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Marlborough, Massachusetts–(Newsfile Corp. – December 23, 2024) – Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: PHIO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops therapeutics using its INTASYL® siRNA gene silencing technology to make the body’s immune cells more effective in killing cancer cells, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements for the purchase and sale of an aggregate of 240,000 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $2.00 per share in a registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules. In addition, in a concurrent private placement, the Company will issue unregistered warrants to purchase up to 240,000 shares of common stock. The warrants will have an exercise price of $2.00 per share, will be exercisable upon issuance and expire five years following the date of issuance. The closing of the offering is expected to occur on or about December 24, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering. The aggregate gross proceeds to the Company from the offering are expected to be $0.48 million, before deducting the placement agent fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company currently intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The shares of common stock (but not the warrants issued in the private placement or the shares of common stock underlying such warrants) are being offered by the Company pursuant to a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-279557) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on May 20, 2024 and became effective on July 1, 2024. The registered direct offering of the shares of common stock is being made only by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the effective registration statement. The prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the shares of common stock being offered in the registered direct offering will be filed with the SEC and be available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the registered direct offering may also be obtained, when available, by contacting H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC at 430 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at (212) 856-5711 or e-mail at placements@hcwco.com . The warrants described above are being issued in a concurrent private placement under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Regulation D promulgated thereunder and, along with the shares of common stock underlying the warrants, have not been registered under the Securities Act, or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the warrants and underlying shares of common stock may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: PHIO) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing its proprietary INTASYL siRNA gene silencing technology to eliminate cancer. INTASYL can target and silence virtually any gene with high degree of specificity across a wide range of cell types and tissues. INTASYL is designed to enhance the ability of immune cells to more effectively kill tumor cells. INTASYL has also demonstrated enhancement adoptive cell therapy. Notably, INTASYL is a self-delivering RNAi technology focused on immuno-oncology therapeutics without the need for formulation enhancements or manipulations to reach its target. Phio’s lead clinical program, PH-762, is an INTASYL compound that silences PD-1. PH-762 is a potential non-surgical treatment for skin cancers. The on-going Phase 1b trial (NCT# 06014086) received FDA clearance for an Investigational New Drug Application to evaluate PH-762 in the treatment of cutaneous SCC, melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma in second quarter of 2023. For additional information, visit the Company’s website, www.phiopharma.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “intends,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “indicates,” “plans,” “expects,” “suggests,” “may,” “would,” “should,” “potential,” “designed to,” “will,” “ongoing,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “target,” “predict,” “could” and similar references, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Examples of forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, among others, the ability of the Company to consummation of the offering, the satisfaction of the closing conditions of the offering and the use of proceeds therefrom, the possibility that our INTASYL® siRNA gene silencing technology will make the body’s immune cells more effective in killing cancer cells and statements regarding our commercial and clinical strategy, development plans and timelines and other future events. These statements are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors, including, but not limited to, the impact to our business and operations by inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, recession fears, the development of our product candidates, results from our preclinical and clinical activities, our ability to execute on business strategies, our ability to develop our product candidates with collaboration partners, and the success of any such collaborations, the timeline and duration for advancing our product candidates into clinical development, the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, the success of our efforts to commercialize our product candidates if approved, our ability to manufacture and supply our product candidates for clinical activities, and for commercial use if approved, the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our technology platform, our ability to obtain future financing, market and other conditions and those identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the caption “Risk Factors” and in other filings the Company periodically makes with the SEC. Readers are urged to review these risk factors and to not act in reliance on any forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ from those contemplated by our forward-looking statements. Phio does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views, events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/234968 #distro
Galaxy aim to complete journey back to top in MLS Cup finalWill move SC if no action taken over MLA disqualification: KTRSince ChatGPT took the world by storm in the fall of 2022, artificial intelligence (AI) has increasingly crept into many aspects of society. For instance, U.S. regulations around AI rose 56% in 2023. Now, businesses are advancing computer science to facilitate the evolution of AI. Two prominent companies in this area are quantum computing company IonQ ( IONQ 12.80% ) and semiconductor-giant Nvidia ( NVDA -2.25% ) . Each company has developed groundbreaking technologies poised to revolutionize the computing industry, which has helped propel their stocks skyward. Through Dec. 11, IonQ's share price was up around 140%, and Nvidia's had risen about 180% in 2024. But which company provides a better long-term investment to capitalize on the secular trend of AI? I'll dig into both businesses to answer that question. A look at IonQ's quantum tech IonQ is an attractive investment because quantum computing can evolve AI beyond what's possible with the most powerful supercomputers on the planet. Quantum computers use subatomic particles to perform complex calculations in seconds that can take years for a traditional computer to complete. IonQ isn't the only company working on quantum computers, but its technology overcomes challenges faced by the industry. For example, many quantum systems require temperatures colder than outer space to keep the subatomic particles stable, but IonQ's platform can operate at room temperature. Its tech helped it capture customers such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which is using IonQ's quantum computers to modernize the U.S. power grid. Its growing customer base has led to rapid revenue growth for the company. In the third quarter, IonQ's sales rose 102% year over year to $12.4 million. The company also captured $63.5 million in new customer bookings in the quarter. However, IonQ isn't profitable. It exited Q3 with a net loss of $52.5 million, up from $44.8 million in the prior year, as it spent $33.2 million on research and development . It's not cheap building innovative technology. IonQ is continually strengthening its technological advantages. In November, it announced it was acquiring quantum networking company Qubitekk. Today's AI relies on the power of many computers networked together. With the Qubitekk acquisition, IonQ intends to emulate the network effect for its quantum machines. Nvidia's strengths in AI The rise of AI supercharged Nvidia's business as companies and governments showed an insatiable appetite for its semiconductor chips. For example, some estimates suggest ChatGPT was built using 10,000 Nvidia chips. The company's products are popular for AI because Nvidia developed specialized chips called graphics processing units (GPUs). These provide AI systems with the computer processing power to quickly and efficiently churn through mountains of data to execute tasks. Demand remains strong for Nvidia's products. The company reached record revenue of $35.1 billion in its fiscal Q3, ended October 27. This represents a 94% rise over the previous year. Q3 net income was also up, hitting $19.3 billion, a remarkable 109% year-over-year increase. But its latest technology could propel the company to greater heights. Its Blackwell platform was designed specifically for the advanced computing required by AI systems. Nvidia claims it pushes the boundaries of scientific computing since each of Blackwell's GPUs boasts over 200 billion transistors. Customers are so hungry for Blackwell, Nvidia management stated "demand greatly exceeds supply." The governments of Japan and Taiwan are among the organizations building AI supercomputers using Blackwell. With so much product demand, Nvidia expects Q4 revenue to come in around $37.5 billion. That's a double-digit increase over the previous year's $22.1 billion. Choosing between IonQ and Nvidia Both companies offer good reasons to invest in them, given their compelling technologies. To pick between the pair, here are other important factors to consider. Nvidia's Blackwell platform is so powerful, it's capable of simulating the abilities of quantum computers. Blackwell can do this because today's quantum machines are limited in how long they can perform calculations before the subatomic particles break down. As a result, quantum computers can't replace classical computers, such as Blackwell, in the near term. Over the long run, however, quantum computers are expected to achieve quantum advantage, a term meaning a time when a classical computer can no longer keep up with a quantum machine. Some estimates predict quantum advantage will arrive some time after 2030. Consequently, it could be years before IonQ's technology potentially overtakes Nvidia's, making IonQ a more speculative investment. In addition, with shares of each company up this year, another consideration is valuation. Here's a look at their price-to-sales ratios (P/S). The metric indicates the price investors are willing to pay for each dollar of a company's sales. Data by YCharts . As the chart shows, IonQ's P/S multiple has surged in recent weeks and is now incredibly high, compared to Nvidia's. This suggests Nvidia shares are a better value. The better investment choice becomes clear when you consider three things: IonQ's stock appears overvalued. Nvidia's profitability and demand for its Blackwell platform are soaring. IonQ's technology is still years away from widespread adoption. Between these two cutting-edge companies, Nvidia stands out as the winning investment in the exciting field of artificial intelligence.
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Selwyn MP Nicola Grigg with Education Minister Erica Stanford with Lincoln Primary principal Chris Nord. Photo: Supplied Principals in the Selwyn district are cautiously optimistic they will soon have answers to roll growth pains. Education Minister Erica Stanford is looking at developing a Selwyn-specific growth model to map where school expansions and new schools will be needed. Principals say if the work comes to fruition, it will mark a change in the Ministry of Education’s approach to Selwyn’s explosive growth from reactive to proactive. In her visit last week, Stanford met with all the district’s principals and went to schools in Lincoln and Rolleston. The visit came after consistent calls from primary and secondary schools for better planning for growth. Lincoln Primary principal Chris Nord said pupils at his school have staggered lunchtimes due to space constraints. He was pleased to see Stanford witness the problem firsthand. “This visit allowed her to see firsthand the challenges caused by rapid roll growth in our community and highlight the impact of this growth on our infrastructure, including classroom spaces, green areas, car parking, our technology provision hub and administrative facilities,” said Nord. “While no immediate promises were made, she assured us that addressing these issues would be a priority in future budget considerations.” Education Minister Erica Stanford meeting with principals. Photo: Supplied West Rolleston Primary principal Sylvia Fidow said its library was currently being used as a classroom due to the school being at capacity. “I think it was great the minister came and listened and saw us,” Fidow said. Another 3500 homes are planned to be built behind West Rolleston in the coming years after the council and Carter Group reached an agreement during mediation. A spokesperson for Stanford said she valued meeting teachers, principals and local business leaders and appreciated their honesty about the future. “The minister is seeking advice from the Ministry of Education on network demands and projections for Selwyn to ensure the ministry is appropriately accounting for growth. “The advice will be provided before the end of the year for consideration.” Selwyn Labour spokesperson Luke Jones said he was pleased to see Stanford meeting with schools and taking their concerns about roll growth seriously, but the “proof will be in the pudding” if Stanford follows through with the work. Last month Selwyn MP Nicola Grigg recommitted to funding for the first stage of Rolleston College’s second campus and the rebuild of Ellesmere College. Rolleston College principal Rachel Skelton said Stanford spent a lot of time listening to what principals had to say. “She was certainly willing to listen to and commit to a Selwyn-specific plan and that would be a fantastic outcome for us.”
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A a day has become the secret to for one of Australia's oldest people. or signup to continue reading Bridget Grocke, who turned on November 18, 2024, has had a can of Emu Export beer every day for more than 60 years. "If there was a bunch of , I would choose that one; I'd always choose that one," Mrs Grocke said. Her one vice, she swears by the daily ritual, which has become her secret to a long life. But she also credits her longevity to the strong bonds she has with family. Mrs Grocke's daughter, Jan Robertson, said her mother's strength and independence have been constants throughout her life. "Her daily Emu Export is just a part of who she is, and it's heartwarming to see her reaching this milestone with the same joy and routine she's had for decades," Mrs Robertson said. Mrs Grocke was the second oldest of seven children. Born in the Perth suburb of Leederville in 1914, she spent time in Kalgoorlie and went across Western Australia as the family followed her father's work as an engine driver. She helped her mother Eva Jennings - who only had one arm - with meals, organising clothing, peeling potatoes, making pastries and doing the washing with a copper and washing dolly. Mrs Grocke worked as a cashier at Montgomery Brothers' Store in Kalgoorlie, and it was her job to count the money, tally it up and present a balance sheet. "Her diligent work earned her respect and recognition from her employees," Mrs Robertson said. Mrs Grocke also worked at David Jones in Perth, plus went off travelling to New Zealand, Europe, Asia and elsewhere. She married Jim at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Subiaco in 1942. "Their relationship was deeply loving, they did everything together and raised four kids together," Mrs Robertson said. During World War II, Bridget and her friends didn't focus on the hardships; they kept active and social, enjoying outdoor games and tennis. Mrs Grocke said her four children are her proudest achievement. She lived independently at home in Doubleview until aged 109, when she moved into Bethanie Subiaco. There, she enjoys physical activities like darts and staying engaged with her surroundings. "She's not one for puzzles or books but thrives on movement and staying physically active," Mrs Robertson said. Mrs Grocke uses a a walker for stability - but can do without one. Things she wants younger generations to know about life and/or growing older are to be nice to people - "they will be nice to you back", and always be honest. "Mum always talked about respect, manners and boundaries and to cherish family moments," Mrs Robertson said. "Simple things like sitting together at the table for dinner every single night with no distractions or external factors - something we have continued for generations to enjoy good old family discussions." While she has experienced loss - her husband Jim who passed in 1985, and two of her children - she still has her youngest sibling, plus one daughter (Mrs Robertson) and a son. Today, Bridget has 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Ken Weeks, Australia's oldest person, turned 111 in October 2024. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement
The Giants were a no-show against the Bucs after releasing quarterback Daniel JonesApple AAPL.O is closing in on a historic $4 trillion stock market valuation, powered by investors cheering progress in the company's long-awaited AI enhancements to rejuvenate sluggish iPhone sales. The company has pulled ahead of Nvidia NVDA.O and Microsoft MSFT.O in the race to the monumental milestone, thanks to an about 16% jump in shares since early November that has added about $500 billion to its market capitalization. The latest rally in Apple shares reflects "investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and an expectation that it will result in a supercycle of iPhone upgrades," said Tom Forte, an analyst at Maxim Group, who has a "hold" rating. Valued at about $3.85 trillion as of the last close, Apple dwarfs the combined value of Germany .GDAXI and Switzerland's .SSMI main stock markets. More: 'Apple Card failures,' including mishandling disputes, trigger millions in penalties Holiday deals: Shop this season’s top products and sales curated by our editors. The Silicon Valley firm, driven by the so-called iPhone supercycles, was the first U.S. company to hit previous trillion-dollar milestones. In recent years, the company has attracted criticism for being slow to map out its artificial intelligence strategy, while Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon and Meta Platforms have pulled ahead to dominate the emerging technology. Shares of Nvidia, the biggest AI beneficiary, have surged more than 800% over the past two years, compared to the near doubling in shares of Apple during the same period. Apple earlier in December started integrating OpenAI's ChatGPT into its devices after unveiling plans in June to integrate generative AI technology across its app suite. The company expects overall revenue to increase "low- to mid-single digits" during its fiscal first quarter - a modest growth forecast for the holiday shopping season - sparking questions about the momentum for the iPhone 16 series. However, LSEG data showed analysts expect revenue from iPhones to rebound in 2025. "Although near-term iPhone demand is still muted ... it is a function of limited Apple Intelligence features and geographic availability, and as both broaden, it will help to drive an improvement in iPhone demand," Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring said in a note, reiterating Apple as the brokerage's "top pick" heading into 2025. The recent surge in shares has pushed Apple's price-to-earnings ratio to a near three-year high of 33.5, compared to 31.3 for Microsoft and 31.7 for Nvidia, according to LSEG data. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway BRKa.N has sold shares of Apple - its top holding - this year, as the conglomerate broadly retreated from equities on concerns over stretched valuations. "I suspect the stock in three years will not look as expensive as it does today," said Eric Clark, portfolio manager of the Rational Dynamic Brands Fund, which holds Apple shares. Apple faces the risk of retaliatory tariffs if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump delivers on his promise to slap tariffs of at least 10% on goods coming from China. "We believe it's likely Apple gets exclusions on products like iPhone, Mac and iPad, similar to the first round of China tariffs in 2018," Woodring said. Apple's shares tumbled last Wednesday amid a Wall Street selloff after the Federal Reserve forecast a slower pace of rate cuts next year but investors expect the broad trend of monetary easing to support stock markets next year. "Technology has been regarded by investors as a new form of a defensive sector because of their earnings growth," said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research. The Fed's action "could end up having a greater impact on some of the other cyclical areas such as consumer discretionary and financials and less so on technology." "Apple's approach to $4 trillion market cap is a testament to its enduring dominance in the tech sector. This milestone reinforces Apple's position as a market leader and innovator," said Adam Sarhan, chief executive officer of 50 Park Investments. Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan and Medha Singh in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Aditya Soni and Purvi Agarwal; Editing by Sriraj KalluvilaNearly five years ago, most office workers in Canada went home to work. Office life as we knew it vanished in a pandemic instant. Remarkably, most of these workers didn’t skip a beat. Most people liked the flexibility and the work got done – comfortably from home. Now many employers want people to come back to the office. Some make it a requirement on set days, others let employees make their own schedules, but most have settled on some kind of hybrid in-person and remote work model. But many employees don’t want to go back, citing long commutes, traffic, crowded or inconvenient public transit, expensive parking and the impact on the environment. Plus, remote workers who moved far away just don’t see the point of coming in at all. However, recent studies, such as one led by Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom, report that fully remote work reduces productivity by 10 to 20 per cent , while hybrid work benefits companies and employees . Without an in-person requirement, employers are concerned about losing out on productivity, communication, creativity and a strong company culture. So, what works and how can employers make people feel good about commuting and coming into the office again? Linda Duxbury, the Chancellor’s professor of management at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University in Ottawa, says the key is to intentionally design the in-office experience, rather than just requiring people to show up without a clear purpose or plan. “One of the reasons people like coming into the office is to socialize with their colleagues – they enjoy the informality, team activities and discussions,” says Prof. Duxbury. “If employers want happier employees, then they have to manage the in-person days better than many do.” “Right now, it’s a dog’s breakfast. It can’t be just random, with people coming in and then spending all their time on video calls with co-workers who are at home. What works is requiring whole teams to come in on certain days to do activities that can’t be done remotely, maximizing collaboration, team building, coaching, mentoring, training and development.” At Universities Canada, a non-profit organization representing Canadian universities, all 108 full-time employees are required to work in-person for two days a week. Shortly after Gabriel Miller, president and chief executive officer, joined last June, the organization moved into new headquarters in downtown Ottawa, designed after surveying employees about what they wanted in their work environment. “The office has been thoughtfully designed with people in mind,” says Mr. Miller. “When you enter, there’s an open gathering space that connects to a big kitchen, where people can stop by for coffee or to eat lunch with everybody from the most senior employees to university interns.” “The office is full of green plants, which really humanizes the space and helps people feel at home. There’s a variety of work settings so people can choose what best suits their needs and a mix of meeting rooms equipped with seamless technology so it’s easy for people to access information, but also connect to people who aren’t present. What this office says to our people is that in every possible way, we want to support you being together as a team.” To minimize commuting woes, the new office is centrally located and well served by transit and includes lockers for employees who cycle to work. “We need to provide as many sustainable options as we can,” he says. “Being located in a place that our employees can get to with minimal inconvenience, whether by car, bike, bus or on foot is key. So far we’ve only allowed people to work remotely on a temporary basis, but overwhelmingly, we’ve held the line on [a minimum of two in-person days a week]. If you start chipping away at it, one person or project at a time, people would soon begin to doubt our commitment.” When people are together in the office, he stresses it’s important to have opportunities for them to connect and collaborate in ways that wouldn’t be possible to do from home. “I really believe you need to balance remote and in-person work to maintain productivity and relationships,” he says. “If you think back on your career, a lot of what we learned was the result of encounters and relationships that we built organically with the people around us. Especially for young people, in-person interactions are critical for mentorship and career development.” Toronto-based Accenture Canada takes a “one-size-doesn’t-fit-most” approach for its 6,500 employees, according to its chief human resources officer, Suehlan Yu. A 20-year veteran of the firm, she says remote/hybrid work isn’t new to the organization, as Accenture Canada has been doing it globally for decades, collaborating with clients, teams and people working remotely. “Our focus is on levelling the playing field, so that irrespective of where people are, they’re able to participate fully and bring their best to work,” says Ms. Yu. “We really started by listening to our people, and we do that through a robust listening framework that includes surveys, fireside chats and town halls. What the majority of our people say is that flexibility – when, where and how they work – is the top enabler for the successful future of work.” Ms. Yu says there’s no policy that requires everyone to be in the office on set days. Instead, leaders and teams work together to determine the unique mix of virtual and in-person work that’s best for them, guided by client needs, individual roles and responsibilities. “In-person connection is part of everyone’s role, but we don’t believe in being on-site for the sake of being on-site,” says Ms. Yu. “We like to make that purposeful for our people.” Offices at Accenture are designed with a focus on “we spaces” – collaborative areas with technology allowing remote employees to fully participate in meetings and team activities. There’s also a focus on friendly and accommodating workspaces to suit individual and diverse needs, as well as meditation rooms, mothers’ lactation rooms and wellness rooms equipped with yoga balls and table tennis. To encourage in-person socialization, the firm hosts a quarterly event that they call “stacked events” – a full-day at the office packed with engagement activities, panel discussions and learning sessions, ending with a social event. “People get to meet leaders, network with peers and maybe find their next staffing opportunity,” says Ms. Yu. “We also have Gen AI and industry and function learning days, lunch and learns, and employee resource group events constantly happening and encouraging people to come into the office. Everything’s available virtually as well, so people can be involved wherever they are at that time.” One caveat remote workers might consider is that many jobs that can be done at home may also be easily done by AI. That might inspire some to put in more office time. “There’s a recent article in Harvard Business Review that says AI is coming for remote tasks first,” says Prof. Duxbury. “That’s because much of the type of work that can be done at home is the kind of thing that has sequential structure, doesn’t require a lot of creativity, discussion with other people, negotiation or to be front-facing. So perfect for AI too.”
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The Los Angeles Galaxy will aim to complete one of the most remarkable transformations in Major League Soccer history on Saturday when they host the New York Red Bulls chasing a record-extending sixth MLS Cup crown. A year ago, the California franchise had hit rock bottom, plummeting to their worst ever regular season record to finish one place off the bottom of the Western Conference. The team that had once been a home to the likes of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were engulfed in crisis, with fans boycotting fixtures after nearly a decade of failure on the field. Moreover, the Galaxy's status as one of MLS's glamour clubs had been diminished by the arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, as well as the emergence of city rivals Los Angeles FC, winners of the MLS Cup in 2022. The febrile atmosphere at the Galaxy prompted team ownership to shake up their front office, with Will Kuntz appointed general manager to replace long-time predecessor Chris Klein, who was fired in May 2023. The turnaround since those changes has been dramatic. After winning just eight fixtures in the 2023 season, the Galaxy under head coach Greg Vanney won a record-equalling 19 games this season to finish joint top of the table, second only to leaders LAFC on goal difference. The Galaxy kept up their winning ways in the postseason, swatting aside Colorado 9-1 on aggregate to wrap up their first round series, before thrashing Minnesota United 6-2 and then squeezing past Seattle 1-0 last weekend. Those results have left the club on the threshold of a first MLS Cup title since 2014 and a record sixth championship overall. Victory in Saturday's showpiece in Carson would be especially sweet for Vanney, who appeared in three MLS Cup finals with the Galaxy as a player in 1996, 1999 and 2001 -- and lost all three. Reflecting on his team's journey to this year's final, Vanney said this week his team had thrived under the pressure of being expected to challenge for silverware. "The expectation is to be in games like this, to win trophies and win championships," Vanney said. "This group has come out and attacked it from day one and hasn't been afraid of it or in awe of it -- and that's one of the beauties of this group. "I'm excited for this group and this opportunity and now the objective is to win it and put the stamp on it, rewriting a new group of players and new legacy for this organisation." Vanney's task has become more complicated by an injury to star midfielder Riqui Puig, who suffered torn knee ligaments in last week's Western Conference final win over Seattle and will miss Saturday's game. "He's the ultimate competitor," Vanney said. "He wants to win, compete, and take responsibility on the field. He drives the team in so many ways. "We're going to have to adapt, and we're going to have to adapt in a collective way." The Galaxy meanwhile will be wary of a New York Red Bulls line-up that have ripped up the form book en route to the final. After finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference -- 27 points behind leaders Inter Miami -- the Red Bulls stunned reigning champions Columbus in the first round of the playoffs before wins on the road over rivals New York City FC and Orlando to book their place in their first MLS Cup since 2008. New York's Scotland international midfielder Lewis Morgan says the team is unfazed by Saturday's assignment in Los Angeles. "For me, it doesn't really matter where it is: it's playoff football," Morgan said this week. "It's not the regular season. These games are more cagey. You go 1-0 up, we defend a little bit deeper and we're relying on guys at the back. There have been massive performances." rcw/bbAmerica's Own Assad: Egypt Under Sisi Has 70,000 Political PrisonersPorous silicon oxide electrodes advance sustainable energy storage solutionsAnyone who drives at night has likely been momentarily dazed by the glare of an oncoming vehicle's headlights. There is, not surprisingly, a robust Reddit forum called dedicated to the issue, populated with driver's-view images. At the , Nate Rogers takes a deep dive into the issue. In one sense, the story is a simple one: The problem of road glare can be traced to the advent of "vastly more powerful" LED headlights, writes Rogers. Federal highway rules regulating headlights haven't been updated since 1986, roughly 20 years LED headlights started replacing those of the sepia-toned halogen variety. Bottom line: Headlight brightness has about doubled over the last decade, according to stats from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In short, "a zap of light causing you to grimace behind the wheel suddenly went from a rarity to a routine occurrence," writes Rogers. So just update the regulations, and end of story? It's not quite that simple, given the difficulty of that glare causes accidents, as well as myriad factors at play including proper headlight alignment, which some say is a bigger factor than the lights themselves. And there's this: "The most compelling argument I heard in defense of brighter lights is that, while glare is clearly a hazard, it may not be as much of a hazard as limited vision on the road," writes Rogers. In other words, that annoying glare might prevent more accidents than it causes. (Read the , which takes note of a new "adaptive driving beam" technology that automakers say can mitigate the issue, and includes an interview with Ray Magliozzi of fame.)
Hoops star Nurse joins Athletes Unlimited aiming to rebound from ‘rocky’ two years
NEW YORK , Dec. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global fantasy sports market size is estimated to grow by USD 9.72 billion from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.05% during the forecast period. For comprehensive forecast and historic data on regions,market segments, customer landscape, and companies- Click for the snapshot of this report Report Attribute Details Base Year 2023 Forecast period 2024-2028 Historic Data for 2018 - 2022 Segments Covered Product (Fantasy soccer, Fantasy baseball, Fantasy basketball, Fantasy football, and Others), Platform (Mobile application and Website), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Key Companies Covered APKMozo.com, Blitz Studios Inc., Dream Sports, FantasyPros.com, Fantrax, Flutter Entertainment Plc, Fox Corp., GamesKraft Technologies Pvt. Ltd., GDC Media Ltd., Head Digital Works Pvt. Ltd., i3 Interactive Inc., MyTeam11, NFL Enterprises LLC, Paramount Global, Playerzpot Media Pvt Ltd, Premier League Ltd., RealTime Fantasy Sports Inc., Sachar Gaming Pvt. Ltd., Sorare, and Yahoo Regions Covered North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Region Outlook North America Europe Asia Rest of World 1. North America - North America is estimated to contribute 37%. To the growth of the global market. The Fantasy Sports Market report forecasts market growth by revenue at global, regional & country levels from 2017 to 2027. The North American fantasy sports market is primarily driven by the substantial player base in the region, which exceeds 50 million individuals. This figure continues to expand annually. The market's growth is attributed to the enhanced user experience offered by fantasy sports platforms. Additionally, the popularity of sports like football and Internet infrastructure contribute significantly to the market's strength. Notably, North American gamers have a higher disposable income compared to their counterparts in other regions, making it an attractive market for vendors. Key players in the North American market include Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, and Microsoft. For more insights on North America's significant contribution along with the market share of rest of the regions and countries - Download a FREE Sample Segmentation Overview Product 1.1 Fantasy soccer 1.2 Fantasy baseball 1.3 Fantasy basketball 1.4 Fantasy football 1.5 Others Platform 2.1 Mobile application 2.2 Website Geography 3.1 North America 3.2 Europe 3.3 APAC 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa Get a glance at the market contribution of rest of the segments - Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! 1.1 Fastest growing segment: Fantasy soccer is a popular game where participants build teams of real-life soccer players and earn points based on their actual on-field statistics. This game involves selecting eleven players for four positions. Soccer's global appeal fuels the fantasy soccer market's growth. Notable leagues include Draft Fantasy Football, McDonald's FIFA World Cup Fantasy, Fantasy Premier League, and UEFA Champions League Fantasy Football. Players can make transfers before the season, with a cap on the number during the season. Some websites offer unlimited transfers but deduct points. Player performance determines transfer fees. The increasing viewership on various media platforms, such as the internet and mobile, is expected to boost the segment's expansion in the global fantasy sports market during the forecast period. Research Analysis The Fantasy Sports Market is experiencing exponential growth, fueled by the increasing popularity of sports leagues and tournaments across the globe. NFL, Premier League, IPL, and various other leagues have a massive fan base, driving the demand for fantasy sports platforms. High-speed internet and smartphones have made online gaming more accessible than ever before. The market size is projected to expand significantly due to the rise of the Online gaming business. Secure payment methods and the integration of blockchain-based apps ensure a safe and transparent user experience. Fantasy chatbots offer personalized recommendations and real-time updates, enhancing fan engagement. However, the market faces challenges from illegal sports betting and the need for regulatory frameworks. Sports Tech is revolutionizing the industry, with software engineers and data scientists at the forefront of innovation. Baseball, Cricket, Football (rugby), Volleyball, and other sports continue to captivate audiences worldwide, fueling the growth of the Fantasy Sports Market. Internet penetration is a key factor, with more regions embracing digital platforms for sports consumption. Market Overview Fantasy sports market is experiencing exponential growth, fueled by the popularity of sports leagues and tournaments across the NFL, Premier League, IPL, and more. Fan engagement reaches new heights with fantasy sports platforms, enabling high-speed internet users to enjoy online gaming experiences, including eSports, football, baseball, basketball, hockey, cricket, and more. Gameplay is enhanced through user interfaces, social interaction, and daily fantasy contests, as well as virtual trading and NFT-based games like Reignmakers and Fantasy Football. The mobile application sector is a significant driver, with platforms offering mobile applications and virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences. Online gambling and sports betting are also integral parts of the fantasy sports ecosystem. However, it's essential to maintain secure payment methods and adhere to regulations against illegal sports betting . Software engineers, data scientists, and cybersecurity professionals are crucial in developing these innovative platforms, ensuring seamless user experiences and protecting against potential threats. The online gaming business continues to evolve, with freemium models, in-app purchases, advertising, and premium subscriptions driving revenue. Emerging sports like badminton, football (rugby), volleyball, and others are also gaining traction in the fantasy sports world. Internet penetration and the rise of Sports Tech have played a significant role in the market's growth. As more users access these platforms, the importance of sensor tower data and advertising opportunities increases. The future of fantasy sports lies in the integration of blockchain-based apps, fantasy chatbots, and the potential of in-app advertisements, pay-per-download, and subscription services. Start exploring market insights by Download a FREE Sample Report in minutes! Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Venodr Landscape 11 Vendor Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fantasy-sports-market--37-of-growth-to-originate-from-north-america-technavio-302331215.html SOURCE Technavio © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.PFS Partners LLC Has $193,000 Holdings in Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)
Bridges Investment Management Inc. Sells 42,439 Shares of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)As it passed above the Niger Delta in 2021, a satellite took an image. It showed acres of land, scraped bare. The site, outside the city of Port Harcourt, was on a cleanup list kept by the United Nations Environment Programme, supposed to be restored to green farmland as the Delta was before thousands of oil spills turned it into a byword for pollution. Instead the land was left a sandy “moonscape” unusable for farming, according to U.N. documents. That failed cleanup was not an exception, records obtained by The Associated Press show. Previously unreported investigations, emails, letters to Nigerian ministers and minutes from meetings make clear that senior U.N. officials were increasingly concerned that the Nigerian agency in charge of cleaning up crude oil spills has been a “total failure.” The agency, known as Hyprep, selected cleanup contractors who had no relevant experience, according to a U.N. review. It sent soil samples to laboratories that didn't have the equipment for tests they claimed to perform. Auditors were physically blocked from making sure work had been completed. A former Nigerian minister of the environment told the AP that the majority of cleanup companies are owned by politicians, and minutes show similar views were shared by U.N. officials. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. There have been thousands of crude oil spills in the tidal mangroves and farmlands of the Niger Delta since oil drilling and production began in the 1950s. Reports and studies document what is widely known here: People often wash, drink, fish and cook in contaminated water. Spills still occur frequently. The Ogboinbiri community in Bayelsa state suffered its fourth spill in three months in November, harming farm fields, streams and the fish people rely on. “We bought the land in 2023; we have not harvested anything from the farmland; both the profit, our interest, everything is gone,” said Timipre Bridget, a farmer in the community. “No way to survive with our children again.” Many of the spills are caused by lawbreakers illegally tapping into pipelines to siphon off crude oil they process into gasoline in makeshift refineries. After a major U.N. survey of spills more than a decade ago, oil companies agreed to create a $1 billion cleanup fund for the worst affected area, Ogoniland, and Shell, the largest private oil and gas company in the country, contributed $300 million. The Nigerian government handled the funds and the U.N. was relegated to an advisory role. To oversee the work, the government created the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, or Hyprep. It first addressed sites that were supposed to be easy to clean, like the one outside Port Harcourt. Then it would move on to complex ones, where oil had sunk more deeply into the ground. But a confidential investigation by U.N. scientists last year found the site outside Port Harcourt was left with a “complete absence of topsoil” and almost seven times more petroleum in the subsoil than Nigerian health limits. The company that performed that work has since had its contract revoked, Nenibarini Zabbey, the current director of Hyprep, who took over last year, told the AP. The head of operations when the contract was awarded, Philip Shekwolo, called allegations in the U.N. documents “baseless, mischievous and cheap blackmail.” Shekwolo, who used to head up oil spill remediation for Shell, said by email he knows more about tackling pollution than any U.N. expert and insists the cleanup has been successful. But the documents show U.N. officials raising the alarm about Hyprep with Nigerian officials since 2021, when Shekwolo was acting chief. A January 2022 U.N. review found that of 41 contractors allowed to clean up spill sites, 21 had no relevant experience. Not one was judged competent enough to handle more polluted sites. They include Nigerian construction companies and general merchants. The websites of two construction firms, for example, Jukok International and Ministaco Nigeria, make no mention of pollution cleanups. In the minutes of a meeting with U.N. officials and Shell, Hyprep’s own chief of communications, Joseph Kpobari, is shown to have said bad cleanups happen because his agency hired incompetent companies. The U.N. delegation warned that despite their inadequate work, these companies were being rewarded with contracts for tougher sites. Zabbey denied in an email this admission took place. The cleanup of the simple sites was not a failure, he insisted, because 16 out of 20 had now been certified as clean by Nigerian regulators and many returned to communities. Hyprep always complied with guidelines when issuing contracts, Zabbey said, and their monitors were U.N.-trained. Two sources close to the cleanup efforts in the Delta, speaking anonymously for fear of loss of business or employment, said test results held up by Hyprep as proof of cleanup could not have been real because when officials visited the laboratories, they found they did not have the equipment to perform those tests. In a letter to its customers, one laboratory in the U.K. frequently used by Hyprep acknowledged its tests for most of 2022 were flawed and unreliable. The U.K. laboratory accreditation service confirmed the lab’s authorization to carry out the tests was suspended twice. Zabbey defended the cleanup agency in a statement to the AP, saying it monitors contractors more closely now. Labs adhere to Nigerian and U.N. recommendations and are frequently checked, he said, and the U.N. could have trained local lab staff if it chose to. The U.N. cited another problem — contractors were allowed to assess pollution levels at their sites. No government agency was setting a baseline for what needed to be cleaned up at oil-damaged sites. This meant companies were monitoring their own progress, effectively handed a “blank check,” U.N. Senior Project Advisor Iyenemi Kakulu is recorded as having said in minutes of a meeting in June of last year between the U.N., Hyprep and Shell. The U.N. warned the Nigerian government in an assessment in 2021 that spending at the cleanup agency was not being tracked. Internal auditors were viewed as “the enemy” and “demonized for doing their job.” Shekwolo’s predecessor as head of Hyprep blocked new financial controls and “physically prevented” auditors from seeing if work had been performed properly before paying contractors, according to the U.N. assessment. Zabbey said this too, has changed since that assessment: The audit team is now valued, he said, and accounts are now audited annually, although he provided only one audit cover letter. In it, the accounting firm asked what steps had been taken to “correct the identified weaknesses.” Shekwolo referred the AP to the office of Nigeria’s president, which did not respond to a request to show how funds are being spent. Environment Minister Iziaq Salako’s office declined an interview. Sharon Ikeazor was born in Nigeria, educated in Britain, and spent decades as a lawyer before entering politics. In 2019, she was appointed environment minister of Nigeria. She was well aware of Hyprep’s alleged failings and determined to address them. “There wasn’t any proper remediation being done,” she told the AP in a phone interview. “The companies had no competence whatsoever.” In February 2022, she received a letter from senior U.N. official Muralee Thummarukudy, with what experts say is unusually strong language in diplomacy. It warned of “significant opportunities for malpractice within the contract award process,” in the Nigerian oil cleanup work. Ikeazor removed Shekwolo as acting chief of Hyprep the next month, explaining that she believed he was too close to the politicians. The “majority” of cleanup companies were owned by politicians, she said. The few competent companies “wouldn’t get the big jobs.” One of Shekwolo’s roles, Ikeazor said, was to deem who was competent for contract awards. Ikeazor said Shekwolo’s former employer Shell and the U.N. warned her about him, something Shekwolo says he was unaware of. When she hired a new chief of Hyprep was, she had him review every suspect contract awarded over the years and investigate the cleanup companies. “That sent shockwaves around the political class,” said Ikeazor. “They all had interests." "That was when the battle started,” she said. It was a short battle, and she lost. She was replaced as environment minister and Shekwolo was rehired. He had been gone for two months. Shekwolo says the only politicians he was close to were the two environment ministers he served under. He was never given a reason for his removal, he said, and suggested Ikeazor simply didn’t like him. Last year, the U.N. Environment Programme broke ties with the Nigerian oil spill agency, explaining its five-year consultancy was over. The last support ended in June. Ikeazor said the real reason U.N. pulled out was frustration over corruption. The two sources close to the project concurred the U.N. left because it couldn’t continue to be associated with the Nigerian cleanup organization. Zabbey responded that he believes the U.N. merely changed its goals and moved on. Associated Press reporters Taiwo Adebayo and Dan Ikpoyi contributed from Abuja and Bayelsa, Nigeria. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .