Claros Mortgage Trust stock hits 52-week low at $6.07Diamcor and Tiffany & Co. Canada Sign Agreement to Amend Outstanding Loans
MacKenzie Scott continues to make medical debt relief a priority in her mysterious giving. This week, Undue Medical Debt , formerly RIP Medical Debt, announced it had received a rare third gift — $50 million — from the billionaire philanthropist, signaling her satisfaction with the group’s efforts to purchase medical debt in bulk from hospitals and debt collectors. Scott has donated a total of $130 million to the organization since 2020. Medical debt is increasing despite most of the U.S. population having some form of medical insurance. Nearly 100 million people are unable to pay their medical bills, according to Third Way, a left-leaning national think tank. Overall, Americans owe about $220 billion in medical debt, with historically disadvantaged groups shouldering the bulk of the burden. Lower-income people, people with disabilities, middle-aged adults, Black people, the uninsured, and people living in rural areas are among the groups most likely to be affected by medical debt, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Undue Medical Debt buys debt at a discounted price, estimating that it erases about $100 in debt for each $1 donated. The group also collaborates with policymakers to encourage the adoption of measures to curb what people owe for medical care. Scott first gave Undue Medical Debt a $50 million donation in 2020, followed by a $30 million donation in 2022. With that money, the group has relieved nearly $15 billion in debt for more than 9 million people, CEO Allison Sesso said. That’s a significant leap from the $1 billion in debt relieved from 2014 to 2019, she noted. “I’m frankly astounded by this most recent gift from MacKenzie Scott and feel proud to be a steward of these funds as we continue the essential work of dismantling the yoke of medical debt that’s burdening far too many families in this country,” said Sesso. The continued funding has allowed Sesso “to not have to worry about my next dollar,” she said, and “think more strategically about the narrative around medical debt — she has helped us push that conversation.” Undue Medical Debt was started in 2014 by two former debt collection executives, Jerry Ashton and Craig Antico, who were inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement’s advocacy for debt relief. Growth initially was slow. But with Scott’s gifts, the nonprofit has been able to staff up, produce more research, and develop relationships with policymakers who have pushed for changes to hospital billing practices to relieve debt and prevent people from accumulating it in the first place, Sesso said. Undue Medical Debt’s public policy arm has worked with lawmakers in North Carolina, which in July became the first state to offer additional Medicaid payments to hospitals that agree to adopt debt relief measures, she said. The policy change followed the publication of a 2023 report from Duke University , which found that one in five families in the state had been forced into collections proceedings because of medical debt. Since 2020, the organization’s staff has grown from three to about 40, Sesso said. Those hires included an anthropologist who collects stories from people set back by medical debt to inform the group’s research and advocacy work. Scott’s gifts also have helped improve Undue Medical Debt’s technology to identify people eligible for debt relief and to find hospitals from which it can purchase medical debt, among other things, Sesso said. “This coming year, because of this MacKenzie Scott grant, we’ll be able to add more people, making sure that we can support that growth on an ongoing basis,” Sesso said. Few repeat grantees Few organizations have received more than one gift from Scott. Other multi-grant recipients include Blue Meridian, an intermediary group that has directed billions of dollars to nonprofits around the world, and GiveDirectly, which provides no-strings-attached cash payments to low-income people globally. GiveDirectly has received $125 million from Scott since 2020. Blue Meridian has not disclosed amounts for the four gifts it’s received since 2019. Scott’s contributions to those two organizations were for specific causes like GiveDirectly’s U.S. poverty relief fund, said Christina Im, a senior research analyst at the Center for Effective Philanthropy. In the case of Undue Medical Debt, the timing of Scott’s first gifts in 2020 and 2022 seemed to correspond with COVID-relief efforts, she said. Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is worth an estimated $32 billion but provides few details about her grantmaking decisions. Without further information, it’s hard to know what prompted this third donation to Undue Medical Debt, but Scott has said in public statements that she wants to help those who are most in need and bear the brunt of societal ills, said Elisha Smith Arrillaga, the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s vice president for research. “I have not seen a lot of other folks funding in this area,” Smith Arrillaga added. Anger over health care costs Scott’s latest gift to Undue Medical Debt comes amid national debates about medical insurance and the cost of medical treatments. The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4 in Midtown Manhattan has heightened these conversations, with some lionizing the man who allegedly committed the crime. “That’s no way to get change, full stop,” Sesso said in reference to Thompson’s murder. “But I think the anger around insurance companies and having access to care is very clear.” The U.S. has one of the most expensive health care systems in the world. And the amount of medical debt carried by individuals seems to be increasing, noted Adam Searing, a public interest attorney and associate professor at Georgetown University, where he focuses on Medicaid and other health coverage programs. Searing previously served for 17 years as director of the Health Access Coalition at the nonprofit North Carolina Justice Center, advocating for the uninsured and underinsured. During that time, he heard from people losing their homes due to liens from hospitals. Sometimes those liens could be delayed, but it still meant that the debtors couldn’t pass those homes along to their children or grandchildren, he said. “Those stories stuck with me,” he said. “It really has an impact on families.” Relieving debt allows people to get their lives back on track and become financially secure after a major illness or series of expensive bills, Searing said. For philanthropists, it’s also a cause that is largely nonpartisan. Scott shining a spotlight on the issue is undoubtedly “a good thing,” he said. “I think it will have a big effect.” _____ Stephanie Beasley is a senior writer at the Chronicle of Philanthropy. This article was provided to The Associated Press by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as part of a partnership to cover philanthropy and nonprofits supported by the Lilly Endowment Inc. The Chronicle is solely responsible for the content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
Syria govt loses control of key city Daraa"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.Washington 62, Cal St.-Fullerton 58
Will Mike Evans play on Sunday vs. New York Giants? | Sporting NewsAs the world of gaming and technology continues to evolve, Tesla’s stock price, 今日のテスラの株価, presents an intriguing convergence of interests for tech enthusiasts and gamers alike. While traditionally, discussions around Tesla have been confined to electric vehicles and sustainable energy, today’s stock market trends are opening new doors for those in gaming circles. Why Gamers Should Care In recent times, Tesla has been exploring ventures beyond automobiles, such as artificial intelligence and, notably, in-game technology. Elon Musk has hinted at integrating gaming functionalities and services within Tesla vehicles, speculating a potential new frontier for in-car entertainment. As games continue to evolve into more immersive experiences, Tesla’s investments in this space could revolutionize how and where people play games. The Intersection of Gaming and Stock Markets Tesla’s stock performance today is more than just numbers for investors. It symbolizes the potential crossover of high tech and interactive entertainment markets. Gamers, who are often early adopters of technology, might find lucrative opportunities by understanding the stock market’s influence on gaming advancements. Tesla’s innovation-driven narrative aligns with the gaming industry’s rapid growth, potentially impacting the types of technology available for gamers in the future. Looking Forward For gamers and technology aficionados, keeping an eye on 今日のテスラの株価 could provide insights not only into future gaming technologies but also lucrative investment opportunities. As Tesla continues to diversify its technological scope, today’s stock market fluctuations could be tomorrow’s gaming universe. How Tesla’s Tech Innovations Are Shaping the Future of Gaming As the boundaries between technology sectors blur, Tesla Inc. is increasingly becoming a pivotal player in domains beyond its renowned electric vehicles. Recent developments and insights into Tesla’s endeavors reveal promising possibilities for the gaming community and tech enthusiasts. Through strategic innovations, the automaker is at the forefront of transforming the gaming landscape as we know it today. How Tesla is Revolutionizing In-Car Gaming The incorporation of gaming functionalities into Tesla vehicles is not just a novelty but reflects a broader trend of immersive technology integration in automobiles. These vehicles are being designed to host a wide range of games, from casual to graphically intense experiences, utilizing their advanced panels and communication capabilities. This positions Tesla cars as more than just transportation but as interactive entertainment hubs on wheels. Tesla’s Strategic Moves in the Gaming Space Tesla’s approach to gaming isn’t limited to its vehicle models. The company is hedging on the expansion of in-car gaming ecosystems that could leverage cloud gaming technology. This could drastically reduce the need for powerful hardware, allowing users to stream high-quality games directly through stable internet connectivity provided within the vehicles. Market Implications for Gamers For gamers, Tesla’s technological advancements imply a future where the choice of transport doubles as a platform for gaming. With the potential introduction of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) into its vehicles, Tesla could redefine mobile gaming experiences, impacting a broad demographic of users who seek entertainment during transit. Cutting-edge Features and Sustainability Initiatives Tesla’s push into gaming is underpinned by its commitment to sustainability. By integrating energy-efficient gaming solutions, the company ensures that its innovations align with ecological goals. This could influence how gaming technology develops, encouraging a shift towards environmentally friendly solutions across the industry. Predictive Insights into Tesla’s Gaming Ventures Industry analysts predict that Tesla’s integration of cutting-edge technology could set new trends in how games are consumed and experienced. As gaming experiences migrate into everyday settings like transportation, there could be a wave of demand for high-tech vehicles that cater to the lifestyle of modern gamers. Potential Challenges and Limitations While Tesla’s foray into gaming is ambitious, challenges such as regulatory issues concerning driver distraction, cybersecurity risks, and the sustainability of deploying high-power gaming in electric vehicles could pose hurdles. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for Tesla to succeed long-term in this innovative venture. Looking to the Future Tesla’s strategic maneuvers in technology and gaming markets underscore its role as a pioneer in redefining user experience. By staying attuned to Tesla’s stock performance—indicative of its innovation trajectory—gamers and tech enthusiasts can glean insights into the future of gaming, potentially revealing new investment opportunities and emerging tech trends. For further insights into Tesla’s latest innovations and ventures, visit the Tesla official website.Israel strikes kill 52 in Lebanon as Hezbollah targets south Israel
David Rittich made 19 saves for the Kings, who improved to 6-2-1 at home. Kempe and Byfield scored 1:44 apart in the second period. Byfield buried a sharp-angle slap shot on a power play while dropping to a knee. It was his 98th career point in 200 games. Brandon Montour got the Kraken on the board with 1:26 left in the game. He converted a long shot with Joey Daccord off for another skater, but Los Angeles held on. Daccord finished with 19 stops for Seattle. Kraken: Jordan Eberle will miss at least three months after undergoing surgery on his pelvis. He had six goals and five assists in 17 games before he got hurt against Chicago on Nov. 14. Kings: The power play had been in a 1-for-16 rut (6.25%) over the previous six games before Byfield found the net. It was the Kings' lone opportunity with the man-advantage. After following its 1-0 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday with a fourth straight period of extreme low-event hockey, Los Angeles created a lot more activity and offense to start the second and generate its two goals. The Kings know how to close out games, improving to 9-0-1 when leading after two periods. The Kraken visit Anaheim on Monday, and the Kings play at San Jose on Monday. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Earlier this month, the Orioles chose to part ways with one of their best relievers. They did so again Friday. The Orioles are planning to non-tender reliever Jacob Webb, two sources with direct knowledge confirmed to The Baltimore Sun ahead of Friday’s 8 p.m. arbitration tender deadline. The move makes Webb, who posted a 3.09 ERA in 78 2/3 innings in two seasons with Baltimore, a free agent. The decision comes a few weeks after the ballclub for 2025. In 81 innings over the past two years, Coulombe posted a 2.56 ERA and a sparkling 0.951 WHIP. Webb and Coulombe both missed time with elbow injuries in 2024 but managed to put up perhaps career-best performances on the mound. Manager Brandon Hyde frequently used both relievers because both pitchers have platoon-neutral profiles that allow them to succeed versus both right- and left-handed hitters. Webb joined the Orioles as a waiver claim in 2023 and experienced immediate success. Despite struggling in the 2023 postseason, he won a roster spot out of spring training in 2024 and was a consistent performer out of the bullpen. Webb was entering his second season of arbitration and was projected by MLB Trade Rumors for a modest pay raise from $1 million in 2024 to $1.7 million in 2025. Instead, the Orioles are choosing to go in a different direction. The Orioles still have to decide on their 12 other arbitration-eligible players ahead of Friday’s deadline. The club will need to tender contracts to the following players to keep them for 2025: outfielder Cedric Mullins; first baseman Ryan Mountcastle; catcher Adley Rutschman; infielders Jorge Mateo, Ramón Urías and Emmanuel Rivera; right-handers Dean Kremer, Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells; and left-handers Gregory Soto, Trevor Rogers and Keegan Akin. for players who have established themselves as big leaguers but have yet to spend enough time in the major leagues to become free agents. Eligible players have at least three years of MLB service time but fewer than the six necessary to hit free agency. The only exceptions are for players who already have a set salary through a guaranteed contract, such as left-handed reliever Cionel Pérez, whose $2.2 million team option was picked up by the club earlier this month. Tendering a contract to an arbitration-eligible player does not mean the sides have agreed to a 2025 salary yet, but rather the club has decided to keep the player under contract for the upcoming season. Non-tendered players such as Webb become free agents. The main reason a player is non-tendered is because the salary they’d garner through arbitration is higher than what the club wants to pay them, and the sides couldn’t agree before the deadline. After Friday’s deadline, teams and their tendered players have until Jan. 9 to agree on a 2025 salary. If they’re unable to do so, the sides will exchange proposed salary figures for the player. If the team and player remain at an impasse, a panel of arbitrators will hold a hearing and pick one of the two suggested salary figures. No other contract value can be chosen by the arbitrators. Hearings typically take place in February. Baltimore’s bullpen survived in 2024 without closer Félix Bautista, but it worsened as the season progressed. Bautista is expected back for the start of 2025, and setup men Yennier Cano, Seranthony Domínguez and Pérez will return as well to round out the back end of Hyde’s bullpen. Soto and Akin are also expected to return, though it’s yet to be announced whether the Orioles will tender them contracts ahead of the deadline. Related Articles The absences of Coulombe and Webb, though, do leave holes in the heart of the bullpen. They could be filled internally by pitchers like Bryan Baker or Colin Selby; or executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias could dip into the free-agent market to bolster his bullpen. “We do have a good bullpen to start the offseason with,” Elias said during a news conference last week. “You look at the returning guys and names and there’s a lot of above average relievers in there. I thought Seranthony Domínguez, who is coming back, did a great job after the deadline pitching at the end of games for us. It’s really nice to have him back. Cano’s been a mainstay and a rock out there, and we have the lefties. So we have a good start.” The Baltimore Banner was first to report the club is planning to non-tender Webb.New to the Street Show 614 Premieres Tonight on Bloomberg Television at 9:30 PM PST, Featuring HPB High Performance Battery AG With CEO Sebastian Heinz
The modern world of betting is rapidly evolving, and mobile applications are becoming not just an alternative, but a necessary tool for successful betting. MelBet, following global trends, has developed a mobile application that are favored by players and provides a unique user experience. MelBet has established itself as a progressive bookmaker that allocate money in digital technologies. The company has created a multifunctional application, embracing the needs of modern bettors. To find out how to click the link. The app is not just a copy of the website, but a multifacted ecosystem with advanced functionality. The key advantage of the application is its lightning-fast speed. Unlike the web version, the application does not depend on the loading of heavy site elements and runs on an optimized engine. This is especially important for live betting, where every second can affect the outcome of the bet. The application processes data locally, which significantly speeds up navigation and betting. The MelBet application provides stable access to the platform regardless of blocking and technical failures. Built-in tools to bypass restrictions work automatically, eliminating the need for the user to search for up-to-date mirrors. Even with a weak Internet connection, the application remains operational thanks to an effective data caching system. The mobile application offers a number of unique features that are not available in the web version: Instant push notifications about important events and changes in odds: ; Special promotions and bonuses only for application users; Customization of the interface to individual preferences; Built-in statistics and analytics in a compact format. The mobile application offers a deeper level of personalization: setting up favorite events, creating your own broadcast lists, adapting the interface to your personal preferences. The ergonomic design takes into account the features of control from a smartphone, and thoughtful navigation allows you to place bets in literally two touches. The application remembers the user’s preferences and generates personalized recommendations. Unlike constantly loading web pages, the application significantly saves mobile traffic. Most interface elements are loaded once upon installation, and only current data on odds and events are updated. This is especially important when using mobile internet with limited traffic. The MelBet mobile app is a more advanced betting tool, offering expanded functionality and an improved user experience. The advantages in speed, security and ease of use make it the preferred choice for active bettors. As technology develops, the gap between the capabilities of the app and the web version will only increase, making the transition to a mobile platform a logical step for every serious player.
Shane Bieber turns down bigger offers to return to Guardians in free agency
Sharks take on the Sabres after Wennberg's 2-goal gameBy Stephanie Lai and Hadriana Lowenkron, Bloomberg News Donald Trump says he is selecting venture capitalist David Sacks of Craft Ventures LLC to serve as his artificial intelligence and crypto czar, a newly created position that underscores the president-elect’s intent to boost two rapidly developing industries. “David will guide policy for the Administration in Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, two areas critical to the future of American competitiveness. David will focus on making America the clear global leader in both areas,” Trump said Thursday in a post on his Truth Social network. Trump said that Sacks would also lead the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology. In Sacks, Trump is tapping one of his most prominent Silicon Valley supporters and fundraisers for a prime position in his administration. Sacks played a key role in bolstering Trump’s fundraising among technology industry donors, including co-hosting an event at his San Francisco home in June, with tickets at $300,000 a head. He is also closely associated with Vice President-elect JD Vance, the investor-turned-Ohio senator. Sacks is a venture capitalist and part of Silicon Valley’s “PayPal Mafia.” He first made his name in the technology industry during a stint as the chief operating officer of PayPal, the payments company whose founders in the late 1990s included billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and investor Peter Thiel. After it was sold to eBay, Sacks turned to Hollywood, where he produced the 2005 satire Thank You for Smoking. Back in Silicon Valley, he founded workplace communications company Yammer, which was bought by Microsoft Corp. in 2012 for $1.2 billion. He founded his own venture capital firm, Craft Ventures, in 2017 and has invested in Musk-owned businesses, including SpaceX. Sacks said on a recent episode of his All-In podcast that a “key man” clause in the agreements of his venture firm’s legal documents would likely prevent him from taking a full-time position, but he might consider an advisory role in the new administration. A Craft spokeswoman said Sacks would not be leaving Craft. In his post, Trump said Sacks “will safeguard Free Speech online, and steer us away from Big Tech bias and censorship.” Protecting free speech is a keen interest of Sacks. He regularly speaks about “woke” interests that try to muzzle unpopular opinions and positions. The new post is expected to help spearhead the crypto industry deregulation Trump promised on the campaign trail. The role is expected to provide cryptocurrency advocates a direct line to the White House and serve as a liaison between Trump, Congress and the federal agencies that interface with digital assets, including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Trump heavily campaigned on supporting crypto, after previously disparaging digital assets during his first White House term, saying their “value is highly volatile and based on thin air.” The president-elect on Thursday said Sacks would “work on a legal framework so the Crypto industry has the clarity it has been asking for, and can thrive in the U.S.” During the campaign, Trump spoke at a Bitcoin conference, accepted crypto campaign donations and met with executives from Bitcoin mining companies and crypto exchanges multiple times. Trump’s desire to give priority to the digital asset industry is also reflected in his close allies and cabinet selections, including his Commerce secretary pick, Howard Lutnick, and Treasury secretary nominee Scott Bessent. On the AI front, Sacks would help Trump put his imprint on an emerging technology whose popular use has exploded in recent years. Sacks is poised to be at the front lines in determining how the federal government both adopts AI and regulates its use as advances in the technology and adoption by consumers pose a wide array of benefits as well as risks touching on national security, privacy, jobs and other areas. The president-elect has expressed both awe at the power of AI technology as well as concern over the potential harms from its use. During his first term, he signed executive orders that sought to maintain US leadership in the field and directed the federal government to prioritize AI in research and development spending. As AI has become more mainstream in recent years and with Congress slow to act, President Joe Biden has sought to fill that void. Biden signed an executive order in 2023 that establishes security and privacy protections and requires developers to safety-test new models, casting the sweeping regulatory order as necessary to safeguard consumers. A number of technology giants have also agreed to adopt a set of voluntary safeguards which call for them to test AI systems for discriminatory tendencies or security flaws and to share those results. Trump has vowed to repeal Biden’s order. The Republican Party’s 2024 platform dismissed Biden’s executive order as one that “hinders AI Innovation, and imposes Radical Leftwing ideas on the development of this technology.” Sacks can be expected to work closely with Musk, the world’s richest person and one of the president-elect’s most prominent supporters. Musk is also a player in the AI space with his company xAI and a chatbot named Grok — efforts which pit him against Silicon Valley’s giants — and he stands to wield significant influence within the incoming administration. The appointment won’t require Sacks to divest or publicly disclose his assets. Like Musk, Sacks will be a special government employee. He can serve a maximum of 130 days per year, with or without compensation. However, conflict of interest rules apply to special government employees, meaning Sacks will have to recuse himself from matters that could impact his holdings. Sacks’s Craft Ventures is known more for enterprise software investing than for crypto, but it has made a few crypto investments, including BitGo and Bitwise. Still, Sacks has firm opinions on the sector. Speaking last month on All-In, Sacks praised a bill on crypto regulation that had passed in the U.S. House but not the Senate earlier this year. The Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act would regulate certain types of digital assets as a commodity, regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. “The crypto industry basically wants a really clear line for knowing when they’re a commodity and they want commodities to be governed, like all other commodities, by the CFTC,” he said on the November podcast. He also disparaged some of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s positions on crypto under its chair, Gary Gensler. “The days of Gensler terrifying crypto companies,” he said. “Those days are about to be over.” Earlier this week, Trump nominated crypto advocate Paul Atkins to lead the SEC. With assistance from Zoe Ma, Bill Allison, Sarah McBride, Anne VanderMey and stacy-marie ishmael. ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Iran poised to 'quite dramatically' increase stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium
What you need to know: BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Dec. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Throughout 2024, public safety agencies across the nation responded to everything from severe weather events like tornadoes and hurricanes to devastating wildfires and more, all under some of the most austere conditions imaginable. During this challenging year, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team helped provide mission-critical communications support to the first responders on the front lines of these disaster response operations. Composed primarily of former public safety and military personnel, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team is dedicated to supporting first responders and government agencies during emergencies at no cost to the supported agencies. In 2024, the team: Major response efforts this year included: Wildfire Response: To help enable mission-critical voice and data service during fire mitigation efforts in locations across the country, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team delivered close to 2,000 Verizon Frontline solutions to public safety agencies conducting wildfire response operations in 2024. The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team responded to close to 250 requests for support from wildland firefighters battling blazes everywhere from New Mexico to Oregon and Washington . Hurricane Response: The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team supported public safety agencies and the communities they serve during three major hurricanes in 2024: Helene , Milton and Beryl . Hurricane Helene alone saw more than 600 Verizon Frontline solutions delivered to over 115 public safety agencies in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina as they dealt with the aftermath of the storm. Tornado response: The Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team responded to more than 30 requests for support from public safety agencies in 10 different states following tornadoes. The team delivered more than 300 Verizon Frontline solutions to first responders on the front lines of emergency response operations following these severe weather events. Additional 2024 Responses: Verizon Frontline solutions were also deployed in support of public safety agencies: In addition to the Crisis Response Team support, Verizon Frontline also debuted two new deployable assets in 2024. 2024 also saw Verizon Frontline announce a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), signing a three-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to explore new strategies to rapidly deploy uncrewed aircraft systems to collect and distribute imagery of damage resulting from severe storms such as tornadoes or hurricanes. Verizon Frontline is the advanced network and technology built for first responders – developed over three decades of partnership with public safety officials and agencies – to meet their unique and evolving needs. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New York City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500, Verizon generated revenues of $134.0 billion in 2023. Verizon’s world-class team never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip them for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit verizon.com or find a retail location at verizon.com/stores. VERIZON’S ONLINE MEDIA CENTER: News releases, stories, media contacts and other resources are available at verizon.com/news . News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/ . Media contact: Chandler Baker chandler.baker@verizon.com 757 725 4806AP News Summary at 6:42 p.m. ESTPNC Financial Services Group Inc. cut its stake in shares of Hillenbrand, Inc. ( NYSE:HI – Free Report ) by 2.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 297,913 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,955 shares during the quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. owned approximately 0.42% of Hillenbrand worth $8,282,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Hillenbrand by 3.5% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 8,702,418 shares of the company’s stock worth $437,645,000 after purchasing an additional 290,275 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Hillenbrand during the first quarter valued at $3,285,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in shares of Hillenbrand in the third quarter valued at about $627,000. Raymond James & Associates lifted its stake in Hillenbrand by 4.3% in the second quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 392,196 shares of the company’s stock worth $15,696,000 after acquiring an additional 16,323 shares during the period. Finally, Tidal Investments LLC bought a new position in Hillenbrand during the 1st quarter worth about $281,000. Institutional investors own 89.09% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth HI has been the subject of several recent research reports. DA Davidson restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $33.00 price target on shares of Hillenbrand in a report on Friday, November 15th. KeyCorp lowered their target price on Hillenbrand from $45.00 to $40.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Hillenbrand from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $44.67. Hillenbrand Trading Up 2.5 % NYSE:HI opened at $33.81 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $28.45 and a 200 day moving average of $35.81. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. Hillenbrand, Inc. has a 52 week low of $25.11 and a 52 week high of $50.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -11.03 and a beta of 1.38. Hillenbrand ( NYSE:HI – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 13th. The company reported $1.01 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.93 by $0.08. Hillenbrand had a positive return on equity of 14.86% and a negative net margin of 6.63%. The firm had revenue of $837.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $793.38 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.13 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Hillenbrand, Inc. will post 3.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Hillenbrand Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 16th were issued a dividend of $0.2225 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 16th. This represents a $0.89 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.63%. This is an increase from Hillenbrand’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. Hillenbrand’s dividend payout ratio is -29.77%. Hillenbrand Company Profile ( Free Report ) Hillenbrand, Inc operates as an industrial company in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Advanced Process Solutions and Molding Technology Solutions. The Advanced Process Solutions segment designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and services process and material handling equipment and systems comprising compounding, extrusion, and material handling equipment, equipment system design services, as well as offers mixing technology, ingredient automation, and portion process; and provides screening and separating equipment for various industries, including plastics, food and pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fertilizers, minerals, energy, wastewater treatment, forest products, and other general industrials. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hillenbrand, Inc. ( NYSE:HI – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Hillenbrand Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hillenbrand and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Jimmy Carter, 39th US president, Nobel winner, dies at 100LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit Norway on Monday where he is expected to tout a "green industrial partnership" on renewable energy and carbon capture to tackle climate change. It comes as Starmer's new Labour government seeks ways to meet its commitments to completely decarbonise the UK's electricity production by 2030, reduce emissions by at least 81 per cent compared to 1990 levels by 2034 and become carbon-neutral by 2050. To be formally signed in the spring, the agreement with Oslo would help Britain "seize the opportunities from a new era of clean energy, driving investment into the UK and boosting jobs both now and in the future", Starmer was cited as saying in a statement from his office. Precise details of the partnership's contents were not made available ahead of Starmer's meeting with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store. At the beginning of October, the Labour government announced 22 billion pounds ($28 billion) in investment over 25 years to develop carbon capture and storage on two former industrial estates in the north of England. Carbon capture, utilisation and storage is a technology that seeks to eliminate emissions created by burning fuels for energy and from industrial processes. The carbon is captured and then stored permanently in various underground environments. "Our partnership with Norway will make the UK more energy secure, ensuring we are never again exposed to international energy price spikes ...," said Starmer. Quoted in the Downing Street release, Norway's Prime Minister Store hailed the agreement as "important to facilitate more green jobs both in Norway and the UK, and for advancing the green transition". The two North Sea countries already have extensive energy ties, with Norway being one of the UK's main suppliers of gas. Several Norwegian companies already have a strong presence in the British market. Norwegian energy giant Equinor has partnered with BP in a number of carbon capture and storage projects in the UK, while Vagronn is also involved in a floating wind farm project in Scotland. The UK's ambition to become "a world-leader in carbon capture" comes despite doubts over the technology's effectiveness at tackling global warming given the costs and complexity involved. It has however been advocated by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), especially for reducing the CO2 footprint of difficult to decarbonise industries like cement and steel.