy and fun way to engage with the brand while standing a chance to win a unique souvenir! Explore to Win – NVIDA and Partner Passport Program: As an official NVIDIA partner, Elephant Robotics is honored to be invited to participate in the Explore to Win event, part of the NVIDIA and Partner Passport Program at CES 2025. Visitors who scan the QR code at Elephant Robotics' booth (LVCC, North Hall – booth #8963) will be able to collect points and have a chance to win exciting prizes. CES 2025 is an unparalleled platform for showcasing cutting-edge technology and fostering idea exchange. Participation in CES 2025 allows Elephant Robotics to showcase its latest robotic innovations and emphasize its mission to integrate AI and robotics into everyday life. It also offers opportunities to explore collaborations with international organizations and companies, fostering loyalty and trust among its customers. Visitors are encouraged to visit the company's booth at LVCC North Hall – booth 8963 to experience their innovative robotics technologies firsthand and discover how these innovations can transform everyday's life. For more information, please visit: CES2025 - Elephant Robotics ; or connect with them on social media: X: https://twitter.com/CobotMy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mycobotcreator Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elephantrobotics/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/elephantrobotics View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elephant-robotics-to-exhibit-at-ces-2025-featuring-cutting-edge-innovative-robotics-solutions-and-ai-bionic-robots-debut-302336834.html SOURCE Elephant RoboticsGoyal urges India Inc to focus more on hi-tech sunrise sectorsThis report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here . Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are Rates to come down "gradually" U.S. Federal Reserve officials anticipate lowering interest rates "gradually" to "a more neutral stance," minutes of the Fed's November meeting showed. That's contingent on inflation continuing to "move down sustainably to 2 percent and the economy remaining near maximum employment" in line with Fed officials' expectations. Markets move past tariff threats Markets in the U.S. moved past President-elect Donald Trump's threat of more tariffs to scale new highs on Tuesday . The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at record highs. Europe's Stoxx 600 fell 0.57%, weighed down by auto stocks, which dropped 1.7% on news of the tariffs. Daimler Truck slumped 6%. Tariffs put the brakes on automakers Shares of General Motors and Stellantis slumped following Trump's announcement on Tuesday of a 25% tariff on goods imported from Canada and Mexico into the U.S. Goldman Sachs estimates those tariffs, in addition to the 10% on goods from China also proposed by Trump, will raise a measure of core inflation by nearly 1%. Ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah A permanent ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah is scheduled to begin Wednesday, announced U.S. President Joe Biden. The deal, which was brokered by France and the U.S., aims to complete the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon over the next 60 days. Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in a protracted conflict . [PRO] Data might show annual inflation ticking up The personal consumption expenditures price index is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation. The index for October will be released on Wednesday – and economists are expecting the headline number to tick up on an annual basis. Even before Trump enters the White House, investors are already living in his world. That portends the influence Trump, as president, will have on the economy and markets. Upon Trump's election win, the so-called "Trump trade" has flourished , with risk assets in general on an upward trajectory. The market rally stalled for a while as investors digested the possible increase in inflation and drop in economic growth due to Trump's policies, but was jolted back to life after Trump picked Scott Bessent as his Treasury secretary. Most recently, Trump announced he would raise tariffs by an additional 10% on Chinese goods entering the U.S., and new tariffs of 25% on those from Mexico and Canada. Those three countries alone account for 43% of U.S. goods imports, wrote Goldman Sachs's chief economist Jan Hatzius. "The truth is that the drag from tariffs on growth is likely to outweigh tax cuts on the forecast horizon," said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon. Automakers felt that sting most keenly because virtually all with a presence in the U.S. manufacture vehicles and parts in Mexico — 26% of auto imports into the U.S. are from Mexico, reported UBS. Shares of automakers GM , Stellantis and Ford Motor fell on reports of Trump's planned tariffs. That said, while individual stocks staggered, the broader market advanced. The S&P 500 rose 0.57% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.28%, with both indexes hitting fresh closing highs. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.63%. "Markets have become a lot more comfortable with the prospects of these tariffs being more bluster and more negotiating tactics than actual implementation," Jamie Cox, managing partner at Harris Financial, said. Posturing or not, it's likely Trump's proposed policies will sway the markets in the foreseeable future. — CNBC's Sarah Min, Alex Harring and Samantha Subin contributed to this report.
French government falls in historic no-confidence voteGeorgia quarterback Carson Beck announced Saturday that he will forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the 2025 NFL Draft. Beck, 22, led the Southeastern Conference with 28 touchdown passes and finished third in the SEC with 3,485 passing yards. He also led the conference in interceptions, however. Beck will be a spectator for the Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff after undergoing surgery Monday to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right (throwing) elbow. Gunner Stockton is in line to guide No. 2 seed Georgia into the CFP, starting with the Bulldogs' quarterfinal game against No. 7 seed Notre Dame at the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday in New Orleans. "There's unfinished business still this season and I'll be here to support however I can, finish strong!" Beck said in a statement posted on social media. Beck, a fifth-year senior, finished with a 24-3 record in his career with Georgia. "The past five years at the University of Georgia have been nothing short of a dream come true and I will forever cherish the memories that have been made. Thank you Dawg Nation for the time I've been here and to those who've supported and believed in me, thank you," Beck wrote on social media. "It's been an incredible journey and all these moments have ultimately led me to take the next step in my football career. With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft. Go Dawgs!" Beck, the Bulldogs' starter all year, was replaced in the second half of the SEC title game with the injury. Stockton helped to guide the Bulldogs to a 22-19 overtime win over Texas and clinch a first-round bye in the first 12-team playoff. --Field Level MediaFERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A jury convicted two men on Friday of charges related to human smuggling for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian migrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national who prosecutors say went by the alias “Dirty Harry,” and Steve Shand, 50, an American from Florida, were part of a sophisticated illegal operation that has brought increasing numbers of Indians into the U.S., prosecutors said. They were each convicted on four counts related to human smuggling, including conspiracy to bring migrants into the country illegally. “This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and of those criminal organizations that value profit and greed over humanity,” Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said. “To earn a few thousand dollars, these traffickers put men, women and children in extraordinary peril leading to the horrific and tragic deaths of an entire family. Because of this unimaginable greed, a father, a mother and two children froze to death in sub-zero temperatures on the Minnesota-Canadian border,” Luger added. The most serious counts carry maximum sentences of up to 20 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office told The Associated Press before the trial. But federal sentencing guidelines rely on complicated formulas. Luger said Friday that various factors will be considered in determining what sentences prosecutors will recommend. Federal prosecutors said 39-year-old Jagdish Patel; his wife, Vaishaliben, who was in her mid-30s; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and 3-year-old son, Dharmik, froze to death Jan. 19, 2022, while trying to cross the border into Minnesota in a scheme Patel and Shand organized. Patel is a common Indian surname, and the victims were not related to Harshkumar Patel. The couple were schoolteachers, local news reports said. The family was fairly well off by local standards, living in a well-kept, two-story house with a front patio and a wide veranda. Experts say illegal immigration from India is driven by everything from political repression to a dysfunctional American immigration system that can take years, if not decades, to navigate legally. Much is rooted in economics and how even low-wage jobs in the West can ignite hopes for a better life. Before the jury’s conviction on Friday, the federal trial in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, saw testimony from an alleged participant in the smuggling ring, a survivor of the treacherous journey across the northern border, border patrol agents and forensic experts. Defense attorneys were pitted against each other, with Shand’s team arguing that he was unwittingly roped into the scheme by Patel. Patel’s lawyers, The Canadian Press reported , said their client had been misidentified. They said “Dirty Hary,” the alleged nickname for Patel found in Shand’s phone, is a different person. Bank records and witness testimony from those who encountered Shand near the border didn’t tie him to the crime, they added. Prosecutors said Patel coordinated the operation while Shand was a driver. Shand was to pick up 11 Indian migrants on the Minnesota side of the border, prosecutors said. Only seven survived the foot crossing. Canadian authorities found the Patel family later that morning, dead from the cold. The trial included an inside account of how the international smuggling ring allegedly works and who it targets. Rajinder Singh, 51, testified that he made over $400,000 smuggling over 500 people through the same network that included Patel and Shand. Singh said most of the people he smuggled came from Gujarat state. He said the migrants would often pay smugglers about $100,000 to get them from India to the U.S., where they would work to pay off their debts at low-wage jobs in cities around the country. Singh said the smugglers would run their finances through “hawala,” an informal money transfer system that relies on trust. The pipeline of illegal immigration from India has long existed but has increased sharply along the U.S.-Canada border. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending Sept. 30, which amounted to 60% of all arrests along that border and more than 10 times the number two years ago. By 2022, the Pew Research Center estimates more than 725,000 Indians were living illegally in the U.S., behind only Mexicans and El Salvadorans. Jamie Holt, a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, said the case is a stark reminder of the realities victims of human smuggling face. “Human smuggling is a vile crime that preys on the most vulnerable, exploiting their desperation and dreams for a better life,” Holt said. “The suffering endured by this family is unimaginable and it is our duty to ensure that such atrocities are met with the full force of the law.” One juror Kevin Paul, of Clearwater, Minnesota, told reporters afterward that it was hard for the jurors to see the pictures of the family’s bodies. He said he grew up in North Dakota and is familiar with the kind of conditions that led to their deaths. “It’s pretty brutal,” Paul said. “I couldn’t imagine having to do what they had to do out there in the middle of nowhere.” Goldberg reported from Minneapolis.
The jury deliberated its decision Friday in an industry-defining licensing battle that started over a $50 million royalty dispute. Arm is waiting to see if it has won a battle over licensing of its microprocessor designs to Qualcomm that has cast doubt over the immediate future of some of the chip maker’s products. The jury in the US District Court for the District of Delaware spent the week listening to arguments in the protracted and increasingly rancorous licensing dispute between Arm and Qualcomm and all that’s left is to hear their verdict. The verdict, expected on Friday, could be hugely significant, not only for the parties involved but for the maze of other companies that have built their product development around their technology. It’s an extraordinary clash between companies that until as recently as 2021 seemed like firm allies. The legal case started with Qualcomm’s 2021 acquisition of Nuvia, designer of the Phoenix datacenter chip, which used Arm’s v8.7-A instruction set. Under Qualcomm, the Phoenix was reinvented as the Oryon chip, the CPU core of a more general microprocessor used inside the company’s Snapdragon system-on-a-chip (SoC). Importantly, the royalty that Qualcomm agreed to pay under its Architecture License Agreement (ALA) with Arm was lower than that of Nuvia. Qualcomm believed this more favorable deal should apply to Nuvia development going forward because most of its subsequent Snapdragon development was done after the acquisition. Arm disagreed and argued that Qualcomm should pay the rate agreed with Nuvia. According to court testimony by Arm CEO Rene Haas this week, the lower royalty would cause a drop in revenue of $50 million. Failing to reach an agreement with Qualcomm, the company decided to sue, the first time it has taken such action against a customer since its founding in 1990. This is where things became a bit muddy. Why did Arm decide to sue over a relatively small sum, and why did Qualcomm refuse to concede? This week in court a wide range of arguments and counter arguments were laid out, mostly that each company believed the other was trying to sabotage its business. Make Qualcomm great again As it attempts to diversify away from relying on mobile chips, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon SoC platform is seen as critical for its future. This, it hopes, will allow it to take on Intel and AMD in the general microprocessor market while integrating the new-fangled AI capabilities important to the PC sector. In October, Arm cancelled Qualcomm’s license to the Nuvia ALA. It also demanded the destruction of Nuvia designs developed prior to the merger. Clearly, a verdict in favor of Arm would put Qualcomm in a tight corner, and also a who’s who of tech companies — Microsoft, Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung — currently using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon designs. This week, Qualcomm put forward an alternative view to explain Arm’s motivations. According to Qualcomm’s lawyers, Arm harbors ambitions to develop competing chips of its own, making it a direct competitor to Qualcomm. Evidence for this remains circumstantial, but to back this up Qualcomm claimed that Arm at one point misled it into disbanding its development team. Stop being cheap A difficulty for outsiders is untangling exactly what is really at issue and whether there’s more to this than meets the eye. According to Arm it’s about licensing agreements and the fees that arise from them. It believes Qualcomm used its IP in Nuvia-originated IP and should pay what Nuvia agreed and stop being cheap. Qualcomm’s argument seems to be that this is a shakedown. And yet there seem to be deeper currents. Perhaps they see each as competitors in the longer term, and the battle is competitive jockeying. Notably, Qualcomm was a major opponent to Nvidia’s proposed 2021 takeover of Arm, abandoned in the face of regulatory hurdles, and even suggested investing in the UK company. For its part, Arm upset Qualcomm by contacting dozens of its customers to inform them of the termination of the Nuvia license. Each round of conflict deepened the antipathy. It’s the sort of dispute that happens all the time in the tech industry, a sector built on patents and cross-licensing of IP. But what was highly unusual about this dispute is that it wasn’t resolved without going to court, a hugely risky situation for both parties should they lose. On the surface, it has never been a battle of equals: Qualcomm’s annual revenue is 10 to 15 times that of Arm’s. That said, since Arm listed on the New York Stock Exchange, its value has soared, bringing its market capitalization much closer to that of the US company. Arm is important for its size and Qualcomm is large and ambitious. Each would like the other’s crown. Both are angry. What’s not yet clear is whether the verdict of a Delaware courthouse, including outright victory, will deliver what either company wants.
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