PESHAWAR: Former President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, has expressed optimism about the impending release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, ARY News reported. According to reports, Alvi made these remarks to the media outside the Peshawar court after securing a 40-day transit bail. He suggested that significant changes are imminent, hinting at a possible shift in the political landscape. “Both domestic and international stars are aligning for change,” the former Pakistani President asserted. He further emphasised the importance of dialogue and negotiation, stating, “Arbitration doesn’t happen where there’s occupation. Discussions should be held with the rightful authority, not the one in power. There’s still time to reverse all the wrongdoings and appease the PTI chairman.” Alvi expressed confidence in Imran Khan’s imminent release, claiming that the former Prime Minister would be freed within a month and a half. “PTI founder Imran Khan will be released within the next six weeks,” he predicted. He also criticised the current state of democracy and the constitution, claiming that they have been compromised to keep PTI at bay. “Democracy and the constitution have been destroyed to keep PTI away,” he said. The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday granted transit bail to former President Arif Alvi and directed him to appear before the respective trial courts. The PHC bench comprising Justice Arshad Ali and Justice Fazal Subhan also granted transit bail to Arif Alvi’s son Awab Alvi in several cases registered against them. Imran Khan – Latest news The PHC approved 40-day bail for the former president, while his son was granted 30-day transit bail. During the hearing, the defence counsel told the court that many cases are registered against Arif Alvi and his son Awab Alvi in different police stations of the country, suspecting their arrest. The PHC was requested to restrain the police from arresting them in any of the cases.
Economic pressures, technological advancements, and a more holistic approach to personal well-being. When it comes to consumer behavior, these three are now the key drivers of people’s spending habits, according to the recently released Top Global Consumer Trends 2025 by data analytics company Euromonitor International, which brands and businesses should be looking at more closely as they plan their customer experience strategy for the coming year. READ: Consumption growth in PH seen to hit 5.5% in Q4 2024 Euromonitor International’s latest report offers a comprehensive glimpse into the evolving mindset of global consumers, particularly when it comes to changes in how people approach spending, wellness, sustainability, and technology. The research highlights a fundamental shift in consumer psychology, driven by economic pressures, technological advancements, and a more holistic approach to personal well-being. At the core of these trends is a growing sophistication in consumer decision-making, where quality, functionality, convenience, and price are no longer just considerations, but critical determinants of purchasing behavior. Specifically, the trends cited in the report–and the respective tactics that brands can employ for each–are: Healthspan Plans: Consumers are no longer simply focusing on lifespan, but on the quality of life across their entire journey. An optimistic 52 percent of consumers believe they will be healthier in the next five years, reflecting a proactive approach to personal health, which also shows a growing patronage of smart wearables. This trend goes beyond traditional healthcare, encompassing nutrition, mental well-being, and preventative lifestyle choices. Tactics for 2025: Develop targeted self-care products and tailor solutions to address specific, life-stage concerns or unmet needs. Use scientific evidence or proven results in your marketing materials to underscore how formulations, devices or designs support longevity. Partner with tech companies or diagnostics firms to offer personalized health assessments and real-time tracking solutions. Wiser Wallets: Consumers are becoming increasingly strategic about their spending, with the days of impulse purchasing rapidly declining. Only 18 percent of consumers admitted to frequent unplanned purchases in 2024, representing a significant behavioral shift, and indicating a more thoughtful and deliberate approach to consumption. Tactics for 2025: Develop campaigns for segments of your audience to convey relevant, specific benefits. Connect the priorities of your target audience to your value proposition to demonstrate the credible added value of your products or services. Drive loyalty with short- and long-term incentives that complement your offer and are also useful for your customers. Eco Logical: This trend demonstrates that sustainability has moved beyond being a mere ethical choice. By the second quarter of 2024, the market had witnessed an explosion of sustainable product offerings, with 5 million online products across 11 FMCG industries sporting sustainability claims. Consumers are now demanding tangible evidence of environmental benefits, transforming sustainability from a niche concern to a mainstream expectation. Tactics for 2025: Use sustainability claims that emphasize the value proposition of your product; connect these features to purchase drivers like efficacy, quality or safety. Focus product development efforts on attributes with strong growth in your category and market. Incorporate sustainability into products or services that are familiar to your target audience for easier adoption. Filtered Focus: As consumer fatigue grows with endless choices and constant notifications, 42 percent of consumers have embraced livestreaming as a solution, finding it an efficient way to understand product features quickly. This indicates a desire for more streamlined, direct forms of product information and marketing. Tactics for 2025: Use clear, honest and relatable messaging to communicate the unique benefits of your products and services. Personalize touchpoints or interactions where possible to deliver relevant information and foster meaningful customer relationships. Optimze the user experience to streamline product discovery and remove friction from the shopping journey with the right tech integrations. AI Ambivalent: This trend reveals a nuanced consumer perspective on technological innovation, that despite growing concerns and skepticism, 43 percent of consumers still consider generative AI a trustworthy information source. This suggests a pragmatic approach to emerging technologies—cautious, yet open to potential benefits. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Tactics for 2025: Be transparent about the use of generative AI across channels and content. Analyze consumer sentiment to inform decisions about integrations or applications. Evaluate which touchpoints could leverage this tech vs human expertise; find the right balance. Stella Vatcheva, senior head of practice innovation at Euromonitor International, encapsulates the report’s findings: “Consumers are increasingly conscious when it comes to spending. They seek products and services that are reliable, providing long-term and targeted solutions.”
Why Miami’s Pop-Tarts Bowl appearance is important even after missing College Football PlayoffWorkforce discrimination forces PWDs to seek new means of livingIt was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”
NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to a “sudden loss of consciousness at home,” the hospital said in a statement. “Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency” at 8:06 p.m., the hospital said, but “despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 p.m.” Singh was being treated for “age-related medical conditions,” the statement said. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and leader of the Congress Party in the Parliament's Upper House, earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi . But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was reelected in 2009, but his second term as prime minister was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Party’s crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi . Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. Prime Minister Modi, who succeeded Singh in 2014, called him one of India’s “most distinguished leaders” who rose from humble origins and left “a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years.” “As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” Modi said in a post on the social platform X. He called Singh’s interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker “insightful” and said “his wisdom and humility were always visible.” Rahul Gandhi, from the same party as Singh and the opposition leader in the lower house of the Indian Parliament, said Singh’s “deep understanding of economics inspired the nation” and that he “led India with immense wisdom and integrity.” “I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride,” Gandhi wrote on X. The United States offered its condolences, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that Singh was “one of the greatest champions of the U.S.-India strategic partnership.” “We mourn Dr. Singh’s passing and will always remember his dedication to bringing the United States and India closer together,” Blinken said. Born on Sept. 26, 1932, in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India, Singh’s brilliant academic career took him to Cambridge University in Britain, where he earned a degree in economics in 1957. He then got his doctorate in economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. Singh taught at Panjab University and the prestigious Delhi School of Economics before joining the Indian government in 1971 as economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry. In 1982, he became chief economic adviser to the Finance Ministry. He also served as deputy chair of the Planning Commission and governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As finance minister, Singh in 1991 instituted reforms that opened up the economy and moved India away from a socialist-patterned economy and toward a capitalist model in the face of a huge balance of payments deficit, skirting a potential economic crisis. His accolades include the 1987 Padma Vibhushan Award, India’s second-highest civilian honor; the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress in 1995; and the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year in 1993 and 1994. Singh was a member of India’s Upper House of Parliament and was leader of the opposition from 1998 to 2004 before he was named prime minister. He was the first Sikh to hold the country’s top post and made a public apology in Parliament for the 1984 Sikh Massacre in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards. Under Singh, India adopted a Right to Information Act in 2005 to promote accountability and transparency from government officials and bureaucrats. He was also instrumental in implementing a welfare scheme that guaranteed at least 100 paid workdays for Indian rural citizens. The coalition government he headed for a decade brought together politicians and parties with differing ideologies that were rivals in the country’s various states. In a move hailed as one of his biggest achievements apart from economic reforms, Singh ended India’s nuclear isolation by signing a deal with the U.S. that gave India access to American nuclear technology. But the deal hit his government adversely, with Communist allies withdrawing support and criticism of the agreement growing within India in 2008 when it was finalized. Singh adopted a pragmatic foreign policy approach, pursuing a peace process with nuclear rival and neighbor Pakistan. But his efforts suffered a major setback after Pakistani militants carried out a massive gun and bomb attack in Mumbai in November 2008. He also tried to end the border dispute with China, brokering a deal to reopen the Nathu La pass into Tibet, which had been closed for more than 40 years. His 1965 book, “India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth,” dealt with India’s inward-oriented trade policy. Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters. Associated Press writer Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WV News) — Following the holidays, most people have more than they need and even want. But many shoppers still look to capitalize on the overstocked, post-holiday sales of late December and early January as stores ring in the New Year with new merchandise. Jorge “There are a lot of deals and holiday decor that are already marked down right now. And of course they’ll get marked down even more after the holiday season,” said Kaylin Jorge, West Virginia Chamber of Commerce director of communications. While not every store features as good of deals on electronics post holiday season as they do on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, there are still many retailers that look to clear their shelves to make room for the latest and greatest. “Black Friday and Cyber Monday are big days for electronics, but technology is always changing and prices are constantly falling,” Jorge said. Many clothing retailers often discount the last season of winter wear as the New Year approaches so they can make room for the next year’s newest trends, Jorge said. Additionally, many retailers also discount wrapping paper, gift bags and other holiday-specific accessories and decor. Spiker Hallmark at the Meadowbrook Mall holds a promotion for half-price holiday ornaments and boxes of holiday cards the day after Christmas, said Jean Spiker, store manager. “A lot of Hallmark customers know that our ornaments and our box cards will be going on sale, 50% off, the day after Christmas. So, there’s usually a line out there waiting for us to open the gate,” Spiker said. This gives people the opportunity to stock up on the essentials before the next holiday season. But it only works if they actually remember to do it. Bartlett Tamara Bartlett, who visited the Meadowbrook Mall Monday to do some last-minute Christmas shopping, said she was planning to return after the holidays to purchase discounted decor, but admitted she doesn’t always think to stock up. “I’m not a big shopper. I get what I need and then I’m out. I’m not always good at coming in. But I do love getting deals,” Bartlett said. These deals, Bartlett said, can help shoppers stretch their holiday budget if they start shopping early enough. “If we just did our shopping right after Christmas, we could buy everything for the next Christmas cheaper. I’m not sure how a lot of people (afford) it these days,” Bartlett said. The holiday shopping season extends to the New Year as shoppers return to shopping centers to take back unwanted gifts and use gift cards received during the holidays. More than 70% of U.S. consumers plan to shop the week immediately following Christmas, according to the National Retail Federation. Consumers will return to shopping centers en masse directly following Christmas to return and exchange unwanted gifts, take advantage of post-holiday deals and utilize gift cards, according to the National Retail Federation. Nearly half of all consumers return to shopping centers so quickly to take advantage of holiday sales, a quarter to use gift cards and more than 15% to return unwanted gifts and holiday items, NRF said.Annual blood donation camp held
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday congratulated Hari Babu Kambhampati on his appointment as the new governor of Odisha. President Droupadi Murmu earlier in the evening accepted the resignation of Raghubar Das as the governor of Odisha and appointed Mizoram governor Kambhampati in his place. Deputy CM KV Singh Deo also congratulated the new governor. ''It is with great pleasure that I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati on his appointment as the new Governor of Odisha. Your exemplary leadership and dedication to public service will undoubtedly guide our state towards greater heights. I look forward to working together to further the development and prosperity of Odisha,'' he posted on X. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”MUMBAI: As the state’s fiscal deficit is expected to cross ₹ 2 lakh crore, thanks to the many populist schemes launched by the Mahayuti government ahead of the Assembly elections, the state government has started pulling out all stops to mobilise resources to cap the shortfall. For that purpose, on Tuesday, the excise department pitched the idea of issuing new liquor licences, allowing sale of wine in beer shops and departmental stores, and taking joint action with police against illicit liquor dens, while the finance department pitched a three-dimension plan of focusing on excise, transport and value added tax on diesel and petrol, to bolster revenue generation. Soon after the swearing-in on December 5, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the finance and excise portfolios, had asked the departments to come up with ways to increase revenue. In response the finance department made presentation on Tuesday with the three-fold plan. After the meeting, people in the know, however told HT that Pawar did not warm up to the idea of issuing liquor licenses, fearing political backlash. An official from Mantralaya, requesting anonymity, said, “Most crucially, the finance department has recommended cleaning up the list of the beneficiaries in various welfare schemes, including Ladki Bahin, which would help the government save a huge fund, apart from reducing unwarranted expenditure.” Pruning the Ladki Bahin list was the government’s first move soon after it registered the big victory in numbers in the recent elections. According to the department’s officials, at least 20 per cent of 2.46 crore beneficiaries could be removed from the list. Another official said, the excise department’s “reformist steps” would help increase revenue. “In its presentation the excise department recommended a policy to issue new licences to liquor shops. We have 1700 licences of foreign liquor and 3500 of country liquor issued in 1972. The deal for the transfer of liquor licenses according to the places of businesses is known to go up to ₹ 10 crore, though the government gets just ₹ 1 crore as transfer fee. If the new licences are issued on the lines the policy implemented in Uttar Pradesh, it could help generate revenue and reduce black marketing.” In UP, CM Yogi Adityanath introduced the policy to issue licenses through a lottery system in 2016-17. Every year the number of licenses goes up by 2 per cent, which has helped the state revenue scale up to ₹ 47,000 crore from ₹ 15,000 crore in eight years. While batting for opening up sale of liquor in departmental stores and sale of wine in beer shops, an official also underscored that action be taken against illegal import of the liquor from “Goa and other neighbouring states, where the duty at sales at airports is low”. A statement issued by Ajit Pawar’s office read: “The DyCM has warned the departments that the inefficiency in plugging the leakages and evasion of taxes would not be tolerated. He has directed the machinery for the stricter steps to stop the illegal sales of liquor. The departments have been asked the undertake ‘result oriented’ steps for tax recovery and rise in the revenue generation.’ 100-day makeover After asking all the departments to roll out the 100-day transformation programme of the Mahayuti 2.0 government on December 9, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis reviewed the plan prepared by four departments -- housing, water resources, energy and agriculture on Tuesday. Each department presented its revamp plan in 100 days. Earlier, in his meetings with the respective heads of departments, Fadnavis had asked them to chalk out a plan to bring more efficiency and transparency to reduce the footfall in Mantralaya, as well as steps that could be taken to get more funding from the central government.Andrew Schulz Responds to Kendrick Lamar’s Warning to White Comedians on Treatment of Black Women
Noodles and wine are the secret ingredients for a strange new twist in China's doping saga
STUART, Fla. , Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Health In Tech, an Insurtech platform company backed by third-party AI technology, today announced the closing of its initial public offering of 2,300,000 shares of its Class A common stock at a public offering price of $4.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $9,200,000 , before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and estimated offering expenses. The Company has granted the underwriter an option, exercisable within 30 days from the date of the final prospectus, to purchase an additional 345,000 shares of Class A common stock from Health In Tech at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. Assuming such option is fully exercised, the Company may raise a total of approximately US$10,580,000 in gross proceeds from the Offering Health In Tech intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for system enhancements, expansion of service offerings, sales and distribution channels, talent development and retention, working capital, and other general corporate purposes. American Trust Investment Services, Inc. acted as the sole book-running manager for the offering. A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-281853) relating to the shares was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and became effective on December 19, 2024 . This offering was made only by means of a prospectus, forming part of the effective registration statement. A copy of the prospectus relating to the offering can be obtained when available, by contacting American Trust Investment Services, Inc., 230 W. Monroe Street , Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60606, or via E-Mail at ECM@amtruinvest.com. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Health In Tech Health in Tech ("HIT") is an Insurtech platform company backed by third-party AI technology. We offer a dynamic marketplace designed to create customized healthcare plan solutions while streamlining processes through vertical integration, process simplification, and automation. By eliminating friction and complexities, HIT enhances value propositions for employers and optimizes underwriting, sales, and service workflows for Managing General Underwriters (MGUs), insurance carriers, licensed brokers, and Third-Party Administrators (TPAs). Learn more at healthintech.com . Forward-Looking Statements Regarding Health In Tech Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include estimates or expectations about Health In Tech's possible or assumed operational results, financial condition, business strategies and plans, market opportunities, competitive position, industry environment, and potential growth opportunities. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "design," "target," "aim," "hope," "expect," "could," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "continue," "predict," "project," "potential," "goal," or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements relate to future events or to Health In Tech's future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Health In Tech's actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond Health In Tech's control and which could, and likely will, affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects Health In Tech's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to Health In Tech's operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. Investor Contact Investor Relations: ir@healthintech.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/health-in-tech-announces-closing-of-initial-public-offering-302338923.html SOURCE Health In TechQ2 GAAP Earnings per Share up 24% to , Non-GAAP Earnings per Share up 10% to Q2 Total Revenue , up 9% in both USD and constant currency Q2 Total Remaining Performance Obligations , up 49% in USD & 50% in constant currency Q2 Cloud Revenue (IaaS plus SaaS) , up 24% in both USD and constant currency Q2 Cloud Infrastructure (IaaS) Revenue , up 52% in both USD and constant currency Q2 Cloud Application (SaaS) Revenue , up 10% in both USD and constant currency Q2 Fusion Cloud ERP (SaaS) Revenue , up 18% in both USD and constant currency Q2 NetSuite Cloud ERP (SaaS) Revenue , up 20% in USD and 19% in constant currency , /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) today announced fiscal 2025 Q2 results. Total quarterly revenues were up 9% year-over-year, in both USD and constant currency, to . Cloud services and license support revenues were up 12% year-over-year, in both USD and constant currency, to . Cloud license and on-premise license revenues were up 1% in USD and up 3% in constant currency, to . Q2 GAAP operating income was . Non-GAAP operating income was , up 10% in both USD and constant currency. GAAP operating margin was 30%, and non-GAAP operating margin was 43%. GAAP net income was . Non-GAAP net income was , up 12% in both USD and constant currency. Q2 GAAP earnings per share was , up 24% in USD and up 23% in constant currency, while non-GAAP earnings per share was , up 10% in both USD and constant currency. Short-term deferred revenues were . Over the last twelve months, operating cash flow was and free cash flow was . "Record level AI demand drove Oracle Cloud Infrastructure revenue up 52% in Q2, a much higher growth rate than any of our hyperscale cloud infrastructure competitors," said Oracle CEO, . "Growth in the AI segment of our Infrastructure business was extraordinary—GPU consumption was up 336% in the quarter—and we delivered the world's largest and fastest AI SuperComputer scaling up to 65,000 NVIDIA H200 GPUs. With our remaining performance obligation (RPO) up 50% to , we believe our already impressive growth rates will continue to climb even higher. This fiscal year, total Oracle Cloud revenue should top ." "Oracle Cloud Infrastructure trains several of the world's most important generative AI models because we are faster and less expensive than other clouds," said Oracle Chairman and CTO, . "And we just signed an agreement with Meta—for them to use Oracle's AI Cloud Infrastructure—and collaborate with Oracle on the development of AI Agents based on Meta's Llama models. The Oracle Cloud trains dozens of specialized AI models and embeds hundreds of AI Agents in cloud applications. For example, Oracle's AI Agents automate drug design, image and genomic analysis for cancer diagnostics, audio updates to electronic health records for patient care, satellite image analysis to predict and improve agricultural output, fraud and money laundering detection, dual-factor biometric computer logins, and real time video weapons detection in schools. Oracle trained AI models and AI Agents will improve the rate of scientific discovery, economic development and corporate growth throughout the world. The scale of the opportunity is unimaginable." The board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of per share of outstanding common stock. This dividend will be paid to stockholders of record as of the close of business on , with a payment date of . A sample list of customers which purchased Oracle Cloud services during the quarter will be available at . A list of recent technical innovations and announcements is available at . To learn what industry analysts have been saying about Oracle's products and services see . Oracle will hold a conference call and webcast today to discuss these results at Central. A live and replay webcast will be available on the Oracle Investor Relations website at . Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at . Oracle, Java, MySQL, and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing. Statements in this press release relating to future plans, expectations, beliefs, intentions and prospects, including the expectations for converting the Remaining Performance Obligations to revenue, future total Oracle Cloud revenue this fiscal year and the scale of opportunity for Oracle trained AI models and AI Agents, are "forward-looking statements" and are subject to material risks and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties that could affect our current expectations and our actual results, include, among others: our ability to develop new products and services, integrate acquired products and services and enhance our existing products and services, including our AI products; our management of complex cloud and hardware offerings, including the sourcing of technologies and technology components; our ability to secure data center capacity; significant coding, manufacturing or configuration errors in our offerings; risks associated with acquisitions; economic, political and market conditions; information technology system failures, privacy and data security concerns; cybersecurity breaches; unfavorable legal proceedings, government investigations, and complex and changing laws and regulations. A detailed discussion of these factors and other risks that affect our business is contained in our SEC filings, including our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, particularly under the heading "Risk Factors." Copies of these filings are available online from the SEC or by contacting Oracle's Investor Relations Department at (650) 506-4073 or by clicking on SEC Filings on the Oracle Investor Relations website at . All information set forth in this press release is current as of . Oracle undertakes no duty to update any statement in light of new information or future events.
"The Council of Autism Service Providers" And "ABA Centers" Partner to Ring Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange
"The Council of Autism Service Providers" And "ABA Centers" Partner to Ring Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange
Stock market today: Nvidia drags Wall Street from its records as oil and gold riseOn an evening walk in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood back in early March, Sparky — Robert Miller’s golden brown mutt that weighs 35 pounds and has hunting dog in its DNA — seemingly caught a scent. “She’s a creature of habit,” said Miller, a retired 75-year-old who has lived in the neighborhood for about a dozen years. “She likes to stay on one side of the street, and for some reason, she wanted to cross over.” A half a block later, the duo stumbled upon a stash of strewn books. As luck would have it, Miller studied history in college and knew what he was looking at: German books from the Renaissance and early modern period. The oldest, he would later learn, was from 1525. Three were written in Latin, three in German and one in French. Horrified that the books would get damaged, Miller scooped them up for safekeeping. He couldn’t fathom how the delicate vessels of knowledge got stranded on the sidewalk. He wondered whether they had been discarded by thieves who failed to profit off them without provenance — ownership history of valuable objects. Perhaps an irritated lover took a partner’s books and chucked them outside after a domestic dispute. Eight months later, a clue dug up by a Newberry Library curator poked fatal holes in both of Miller’s hypotheses. Miller had reached out to the library for guidance, and a bit of sleuthing by the curator, Suzanne Karr Schmidt, led to a neighbor of Miller who collects rare books. The neighbor, an octogenarian who hasn’t retired, was “tidying up some old archival boxes and accidentally took one with the books out to the trash as well,” according to Karr Schmidt, who explained the books’ mysterious appearance in an article for Newberry Magazine. “It seems that the box fell on the ground, spilling its contents,” Karr Schmidt wrote. Before it occurred to him to return to look for it, she wrote, “his relatively close neighbors Miller and Sparky had swooped in to protect the books.” Upon returning home, Miller started sorting through the finding on his dining room table with his wife. He said he knew enough Latin to figure out that one of the books contained arguments against the teachings of Martin Luther, the German priest who helped begin the Protestant Reformation. Miller contacted the University of Chicago and Newberry Library and asked if they were missing the books. “They weren’t, but they were interested in trying to find out where they came from,” Miller said. In photos of the books Miller sent Karr Schmidt, she saw signs of their 16th century owners but no recent institutional markings. That told her the books likely belonged to “an unidentified bookseller or private collector,” not another library. After this round of efforts to locate an owner, according to Karr Schmidt, Miller offered to give the books to Newberry Library. The library decided that if someone came forward and claimed to be the owner, it would dutifully consider the assertion and give back the books if the proof was deemed convincing. Then on Nov. 1, while in the process of editing the magazine article about the books, Karr Schmidt stumbled upon a photo of one of them on the website of Austrian book dealer Antiquariat Inlibris. The dealer would inform Karr Schmidt that it sold the book in 2021 and identified to her the Chicagoan who bought it. On Nov. 5, the owner stopped by the Newberry Library, where he was reunited with his lost books, Karr Schmidt said. He even decided to donate two of them to the library — a text supporting Luther written in the vernacular German and one attacking the great reformer in Latin. Karr Schmidt said someone accessing the stores of the Newberry Library — which, historically, has collected more French and Italian books from before 1800 than German books — may want to view the texts for several reasons. “They could be interested in the sort of political animosity that’s going on between the pair of these. There were a lot of pamphlets written at this time, pro- and anti-Luther,” Karr Schmidt said. “There’s (also) a lot of visual imagery.” On the pages of the book written in German, the text is surrounded by ornate woodcut or metalcut borders, some of which feature Luther’s face with a surprised expression.A court challenge over a Stormont vote on extending post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland has been dismissed, and the Assembly debate will go ahead as planned on Tuesday. Ruling on Monday after an emergency hearing at Belfast High Court, judge Mr Justice McAlinden rejected loyalist activist Jamie Bryson’s application for leave for a full judicial review hearing against Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. The judge said Mr Bryson, who represented himself as a personal litigant, had “very ably argued” his case with “perseverance and cogency”, and had raised some issues of law that caused him “some concern”. However, he found against him on the three grounds of challenge against Mr Benn. Mr Bryson had initially asked the court to grant interim relief in his challenge to prevent Tuesday’s democratic consent motion being heard in the Assembly, pending the hearing of a full judicial review. However, he abandoned that element of his leave application during proceedings on Monday, after the judge made clear he would be “very reluctant” to do anything that would be “trespassing into the realms” of a democratically elected Assembly. Mr Bryson had challenged Mr Benn’s move to initiate the democratic consent process that is required under the UK and EU’s Windsor Framework deal to extend the trading arrangements that apply to Northern Ireland. The previously stated voting intentions of the main parties suggest that Stormont MLAs will vote to continue the measures for another four years when they convene to debate the motion on Tuesday. After the ruling, Mr Bryson told the court he intended to appeal to the Court of Appeal. Any hearing was not expected to come later on Monday. In applying for leave, the activist’s argument was founded on three key grounds. The first was the assertion that Mr Benn failed to make sufficient efforts to ensure Stormont’s leaders undertook a public consultation exercise in Northern Ireland before the consent vote. The second was that the Secretary of State allegedly failed to demonstrate he had paid special regard to protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK customs territory in triggering the vote. The third ground centred on law changes introduced by the previous UK government earlier this year, as part of its Safeguarding the Union deal to restore powersharing at Stormont. He claimed that if the amendments achieved their purpose, namely, to safeguard Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom, then it would be unlawful to renew and extend post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK. In 2023, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the trading arrangements for Northern Ireland are lawful. The appellants in the case argued that legislation passed at Westminster to give effect to the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement conflicted with the 1800 Acts of Union that formed the United Kingdom, particularly article six of that statute guaranteeing unfettered trade within the UK. The Supreme Court found that while article six of the Acts of Union has been “modified” by the arrangements, that was done with the express will of a sovereign parliament, and so therefore was lawful. Mr Bryson contended that amendments made to the Withdrawal Agreement earlier this year, as part of the Safeguarding the Union measures proposed by the Government to convince the DUP to return to powersharing, purport to reassert and reinforce Northern Ireland’s constitutional status in light of the Supreme Court judgment. He told the court that it was “quite clear” there was “inconsistency” between the different legal provisions. “That inconsistency has to be resolved – there is an arguable case,” he told the judge. However, Dr Tony McGleenan KC, representing the Government, described Mr Bryson’s argument as “hopeless” and “not even arguable”. He said all three limbs of the case had “no prospect of success and serve no utility”. He added: “This is a political argument masquerading as a point of constitutional law and the court should see that for what it is.” After rising to consider the arguments, Justice McAlinden delivered his ruling shortly after 7pm. The judge dismissed the application on the first ground around the lack consultation, noting that such an exercise was not a “mandatory” obligation on Mr Benn. On the second ground, he said there were “very clear” indications that the Secretary of State had paid special regard to the customs territory issues. On the final ground, Justice McAlinden found there was no inconsistency with the recent legislative amendments and the position stated in the Supreme Court judgment. “I don’t think any such inconsistency exists,” he said. He said the amendments were simply a “restatement” of the position as set out by the Supreme Court judgment, and only served to confirm that replacing the Northern Ireland Protocol with the Windsor Framework had not changed the constitutional fact that Article Six of the Acts of Union had been lawfully “modified” by post-Brexit trading arrangements. “It does no more than that,” he said. The framework, and its predecessor the NI Protocol, require checks and customs paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. Under the arrangements, which were designed to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to follow many EU trade and customs rules. This has proved highly controversial, with unionists arguing the system threatens Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom. Advocates of the arrangements say they help insulate the region from negative economic consequences of Brexit. A dispute over the so-called Irish Sea border led to the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2022, when the DUP withdrew then-first minister Paul Givan from the coalition executive. The impasse lasted two years and ended in January when the Government published its Safeguarding the Union measures. Under the terms of the framework, a Stormont vote must be held on articles five to 10 of the Windsor Framework, which underpin the EU trade laws in force in Northern Ireland, before they expire. The vote must take place before December 17. Based on the numbers in the Assembly, MLAs are expected to back the continuation of the measures for another four years, even though unionists are likely to oppose the move. DUP leader Gavin Robinson has already made clear his party will be voting against continuing the operation of the Windsor Framework. Unlike other votes on contentious issues at Stormont, the motion does not require cross-community support to pass. If it is voted through with a simple majority, the arrangements are extended for four years. In that event, the Government is obliged to hold an independent review of how the framework is working. If it wins cross-community support, which is a majority of unionists and a majority of nationalists, then it is extended for eight years. The chances of it securing such cross-community backing are highly unlikely.Nvidia drags down tech sector, US market
Congressional bicameral team pushes for insurance, pharmaceutical reformNEW YORK (AP) — A slide for market superstar Nvidia on Monday knocked Wall Street off its big rally and helped drag U.S. stock indexes down from their records. The S&P 500 fell 0.6%, coming off its 57th all-time high of the year so far. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 240 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite pulled back 0.6% from its own record.Wayne Rooney sent message by Frank Lampard ahead of crucial Plymouth showdown
Shoppers and unwanted gifts 'returning' to North Central West Virginia retail centers after the holidaysThe People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said Monday’s presidential media chat was a further confirmation that President Bola Tinubu led All Progressives Congress (APC) government is insensitive to the current widespread hardship and suffering being faced by Nigerians. PDP in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba on Tuesday, said by declaring that he has no regret for the sudden removal of fuel subsidy without any cushioning measures to mitigate the resultant crippling effect on the productive sector, showed that he is disconnected from the people. The party told the president that the primary purpose of government is the welfare and security of the citizens. “It is instructive that President Tinubu in the chat admitted that Nigerians are bearing the brunt of the failure and inability of the APC administration under his watch to effectively police and secure our nation’s borders as to prevent the smuggling of petroleum products to neighbouring countries,” PDP stated. It is described as disturbing that while the APC has failed to account for the proceeds saved from the removal of subsidy, Nigerians are subjected to crushing economic hardship because the administration has failed in its fundamental duty of ensuring the territorial integrity of our nation. “Moreover, Nigerians are appalled that instead of admitting failure and seeking solutions, Mr President again claimed that the nation’s economy has improved under his watch when in reality the situation has worsened with the comatose productive sector, deteriorating value of the naira at N1,700 to the US dollar, 34.6 per cent inflation and 40 per cent unemployment rates in the last 18 months. “The widespread food stampede in various parts of the country which recently led to the death of about 80 Nigerians shows that our nation is indeed in a perilous time under the APC,” the party added. PDP said under the present circumstance, there is no hope in sight under the APC given its failure to embark on meaningful investments in critical sectors, such as agriculture and food production, electricity, petroleum and gas, small and medium scale Enterprises, which are the real drivers of the national economy. It faulted President Tinubu’s claim that Nigerians can now freely and safely travel by road despite the reality of banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery, as well as the worsened condition of highways across the country. The party challenged the president to travel from Abuja to Lagos by road, visit any of the markets or take a walk on the street of any city in Nigeria to properly gauge and appreciate the real situation in the country rather than relying on fabricated statistics being bandied by officials of his government.