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Keir Starmer 's wife Victoria may step into the spotlight next year as her husband grapples with dwindling popularity, according to close friends. Having taken time to adjust to life in Downing Street, Victoria is reportedly contemplating championing a charity or worthy cause. Despite her low profile and limited involvement in official duties thus far, she has maintained her role as an occupational therapist at a leading London hospital since Starmer assumed office. Insiders suggest that she might align herself with a charity or preferred cause next year, potentially health-related, provided it remains apolitical. Friends told Tatler magazine that she has "the option of reviewing her role when Keir has been in power for a year to see how it's going", adding that "if it changes, it will be on her terms". This would mark a significant shift for Victoria, who found herself embroiled in the freebies scandal involving her husband and his senior ministerial team last autumn. It was revealed in September that Sir Keir had neglected to declare financial contributions towards clothing from Lord Alli , a millionaire Labour donor, which included a personal shopper, designer clothes and alterations for Victoria. She was later spotted at London Fashion Week donning a custom-made outfit loaned to her by the designer. Labour MPs have noted that Lady Starmer tends to maintain a low profile. One MP told Tatler: "You can spend a lot of time around the Labour Party at high levels and never meet Victoria . It's her choice, of course. But there's a great appetite to see more of her." The article also disclosed that Sir Keir's family has fully relocated to Downing Street, nearly half a year after his election victory. The couple's two teenage children are reportedly well-adjusted in the No 10 flat following Starmer's initial solo move. Victoria and the children had been splitting their time between Downing Street and their north London home during a transitional phase. Last month's documents reveal that Starmer is now renting out their mortgage -free Kentish Town house. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London and a friend of the Starmers, confirmed that "they are all very well settled in and everyone is happy", adding: "I wouldn't ask them to change a thing while the children are growing up." Despite any potential increase in Victoria's public presence , it is anticipated that the Starmers will continue to protect their children's privacy. Their 16-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter remain unnamed publicly, with the prime minister rarely mentioning them to keep them away from public scrutiny.Ontario did not illegally lock out engineers striking on Hwy. 413: labour board
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The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) has announced the competition winners for its 37th edition. The awards were unveiled at a ceremony on Thursday in Amsterdam at the Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, just a few blocks from the iconic Rijksmuseum. This year’s IDFA selection includes more than 250 documentary titles, many hinging on the current wars and ideological fissures plaguing the world. In a unanimous decision from jurors Juliana Fanjul, Sophie Fiennes, Grace Lee, Asmae El Moudir, and Kazuhiro Soda, Maciej J. Drygas’ Polish archival documentary “Trains” took the IDFA Award for Best Film in the international competition. The film is a rail journey through 20th-century Europe taking place entirely within steam locomotives and railroad cars. “The jury was unanimous. This is a bold and inventive use of archive. The film shows us routes to the positive and negative consequences of modern industrial innovation. It harnesses the magic of cinema and as an audience we are haunted by our present historical time, even while we bear witness to the past,” the jury said in a statement. The win includes a 15,000 euro cash prize. The IDFA Award for Best Directing (worth 5,000 euros) in the international competition went to Auberi Edler for “An American Pastoral,” centered on ideological battles in a small, conservative Pennsylvania town. “By simply looking and listening, this director reveals the current complexity at the heart of the United States. Her deep commitment to observation allows the viewer to come face to face with the communities in the film and provides critical insight into the results of the last U.S presidential election,” said the jury. The IDFA Award for Best Editing also went to Maciej J. Drygas for “Trains,” while the IDFA Award for Best Cinematography went to Zvika Gregory Portnoy and Zuzanna Solakiewicz for the refugee portrait “The Guest,” from Poland and Qatar. In the Envision Competition, which showcases daring international and world premieres, the award for Best Film went to “Chronicles of the Absurd,” a hybrid portrait of Kafkaesque repression within and outside Cuba. “Formally complex with a film language that arises organically and directly from its limitations, this film impressed us with the use of an audio track as a political diary,” the jury said. The Award for Best Directing in the Envision Competition went to Massimo D’Anolfi and Martina Parenti for “Bestiaries, Herbaria, Lapidaries” (Italy/Switzerland), while the Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution went in a tie to Omar Mismar for “A Frown Gone Mad” (Lebanon) and to Yo-Hen So for “Park” (Taiwan). The jury members for the Envision Competition were Sam Green, Nduka Mntambo, Kumjana Novakova, B. Ruby Rich, and Wael Shawky. In the DocLab Competition for Immersive Non-Fiction, Lisa Schamlé won the top prize for “Me, a Depiction” hailing from the Netherlands. Another local title, “The Liminal” (also from Lebanon, Palestine, and Norway) from Alaa Al Minawi won a special mention in that section. Pegah Tabassinejad’s “Entropic Fields of Displacement” (Canada) won the IDFA DocLab Award for Digital Storytelling. Emeline Courcier’s “Burn from Absence” (France/Canada) received the DocLab Special Mention for Digital Storytelling. In the short documentary competition, Theo Panagopoulos’ “The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing” (U.K.) won for Best Short Documentary. A special mention also went to “Mama Micra” (Germany) by Rebecca Blöcher. The IDFA Award for Best Youth Documentary (13+) went to Eefje Blankevoort and Lara Aerts for “Everything Will Be Alright” (Netherlands). A special mention here went to “Simply Divine” (France/Romania) by Mélody Boulissière. The IDFA Award for Best Youth Documentary (9-12) went to Poorva Bhat for “What’s the Film About?” (India). Martijn Blekendaal received a special mention here for “The Invisible Ones” (Netherlands/Belgium). More overall awards were given, including The IDFA Award for Best First Feature for “CycleMahesh” (India) by Suhel Banerjee. The IDFA Award for Best Dutch Film went to Luuk Bouwman for “The Propagandist” (Netherlands). The Beeld & Geluid IDFA ReFrame Award went to Farahnaz Sharifi for “My Stolen Planet” (Iran/Germany), a moving essay film about the filmmaker’s experience emigrating to Germany at the peak of the Woman, Life, Freedom protests in her home country, which she watched from afar on social media. Radu Jude and Christian Ferencz-Flatz received the Beeld & Geluid IDFA ReFrame Award special mention for “Eight Postcards from Utopia” (Romania), a collage of Romanian commercials made after the country converted to capitalism after Nicolae Ceaușescu’s death. inally, the FIPRESCI Award went to “Writing Hawa” (France/Netherlands/Qatar/Afghanistan) by Najiba Noori. IDFA opened on Thursday, November 14 and runs through Sunday, November 24. Festival director Orwa Nyrabia, who has been at IDFA since 2018, previously announced that he will step down after this year’s edition.
BCC Research analyst states that carbon nanotubes are transforming industries with their superior strength, conductivity, and thermal stability BOSTON , Nov. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston : "According to the latest study from BCC Research " Global Markets and Technologies for Carbon Nanotubes, " demand for these products is projected to grow from $2.3 billion in 2024 to $5.9 billion by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.6% from 2024 through 2029." In this report, the global market for carbon nanotubes is analyzed, focusing on single-walled and multi-walled types. Technologies such as chemical vapor deposition and arc discharge as well as high-pressure carbon monoxide and laser ablation are examined, including their use in the transportation, energy storage, electronics, semiconductors, chemicals, materials, polymers, and medical applications industries. Regional analysis covers North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , South America , and the Middle East and Africa . With a base year of 2023 and forecasts through 2029, the market size estimates reflect revenues generated by companies using industrial-scale carbon nanotube technologies. As renewable energy is increasingly integrated into global systems, carbon nanotubes offer significant advantages in energy storage and conversion, particularly by enhancing lithium-ion batteries with improved conductivity and structural integrity, ensuring greater resilience during charge/discharge cycles. In healthcare, the rising need for smart drug delivery, particularly in North America and Europe , positions carbon nanotubes as effective drug vectors that target specific body areas while minimizing interaction with healthy tissues. Additionally, carbon nanotubes are increasingly being used in the design and fabrication of smaller, high-performance consumer electronics, such as smartphones, transistors and wearable devices. Please click here for more details on the report on the global market for carbon nanotubes. The factors driving the global market for carbon nanotubes include: Advances in the Medical Sector: Carbon nanotubes are enhancing drug delivery by targeting specific cells, improving treatment effectiveness, and reducing side effects. They are also integrated into biosensors for early disease detection and are used in cancer treatment to target and destroy cancer cells precisely, minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Demand in Electronics and Semiconductors: Carbon nanotubes are increasingly being integrated into transistors, potentially surpassing silicon in speed and efficiency, and are used in sensors to enhance performance in advanced electronics. Integration in Energy Storage and Conversion: Carbon nanotubes improve energy density and extend the life of lithium-ion batteries, enhance the efficiency of fuel cells, and increase the effectiveness of solar cells in converting sunlight to electricity. Use in EVs: The EV industry uses carbon nanotubes to develop lightweight, strong materials for better energy efficiency. They also enhance EV battery performance, leading to longer ranges and quicker charging, and are used in conductive composites to improve vehicle safety and functionality. Request a sample copy of the global market for carbon nanotubes report . Report Synopsis Report Metric Details Base year considered 2023 Forecast period considered 2024-2029 Base year market size $2.0 billion Market size forecast $5.9 billion Growth rate CAGR of 20.6% from 2024 to 2029 Segments covered Type, Technology, End User, and Region Regions covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) Countries covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia, UAE and South Africa Market drivers • Advances in the medical sector • Increasing use in the electronics and semiconductors industry • Integration of carbon nanotubes in energy storage and conversion • Growing use in EVs Interesting facts about the global market for carbon nanotubes: • Carbon nanotubes have transformed the pharmaceutical industry with their ability to penetrate cell membranes, making them ideal for targeted drug delivery. • Carbon nanotubes may replace silicon in electronics due to superior conductivity, enhancing silicon anodes in Li-ion batteries for longer cycles. • Carbon nanotubes are key in developing smart textiles with electrical conductivity, flame retardance, and durability, paving the way for wearable electronics and heated garments. • Carbon nanotube manufacturers are exploring eco-friendly production methods using bioethanol and plant-based oils to align with sustainability goals. The report addresses the following questions: 1. What are the projections for the market? • The global market for carbon nanotubes is projected to grow from $2.0 billion in 2023 to $5.9 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.6% during the forecast period. 2. Which factors are driving the growth of the market? • These factors include: o Advances in the medical sector. o Demand from the electronics and semiconductors industry. o Integration of Carbon nanotubes in energy storage and conversion systems. o Use in EVs. 3. Which market segments are covered in the report? • The global market for carbon nanotubes is segmented by type, technology, end-user and region. Types, include single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Technologies include chemical vapor deposition, arc discharge, high-pressure carbon monoxide, laser ablation and others (electrolysis, ball milling, diffusion flame synthesis, etc.). End users include the transportation, energy and storage, electronics and semiconductors, chemicals, materials, polymers, medical, sports equipment, construction and textile sectors. Regions covered are North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , South America , and the Middle East and Africa . 4. Which technology segment will dominate the market by the end of 2029? • The chemical vapor deposition segment, which is one of the most widely used and versatile methods for synthesizing Carbon nanotubes, will maintain its dominance through 2029. It relies on the thermal decomposition of a carbon-containing gas, which deposits carbon atoms on a catalyst surface. Recent advances in the catalyst design have significantly improved the quality, scalability, and control over the growth process for carbon nanotube synthesis. 5. Which region has the largest share of the global market? • Asia-Pacific's largest market share is driven by a combination of economic factors, industrial applications, and a focus on innovation and sustainability. Rising demand for renewable energy, use of EVs, and supportive government initiatives will increase the potential market for c arbon nanotubes. Leading companies in the market include: • Anp Corp. • Arkema • Birla Carbon • Cabot Corp. • Canatu • Chasm • Jiangsu Cnano Technology Co. Ltd. • Kumho Petrochemical • Lg Chem • Nano-C • Nanografi Nano Technology • Novarials Corp. • Ocsial • Raymor Industries Inc. • Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. More Related Reports: Global Markets and Technologies for Nanofibers : This report provides an analysis of the global market for nanofiber technologies, with forecasts through 2028. It covers key material types—polymers, hybrids, synthetics, naturals, carbons, metals, alloys, ceramics, glasses, composites, and semiconductors—and their applications in the life sciences, energy, electronics, consumer goods and transportation sectors. The study also offers regional market breakdowns for North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and the Rest of the World, focusing on commercially viable nanofiber materials and applications expected to be significant by 2028. Nanomaterials in Personalized Medicine: Global Markets : This report provides an analysis of nanomaterials in the personalized medicine market, with estimates for 2023 and projections through 2028. It highlights the current and future market, assesses the competitive landscape, and explores regulatory scenarios and market drivers, restraints and opportunities. The study segments the market by product type—including proteins, monoclonal antibodies, nanocrystals, liposomes, gold nanoparticles, and quantum dots—and by the regions of North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and the Rest of the World, with insights into key markets of the U.S., Germany , the U.K., Italy , France , Japan , China , and India . Directly purchase a copy of the report from BCC Research. For further information or to make a purchase, please get in touch with info@bccresearch.com . About BCC Research BCC Research market reports provide objective, unbiased measurement, and assessment of market opportunities. Our experienced industry analysts' goal is to help readers make informed business decisions, free of noise and hype. Contact Us Corporate HQ: 50 Milk St. Ste 16, Boston, MA 02109, USA Email: info@bccresearch.com , Phone: +1 781-489-7301 For media inquiries, email press@bccresearch.com or visit our media page for access to our market research library. Any data and analysis extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying BCC Research LLC as the source and publisher. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2183242/BCC_Research_Logo.jpgShares of BlackBerry Limited ( NYSE:BB – Get Free Report ) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $4.06 and last traded at $3.96, with a volume of 1704539 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $3.96. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. CIBC upped their price target on shares of BlackBerry from $3.50 to $3.60 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of BlackBerry from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. TD Securities upgraded shares of BlackBerry from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the company from $3.25 to $4.00 in a research report on Friday, December 20th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of BlackBerry from $3.00 to $3.25 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of BlackBerry from $3.00 to $3.50 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, December 20th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $3.60. Read Our Latest Report on BB BlackBerry Stock Performance BlackBerry ( NYSE:BB – Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, December 19th. The company reported $0.02 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.01) by $0.03. The company had revenue of $143.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $144.84 million. BlackBerry had a negative net margin of 21.66% and a negative return on equity of 3.38%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.01 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that BlackBerry Limited will post -0.06 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Trading of BlackBerry A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its position in BlackBerry by 83.3% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 11,769 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 5,349 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in BlackBerry by 2.9% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 267,073 shares of the company’s stock worth $706,000 after purchasing an additional 7,652 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its position in BlackBerry by 60.7% during the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 20,769 shares of the company’s stock worth $540,000 after purchasing an additional 7,842 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLC boosted its position in BlackBerry by 65.5% during the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 22,898 shares of the company’s stock worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 9,063 shares during the period. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its position in BlackBerry by 7.5% during the second quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 130,665 shares of the company’s stock worth $327,000 after purchasing an additional 9,156 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 54.48% of the company’s stock. About BlackBerry ( Get Free Report ) BlackBerry Limited provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Cybersecurity, IoT, and Licensing and Other. The company offers CylanceENDPOINT, an integrated endpoint security solution; CylanceGUARD, a managed detection and response solution; CylanceEDGE, an AI-powered continuous authentication zero trust network access solution; CylanceINTELLIGENCE, a contextual cyber threat intelligence service; BlackBerry Dynamics offers a development platform and secure container for mobile applications; BlackBerry Workspaces a secure Enterprise File Sync and Share (EFSS) solution; BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) Enterprise, an enterprise-grade secure instant messaging solution for messaging, voice and video; BlackBerry SecuSUITE is a certified, multi-OS voice and text messaging solution; BlackBerry AtHoc, a secure networked critical event management solution; and BlackBerry unified endpoint management (UEM) solutions. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for BlackBerry Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackBerry and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Florida State continues torrid star with rout of UMassHigh-yield energy stocks can provide diversification to your portfolio. But if you pick the right high-yielders, they can also offer stability -- you just have to avoid the segments of the energy sector known for massive, commodity-driven price swings. Both Enbridge ( ENB -0.53% ) and Black Hills ( BKH 1.61% ) allow you to focus on long-term dividend payers with high yields while avoiding direct exposure to oil and natural gas. Enbridge is happily stuck in the middle The oil and gas industry is largely broken down into three segments. The upstream (drilling) and the downstream (chemicals and refining) are both commodity-driven and tend to be very volatile. The midstream ( pipelines ), however, is different. The companies here basically help transport oil and natural gas, and the products into which they get turned, around the world. They own energy infrastructure and simply charge upstream and downstream companies fees for the use of those vital energy assets. All in, midstream companies can be very consistent businesses, generating strong cash flows in good energy markets and bad ones. This is the story backing Enbridge's 29-year streak of annual dividend increases (in Canadian dollars). This North American midstream giant owns assets that would be difficult, if not impossible, to replace or displace, so there's no reason to believe that its dividend is at any risk of being cut. In fact, through the first nine months of 2024 the company's distributable cash flow payout ratio was right in line with management's 60% to 70% target. Meanwhile, Enbridge has an investment-grade rated balance sheet and a highly diversified business. With assets spread across oil pipelines, natural gas pipelines, natural gas utilities, and renewable power, Enbridge is one of the most diversified midstream companies you can buy. The stock has rallied a bit in 2024, but if you are looking for a reliable high-yield stock with exposure to oil and natural gas, the 6.1% dividend yield on offer here is still one of the best choices around. Black Hills is a tiny King If you thought that 29 years of annual dividend increases was impressive, then the 54-year streak that Black Hills has delivered will really impress you. That puts this regulated natural gas and electric utility into the highly elite group of companies known as Dividend Kings . Black Hills has one of the longest dividend streaks in the utility sector even though most investors probably won't know its name given its modest size. The company's market cap is just $4.5 billion, which is a rounding error compared to the largest utilities. And yet the 4.1% yield is both high for a utility today and historically elevated for Black Hills. Black Hills serves around 1.3 million customers in parts of Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The regions it serves are seeing population growth that's around three times faster than U.S. population growth. That's a good sign for a regulated utility, which has to get rates and capital investment plans approved by the government. More customers generally means more revenues and an increased necessity for spending, which also leads to higher rates. Right now Black Hills has a $4.3 billion capital investment budget that will take the company through 2028. That spending is expected to back this investment-grade rated utility's long-term projections for 4% to 6% earnings growth over the long term. The dividend is likely to grow roughly along with earnings. In other words, this is a good option for conservative income investors who don't mind owning a slow and steady tortoise. High yield and reliable, a wonderful combination You can easily find energy companies with higher yields than Enbridge and Black Hills. But that's not the full story with these two stocks because you are getting financially strong and reliable dividend payers. That's a combination that is much harder to come by on Wall Street, particularly in a sector known for volatility.